The Novels of Dashiell Hammett.

Plot

Samuel Dashiell Hammett (1894-1961) was an American author of hard-boiled detective novels and a screenplay writer. Among the enduring characters he created are Sam Spade (The Maltese Falcon), Nick and Nora Charles (The Thin Man), and the Continental Op (Red Harvest and The Dain Curse). Hammett is now widely regarded as one of the finest mystery writers of all time and the dean of the "hard-boiled". The 5 novels included in this omnibus are 1) Red Harvest [1929] - The story is narrated by The Continental Op, a frequent character in Hammett's fiction. Hammett based the story on his own experiences as an operative of the Pinkerton Detective Agency. The labor dispute in the novel was inspired by Butte's Anaconda Road Massacre. 2) The Dain Curse [1929] - Again, the detective known only as The Continental Op investigates a theft of diamonds from the Leggett family of San Francisco. The plot involves a supposed curse on the Dain family, said to inflict sudden and violent deaths upon those in their vicinity. 3) The Maltese Falcon [1930] - Sam Spade is hired by a Miss Wonderly to follow a man who has allegedly run off with Wonderly's younger sister. Spade takes the assignment because the money is good, but implies that the woman looks like trouble. 4) The Glass Key [1931] - The story revolves around Ned Beaumont, a gambler and best friend of the criminal boss Paul Madvig. Ned finds the body of a Senator's son on the street, and Madvig asks him to thwart the D.A.'s investigation, his motive being he wants to back the corrupt senator in order to marry his daughter. 5) The Thin Man [1934] is set in Prohibition-era New York City. The main characters are a former private detective, Nick Charles, and his clever young wife, Nora. Nick has given up his career since marrying Nora, a wealthy socialite, and he now spends most of his time cheerfully getting drunk in hotel rooms and speakeasies.