The Maltese Falcon
Decide its fate
The record
Time
An eveningA season254 pages, about 5 hours: four-fifths the length of a typical book on the shelf.
Getting in
Walk right inSteep climbA client named Miss Wonderly asks Sam Spade, at his San Francisco office, to trail a man.
What it gives
Plot and actionIdeas to live byIn 11 reviews from critics and book blogs, 6 credit the plot and 3 credit the ideas or a change in how they live.
One of a kind
Others do thisNothing else doesRed Harvest, on the shelf at 224 pages, is named as a better, shorter Hammett novel.
The case for it
on Sam Spade
“a great romp through the movements and machinations of Spade”
a book blog on the page count
“Despite its paltry page count, it’s a rather intricate story of double- and triple-crossings.”
a book blog on the pace
“The plot is fast-paced, full of suspense, and creates movie-like scenes in your head”
three stars · a book blog on the prose
“The prose was famously lean.”
a Substack review
The case against
on Spade’s nicknames for women
“I hated the way Spade spoke to Brigid and his secretary Effie. “Precious,” “Honey,” “Darlin.””
three stars · a book blog on how Spade touches women
“touching their shoulders like a bad sexual harassment training video”
a book blog on Sam Spade
“I didn’t like Spade, and I found him less compelling a character than the Op.”
a Substack review on the briefcase inventory
“he overly describes some things and adds redundant content”
five stars · a Substack review
