The Maltese Falcon

The Maltese Falcon by Dashiell Hammett


My rating: 4 of 5 stars
I re-read this old classic for "The Big Read" and enjoyed it. Our class discussions were good, but I don't think this book rises to the level of "literature" as some people thought. While it is a classic, and it was especially interesting to see how mystery and crime writing has changed. I didn't feel like I was changed or understood more about the human condition by reading it.

Essentially, it is the story of a private detective who is hired by a woman to find someone for her who is threatening her. As the book progresses, it becomes apparent that she is on the trail of the Maltese falcon and is competing with several other people. Hammett creates some unforgettable characters and clever and interesting twists and turns of the plot. I also enjoyed the discussion about how the genre has changed and also how women were treated in this early PI literature.

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