What do you think?
Rate this book
The adventures of Sam Spade,: And other stories
Too many have livedThey can only hang you onceA man called SpadeThe assistant murdererNight shadeThe judge laughed lastHis brother's keeper
189 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 1944
439 people are currently reading
891 people want to read
About the author
Dashiell Hammett
555 books2,832 followersAlso wrote as Peter Collinson, Daghull Hammett, Samuel Dashiell, Mary Jane Hammett
Dashiell Hammett, an American, wrote highly acclaimed detective fiction, including The Maltese Falcon (1930) and The Thin Man (1934).
Samuel Dashiell Hammett authored hardboiled novels and short stories. He created Sam Spade (The Maltese Falcon), Nick and Nora Charles (The Thin Man), and the Continental Op (Red Harvest and The Dain Curse) among the enduring characters. In addition to the significant influence his novels and stories had on film, Hammett "is now widely regarded as one of the finest mystery writers of all time" and was called, in his obituary in the New York Times, "the dean of the... 'hard-boiled' school of detective fiction."
See http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dashiell...
Dashiell Hammett, an American, wrote highly acclaimed detective fiction, including The Maltese Falcon (1930) and The Thin Man (1934).
Samuel Dashiell Hammett authored hardboiled novels and short stories. He created Sam Spade (The Maltese Falcon), Nick and Nora Charles (The Thin Man), and the Continental Op (Red Harvest and The Dain Curse) among the enduring characters. In addition to the significant influence his novels and stories had on film, Hammett "is now widely regarded as one of the finest mystery writers of all time" and was called, in his obituary in the New York Times, "the dean of the... 'hard-boiled' school of detective fiction."
See http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dashiell...
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 77 reviews
August 3, 2022
Dashiell Hammett created Satan-faced Sam Spade, private investigator, in his greatest novel, The Maltese Falcon. Unfortunately, he never revisited the character in any subsequent novels. The Adventures of Sam Spade collects the three short stories that Hammett did devote to Spade, together with four other unrelated tales.
In two of the three Spade stories, (They Can Only Hang You Once, and A Man Called Spade) Sam mostly stands by, cool and detached, watching police fumbling with convoluted crime scenes. Though dealing with murder, these stories are not so much noir dark as they are slyly humorous.
It’s the four remaining stories, sans Spade, that I found most compelling. In The Assistant Murderer, we meet Alexander Rush, a monster-faced, disgraced ex-cop whose honorable code belies his unfortunate reputation. He was an intriguing character who could have carried a novel. Night Shade is sneeze and you’ll miss it short, more of a mood piece than a short story, yet with a surprise at its end. Hammett once again revealed his humor chops in The Judge Laughed Last. And though you will always be two steps ahead of the dim narrator of the boxing story, His Brother’s Keeper, it will still break your heart.
The Adventures of Sam Spade doesn’t quite make my grade for four stars. It’s not top shelf hootch. But who, in a noir story, drinks the pricy stuff anyhow? If you enjoy noir, you will eventually want to read this one.
In two of the three Spade stories, (They Can Only Hang You Once, and A Man Called Spade) Sam mostly stands by, cool and detached, watching police fumbling with convoluted crime scenes. Though dealing with murder, these stories are not so much noir dark as they are slyly humorous.
It’s the four remaining stories, sans Spade, that I found most compelling. In The Assistant Murderer, we meet Alexander Rush, a monster-faced, disgraced ex-cop whose honorable code belies his unfortunate reputation. He was an intriguing character who could have carried a novel. Night Shade is sneeze and you’ll miss it short, more of a mood piece than a short story, yet with a surprise at its end. Hammett once again revealed his humor chops in The Judge Laughed Last. And though you will always be two steps ahead of the dim narrator of the boxing story, His Brother’s Keeper, it will still break your heart.
The Adventures of Sam Spade doesn’t quite make my grade for four stars. It’s not top shelf hootch. But who, in a noir story, drinks the pricy stuff anyhow? If you enjoy noir, you will eventually want to read this one.
February 18, 2018
I was always under the impression that The Maltese Falcon was the only Sam Spade story that Dashiell Hammett wrote. Wrong!. He also wrote three short stories featuring Spade: A Man Called Spade, They Can Only Hang You Once and Too Many Have Lived which are collected in this short book. They are typical of most of the detective stories written in the 1940s....short, concise, and no surprises or red herrings. Just hard nosed detection by Spade much to the delight of the fan of this genre. Look for this little known book....you will be glad you did.
December 1, 2017
Από τον Φεβρουάριο του 2015 είχα να διαβάσω κάποιο βιβλίο του Ντάσιελ Χάμετ, τότε που διάβασα την καταπληκτική συλλογή διηγημάτων "Κοντινένταλ Οπ". Και τώρα έχουμε να κάνουμε με μια συλλογή, η οποία αποτελείται από επτά διηγήματα, στα τρία εκ των οποίων συμμετέχει ένας άλλος χαρακτηριστικός ντετέκτιβ του Χάμετ, ο φοβερός Σαμ Σπέιντ, τον οποίο μπορεί να γνωρίσει κανείς εις βάθος στο πολύ καλό μυθιστόρημα "Το γεράκι της Μάλτας". Η παρούσα συλλογή γενικά μου φάνηκε κατώτερη από την προηγούμενη που διάβασα, όμως τα τέσσερα αστεράκια τα έχει καπαρωμένα. Οι ιστορίες περιέχουν δράση, μυστήριο, ανατροπές και ατμόσφαιρα, η γραφή είναι λιτή, κοφτή και περιεκτική, οι χαρακτήρες αρχετυπικοί και δίχως βάθος αλλά σίγουρα λειτουργικοί. Πάντως οφείλω να παραδεχτώ ότι δεν εντυπωσιάστηκα τόσο από τα διηγήματα στα οποία συμμετείχε ο Σαμ Σπέιντ (εννοείται ότι μου άρεσαν βέβαια), όσο από δυο άλλα: Το "Ο συνένοχος", όπου πρωταγωνιστής είναι ο Άλεκ Ρας, ένας πανάσχημος ιδιωτικός ντετέκτιβ, καθώς και από το "Είχα έναν αδερφό", ένα διαμαντάκι μ'έναν απλοϊκό νεαρό μποξέρ και τον μάνατζερ-αδερφό του. Σίγουρα καλή συλλογή διηγημάτων, προτείνεται στους λάτρεις του συγγραφέα αλλά και του είδους γενικότερα, όμως ίσως όχι για πρώτη επαφή με το έργο του Χάμετ.
December 7, 2012
Dashiell Hammett was one of the two greatest writers of hardboiled detective fiction (Raymond Chandler being the other), and his best (in my opinion) novel, THE MALTESE FALCON, featured the iconic private eye Sam Spade. Hammett wrote a few other stories about Spade, and they are gathered here in this collection of short stories, along with two or three tales not involving Spade. Interestingly, the Spade stories are the least involving of the group, and even though they are each much shorter than THE MALTESE FALCON, I found it hard to remember much about them even as I finished reading each one. They slip away like mist. But the final story in the collection, a tale about boxing called "My Brother's Keeper," is a classic, one of the best short stories I've read in a long time. It has the same regretful feel of Sherwood Anderson's "I'm a Fool," though the milieu and atmosphere are far different. I found the collection of stories in A MAN CALLED SPADE a letdown, not because the stories aren't well-written, but because they don't reflect the full brilliance of Dashiell Hammett--except in "My Brother's Keeper." In that story, he proves himself a master all over again.
August 9, 2011
After I read The Maltese Falcon I went hunting for more Humphrey Bogart Sam Spade stories. The result was this 1945 collection of short fiction by Dashiell Hammett. There are only three Sam Spade stories here but they are full of the cold-hearted wise-cracking charm that makes the detective so memorable. They are nice P. I. who-dun-its that tend to take place in one room as Sam and sometimes police detective Dundy susses out the suspects and find the murderer. Of course, it is Sam who always figures it out. Never bet against Sam. And never trust the dames.
The other four tales range from mysteries to atmospheric period pieces but they all have the sharp and rough style of Hammett. I liked them all but the gem of the book is the last story titled "His Brother's Keeper" about a simple-minded boxer and his smarter and not necessarily wiser brother/manager. It is the most emotional of the lot and the one that I'll remember . Three and a half stars.
The other four tales range from mysteries to atmospheric period pieces but they all have the sharp and rough style of Hammett. I liked them all but the gem of the book is the last story titled "His Brother's Keeper" about a simple-minded boxer and his smarter and not necessarily wiser brother/manager. It is the most emotional of the lot and the one that I'll remember . Three and a half stars.
October 4, 2017
I picked this up because Sam Spade in the Maltese Falcon is one of my favorite books and movies and wanted more Spade. The three Spade stories the only other stories that Spade appears in are good, but my favorite story in the collection, "The Assistant Murderer" introduces a completely different kind of PI. Alex Rush the ugliest detective in anything I've read, ugly ugly ugly appears on almost every page, he was a shady cop and he gets sucked into this case. Rush is smart not like the thuggish brute he looks like.
If you liked Maltese Falcon this would be an interesting read, but make sure you read the Alex Rush story as well for the terrific plot.
If you liked Maltese Falcon this would be an interesting read, but make sure you read the Alex Rush story as well for the terrific plot.
July 20, 2022
A great selection of Mr. Hammett's short stories.
If you like to read stories that seem so real that is hard to believe they are fiction, this short book is for you.
The only mystery in the stories is waiting to see if the characters come out of life alive.
The detail is great, you can feel the hot breeze blowing through the open window at night. They were trying to get cool, if possible, so they could get some sleep before they had to drag themselves out of bed, as tired as when they went to bed, and go to a job that would barely keep a roof over their heads.
These stories are about real life and how messy it can be.
I enjoyed Mr. Hammett's writing style and his attention to detail.
If you like to read stories that seem so real that is hard to believe they are fiction, this short book is for you.
The only mystery in the stories is waiting to see if the characters come out of life alive.
The detail is great, you can feel the hot breeze blowing through the open window at night. They were trying to get cool, if possible, so they could get some sleep before they had to drag themselves out of bed, as tired as when they went to bed, and go to a job that would barely keep a roof over their heads.
These stories are about real life and how messy it can be.
I enjoyed Mr. Hammett's writing style and his attention to detail.
August 12, 2013
This book was recommended to me from a friend who is 60 years old and he said to me that Hammett is the best mystery and thrillers author because he is very raw and very real.At first i thought that he was over reacting cause he was his favorite and the gap of generations that exist between us will be reflected to this book.I couldn't be more wrong.Hammett's heroes are real people far away from super powers and global conspiracies.It's real crime and it is described as raw as it is.I am so excited for discovering Hammett that i'm going to read all his books.
November 3, 2020
Several short mysteries starring Sam Spade and some of Hammett's other detectives. And at least one very unusual one, who was kicked out of the police department - but not all is as it seems. Good stories.
December 23, 2020
Dashiell Hammett
Sam Spade and more Sam Spade. What else us there to say..just that Hammett is better than Chandler ever was.
Sam Spade and more Sam Spade. What else us there to say..just that Hammett is better than Chandler ever was.
July 1, 2024
Seven early Hammett stories originally published in magazines.
As always a fun read.
Some excerpts:
Spade said: “You had to kill him quick, before he had time to do or say anything. So you slip down the back stairs, open the kitchen door to fool people, go to the front door, ring the bell, shut the door, and hide in the shadow of the cellar door under the front steps. When Jarboe answered the doorbell you shot him — the hole was in the back of his head — pulled the light switch, just inside the cellar door, and ducked up the back stairs in the dark and shot yourself carefully in the arm. I got up there too soon for you; so you smacked me with the gun, chucked it through the door, and spread yourself on the floor while I was shaking pinwheels out of my noodle.”
“You ought to want to know what I’m doing hanging around ‘em. I ain’t tight. I’ll tell you. I’ve been slipped half a grand to bump off the girl — twice. How do you like that?”
“I hear you,” said Alec Rush. “But anybody can talk that knows the words.”
“I ain’t so silly! I get my hands on another two hundred and fifty berries, with that much more coming when I put over the fast one. Now do you think I’m going to do anything to that Landow baby? You’re dumb if you do. She’s my meal ticket. If she lives till I pop her, she’ll be older than either you or the bay. I’ve got five hundred out of her so far. What’s the matter with sticking around and waiting for more customers that don’t like her? If two of ‘em want to buy her out of the world, why not more? The answer is, ‘Yeah!’ And on top of that, here you are snooping around her. Now there it is, brother, for you to look at and taste and smell.”
I never get tired of noir.
As always a fun read.
Some excerpts:
Spade said: “You had to kill him quick, before he had time to do or say anything. So you slip down the back stairs, open the kitchen door to fool people, go to the front door, ring the bell, shut the door, and hide in the shadow of the cellar door under the front steps. When Jarboe answered the doorbell you shot him — the hole was in the back of his head — pulled the light switch, just inside the cellar door, and ducked up the back stairs in the dark and shot yourself carefully in the arm. I got up there too soon for you; so you smacked me with the gun, chucked it through the door, and spread yourself on the floor while I was shaking pinwheels out of my noodle.”
“You ought to want to know what I’m doing hanging around ‘em. I ain’t tight. I’ll tell you. I’ve been slipped half a grand to bump off the girl — twice. How do you like that?”
“I hear you,” said Alec Rush. “But anybody can talk that knows the words.”
“I ain’t so silly! I get my hands on another two hundred and fifty berries, with that much more coming when I put over the fast one. Now do you think I’m going to do anything to that Landow baby? You’re dumb if you do. She’s my meal ticket. If she lives till I pop her, she’ll be older than either you or the bay. I’ve got five hundred out of her so far. What’s the matter with sticking around and waiting for more customers that don’t like her? If two of ‘em want to buy her out of the world, why not more? The answer is, ‘Yeah!’ And on top of that, here you are snooping around her. Now there it is, brother, for you to look at and taste and smell.”
I never get tired of noir.
June 14, 2023
First, I have to say that the edition I purchased via Amazon has a similar cover, but it a REPUBLICATION-- and a poor one at that. The formatting is terrible, the page breaks awful, and the new stories NEVER start on a fresh page. It is as if (and likely) some publishing scumbag simply retyped this book, then edited the original cover-- and then published it as soon as he found the copyright had expired.
While the stories all have the right feel (as well as some politically incorrecte/socially outdated epithets) -- none of them rise to the level of The Maltese Falcon. They were written in a rush, and share a similarity in style and characterization, but never rise to greatness. Don't get me wrong, if you love this style of private eye adventure, and I do, this book is a fun read, but don't jump in thinking you are getting the best of Sam Spade... This is more like having a cup of literary coffee made from older coffee grounds. Enjoyable, yes, but nothing to get too excited about.
While the stories all have the right feel (as well as some politically incorrecte/socially outdated epithets) -- none of them rise to the level of The Maltese Falcon. They were written in a rush, and share a similarity in style and characterization, but never rise to greatness. Don't get me wrong, if you love this style of private eye adventure, and I do, this book is a fun read, but don't jump in thinking you are getting the best of Sam Spade... This is more like having a cup of literary coffee made from older coffee grounds. Enjoyable, yes, but nothing to get too excited about.
November 22, 2019
Отличный сборник коротких детективных историй. Если честно, я не ожидал, что такой формат вообще может существовать, но Хэммет большой молодец, читается быстро и интересно. Однако Сэм Спейд тут явно для привлечения внимания, замени его имя на другое и не будет никакой разницы, так как раскрытию персонажей в коротких историях попросту нет места.
October 31, 2024
The first three stories were fun, but after that this took a downward spiral.
September 15, 2019
In Sam Spade's world, no one can be trusted.
This book has seven stories, but only three feature private detective Sam Spade. Spade will never replace the Continental Op in my affections, but these are good stories.
Hammett's San Francisco is peopled with grifters, con men, and opportunists of all sorts. Some are bottom feeders and some have achieved success and surface respectability. All are dangerous, but the seemingly respectable men are the ones you never want to turn your back on.
Two of the stories involve brothers who are at each other's throats. Blood isn't always thicker than water. Sometimes blood ties just mean spilled blood.
The last three are stories that feature neither Spade or the Op. "The Assistant Murderer" is one of my favorite stories by Hammett or anyone else. Alexander Rush is a private eye who works independently (a la Sam Spade) but his looks and personality are much closer to the Continental Op.
A beat-up middle-aged guy in a low-rent office, he's a former cop who was railroaded off the force. A very reticent businessman looking for a detective who'll take a job without asking questions comes in with a vague request that Rush protect a female friend who might be in danger. Of course, she IS in danger and it's a complicated story with some fine quirky characters. Scuttle Zeipp and Polly Bangs and Ruby Sweeger are what set Hammett apart from the herd.
"Nightshade" is intriguing and shows Hammett's concern for the underdog. The last two are entertaining, but forgettable. You'll get your money's worth from the three Spade stories and "The Assistant Murderer.
This book has seven stories, but only three feature private detective Sam Spade. Spade will never replace the Continental Op in my affections, but these are good stories.
Hammett's San Francisco is peopled with grifters, con men, and opportunists of all sorts. Some are bottom feeders and some have achieved success and surface respectability. All are dangerous, but the seemingly respectable men are the ones you never want to turn your back on.
Two of the stories involve brothers who are at each other's throats. Blood isn't always thicker than water. Sometimes blood ties just mean spilled blood.
The last three are stories that feature neither Spade or the Op. "The Assistant Murderer" is one of my favorite stories by Hammett or anyone else. Alexander Rush is a private eye who works independently (a la Sam Spade) but his looks and personality are much closer to the Continental Op.
A beat-up middle-aged guy in a low-rent office, he's a former cop who was railroaded off the force. A very reticent businessman looking for a detective who'll take a job without asking questions comes in with a vague request that Rush protect a female friend who might be in danger. Of course, she IS in danger and it's a complicated story with some fine quirky characters. Scuttle Zeipp and Polly Bangs and Ruby Sweeger are what set Hammett apart from the herd.
"Nightshade" is intriguing and shows Hammett's concern for the underdog. The last two are entertaining, but forgettable. You'll get your money's worth from the three Spade stories and "The Assistant Murderer.
December 28, 2020
Un Hombre Llamado Spade - La edición que leí es de los años 80s, pero la original es de los 40s.
Dashiell Hammett tiene un tema y es que escribió muchos relatos cortos, la mayoría se tradujeron al español pero otros no. También no existía un libro que los recopilara todos, sino que había varios libros que juntaban varios cuentos pero a la larga no algunos quedaban por fuera.
Lo que hizo esta editorial fue intentar agrupar todas las historias cortas en una misma colección, este primer tomo (desconozco si sacaron más) agrupa todos los relatos del detective privado de San Francisco Same Spade (queda por fuera la novela El Halcón Maltés) y 3 o 4 más de temática variada pero siempre en torno al género policial.
La intro es muy buena porque explica todo el tema de los cuentos, sus traducciones y su orden. También da una idea de cómo estructuró su obra Dashiell Hammett y lo comprometido que estuvo con la lucha de las libertades (fue perseguido por Joseph McCarthy).
Los cuentos son excelentes, hay que recordar que este autor invento un género, y si no lo invento por lo menos puso sus pilares. Desde ese punto de vista es imposible criticarlo.
Me quedo con el detective Sam Spade que tan bien supo interpretar el genio de Humphrey Bogart, es el típico detective noir, al que todo le importa poco, y que hace su trabajo lo mejor posible.
El libro se le muy rápido, en un día o dos, las historias son ágiles y casi teatrales, varias de las historias transcurren en una o dos habitación y con 5 o 6 personajes.
Es historia de la literatura y como tal merece la pena ser leída.
Dashiell Hammett tiene un tema y es que escribió muchos relatos cortos, la mayoría se tradujeron al español pero otros no. También no existía un libro que los recopilara todos, sino que había varios libros que juntaban varios cuentos pero a la larga no algunos quedaban por fuera.
Lo que hizo esta editorial fue intentar agrupar todas las historias cortas en una misma colección, este primer tomo (desconozco si sacaron más) agrupa todos los relatos del detective privado de San Francisco Same Spade (queda por fuera la novela El Halcón Maltés) y 3 o 4 más de temática variada pero siempre en torno al género policial.
La intro es muy buena porque explica todo el tema de los cuentos, sus traducciones y su orden. También da una idea de cómo estructuró su obra Dashiell Hammett y lo comprometido que estuvo con la lucha de las libertades (fue perseguido por Joseph McCarthy).
Los cuentos son excelentes, hay que recordar que este autor invento un género, y si no lo invento por lo menos puso sus pilares. Desde ese punto de vista es imposible criticarlo.
Me quedo con el detective Sam Spade que tan bien supo interpretar el genio de Humphrey Bogart, es el típico detective noir, al que todo le importa poco, y que hace su trabajo lo mejor posible.
El libro se le muy rápido, en un día o dos, las historias son ágiles y casi teatrales, varias de las historias transcurren en una o dos habitación y con 5 o 6 personajes.
Es historia de la literatura y como tal merece la pena ser leída.
August 15, 2012
Although not Hammett at his best, this collection of short stories is clearly representative of the early Hammett. He proves his mastery of the short story, from what could be considered to be a short short to what is almost a novella, managing to give us images of what, to us, is a bygone era, in few words. Although they can all easily be read at a single sitting, I would recommend savoring them; only then (as Ellery Queen so aptly put it) does Hammett the romantic show himself. This book is not only for Hammett completists.
For the student of literature and the budding writer, there is much to find here. Hammett was nothing if not a wordsmith, bending words to fit his images and characterizations. His devices are not always obvious, sometimes hiding themselves until after the last period.
Casual readers may prefer not to start with this volume; I would recommend starting with something later in his career and coming back to these gems. For those who already enjoy his work, this book is not to be missed.
For the student of literature and the budding writer, there is much to find here. Hammett was nothing if not a wordsmith, bending words to fit his images and characterizations. His devices are not always obvious, sometimes hiding themselves until after the last period.
Casual readers may prefer not to start with this volume; I would recommend starting with something later in his career and coming back to these gems. For those who already enjoy his work, this book is not to be missed.
July 30, 2022
Mixed bag of tricks, kid. See, some of these tales are spun together tight like steel trap while others fall apart like a wet bag. Short stories made to have twists and turns like a New England countryside road. Some have a decent kick, others have all the punch of your anemic kid sister. Only the first three feature Sam Spade. The others do their own thing. Nothing overly memorable to see. The Judge laughing last was a bit of a fun kick of the can. Even got a chuckle at the end. The racism of the time shines in a tale or two near the end. One making more of it than the other. I find all too often in the mystery stories they're done up right for the dance but then the detective wouldn't have had a chance nailing the criminal if the guilty party didn't have a serious bout of the need to spill the beans and clear his chest. Eeeh, take 'em or leave 'em.
June 9, 2019
Hey, it's Dashiell.
Excellent dialogue that one expects of Mr. Hammett. Tight, exciting plots through most of the stories. A couple of the non-Spade stories are a bit flat. Otherwise, the book is great for those who love the genre.
Excellent dialogue that one expects of Mr. Hammett. Tight, exciting plots through most of the stories. A couple of the non-Spade stories are a bit flat. Otherwise, the book is great for those who love the genre.
June 27, 2025
Ungeachtet des guten Rufs, den Hammett und sein Detektiv Spade genießen, dafür dass sie angeblich den Kriminalroman den Leuten zurückgegeben haben, die tatsächlich Gründe für Verbrechen hatten, kann man sich diese Story-Sammlung auch genauso gut schenken, wiewohl auch Lesen nicht schadet oder wehtut.
Es handelt sich um einen von fünf kleinen gebundenen Bänden, mit denen Hoffmann und Campe irgendwann mal die Hammett-Geschichten aus den Kriminalmagazinen der zwanziger und dreißiger Jahre gesammelt vorlegen wollte, sie dafür auch neu übersetzen ließ, der vorherige Hammett-Verlag, Diogenes, hatte einiges ausgelassen. All diese Bücher und auch die Goldmann-Taschenbuch-Ausgaben, die es davon gegeben hat, sind nicht mehr im regulären Handel. Ich habe das hier, schon vor vielen Jahren, günstig erworben, als es verramscht wurde – und jetzt doch noch Lust bekommen, es endlich mal zu lesen.
Dazu sollte man wissen, dass von den oben gelisteten Storys der englischen Ausgaben nur die ersten drei in dem Buch sind, das ich las, alle drei stammen aus dem Jahr 1932. Dazu kamen für mich dann noch die schon aus dem Jahr 1924 stammenden, längeren und mir letztlich auch besser gefallenden Geschichten „Verräterei mal hin, mal her“ (Zigzag on Treachery) und „Tod in der Pine Street“ (Death on Pine Street).
Es war sicher nie leicht, auf 30 bis 40 Seiten eine Mordgeschichte mit mehreren Verdächtigen abzuhandeln, die dann sowohl die Figuren glaubwürdig machen wie auch den Detektiv noch in eine lebensgefährliche Situation bringen sollte. Man muss dann aber doch sagen, dass Spade, der bisweilen auch Ich-Erzähler ist, kaum mehr als eine Chiffre für die Erzählperspektive bzw. den Lesereinblick ist. Man kann, wenn man vorher andere Romane nicht gelesen hat, die Filme nicht gesehen hat, sich weder einen Bogart noch sonst einen kühlen, wortkargen, der Moral verpflichteten Mann vorstellen. Sowohl Sarkasmen wie Grausamkeit halten sich doch sehr in Grenzen.
Die Plots sind jedes Mal überaus konstruiert und an irgendwelchen Haaren herbeigezogen, sodass sich wirklich nicht behaupten ließe, die Verbrecherwelt der Stadt San Francisco in den Roaring Twenties würde da auf den Kopf ihres Nagels getroffen. Es ist so offensichtlich fabuliert wie jedes x-beliebige Krimi-Hörspiel im Radio, jeder x-beliebige Schwarze-Serien-B-Film aus Hollywood. Allerdings merkt man das meist nach der Lektüre erst, denn erst einmal knallt Hammett den Leser mitten rein. Man verfolgt einen Ganoven, man findet eine Leiche, man wird von einer flirtenden Frau engagiert. Alles endet zum Schluss beim Geld. Da ist Hammett gut amerikanisch.
Ziemlich befremdend allerdings, dass die Geschichten, obwohl es mit erzählender Prosa doch leicht anders ginge, ständig alle Beteiligten auf einer Bühne und in einer begrenzten Zeitspanne vereinigen wollen, wo sie dann erst einmal etliches flott zu sagen haben. Als ob Hammett mit seinen Heftchen-Storys gleich auch schon das Hörspiel, den Einakter, den B-Film mit verfasst hätte. Erst Kunde oder Kundin, dann Spade, dann ein Toter, dann dessen Frau, Geliebte, Tochter, die einen Gangster kennt, Butler, Sekretärin, Jurist, der das Testament geändert hat, Polizisten, mit denen sich Spade gut versteht, Jahre gemeinsamer Praxis liegen hinter ihnen, dann der Überraschungsgast, oft ein stadtbekannter Gangster, der dann wohl auch was mit der angeblichen Familienstreiterei zu tun hat. Alle gehen und kommen nacheinander im selben Apartment-Block, Büro, Musiksalon. Irgendwann fällt dann meistens noch ein Schuss und noch einer ist tot.
Das große Knallbonbon, auf das alle Texte hin arbeiten, das sie jedes Mal straff und unerwartet explodieren lassen, ist jener Moment, in dem Spade sagt: „X, warum haben Sie Ihren Onkel erschossen?“ Was vorher überhaupt niemand so kommen sah, jetzt aber gleich genau rekonstruiert wird. Der Täter hat sich mit unauffälligen Kleinigkeiten und Widersprüchen verraten.
Oder noch besser: Der Mörder merkt, dass er durchschaut wurde, bevor der Leser es merkt. Er zieht eine Pistole, aber, Achtung, meine Damen und Herren, Sam Spade schießt sie ihm einhändig mit der Pistole in seiner Jacketttasche aus der Hand. Das sei nicht so toll, wie es aussehe, erklärt er den Lesern. In akuten Stresssituationen denke der Mensch überhaupt nicht mehr nach, sondern tue ungeplant genau das Richtige. Werde also eine Waffe auf einen angelegt, ziele man nicht auf die Waffe, die man, falls man auf sie zielte, wohl verfehlen würde, sondern allgemein auf seinen Feind, treffe aber exakt die Waffe, weil das Unterbewusstsein sie als Kern der Gefahr ausmache. Aha. Soso. Und später dann schickt Spade den besagten Mörder, dem er den Beweis abgehandelt hat, der Spades Kundin entlastet, zur Hintertür hinaus, geht schnell vorn ans Fenster, ruft dem Polizisten drunten zu, hinterm Haus wolle einer fliehen, der Polizist läuft ums Haus und erschießt den Mörder, weil dessen Pistole versagt, weil Spade genau den Hahn von ihr getroffen hat und dass der nicht mehr funktionsfähig war, das hat er gemerkt, als er die davon geschleuderte Waffe zurückgegeben hat. Tja Freunde, so ist das Leben.
Es handelt sich um einen von fünf kleinen gebundenen Bänden, mit denen Hoffmann und Campe irgendwann mal die Hammett-Geschichten aus den Kriminalmagazinen der zwanziger und dreißiger Jahre gesammelt vorlegen wollte, sie dafür auch neu übersetzen ließ, der vorherige Hammett-Verlag, Diogenes, hatte einiges ausgelassen. All diese Bücher und auch die Goldmann-Taschenbuch-Ausgaben, die es davon gegeben hat, sind nicht mehr im regulären Handel. Ich habe das hier, schon vor vielen Jahren, günstig erworben, als es verramscht wurde – und jetzt doch noch Lust bekommen, es endlich mal zu lesen.
Dazu sollte man wissen, dass von den oben gelisteten Storys der englischen Ausgaben nur die ersten drei in dem Buch sind, das ich las, alle drei stammen aus dem Jahr 1932. Dazu kamen für mich dann noch die schon aus dem Jahr 1924 stammenden, längeren und mir letztlich auch besser gefallenden Geschichten „Verräterei mal hin, mal her“ (Zigzag on Treachery) und „Tod in der Pine Street“ (Death on Pine Street).
Es war sicher nie leicht, auf 30 bis 40 Seiten eine Mordgeschichte mit mehreren Verdächtigen abzuhandeln, die dann sowohl die Figuren glaubwürdig machen wie auch den Detektiv noch in eine lebensgefährliche Situation bringen sollte. Man muss dann aber doch sagen, dass Spade, der bisweilen auch Ich-Erzähler ist, kaum mehr als eine Chiffre für die Erzählperspektive bzw. den Lesereinblick ist. Man kann, wenn man vorher andere Romane nicht gelesen hat, die Filme nicht gesehen hat, sich weder einen Bogart noch sonst einen kühlen, wortkargen, der Moral verpflichteten Mann vorstellen. Sowohl Sarkasmen wie Grausamkeit halten sich doch sehr in Grenzen.
Die Plots sind jedes Mal überaus konstruiert und an irgendwelchen Haaren herbeigezogen, sodass sich wirklich nicht behaupten ließe, die Verbrecherwelt der Stadt San Francisco in den Roaring Twenties würde da auf den Kopf ihres Nagels getroffen. Es ist so offensichtlich fabuliert wie jedes x-beliebige Krimi-Hörspiel im Radio, jeder x-beliebige Schwarze-Serien-B-Film aus Hollywood. Allerdings merkt man das meist nach der Lektüre erst, denn erst einmal knallt Hammett den Leser mitten rein. Man verfolgt einen Ganoven, man findet eine Leiche, man wird von einer flirtenden Frau engagiert. Alles endet zum Schluss beim Geld. Da ist Hammett gut amerikanisch.
Ziemlich befremdend allerdings, dass die Geschichten, obwohl es mit erzählender Prosa doch leicht anders ginge, ständig alle Beteiligten auf einer Bühne und in einer begrenzten Zeitspanne vereinigen wollen, wo sie dann erst einmal etliches flott zu sagen haben. Als ob Hammett mit seinen Heftchen-Storys gleich auch schon das Hörspiel, den Einakter, den B-Film mit verfasst hätte. Erst Kunde oder Kundin, dann Spade, dann ein Toter, dann dessen Frau, Geliebte, Tochter, die einen Gangster kennt, Butler, Sekretärin, Jurist, der das Testament geändert hat, Polizisten, mit denen sich Spade gut versteht, Jahre gemeinsamer Praxis liegen hinter ihnen, dann der Überraschungsgast, oft ein stadtbekannter Gangster, der dann wohl auch was mit der angeblichen Familienstreiterei zu tun hat. Alle gehen und kommen nacheinander im selben Apartment-Block, Büro, Musiksalon. Irgendwann fällt dann meistens noch ein Schuss und noch einer ist tot.
Das große Knallbonbon, auf das alle Texte hin arbeiten, das sie jedes Mal straff und unerwartet explodieren lassen, ist jener Moment, in dem Spade sagt: „X, warum haben Sie Ihren Onkel erschossen?“ Was vorher überhaupt niemand so kommen sah, jetzt aber gleich genau rekonstruiert wird. Der Täter hat sich mit unauffälligen Kleinigkeiten und Widersprüchen verraten.
Oder noch besser: Der Mörder merkt, dass er durchschaut wurde, bevor der Leser es merkt. Er zieht eine Pistole, aber, Achtung, meine Damen und Herren, Sam Spade schießt sie ihm einhändig mit der Pistole in seiner Jacketttasche aus der Hand. Das sei nicht so toll, wie es aussehe, erklärt er den Lesern. In akuten Stresssituationen denke der Mensch überhaupt nicht mehr nach, sondern tue ungeplant genau das Richtige. Werde also eine Waffe auf einen angelegt, ziele man nicht auf die Waffe, die man, falls man auf sie zielte, wohl verfehlen würde, sondern allgemein auf seinen Feind, treffe aber exakt die Waffe, weil das Unterbewusstsein sie als Kern der Gefahr ausmache. Aha. Soso. Und später dann schickt Spade den besagten Mörder, dem er den Beweis abgehandelt hat, der Spades Kundin entlastet, zur Hintertür hinaus, geht schnell vorn ans Fenster, ruft dem Polizisten drunten zu, hinterm Haus wolle einer fliehen, der Polizist läuft ums Haus und erschießt den Mörder, weil dessen Pistole versagt, weil Spade genau den Hahn von ihr getroffen hat und dass der nicht mehr funktionsfähig war, das hat er gemerkt, als er die davon geschleuderte Waffe zurückgegeben hat. Tja Freunde, so ist das Leben.
December 29, 2021
So many books still unread, so many books to discover, and maybe I was paralyzed by too many choices but I was at a loss at what to read. Somehow I landed on more Dashiell Hammett. Even though I stalled out on my last read of the Dain Curse, since for some reason it just didn’t grab me.
[Quick aside...I think this should have been free*, but I couldn’t fine a decent download and ponied up the dough to Amazon. It is just so dang easy.]
But enough of that. A solid bit of fun, this. Wonderful Hammett Noir, with the stories short enough you can finish off in one sitting each or if you must break them up the story is straight enough you don’t have to retrace your reading to get back in the zone.
Maybe I am antsy about the state of the world, the country, my home state, or the nature of existence, BUT I needed these delicious dark detective stories to bring a sense of order to my life. Of course that may not reflect well on the status of my soul, but there you are.
Not much else to say, except if the quotes below don’t bring you a sense of peace then you have a heart of stone.
When your gentle-countenanced man smiles there is small gain: his smile expresses little more than his reposed face. But when Alec Rush distorted his ogre's mask so that jovial friendliness peeped incongruously from his savage red eyes, from his brutal metal-studded mouth—then that was a heartening, a winning thing. – Location 860
Oh man that is good!! “his brutal metal-studded mouth—then that was a heartening, a winning thing.”
"And who are these certain parties that want her out of the way?" "Be yourself!" Scuttle Zeipp admonished him. "I'm laying down on 'em, right enough, but I ain't feeding 'em to you." "What are you giving me all this for then?" "What for? Because you're in on the lay somewhere. Crossing each other, neither of us can make a thin dimmer. If we don't hook up we'll just ruin the racket for each other. I've already made half a grand off this Landow. – Location 1052
And dang this slang filled part doesn’t warm your heart, well then like I said…heart of stone.
# # # # #
*This eBook is made available at no cost and with very few restrictions.
[Quick aside...I think this should have been free*, but I couldn’t fine a decent download and ponied up the dough to Amazon. It is just so dang easy.]
But enough of that. A solid bit of fun, this. Wonderful Hammett Noir, with the stories short enough you can finish off in one sitting each or if you must break them up the story is straight enough you don’t have to retrace your reading to get back in the zone.
Maybe I am antsy about the state of the world, the country, my home state, or the nature of existence, BUT I needed these delicious dark detective stories to bring a sense of order to my life. Of course that may not reflect well on the status of my soul, but there you are.
Not much else to say, except if the quotes below don’t bring you a sense of peace then you have a heart of stone.
When your gentle-countenanced man smiles there is small gain: his smile expresses little more than his reposed face. But when Alec Rush distorted his ogre's mask so that jovial friendliness peeped incongruously from his savage red eyes, from his brutal metal-studded mouth—then that was a heartening, a winning thing. – Location 860
Oh man that is good!! “his brutal metal-studded mouth—then that was a heartening, a winning thing.”
"And who are these certain parties that want her out of the way?" "Be yourself!" Scuttle Zeipp admonished him. "I'm laying down on 'em, right enough, but I ain't feeding 'em to you." "What are you giving me all this for then?" "What for? Because you're in on the lay somewhere. Crossing each other, neither of us can make a thin dimmer. If we don't hook up we'll just ruin the racket for each other. I've already made half a grand off this Landow. – Location 1052
And dang this slang filled part doesn’t warm your heart, well then like I said…heart of stone.
# # # # #
*This eBook is made available at no cost and with very few restrictions.
February 13, 2018
Samuel Dasheill Hammett is "now widely regarded as one of the finest mystery writers of all time" according to one of his biographers. This book of short stories, containing three with Sam Spade and four more in Hammett's usual terse style, is nothing if not hard boiled.
Hammett published four stories containing Sam Spade - the Maltese Falcon, usually published as a complete book and not included here - and the three here, "Too Many Have Lived," "They Can Only Hang You Once," and "A Man Called Spade." The stories are so quick and tight that there is no room for thorough analysis, no room to fully understand how Spade comes to his conclusions; after the stage is set and events occur, he simply tells you who did it, and the story ends. And there's no hand holding to nurse you coming to the same answer yourself. For those of us used to the detailed review provided by Hercule Poirot, the dry study done by Ellery Queen, or the frisky actions of Miss Fisher, such an abrupt resolution is a bit of a shock. But you have to appreciate Hammett's writing - a craft all its own.
With his time as a Pinkerton's Detective to make his writing authentic, Hammett said that all his characters were based on people he had known, or known about. And there's never a moment in the reading where the characters feel less than genuine. His other four stories - "The Assistant Murderer," "Night Shade," "The Judge Laughed Last" (which is indeed a bit of a laugh) and "His Brother's Keeper" are as terse and quick as the Sam Spade tales. "Brother's Keeper " is more of a noir boxing tale, and one that will stay with you.
These stories originally were published in The American Magazine, Colliers, Mystery Magazine and others. The collection, with an introduction by one of the Ellery Queen cousins, is convenient, but I think putting them all in one binding lessens the original impact. Imagine leafing through a magazine, looking at clothes and columns, and then reading one of these short stories. Memorable!
Hammett published four stories containing Sam Spade - the Maltese Falcon, usually published as a complete book and not included here - and the three here, "Too Many Have Lived," "They Can Only Hang You Once," and "A Man Called Spade." The stories are so quick and tight that there is no room for thorough analysis, no room to fully understand how Spade comes to his conclusions; after the stage is set and events occur, he simply tells you who did it, and the story ends. And there's no hand holding to nurse you coming to the same answer yourself. For those of us used to the detailed review provided by Hercule Poirot, the dry study done by Ellery Queen, or the frisky actions of Miss Fisher, such an abrupt resolution is a bit of a shock. But you have to appreciate Hammett's writing - a craft all its own.
With his time as a Pinkerton's Detective to make his writing authentic, Hammett said that all his characters were based on people he had known, or known about. And there's never a moment in the reading where the characters feel less than genuine. His other four stories - "The Assistant Murderer," "Night Shade," "The Judge Laughed Last" (which is indeed a bit of a laugh) and "His Brother's Keeper" are as terse and quick as the Sam Spade tales. "Brother's Keeper " is more of a noir boxing tale, and one that will stay with you.
These stories originally were published in The American Magazine, Colliers, Mystery Magazine and others. The collection, with an introduction by one of the Ellery Queen cousins, is convenient, but I think putting them all in one binding lessens the original impact. Imagine leafing through a magazine, looking at clothes and columns, and then reading one of these short stories. Memorable!
March 4, 2024
This book is a collection of short stories about Sam Spade and others. Sam Spade was a rather famous rough and tough PI that all others have been based on since.
First thing for me to note is that this book is just a tiny bit over one hundred years old. It is important to understand just how different life was 100 years ago than it is today in order to properly enjoy these stories. Things that could be and would be solved today in a flash could take days back then. No TV, no Internet, no computers, no cell phones. News papers came out twice a day and in larger cities even three times a day. Even then News traveled slowly if at all. Back in the 1920s there were still some houses with out electricity at all. Cold water flats were common. Not every person or family owned cars and it was still not unheard of to see people travel by horse if not uncommon.
My expectations for these collection of short stories were rather high and perhaps that is what contributes to my low star rating. Some of the stories seemed to be more just thoughts or ideas for stories to later be fleshed out, some seemed to be just unfinished works. The author attempted to make these books as much like real life as posable, paint a picture so to speak, with words by having characters sentences interrupted mid sentence with a knock on the door, a phone call or another person entering the room and speaking over them. While life may be just like that at times, it makes for a story that is difficult to follow. I have found my self re=reading many passages many times just to be sure i had not missed something. As a result of this many passage seemed to be incomplete thoughts, although I will admit that this did add in a level of suspense.
December 17, 2022
Its hard to be a good man in a dishonest world. That defines famed private eye Sam Spade. Being the lead in my favorite noir film, The Maltese Falcon, I was excited to read more of his adventures. This, kind of did the trick.
This is a collection of short stories by author Dashiell Hammett. Of the 7 stories, 3 involved Sam Spade, 1 involves a different detective, and the rest are… interesting.
If you’re looking for a classic hard-boiled story, maybe look elsewhere. While Spade is much the same character as in Maltese Falcon, these stories felt more like mini-Sherlock Holmes mysteries. The clues are important, the mystery/murder short, and the conclusion predictable if your paying attention. They’re fun, but nothing special.
The rest of the stories are much more varied. My favorite was easily Night Shade or The Assistant Murder.
Night Shade is the shortest and uses its time the best, laying an amazing atmosphere and mood. Its not a mystery, but more a writing exercise. A bit dicey with its content, be warned a hard slur is used, but in a era-appropriate manner.
The Assistant Murder is the closest to a traditional detective story, and involving a new detective, and ugly fellow named Alex Rush. Remember that, he’s ugly, because the book won’t let you forget. He’s other prevailing trait is being sour, and that one didn’t really connect with me. Its a fun short story that feels like it could have been expanded. Had a nice twist and felt the most like an adventure.
Overall: A collection of crime stories from an author everyone should know. A few are great, most are ok, and together that makes a decent enough read.
This is a collection of short stories by author Dashiell Hammett. Of the 7 stories, 3 involved Sam Spade, 1 involves a different detective, and the rest are… interesting.
If you’re looking for a classic hard-boiled story, maybe look elsewhere. While Spade is much the same character as in Maltese Falcon, these stories felt more like mini-Sherlock Holmes mysteries. The clues are important, the mystery/murder short, and the conclusion predictable if your paying attention. They’re fun, but nothing special.
The rest of the stories are much more varied. My favorite was easily Night Shade or The Assistant Murder.
Night Shade is the shortest and uses its time the best, laying an amazing atmosphere and mood. Its not a mystery, but more a writing exercise. A bit dicey with its content, be warned a hard slur is used, but in a era-appropriate manner.
The Assistant Murder is the closest to a traditional detective story, and involving a new detective, and ugly fellow named Alex Rush. Remember that, he’s ugly, because the book won’t let you forget. He’s other prevailing trait is being sour, and that one didn’t really connect with me. Its a fun short story that feels like it could have been expanded. Had a nice twist and felt the most like an adventure.
Overall: A collection of crime stories from an author everyone should know. A few are great, most are ok, and together that makes a decent enough read.
November 17, 2023
Dashiell Hammet’s Sam Spade is, of course, the marquee character in this boutique printing of short stories by the master. It isn't the hardbound edition pictured here. Yet, the most interesting story in the anthology to me is one without Spade. The protagonist is Alexander Rush in “The Assistant Murderer,” hired by a nondescript young man posing as a disinterested, anonymous patron acting out of altruistic concern. Of course, it doesn’t take a spoiler to suggest that there is at least a quadrangle of romantic (if not sexual) tension contributing to a conflict of interest on behalf of Rush’s initial patron. This one was quite fascinating as Rush carefully opens the pages of these characters’ lives, stuck together by the cover-up of murder.
For historical interest, I liked the very short story entitled “Night Shade,” a pun to set up the final revelation and line. The story is more atmospheric than substantial, but it would have made a great opening for a longer story featuring the unusual (especially for that era) protagonist.
For emotional impact, I liked “His Brother’s Keeper.” This one featured one of my favorite venues for period pieces, the underworld of boxing. Even better, it didn’t end in quite the way I expected. It was definitely worth the reading experience, though.
The Sam Spade stories had interesting mysteries but seemed to make Spade more cerebral than action-oriented. They were more conversational than confrontational.
For historical interest, I liked the very short story entitled “Night Shade,” a pun to set up the final revelation and line. The story is more atmospheric than substantial, but it would have made a great opening for a longer story featuring the unusual (especially for that era) protagonist.
For emotional impact, I liked “His Brother’s Keeper.” This one featured one of my favorite venues for period pieces, the underworld of boxing. Even better, it didn’t end in quite the way I expected. It was definitely worth the reading experience, though.
The Sam Spade stories had interesting mysteries but seemed to make Spade more cerebral than action-oriented. They were more conversational than confrontational.
February 20, 2024
This book is a collection of five stories by Dashiell Hammett. The stories include:
1. "A Man Called Spade"
2. "They Can Only Hang You Once"
3. "Too Many Have Lived"
4. "The Assistant Murderer"
5. "His Brother's Keeper"
The first three stories feature a character named Samuel Spade. The last two stories are different. "The Assistant Murderer" is about a detective named Alexander Rush in Baltimore, not Spade's usual San Francisco. "His Brother's Keeper" tells the story of a young boxer and his brother, not a detective story like the others.
"A Man Called Spade" is the best story in the book. It's a good detective story with a strong ending. The other Spade stories are not as good because their plots are confusing. "The Assistant Murderer" starts well but ends poorly.
Overall, this book is interesting for its historical value but doesn't show Hammett's best work. It deserves three stars.
1. "A Man Called Spade"
2. "They Can Only Hang You Once"
3. "Too Many Have Lived"
4. "The Assistant Murderer"
5. "His Brother's Keeper"
The first three stories feature a character named Samuel Spade. The last two stories are different. "The Assistant Murderer" is about a detective named Alexander Rush in Baltimore, not Spade's usual San Francisco. "His Brother's Keeper" tells the story of a young boxer and his brother, not a detective story like the others.
"A Man Called Spade" is the best story in the book. It's a good detective story with a strong ending. The other Spade stories are not as good because their plots are confusing. "The Assistant Murderer" starts well but ends poorly.
Overall, this book is interesting for its historical value but doesn't show Hammett's best work. It deserves three stars.
September 15, 2024
I recently watched Scott Frank and Tom Fontana's limited series Monsieur Spade, featuring an excellent Clive Owen performance as an aging Sam Spade, 20 or so years after the events of The Maltese Falcon, living in semiretirement in France. Owen unburdened the role of Bogart's influence in a way that made me want to revisit Hammett's Spade and form my own mental picture of him.
Full disclosure: I'm first and foremost a Raymond Chandler guy, and enough actors have played Philip Marlowe over the years — Bogart included — that I've always formed my own image of Marlowe on the page not beholden to any of those performances.
Hammett's short stories for the most part are blunt and procedural and lack some of the character development and personality that his novels give room to breathe. But these were a nice way back into the character and a good tune-up for a re-read of Falcon somewhere down the line.
Full disclosure: I'm first and foremost a Raymond Chandler guy, and enough actors have played Philip Marlowe over the years — Bogart included — that I've always formed my own image of Marlowe on the page not beholden to any of those performances.
Hammett's short stories for the most part are blunt and procedural and lack some of the character development and personality that his novels give room to breathe. But these were a nice way back into the character and a good tune-up for a re-read of Falcon somewhere down the line.
May 31, 2021
Rather than a CD set, I listened to an audiobook collection of the original radio shows. The technology is naturally not up to today's standards, but that doesn't detract much from the recordings. I really enjoyed the early episodes that had Howard Duff as Spade, but then partway through the collection Stephen Dunn took over the title role and I didn't enjoy his interpretation as much. He was more cheery and flippant than Duff, who I felt did a good job with the character. Overall I'd recommend the collection because the stories themselves were a lot of fun.
August 24, 2023
These hardly qualify as stories - more like sketches of characters he was fleshing out for future novels. None have much in the way of a story. Instead they mostly involve conversations, surveillance, more conversations, and an eventual unveiling of a crime.
They are good characters though. Sam Spade is well known. I preferred Alec Rush, usually described as the “ugly” one or the “ugly face”.
They are good characters though. Sam Spade is well known. I preferred Alec Rush, usually described as the “ugly” one or the “ugly face”.
June 30, 2022
Entertaining listening 🎶🔰
Another will written murder mystery adventure thriller of eight short stories by Dashiell Hammett and other authors. Each story is different with interesting characters and conclusion. I would recommend this Megapack to readers of action mysteries. Enjoy the adventure of reading all kinds of novels 👍🔰 and books 📚, 2022
Another will written murder mystery adventure thriller of eight short stories by Dashiell Hammett and other authors. Each story is different with interesting characters and conclusion. I would recommend this Megapack to readers of action mysteries. Enjoy the adventure of reading all kinds of novels 👍🔰 and books 📚, 2022
Displaying 1 - 30 of 77 reviews