Dashiell Hammett’s mother once told him, “Don’t waste your time on women who can’t cook because they’re not likely to be much fun in the other rooms either.” (p. 5) Nathan Ward’s little book contains plenty of information about Hammett, his writing, and the people in his life. Ward also comes closest to answering “Why did Hammett stop writing?” I enjoyed Ward’s analysis of many of Hammett’s classic stories and novels. If you’re a fan of Dashiell Hammett, this little book packs a lot of information into 200 pages. Well worth a look. GRADE: B+
TABLE OF CONTENTS:
Prelude: Scars
PART I: The cheaper the crook
1, The devilish art
2. A company man
3. $5,000 blood money
4. Out of uniform
5. Dearest woman
6. The last case
PART II: The ex-detective
7. A little man going forward
8. The old man
9. Blackmasking
10. The price of Peggy O’Toole
11. The big ship
12. Among the ghosts
13. Babylon and back
Afterword: A hundred bucks
Acknowledgements
Notes
Selected Bibliography
Index
That’s the kind of book I’m most likely to read (that will take away time from other things on the shelf). I see my local library has a copy available so will try and remember to check it out when I’m there.
Jeff, THE LOST DETECTIVE was a fun, breezy read. Well worth a look.
Will look for it also.
Patti, you could read THE LOST DETECTIVE in a couple hours. Easy, informative read.
sounds very interesting, but alas, my tbr mountain has books that need reading for review.
Maggie, Patti Abbott calls me George the Tempter. Maybe you’ll change your mind about THE LOST DETECTIVE!
Thanks, George!
Having read “The Maltese Falcon” many years ago and being impressed deeply this made me curious again and I looked up Hammett on wiki – what an interesting life he lead!
Hammett, Chandler, Spillane and others were sensational reading for a young German in the 1960s – and helped me in learning English too …
Wolf, some critics consider Hammett the better than Chandler, Spillane, or Ross Macdonald.
Hello mr. Kelley–
Thanks for the read and the review of The Lost Detective, which Don Herron brought to my attention.
Yours in Hammett,
Nathan Ward
Nathan, I enjoyed THE LOST DETECTIVE. Hope you write more books about classic mystery writers! And thank Don Herron for the heads up!