The Thin Man

Hammett invented the hard boiled detective novel but The Thin Man is a slightly different beast. Nick Charles has married wealthy Nora and given up his life as a detective, but old acquaintances call on his expertise during a trip to New York.

There's murder, double dealing, lies and some larger-than-life characters in this short novel. The plot (who killed someone and where is Clyde Wynant) is convoluted and there are a myriad of suspects. But what really sparkles is the repartee between Nick and Nora. There's not enough of it which is why the movie adaptation played up that aspect to great effect.

A solid read then, by one of the masters of detective fiction. But do watch the film, if you haven't already. It's actually better than the book.

Hardly recognisable as the work of the man who wrote The Maltese Falcon and Red Harvest. Deftly executed,light-hearted, slightly self-mocking, but always entertaining. A feat of frightening versatility from the master of the hard-boiled.

Lies piled on half-truths
poor unwilling detective,
solve the case with booze.