The Maltese Falcon by Dashiell Hammett, 1930

Dashiell Hammett is widely regarded as the creator of the hard-boiled detective genre. A no-nonsense, tough-guy investigator solves crimes and/or puzzles in this genre of mystery. And, in general, these works rely more on conversation and less on everything else, such as long-winded descriptions, to propel the story forward. Sam Spade initially debuted in Hammett's The Maltese Falcon, which was serialized in 1930 and then in a few short pieces.

The Maltese Falcon is essentially about a valuable stolen falcon statue, and the issue is who took it, why and if Spade can return it for his client. It's surprising that Dashiell Hammett was able to write, let alone publish, anything so wonderful. For most of his life, he battled disease, alcoholism, and writer's block. He also had a wife and children, several mistresses, and a 30-year on-again, off-again connection with the well-known playwright Lillian Hellman (Watch on the Rhine).

The Maltese Falcon has been adapted into four films (so far), the greatest of which being the 1941 version starring Humphrey Bogart and Peter Lorre and directed by John Huston (his first film). It's a fantastic film, and you should attempt to watch it once you've finished the book.

Link to buy: www.amazon.com/dp/0679722645?tag=upjourney-20