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Book Review of The Maltese Falcon

The Maltese Falcon
reviewed on + 33 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 1


Very carefully plotted tale of double-crossing, intrigue, violence, and hope of riches. A long, hard look at the seedy underside of life. It's one of those books that you simply must read if you're a fan of the detective genre. Just be aware that none of the characters are particularly sympathetic (everyone is described in very vivid and negative terms, including Sam Spade) and Spade's "solitary code of ethics" are more likely to get him called a heartless bastard than a hero.