The Thin Man (1934)
Author: Dashiell Hammett
Publisher: Alfred A Knopf
Synopsis:
A retired private detective finds himself roped into a murder case involving a former client.
Impressions:
If I knew The Thin Man was written by Dashiell Hammett, I must have forgotten. Anyway, it was a pleasant surprise to find this as I was going through his bibliography, as I rather like the film series this spawned. This is probably my favorite of Hammett's novels, even above The Maltese Falcon, though that book has a more intricate plot. The prose is smoother, the banter is snappy and the wit razor-sharp. Nick and Nora Charles are a fun couple and a nice change of pace from the usual grim, dysfunctional protagonists we get in noir fiction. The way Nick tries to stay detached from the case makes for a good excuse to keep from bringing too many clues out to the light so that the facts of the case at least managed to surprise me when they came out at the end. This was Hammett's last novel and at least he managed to go out on a high note. Add this one for your collection.
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