SPADE & ARCHER: The Prequel to Dashiell Hammett's THE MALTESE FALCON, by Joe Gores
Only Gores, the former private eye whose 16 fine novels include HAMMETT, would have the guts to write this prequel to THE MALTESE FALCON - a feat akin to writing a new first volume of the Book of Genesis. And it works, showing how the San Francisco firm came together, what Miles Archer was really like, and many snazzy plot twists.
4 comments:
I'm kind of surprised that this is getting such good reviews. I like Gores but when I heard about this project, I was afraid. Very afraid.
Talk about chutzpah. It's like doing a prequel to Genesis.
I can't wait to read it -- it'll be one of the two books I carry on board the plane to Asia this month; the other will be Stieg Larsson's "The Girl Who Played With Fire."
Timothy Hallinan
I'm glad this is getting attention. I didn't expect to enjoy it, but found it quite addictive.
Isn't it great? I sucked it up like fine wine, reading up a storm while rain dripped down on California. It's way up on my 2009 Best List already, along with THE SECRET SPEECH by Tom Rob Smith, Martin Walker's BRUNO, CHIEF OF POLICE, the new Walter Mosley series THE LONG FALL, and Olen Steinhauer's THE TOURIST.
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