The Maltese Falcon by Dashiell Hammett - A Short Summary & Review

The Maltese Falcon by Dashiell Hammett - A Short Summary & Review

By: a.d. elliott | Take the Back Roads - Art and Other Odd Adventures

A Rite of Fancy Book Recommendation and Review

A bird dog tries to get the bird, without becoming the chick's prey or getting pecked by Johnny Law.

A short summary:

The Maltese Falcon follows private detective Sam Spade as he’s drawn into a dangerous hunt for a priceless black statuette, an object so coveted it leaves a trail of deception, betrayal, and bodies in its wake. Every player wants the bird, and every alliance comes with a knife hidden just out of sight.

As Spade navigates femme fatales, smooth-talking criminals, and relentless police scrutiny, survival becomes a matter of sharp instincts and harder principles. Hammett delivers a lean, relentless noir in which motives shift constantly and trust is always a losing bet.

My favorite quote from the book:

"The cheaper the crook, the gaudier the patter."

- Dashiell Hammett, The Maltese Falcon

Questions to ponder while reading: 

Does it make sense to have principles if no one else does?

How far does loyalty get you?

My review:

Noir.

Political incorrectness.

And an overwhelming urge to pour a stiff drink and reread.

The Maltese Falcon is the blueprint—cool, cynical, and unapologetically tough. Sam Spade isn’t heroic in the traditional sense; he’s professional, detached, and governed by a personal code that rarely aligns with sentiment. Everyone lies, everyone wants something, and morality is negotiated moment by moment.

Hammett’s prose is sharp and efficient, wasting nothing. The dialogue crackles, the tension never lets up, and the atmosphere drips with distrust. This is noir at its most stylish and self-assured.

Time to get out the scotch, the peignoir, and the marabou slippers. Some books aren’t just reread—they’re inhabited.

Dashiell Hammett was also a veteran.

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About the Author
a.d. elliott is a wanderer, photographer, and storyteller traveling through life

She shares her journeys at Take the Back Roads, explores new reads at Rite of Fancy, and highlights U.S. military biographies at Everyday Patriot.

You can also browse her online photography gallery at shop.takethebackroads.com.

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