Dashiell Hammett

In Dashiell Hammett's famous crime novel, we meet one of the detective-story master's most enchanting creations, Nick and Nora Charles, a rich, glamorous couple who solve homicides in between wisecracks and martinis. At once knowing and unabashedly romantic, The Thin Man is a classic murder mystery that doubles as a sophisticated comedy of manners.

The Thin Man

Colleen

3.5 Stars
 
The Thin Man is different from Hammett’s other works. Although it has many Noir elements, what stands out is the staring couple: Nick and Nora Charles. They are a glamourous couple. Nick was formerly a detective but gave that up when he caught his high society wife. Now they flit through society with their precocious dog, partying and drinking. But on a trip to New York, an old associate of Nick’s is accused of murder and goes missing. And Nick gets pulled reluctantly into the case.
 
The highlight of the story is the snarky, snappy dialogue particularly between Nick and Nora. There is no doubt that Nick is a hound dog and a womanizer. And he drinks enough to have inspired James Bond. But Nora is no shy little miss either. Together they make an iconic couple who certainly bring a dangerous yet glamorous piece of history to life.
 
The story is fast-paced and easy to read. The chapters are extremely short. The mystery part of the plot took a background to the character interactions, and as far as whodunnits go, it was pretty standard.
 
The biggest annoyance with The Thin Man was that other than Nora, all of the female characters were fluffy and prone to ridiculous hysterics. The sexism of the time is certainly apparent in this story. There are also some comments made by characters that aren’t up to today’s PC levels.
 
Overall, The Thin Man was entertaining and easy to read although it isn’t my favorite of Hammett’s works.
 

RATING FACTORS:
Ease of Reading: 4 Stars
Writing Style: 3 Stars
Characters and Character Development: 4 Stars
Plot Structure and Development: 3 Stars
Level of Captivation: 4 Stars
Originality: 3 Stars

The Thin Man

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