Dashiell Hammett

The Thin Man

Patrick Book

I appreciate the relative lightness of this book, given some of the extremes in the genre. But Hammett is so, so good, it’s almost criminal. GET IT?

Andrew John Kinney

3.45 stars. The Thin Man was written in 1933, before the repeal of Prohibition, and drinking is almost a character of its own in this story. Waking up at 4:30 in the morning and having a drink before talking in bed? Anyway, the story moves right along, and if you've ever watched any noir movies, you'll feel right at home. Only occasionally does the dialogue seem stilted, so even after 86 years it is quite the page turner. I did wonder about the four pages of history on cannabalism in 19th Century America, and I speculate that Hammett was under pressure from his editor to turn in no less than 20 pages that week, and saw the lifting of that bit from some history book into his manuscript as an easy way to make his quota. 

So now I need to watch the movie - I've always liked Myrna Loy anyway.

The  thin man

Haley Murray

*1.5

Definitely one of those books in which the movie is way better.

Sarah Ryan

Murder mystery meets comedy of manners set in New York. Very much enjoyed the banter between Nick and Nora but felt it was slower in other places than it needed to be.

Sarah Escorsa

One of the best crime stories ever written! Like many others, I had seen and *loved* the movie series (with William Powell and Myrna Loy) before I read the book but the book surely didn't disapoint! I enjoyed Hammett's style very much and absolutely loved the characters of Nick and Nora Charles. A must-read!

Daryl Houston

Not much to say other than that it feels like the very prototype of hard-boiled early-century detective fiction, full of wisecracks and hard living.

Daniel Bower

Sonia Grgas

Laura Mauler

Will Vunderink

Lara Engle

Pierke Bosschieter

Cindy McKee

Arjo Gupto

Andrew Louis

Miguel Angel

Charlotte 

"The Thin Man" is set in New York City in December 1932, in the last days of Prohibition. The main characters are a former private detective, Nick Charles and Nora, his clever young wife. Nick, son of a Greek immigrant, has given up his career since marrying Nora, a wealthy socialite and he spends most of his time cheerfully getting drunk in hotel rooms and speakeasies. Nick and Nora have no children but they own a female Schnauzer named Asta. (In the film adaptation, Asta is a male wire-haired fox terrier.) Charles is drawn, mostly against his will, into investigating a murder. The case brings them in contact with the Wynants, a rather grotesque family, and with various policemen and lowlifes. As they attempt to solve the case, Nick and Nora share a great deal of banter and witty dialogue, along with copious amounts of alcohol.

The Thin Man

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