Continental Op

From a crime writer and "literary landmark," this 1920s mystery features an ill-fated femme fatale and the detective who uncovers a strange truth (The New York Times Book Review).   It should have been a straightforward investigation: eight diamonds stolen from a prominent San Francisco family. But for the Continental Op, or the Op, as the detective summoned to the case is known, nothing is ever as simple as it seems. Especially when the man who called in the crime turns up dead. And his daughter, socialite Gabrielle Dain Leggett, is leaving a trail of bodies in her wake. Is Gabrielle a victim of an alleged family curse? Or is there something even more dangerous about her? Smart and steadfast, the Op is bound to find the truth-no matter how bizarre it may be.   "Dashiell Hammett is an original. He is a master of the detective novel, yes, but also one hell of a writer." -The Boston Globe   "Hammett's prose [is] clean and entirely unique. His characters [are] as sharply and economically defined as any in American fiction." -The New York Times   "[Hammett] was spare, frugal, hard-boiled, but he did over and over again what only the best writers can ever do at all. He wrote scenes that seemed never to have been written before." -Raymond Chandler

From a crime writer and "an acknowledged literary landmark," a PI heads west and battles corruption and a rising death toll in this 1920s classic mystery (The New York Times Book Review).   Summoned to Personville, the detective known as Continental Op discovers the real reason locals call the western mining town "Poisonville." The whole community has been divvied up into warring factions of gangsters and petty criminals. As the body count continues to rise, starting with the newspaperman who called in the detective for help, the Op decides to stick around. He is determined to clean up the criminal element, even if it means interrogating the whole town. But corruption knows no bounds and soon enough, the trusty detective finds himself a prime suspect of murder.   "Dashiell Hammett is an original. He is a master of the detective novel, yes, but also one hell of a writer." -The Boston Globe   "Hammett's prose [is] clean and entirely unique. His characters [are] as sharply and economically defined as any in American fiction." -The New York Times   "[Hammett] was spare, frugal, hard-boiled, but he did over and over again what only the best writers can ever do at all. He wrote scenes that seemed never to have been written before." -Raymond Chandler

The Continental Op: Novels and Stories is a comprehensive and illustrated collection of 25 thrilling works by Dashiell Hammett, featuring the iconic Continental Op, one of the most celebrated characters in hard-boiled detective fiction. This expansive volume includes such classics as Red Harvest, The Dain Curse, Arson Plus, Slippery Fingers, Crooked Souls, and many more, showcasing Hammett's unparalleled ability to craft taut, suspenseful narratives. The Continental Op, a nameless and tough-as-nails investigator working for the Continental Detective Agency, takes on a series of gritty, high-stakes cases in the shadowy corners of crime-ridden cities. His investigations delve into a world of corruption, murder, and betrayal, where moral boundaries are often blurred, and the truth is elusive. Whether facing off against gangsters, solving complex puzzles, or exposing dark conspiracies, the Op is relentless in his pursuit of justice, even if it means getting his hands dirty. Hammett's signature writing style - sharp, direct, and laced with cynicism - permeates every story in this collection, with atmospheric details and complex characters driving each plot. Through the Op's eyes, readers are drawn into a gritty, morally ambiguous world where danger lurks around every corner. This collection is an essential read for fans of hard-boiled detective fiction and a perfect introduction to the works of Dashiell Hammett, one of the genre's most influential authors. Contents: Novels Red Harvest The Dain Curse Stories Arson Plus Slippery Fingers Crooked Souls It Bodies Piled Up The Tenth Clew The House in Turk Street The Girl with Silver Eyes The Golden Horseshoe Who Killed Bob Teal? The Whosis Kid The Scorched Face Corkscrew Dead Yellow Women The Gutting of Couffignal Creeping Siamese The Big Knock-Over $106,000 Blood Money The Main Death This King Business Fly Paper The Farewell Murder Death and Company