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 Dain Curse is the second novel by Dashiell Hammett, the author universally regarded as the father of "hard boiled" detective fiction. The book was first serialized in the pulp fiction magazine Black Mask in 1928 and released as a novel in 1929. The story is told in the first person, narrated by Hammett's enigmatic detective known only as the Continental Op. Sent to investigate a diamond heist from Edgar Leggett, patriarch of the wealthy Leggett family of San Francisco, the Op learns that a supposed "curse" lingers over Leggett's in-laws, the Dain family. The "Dain Curse" is said to be responsible for the violent deaths of a number of people associated with the Dains and as the Op delves deeper into the mystery, he uncovers an intricate web of deceit, robberies, addiction...and murder. "The Dain Curse" is among the finest works of Dashiell Hammett and its publication, in tandem with his first novel, a Continental Op mystery "Red Harvest," marked the arrival of one of the 20th century's most celebrated writers of detective fiction. It is presented here in its original and unabridged format.

“Red Harvest” is the first full novel by Dashiell Hammett, the author universally regarded as the father of "hard boiled" detective fiction. An enormous hit upon its publication, it has since become a classic of the detective genre. Narrated by Hammett's enigmatic detective known only as the "Continental Op," Red Harvest finds the Op being summoned to the mining town of Personville (called "Poisonville" by the locals) by a newspaper publisher looking to rid the town of a pair of violent gangs originally hired to enforce a labor settlement. When the publisher is murdered before the Op can even arrive on the scene, he finds himself wrapped up in a murder investigation, a love affair, a gang war...and then becomes a murder suspect himself. Filled with twists and turns, violence, betrayal, greed and corruption, Red Harvest was originally serialized in Black Mask magazine before being published as Hammett's first novel in 1929. It has since been hailed as one of the finest pieces of detective fiction ever written and the style, plot and characters have inspired dozens of films and television shows in the ensuing decades. Red Harvest is presented here in its original and unabridged format.

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