review: THE THIN MAN by Dashiell Hammett

While you may have seen the many film iterations of The Thin Man starring William Powell and Myrna Loy as Nick and Nora Charles, this book is the one that started everything. (It is also the only Thin Man book written, the last book written by Hammett at all).  This upper-crust husband and wife are used to making wisecracks in between pouring drinks in prohibition San Francisco, but they have traveled to New York to celebrate the new year when a person from Nick's past turns up murdered and a note is left beseeching him to help find the killer.  Nick, a retired private investigator, refuses, drinks, eats, and parties some more, but all the while he is investigating the case in his own style.

This book is an absolute joy to read.  Written in the first person from Nick's perspective, the witticisms and snarky comments are amplified by Nick's inner perceptions.  The dialogue is snappy and keeps this book rolling at a breakneck pace, and the dynamic between Nick and Nora on these pages is legendary; it's easy to see how so many movies were made based on these characters.  For a fun, clever, and genuinely humorous detective story, pick this one up.  It will be a night or two well spent.

Check out this book at the Sacramento Public Library

--GS

review: I, THE JURY by Mickey Spillane

For fans of pulpy mysteries, it doesn't get any better than this.  This book is a hard-boiled detective story, and the first starring Mike Hammer, Spillane's rough, World War II veteran private detective.  Hammer is known for dealing out his own brand of justice with his gun as he solves the case before the police.  In this book, set in the 1950s, Hammer's wartime buddy has been murdered, and the opening scene is a adamant vow for vengeance from Hammer.  What follows is a grimy look at the city's underbelly as Hammer searches bars and brothels chasing down leads.  Definitely not a book for those easily offended, but an enjoyable story with memorable characters, starring an iconic detective that all mystery readers should be familiar with.

Check out this book at the Sacramento Public Library

--GS