**edited 11/23/2013 
 Like Raymond Chandler, I have to give Dashiell Hammett credit for essentially creating one of my favourite genres: hardboiled detective/noir. In addition, Hammett's account has much more factual basis than Chandler's, as Hammett could draw from his own experiences as a Pinkerton detective. Even so, I just can't seem to force myself to like or appreciate The Maltese Falcon, and the reason is pretty simple: I really don't like the characters. 
 It seems to me that every subsequent noir PI is based on either Sam Spade or Philip Marlowe, and I am unilaterally pro the ones based on Marlowe. Marlowe is the fast-talking, sarcastic, cynical idealist, a jerk with a heart of gold, a tarnished knight walking the mean streets. Sam Spade... isn't. 
 ... 
 Due to my disapproval of GR's new and highly subjective review deletion policy, I am no longer posting full reviews here. 
 The rest of this review can be found on Booklikes.