The Maltese Falcon

This authorized Black Mask edition of The Maltese Falcon returns the novel in the raw form that electrified readers of Black Mask Magazine-restoring the original serialized text and the classic pulp illustrations that helped define hard-boiled noir. In Prohibition-era San Francisco, tough private eye Sam Spade takes a routine case that explodes into murder, betrayal, and the deadly hunt for a jewel-encrusted falcon idol that people will cross continents-and kill-to possess. As cops close in and ruthless criminals close ranks, Spade navigates a labyrinth of lies, femme fatales, and double-crosses to uncover the truth before he becomes the next body on the sidewalk. This officially authorized Black Mask edition showcases the grittier, more explosive magazine version many aficionados regard as superior to the later hardcover text, presenting Dashiell Hammett at his most uncompromising. It features the original magazine artwork plus an all-new introduction by modern Doc Savage author Will Murray, exploring the Falcon's pulp roots, its legacy in crime fiction, and why this text remains the purest shot of vintage noir you can get. In this authorized Black Mask edition, readers can finally experience Sam Spade's most famous case in its toughest, leanest form, just as it first hit the pages of the legendary crime magazine. For fans of classic noir, hard-boiled detective fiction, and the shadowy streets of Hammett's San Francisco, this is The Maltese Falcon as it was meant to be read-sharp, dangerous, and unforgettable.