The Thin Man Dashiell Hammett

The Thin Man  Dashiell Hammett

Overview:

The Thin Man is Dashiell Hammett's last novel. It was published in 1934 and is set during Prohibition (1920-1933). It is included in the hardboiled genre though it is more on the soft end of the scale. Though only one novel featured Nick and Nora Charles and their dog Asta, is spawned movies and a TV series. People who only know the movies and television series generally think that the "thin man" is Nick Charles himself rather than a character in the book.

Nick Charles is a retired detective married to a rich socialite, Nora. I can't help but think of him as the Continental Op from Red Harvest gone soft. Nick has given up detective work to manage Nora's money. They have come to New York for Christmas and New Years Eve celebrations. While stile still a detective, Nick handled a problem for eccentric inventor Clyde Wynant who was having trouble with Victor Rosewater who accused Wynant of stealing his ideas.

Nick meets Wynant's daughter, Dorothy, in a speakeasy and she tries to get him interested in locating her father who has disappeared. Later, Wynant's secretary/possible girlfriend is found murdered and Nick finds himself involved against his will. Nora thinks it is all terribly exciting. A rather convoluted plot ensues with Wynant protesting his innocence by mail and telegram. Hammett introduces one of the most dysfunctional families one could hope not to meet: Dorothy, Wynant's airhead daughter; Gilbert his son who fancies himself an observer of mankind which includes eavesdropping and steaming open mail; Mimi, Wynant's ex-wife given to fits of near psychopathic rage; and Christian Jorgeson, Mimi's new husband, a gold digger.

“Peter Ganim and Nicola Barber shine as the witty Nick and Nora Charles, and Scott Brick’s narration securely anchors the story.”
      —AudioFile

“Fans of the films will find virtually all the suspects and plot twists already present in Hammett, together with much of the banter between retired detective Nick Charles and his socialite wife, Nora, all wrapped up in the lightly comic tone established by [the original movie].”
      —Kirkus

“Peter Ganim and Nicola Barber manage a breezy idiom that evokes both the desperate gaiety of the period and the sophisticated airs of Hammett’s urbane sleuths. Scott Brick narrates the story in crisp tones, and a huge ensemble cast—unusual in a form that relies mainly on solo-voice performances—puts much character color into Nora’s rich and snooty relatives and Nick’s many lowlife friends.”
      —New York Times

“Caustic dialogue, shocking plot twists, and edge-of-one’s-seat suspense characterize these masterpieces of crime fiction, brought vividly to life with a stellar full-cast performance. Return of the Thin Man is an absolute ‘must-have’ for fans of Hammett’swork.”
      —Wisconsin Bookwatch

“HighBridge Audio, the answer to hard-boiled mystery lovers’ dreams for more than a year with its outstanding ‘Black Mask Stories’ series, now offers a double dose of Dash! . . . Offering two solid mysteries plus scholarly extras, Return of the Thin Man is a hunk of Hammett heaven worth celebrating. Drinks are on Nick and Nora!”
      —Library Journal [starred review]

ENJOYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYY!

Sincerelyours

And Blessed Are The Ones Who Care For Their Fellow Men!