The Thin Man

Wasn't sure what to expect with this one! I've never seen the movie versions, but now I think I will have to do that. The style is terse, and wow, what a lot of drinking goes on. Lol.

Whoa, apparently people used to drink a lot. I had to really invest deeply in the "willing to suspend disbelief" in order to really get going in this one.

Wonderful book to read and see how the genre still stands up regardless of the century. Masterful writing from Dashiell Hammett.

As I have been writing Noir, it doesn’t hurt to read the father of the modern mystery. Full of those hard-hitting gut punch quips and plenty of drinking. This one is not my fav, that will most likely always be Falcon, but I didn’t enjoy it any less.

I did not guess who the murderer was. The author did a great job of making everyone suspicious and they were such a varied and interesting bunch of characters. I did have a few problems with the archaic slang from the 1930s, which I had to look up. And my goodness, everyone was always having a drink or several and going to sleep in the wee hours. Nick Charles and his wife Nora were wonderful protagonists. All in all, I’m glad I finally got around to reading this classic.

It was a fun read, after having seen the movies many times. I loved Nick and Nora’s repartee and was picturing William Powell and Myrna Loy the entire time. It’s such a good mystery book because no one’s story could be trusted! You can only rely on Nick and Nora being the innocent ones. There were a few words that are outdated and I haven’t heard used before, but no big deal to figure out. I don’t understand why they just don’t delete the one N word that’s used in the book.

Wisecracks and cocktails abound in Dashell Hammett’s “The Thin Man” as Nick and Nora Charles travel the world of the wealthy and the romantic searching for the elusive killer of members of NYC’s high society. A comedy of manners and conspicuous consumption, long the milieu preferred by Hammett, the reader can only be amused by the hi-jinx displayed by the devoted couple. Not displaying the usual coarseness and vulgarity found in most modern day detective stories, Hammett instead prefers to probe congeniality and mutual respect in his partnership of the Charles’ duo, providing an entertaining study into a relationship that radiates adoration along with common good sense.Perhaps the most worrisome thing about the Charles couple is their predilection to having an alcoholic beverage to keep their interest up and their spirits flying, so to speak. No harm done. It’s a habit that does not hinder their abilities. It’s nice they have a common interest, albeit morning, noon, and night quaffing.I have decided to read more of the old masters at detective stories such as Hammett, Ellroy, and Chandler to reassure myself that good writing is still out there. Not many of today’s writers display the same inventiveness and clean living as portrayed by authors such as these. Hammett’s writing is spare and clean. The story is understated and uncomplicated, but embodies the hardboiled action employed in late 1930s and early 1940s crime novels. I thoroughly enjoyed the book and recommend it for a refreshing reminder of what good writing entails. The details of Los Angeles in its growing years are fascinating. Reading it was entertaining and fun, and I look forward to reading more books from writers of this era.Schuyler T WallaceAuthor of TIN LIZARD TALES

My first-ever reading of this particular Dashiell Hammett mystery, and I must say, it was an entertaining trip. I've been a fan of the film classic series The Thin Man, starring Myrna Loy and William Powell, and re-watch the first film at least once a year. The way Loy and Powell bring to life the witty banter and playful love between Nick and Nora is a constant joy. Now that I've read the book, I immediately watched the film again.I'll forgive Hollywood the need to set up the back-story about oddball inventor, Wynant, because in the book he appears not at all and is only described and "seen" through the eyes of the rest of the characters. However, I really didn't like the portrayal of Dorothy, nor the addition of an unnecessary fiancé. In the book, Dorothy and her mother Mimi are both tiresomely repetitive in their boozy-floozy ways and the reader is constantly reminded that Mimi is manipulative and that Dorothy fluctuates between fearful of her mother, dismissive of her own loose behavior, and drunkenly apologetic to Nick and Nora. Despite their unlikable qualities, the characters are definitely a contrast affording the reader a clear view of Nick Charles as he casually gathers up loose threads to weave the mystery together.I'll not spoil the plot for you unfortunates who have yet to read this worthwhile slim volume and get to know these colorful characters for yourself. This is a fast read and, as I've said, quite entertaining. The Thin Man is a seminal example of the mystery genre, and is a classic for good reason. I'll end by saying that I didn't find it as gripping as The Maltese Falcon, but I'll always have a soft spot for Nick and Nora.

I wonder why it is classified as a classic.I am very disappointed with this work by a great writer.

This may be regarded as a 'classic' and Hammett as a pioneer in thriller/crime fiction, but for me it is very much of its time and seems a very dated book now. I know it's a bit unfair to judge a book that's now the best part of ninety years old through the prism of modern thriller/crime writing but the genre has definitely moved on.The story is told almost entirely through dialogue between the retired detective Nick Charles (the Greek) and a series of friends, acquaintances and detectives in 1930s New York, taking place almost entirely in apartments, bars and hotel rooms. Everyone seems to be drinks whisky day and night! Much of the dialogue is in New York vernacular. It seems almost like a stage-play in a novel format. With twenty pages to go I was thinking that this all needs to be resolved fast, and behold it was with Charles pulling the clues together through a flash of intuition. And then the dialogue and drinking stopped and the book ended.It may be a classic from the genre, but frankly I didn't find it a very enjoyable or exciting read.

I used to really love the films with William Powell and Myrna Loy as Nick and Nora Charles and their dog Asta, only fairly recently found out that Dashiel Hammett wrote the stories, again another link via Rory Gallagher who was a great fan of his works, Just read a book from the library which turned up in Hammetts papers and was published in 2012, Its kind of quirky and full of punchy dialogue, very very 1930's which I love, Nick was mostly a bit squiffy all the time, solved crimes and no bad language which is really refreshing, going to enjoy reading it as I have enjoyed the library book.I also didn't realise Dashiel Hammett wrote The Maltese Falcon which is another favourite film of mine, so I bought the book to read

Écriture minimum pour résultats optimum. C'est précis, et on en oublie de dormir à travers les chapitres. Points négatifs : ça donne envie de boire et de sortir la nuit.

The Thin Man movies were part of my growing up and I have seen most of them. William Powell and Myrna Loy were. in my opinion, the ideal couple to play the leading rolls. Now, some 60 years later I have read most of Dashiell Hammett's works in the last month and I can say that the movie was conform to the book. This and The Maltese Falcon have brought back fond memories of my youth. If you've never read Dashiell Hammett you are in for a fantastic reading experience.