Return of the Maltese Falcon

Return of the Maltese Falcon

Hardboiled noir that picks up where legendary author Dashiell Hammett left off, telling the story of iconic private eye Sam Spade and the quest for the priceless Maltese Falcon. THE GREATEST PRIVATE EYE OF ALL TIME RETURNS TO FINISH THE JOB Legendary mystery writer Dashiell Hammett only wrote one novel about detective Sam Spade: The Maltese Falcon, the most famous private eye story ever told. But the case was never really solved – the priceless golden, bejeweled bird that men and women had been dying to possess turned out to be a fake. Now, Mystery Writers of America Grand Master Max Allan Collins (author of Road to Perdition) brings closure to this crime classic, reuniting all the surviving members of the original cast alongside femme fatales, crooked collectors, and greedy gangsters for one more thrilling, deadly chase through the streets, wharves, morgues, bars, and back alleys of 1920s San Francisco – and finally answers the question, Whatever became of the Maltese falcon…? "Magnificent." New York Magazine "Private eye Sam Spade is back, as are many of the original book’s characters, and the writing is superb—Collins perfectly captures the tone and texture of Hammett’s novel without ever sounding like he’s trying to imitate him. Essential reading for Hammett’s fans and for readers of noir mysteries." Booklist starred review "Collins keeps the prose lean and sharp, true to Hammett’s style, and ushers the proceedings to a tidy conclusion. It’s a clever, well-executed tribute the hardboiled tradition." Publishers Weekly starred review "Collins’ dialogue sounds pleasingly like Hammett’s; his plotting is even twistier; and if his descriptions mix Hammett’s terse, affectless minimalism with Raymond Chandler’s fondness for florid similes ... Fans convinced that nobody could possibly continue a tale that ends so definitely owe it to themselves to give Collins a try." Kirkus “No one can twist you through a maze with as much intensity and suspense as Max Allan Collins.” Clive Cussler “One of the new masters of the genre.” Atlanta Journal Constitution "For hardboiled fans, I give it my highest recommendation." James Reasoner, Rough Edges " Return of the Maltese Falcon is a work of wonder, and I enjoyed every second of it. Collins has not just inhabited Hammett’s world but breathed new life into it and made it distinctly his own in the process." BookReporter MAX ALLAN COLLINS was named a Grand Master in 2017 by the Mystery Writers of America. He is a three-time winner of the Private Eye Writers of America’s Life Achievement award (2006), the Eye. His graphic novel Road to Perdition (1998) became the Academy Award-winning film directed by Sam Mendes and starring Tom Hanks. His other comics credits include the syndicated strip Dick Tracy , Batman , and (with artist Terry Beatty) his own Ms. Tree and Wild Dog . He has completed fourteen Mike Hammer novels begun by the late Mickey Spillane, and his Hammer audio novel The Little Death with Stacy Keach won a 2011 Audie. Recently he adapted the first of his Nathan Heller novels into a ten-part audio drama, True Noir . For five years, he was sole licensing writer for TV’s CSI: Crime Scene Investigation , creating best-selling novels, graphic novels, and video games. His movie tie-in novels have appeared on the USA Today and New York Times bestseller lists, including Saving Private Ryan , Air Force One , and American Gangster . Max has written and directed two documentaries and seven feature films, including the Lifetime movie Mommy (1996); and he scripted The Expert , a 1995 HBO World Premiere, as well as the film-festival favorite The Last Lullaby (2009) based on his innovative Quarry novels, which were also adapted as a 2016 TV series by Cinemax, for which Max wrote two scripts. Collins properties have also been optioned by Skydance, Lionsgate and CBS Films. His most recent self-scripted/directed indie films are Mickey Spillane’s Encore for Murder (2022), Blue Christmas (2023) and Death by Fruitcake (2024).