Spade & Archer: The Prequel to Dashiell Hammett's THE MALTESE FALCON (Vintage Crime/Black Lizard) Paperback – March 9, 2010

This book is a fine standalone classic noir detective story, but more importantly, is also a must read and fascinating insight into the world of the famous Sam Spade Detective Agency. That is, a fantastic prequel to one of the finest detective stories ever published - the Maltese Falcon.At book's commencement, we meet Miles Archer, Sam Soade (obviously) and his petite but adorable secretary in training, Miss Effie Perine. Spade is so good at the job of detecting that he solves one case of a missing husband in less time than it takes the author to explain it to his readers.The characterisation of this book is first class. The atmosphere is perfectly created, as is the world in which we enter every time we open the page. Humour in its own right has no role to play in the story; its cousins we know as sarcasm and dry wit make an appearance and of course their company is greatly valued. The book does not really revolve around a single, major case. Instead, we witness a variety of clients walk through Spade's door and into his office and onto his client list. And thus our familiarity with Spade and Effie is enhanced with every page turn.In summary, then: this book is a wonderful addition to any crime lover's library, and as i said at the commencement of my review, a mandatory read for anyone who read and enjoyed The Maltese Falcon.BFN Greggorio!

The first time I read this book I thought it was fantastic. Now a decade later I find it a bit too noir for my current tastes.

Overall a decent read. Not great. Not horrible. It has some great things going for it (mainly the Sam Spade character) but it also misses a few steps. The explanation for why Spade and Archer team up is underwhelming: Spade is near perfect at everything he does throughout the book and the impetus for their partnership seems limp. "Because a big client said so." Spade never struck me as the kind of guy that would sign a year-long partnership with someone he doesn't really respect just to appease a client. For a book name "Spade & Archer" Archer and the relationship with him play a surprisingly minor role.The author makes the interesting choice of telling 3 or 4 interrelated stories spread across several years of Spade's career, from when he first strikes out on his own until right before The Maltese Falcon kicks off. It's a good idea but doesn't work that well in practice: you don't get much of a real sense of passing time or character growth or the changing city over those years so what you get ends up feeling more like short stories (like Hammett's own Continental Op short stories).Despite the flaws, as long as you don't hold it up to the same standard as Hammett (who, to be fair, redefined the genre, so that's an unreasonable benchmark) it is an enjoyable story that revisits some great characters.

One can never tell what to expect when other writers attempt to continue chronicling the exploits of famous literary characters whose original creators have long since passed (loyal fans of Arthur Conan Doyle, Ian Fleming, and the like can readily see where I'm going here). Therefore, I was curious, if not somewhat apprehensive, about reading a new Sam Spade novel not penned by THE detective-fiction genre's godfather, Dashiell Hammett. Hammett and Sam Spade are the gold standard after all, and the Hammett estate is rightfully protective of these icons. After reading Spade & Archer, I can see why they agreed to let Joe Gores craft this brilliant three-part story.Gores, one of the foremost chroniclers of Dashiell Hammett and his works, was also a private investigator (like Hammett before him), providing him with more than enough qualifications to revive the Spade legacy. But it is his genuine affection for Hammett's work that makes Spade & Archer truly stand out.Spade & Archer feels and sounds as if it was a lost Hammett novel finally seeing the light of day. After a few pages you might even start to think that Gores was in fact channeling Hammett's ghost as he drafted each page. Gores' attention to detail is as exacting as Hammett's was, something loyal fans will clearly love. Gores does a brilliant job of transporting the reader deep into San Francisco in the mid to late 1920s. The city becomes a central character whose historic locations come to life with each passing page. I commend Gores for his research which makes this book feel as if it were written sixty-plus years ago.The real charm of the book comes from Gores' convincing characters. Miles Archer, his adulterous wife Iva, Effie Perine, and an assortment of sketchy characters and clients are wonderfully represented here. But it is Gores' spot-on take on Sam Spade that reminds the reader why this character remains so iconic today and why countless mystery / detective writers continue to draw inspiration from Spade's rough, ruthless, abrasive, womanizing, and fearless personality.This book was impossible to put down and Gores creates a three-part storyline that works brilliantly. It convincingly establishes the characters we meet in The Maltese Falcon and provides a missing back story Hammett would be proud of.Gores states at the end of the book that his next release will be a continuation of his own original detective series, but I really hope that he returns with another Sam Spade adventure soon after. After all, it takes a tremendous writer who can walk in Hammett's footsteps without getting lost in his shadow. Brilliant book.

I love Hammett. And Chandler, but that is by the by. Take it from me, though. This one stands in the pantheon. If Hammett had written a prequel it could have been this one. Buy it. It’s Sam Spade.