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As a whodonit mystery this works well, but has some serious flaws IMHO. The main characters are a married couple, Nick and Nora, living the good life in New York. The plot winds nicely around a series of murders and red herrings unraveled by Nick. That he has any reasoning power at all is a surprise because he's obviously a problem drinker. At one point Nora remarks that she'd like him to stay sober for a day, and he replies he didn't come to New York to stay sober and demands she give him a drink... before breakfast. And yet we're to assume he has the mental ability to figure out the complicated crime. I realize this novel was written before alcoholism was fully recognized as the disease it is, but it's a pity that excessive drinking is so glamorized.
Detective Nick Charles has retired from his life of crime-solving after marrying his wealthy and beloved wife Nora. His preferred activity is boozing it up in the local speakeasy, and catching up with old friends from his days as a cop. But one day his life is turned upside-down when one of those old friends, Dorothy Wynant, asks him for help in locating her father, well-known inventor Clyde Wynant, who recently disappeared off the face of the Earth after a not entirely smooth divorce from his wife. Initially, Nick doesn't want to get involved, but when Clyde's girlfriend Julia Wolf is found murdered and with him being the number one suspect, Nick has no choice but to heed Dorothy's pleas to both locate and exonerate her missing father. Nick Charles is back on the case! But like most of the kinds of cases he is used to solving, the case of the "thin man" proves to be about more than meets the eye. The basis for the insanely successful and enjoyable movie series starring William Powell and Myrna Loy, Dashiell Hammett's mystery novel is a little drier than the wit-a-minute films, but still enjoyable and not to be missed, especially if you're a fan of the movies and want to see the genesis of the fantastic series.Read full review
Classic detective novel. As good as the movie!
Verified purchase: Yes | Condition: Pre-owned
I have all the Thin Man movies, but never read the book. Excellent.
Verified purchase: Yes | Condition: Pre-owned
Wonderful old book.
Verified purchase: Yes | Condition: Pre-owned
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