Written in 1929, this is not affecting stereotypical detective noir--this is the real deal, angel. The mystery unfolds expertly, and the dialogue is very cat and mouse. It's a spare book, so the characters are not so well-developed, but then, that's not the point.

The Maltese Falcon is well-written, and now a most interesting period piece, a window into a different time and culture. This is a different read for me, and I enjoyed it--in a different way.