Sam Spade: The Iconic Private Investigator

Hello Readers!

As we get closer and closer to the publication of our own mystery novel, we've been exploring the genre in our blogs--writing about Agatha Christie, John D. Macdonald, and the qualities of what makes a good murder mystery. 

This week we're writing about one of the most famous detectives in the murder mystery genre, Sam Spade.

Don't call him Sammy

Sam Spade was created by the great noir writer Dashiell Hammett (whose first name was actually Samuel). He first appeared in 'The Maltese Falcon', which started as a magazine serial but was eventually published as a novel because of its massive popularity. Hammett was an incredibly interesting human being who fought in BOTH World Wars, was blacklisted during the Red Scare, and shared a thirty-year relationship with Lillian Hellman. 

Described as looking like a blond devil, Spade was strong and cynical, able to handle himself in any situation, and always the smartest guy in the room. His cynicism made him distrust everyone (Spade was saying "follow the money" long before 'All the President's Men') and disbelieve everything they said--but his insight into human psychology allowed him to harness that distrust and use it to help him solve cases. He played along with the liars, relaxing them until they revealed just enough to incriminate themselves. This unique blend of toughness and cunning, combined with a willingness to bend the rules and blur the line between right and wrong, made Spade a complex character. 

"I don't care who loves who, I just won't play the sap."

Spade has appeared onscreen and on the radio many times, portrayed by everyone from Humphrey Bogart to Michael Madsen, Tom Wilkinson, and Clive Owen. Although only included in The Maltese Falcon and a handful of short stories, Spade almost instantly became a household name.

Often imitated, never duplicated, Spade is the real deal--the original hard-boiled PI. With his fedora-topped silhouette, unflinching demeanor, and a moral code that's as dark and mysterious as the cases he solves, Spade left an indelible mark on the world of crime fiction. 

If you haven't read 'The Maltese Falcon' yet, we highly, highly recommend it!

That's all for now readers, see you next week.

~2authors

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