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The Continental Op
Who Killed Bob Teal? and Other Stories: Collected Case Files of the Continental Op: The Middle Years, Volume 2
The Continental Op delves into his violent past and avenges a murdered partner in this collection of stories from master of hardboiled fiction Dashiell Hammett
When he joins the Continental Detective Agency, Bob Teal shows every sign of becoming a crack operative. Cool headed, quick witted, and not afraid to take a punch, Teal’s on the verge of a great career when a .32 cuts him down. Two bullets are enough to kill Teal and to set the Continental Op chasing the tangled tale that lead to his demise.
In “Who Killed Bob Teal?” Dashiell Hammett experimented with a premise that he would later repurpose in his most famous novel: The Maltese Falcon. But while Sam Spade is devilishly tough, the Continental Op is even tougher. And in this titular story, as well as “The Whosis Kid” and “The Scorched Face,” the Op pursues Bay-area underworld operators with the deep wrath of a San Francisco earthquake.
When he joins the Continental Detective Agency, Bob Teal shows every sign of becoming a crack operative. Cool headed, quick witted, and not afraid to take a punch, Teal’s on the verge of a great career when a .32 cuts him down. Two bullets are enough to kill Teal and to set the Continental Op chasing the tangled tale that lead to his demise.
In “Who Killed Bob Teal?” Dashiell Hammett experimented with a premise that he would later repurpose in his most famous novel: The Maltese Falcon. But while Sam Spade is devilishly tough, the Continental Op is even tougher. And in this titular story, as well as “The Whosis Kid” and “The Scorched Face,” the Op pursues Bay-area underworld operators with the deep wrath of a San Francisco earthquake.
- GenresShort Stories
146 pages, Kindle Edition
Published June 14, 2016
About the author
Dashiell Hammett
749 books2,942 followersAlso wrote as Peter Collinson, Daghull Hammett, Samuel Dashiell, Mary Jane Hammett
Dashiell Hammett, an American, wrote highly acclaimed detective fiction, including The Maltese Falcon (1930) and The Thin Man (1934).
Samuel Dashiell Hammett authored hardboiled novels and short stories. He created Sam Spade (The Maltese Falcon), Nick and Nora Charles (The Thin Man), and the Continental Op (Red Harvest and The Dain Curse) among the enduring characters. In addition to the significant influence his novels and stories had on film, Hammett "is now widely regarded as one of the finest mystery writers of all time" and was called, in his obituary in the New York Times, "the dean of the... 'hard-boiled' school of detective fiction."
See http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dashiell...
Dashiell Hammett, an American, wrote highly acclaimed detective fiction, including The Maltese Falcon (1930) and The Thin Man (1934).
Samuel Dashiell Hammett authored hardboiled novels and short stories. He created Sam Spade (The Maltese Falcon), Nick and Nora Charles (The Thin Man), and the Continental Op (Red Harvest and The Dain Curse) among the enduring characters. In addition to the significant influence his novels and stories had on film, Hammett "is now widely regarded as one of the finest mystery writers of all time" and was called, in his obituary in the New York Times, "the dean of the... 'hard-boiled' school of detective fiction."
See http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dashiell...
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
February 4, 2022
“Fore God, Fat Shorty…You Done Hurt Me!”
Blackmail, kidnapping, robbery, murder and extortion! Just a normal day for our “fat shorty,” the Continental Op. The nameless detective. The hero of this book.
Action and humor and pursuit of justice, make you happily follow along.
Stay tuned for the next book in this series and keep out of trouble, or else or nameless hero, will threaten to sit on you. And that’s no joke.
Warning ⚠️: lots of insensitive ethnic comments. Remember, these were the “good ol’ days.” 🤔
Blackmail, kidnapping, robbery, murder and extortion! Just a normal day for our “fat shorty,” the Continental Op. The nameless detective. The hero of this book.
Action and humor and pursuit of justice, make you happily follow along.
Stay tuned for the next book in this series and keep out of trouble, or else or nameless hero, will threaten to sit on you. And that’s no joke.
Warning ⚠️: lots of insensitive ethnic comments. Remember, these were the “good ol’ days.” 🤔
April 28, 2018
4.5 stars. The stories in this series improve with each volume. Of the 3 novelettes the title story was the weakest, but still good. I will move on to the next volume soon.
March 6, 2021
Very enjoyable. Recommended.
Merged review:
Liked it a lot.
Merged review:
Liked it a lot.
September 3, 2017
Dashiell Hammett's Continental Op is one of the cornerstones of crime noir. Never a disappointment--never.
May 28, 2018
There are certain authors I turn to when I am interested in a good, fast, quality read and Dashiell Hammett (and Elmore Leonard) is right at the top of that list. Hammett never disappoints, and his Continental Op's Early 2oth Century tough guy patter is the perfect elixir for the early 21st Century political correctness that often drives me to distraction. Some may consider it Neanderthal, but Hammett would stroke out if he were to confront today's metrosexual man. The Continental Op is pure function over form, a rather short, fattish, no-nonsense detective who only gets things done. This collection includes two stories -- The Whoozit Kid and The Scorched Face -- each quite different in their approach but also equally as compelling, including the latter's somewhat surprising conclusion illuminating another of the Continental Op's finer -- and heretofore invisible -- qualities.
July 4, 2017
Good stories
A bit unbelievable but good. Now onto the next batch. I must type in ten more words so here they are.
A bit unbelievable but good. Now onto the next batch. I must type in ten more words so here they are.
April 18, 2023
A quick enjoyable detective story.
October 29, 2024
Get a Hammett short story collection.
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews