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The Continental Op
Creeping Siamese and Other Stories: Collected Case Files of the Continental Op: The Later Years, Volume 1
Whether chasing hoodlums or solving impossible murders, Dashiell Hammett’s Continental Op is one of the toughest detectives in the history of crime fiction
The Continental Op is going over his expense reports when a raw-boned man staggers through the door of his office, stretches out his arms, and dies. As the stranger falls to the floor, he utters a final Hell. It’s apt, because this man’s death will drag the Op right into the inferno. The contents of the man’s pockets are enough to send the Op off in search of his identity, his connection to San Francisco, and the treacherous underworld dealings of both the victim and his killers.
The Continental Op made his name taking punches and dodging bullets, but unraveling “The Creeping Siamese” is the kind of mystery that will baffle even him. This story, along with “The Big Knock-Over” and “$106,000 Blood Money,” is a testament to the enduring genius of Dashiell Hammett.
The Continental Op is going over his expense reports when a raw-boned man staggers through the door of his office, stretches out his arms, and dies. As the stranger falls to the floor, he utters a final Hell. It’s apt, because this man’s death will drag the Op right into the inferno. The contents of the man’s pockets are enough to send the Op off in search of his identity, his connection to San Francisco, and the treacherous underworld dealings of both the victim and his killers.
The Continental Op made his name taking punches and dodging bullets, but unraveling “The Creeping Siamese” is the kind of mystery that will baffle even him. This story, along with “The Big Knock-Over” and “$106,000 Blood Money,” is a testament to the enduring genius of Dashiell Hammett.
140 pages, Kindle Edition
Published June 14, 2016
About the author
Dashiell Hammett
751 books2,944 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 - 7 of 7 reviews
February 4, 2022
So Smooth!
I love to hear our hero, the Continental Op, narrate the happenings in the stories.
What’s more I am fully impressed by the clever way he solve the crimes.
Two of the stories in this book are related. In one of the stories, criminals from all over the country converge in San Francisco where they violently (is there any other way?) rob two downtown banks.
The crime was so well organized that the police are immediately after the master-mind. For some reason, most of the criminals are double-crossed and brutally murdered.
Continental Op’s agency is hired by the insurance companies to get back as much as they can and everyone wants the humongous reward for finding the head-crooks.
Will our short and plump hero have the ability to use his famous brains to solve this one?
I love to hear our hero, the Continental Op, narrate the happenings in the stories.
What’s more I am fully impressed by the clever way he solve the crimes.
Two of the stories in this book are related. In one of the stories, criminals from all over the country converge in San Francisco where they violently (is there any other way?) rob two downtown banks.
The crime was so well organized that the police are immediately after the master-mind. For some reason, most of the criminals are double-crossed and brutally murdered.
Continental Op’s agency is hired by the insurance companies to get back as much as they can and everyone wants the humongous reward for finding the head-crooks.
Will our short and plump hero have the ability to use his famous brains to solve this one?
July 16, 2018
Another great, consistent entry from Dashiell Hammett. The two stories "The Big Knockover" and "$106,000 Blood Money" are particularly good because they are serialized and tell the aftermath of the all that initially occurred in "The Big Knockover." My only problem with Hammett is that I am nearly out of stories/novels to read. First Raymond Chandler, and now Hammett. I'll have to find another noir writer of similar talents.
July 4, 2017
Good stories
I like this series though I hardly think they are realistic as the blurbs say they are. Too melodramatic. Not likely real at all.
I like this series though I hardly think they are realistic as the blurbs say they are. Too melodramatic. Not likely real at all.
July 18, 2017
Hammett's Continental Op. That pretty much says it all.
December 28, 2017
Stick to the Major Works, Not this Collection
Not up to his best work. A lot of filler, like the huge info dump to start the book. Stories just not that good.
Not up to his best work. A lot of filler, like the huge info dump to start the book. Stories just not that good.
December 26, 2020
Quite enjoyable. Recommended.
June 1, 2024
I've been working my way through this series of collected Continental Op stories in chronological order. While I've enjoyed several previous stories in the collection, this is the first that feels like the mature Hammett of the novels. From what I understand, Hammett was essentially using his writing for the Black Mask to provide an income while he honed his craft and it feels at this point like he's got the balance right. His voice feels familiar at last. Still, I think I feel the plots are a bit silly. For example, The Big Knockover features a Joker-like kingpin who draws in famous criminals from all over the country for a big heist. I feel like Hammett is at his best working at a smaller scale. My favourite stories so far - The House on Turk Street and especially The Girl with the Silver Eyes do just that and are all the best for it. Still very much looking forward to where he goes from here.
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews