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The Continental Op
The Farewell Murder - A Continental Op Short Story - #27
Among the last Continental Op stories.
In February 1930, Black Mask introduced it short and sweet: "The Continental Op is called in to protect a man and runs into plenty grief."
It's a dull and rainy day in the village of Farewell when the Op alights from the train. The only passenger to do so. He's been summoned to the home of a man named Kavalov to investigate threats. The ride from the station, it was a Stutz by the way, is eventful to say the least. At one point the cabby screams and the Op looks back to see "a black man lying on his back in the road, near the left edge," and "a knife handle that couldn't have been less that six inches long stood straight up in the air from the left side of his chest."
The driver wouldn't return to the scene, so the Op gives him the boot, takes over the car, and returns to the scene. But there's no body. It's that kind of story.
Librarian's note #1: this entry is for the story, The Farewell Murder. Entries for collections of short stories, and the other individual stories, can be found elsewhere on Goodreads. There are a total of 28 short stories plus one incomplete; they can all be found by searching Goodreads for: a Continental Op Short Story.
Librarian's note #2: there are also two Continental Op novels, Red Harvest (also known as The Cleansing of Poisonville), and The Dain Curse.
In February 1930, Black Mask introduced it short and sweet: "The Continental Op is called in to protect a man and runs into plenty grief."
It's a dull and rainy day in the village of Farewell when the Op alights from the train. The only passenger to do so. He's been summoned to the home of a man named Kavalov to investigate threats. The ride from the station, it was a Stutz by the way, is eventful to say the least. At one point the cabby screams and the Op looks back to see "a black man lying on his back in the road, near the left edge," and "a knife handle that couldn't have been less that six inches long stood straight up in the air from the left side of his chest."
The driver wouldn't return to the scene, so the Op gives him the boot, takes over the car, and returns to the scene. But there's no body. It's that kind of story.
Librarian's note #1: this entry is for the story, The Farewell Murder. Entries for collections of short stories, and the other individual stories, can be found elsewhere on Goodreads. There are a total of 28 short stories plus one incomplete; they can all be found by searching Goodreads for: a Continental Op Short Story.
Librarian's note #2: there are also two Continental Op novels, Red Harvest (also known as The Cleansing of Poisonville), and The Dain Curse.
11 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1930
About the author
Dashiell Hammett
760 books2,967 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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June 18, 2026
4 Stars. Short but it's a beaut. I can't help but think the Op was just as confused as I was! The story can be found in The Big Book of the Continental Op from 2017. We start with our friend taking an ordinary taxi ride from the train station to the home of Continental's new client, Theodore Kavalov who lives in a population dot called Farewell. The Op is uncertain what service he is to provide but hey, Kavalov's paying the freight. On the short ride he sees the body of a man lying at the side of the road, dead from a knife wound. Out of fright, the cabby wouldn't stop. When the Op finally gets back to the scene, he can't find the body. Later, during dinner at the Kavalov home, the group being Kavalov, his daughter, her husband Mr. Ringgo, and the Op, his host has this to say about a threatening man, Hugh Sherry, who he may have cheated during the war a decade ago in Cairo: "I do not believe he means to kill me. I know that." The Op then says, "I'm trying to get it straight in my mind." A second later Kavalov upbraids him, "There's nothing to get straight. A man is going to murder me." Simple? Kavalov thinks so. You won't. (Jun2021/Jun2026)
Displaying 1 of 1 review