Zigzags of Treachery - a Continental Op Short Story - #8

The Continental Op

by Dashiell Hammett

The Big Book of the Continental Op has an introduction at the start of this short story which was initially published in Black Mask magazine. They said: "Here is a detective story which we think will please all comers. It is a happy combination of deduction and swift action."

A doctor-surgeon with a good reputation commits suicide for no apparent reason. But questions arise and the Op is asked to get involved at the request of the doctor's widow.

Librarian's note #1: this entry is for the story, Zigzags of Treachery. 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.

Genres: Noir, Mystery, Fiction, Crime, Pulp, Short Stories

23 pages

First published March 1, 1924

About the author

Also 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...

Reviews

[Jack Heath · Rating 5 out of 5]

5 Stars. One of the best short stories I've ever read - although it is more like a novella at 23 pages. Hammett writes detective procedurals with the best, everything one expects, from violence to action and deduction and an unexpected twist. Plus a writing style that soars even a century later. It's from Black Mask of 1924 and was re-published in The Big Book of the Continental Op in 2017. He was developing a name as a writer and this must have sealed the deal. For good measure, he throws in four tips about shadowing a suspect - keep behind him as much as possible, never hide, act natural whatever happens, and never make eye contact! The Op is retained by the lawyer for Mrs. Estep whose rich husband has apparently committed suicide. She is frantic as her situation moves from mourning her husband, who was a San Francisco doctor, to being accused of murder. A possible reason? What about the sudden appearance of a first Mrs. Estep and the absence of divorce papers! No one believes her story that one evening the doctor went out to mail a letter, returned, and quickly shot himself. With the help of police detective O'Gar, the Op tries to get answers. (Oc2020/Jun2026)

[Juergen John Roscher · Rating 4 out of 5]

Multiple layers of deceit and treachery in the Dashiell Hammett short story.

[Eric Benjamin · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fun & quick Continental Op whodunit. I didn’t see the twist coming, which was great. Tight, well paced mystery story worth a read.

[Бранко · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good story that is not part of “The Giant Collection of the Continental Op”, which claims to have all Hammett stories.
Correction : in my previous review I made a mistake in saying that the story was not in the “The Big Book of Continental Op”. The story is in that book.
However, the “Giant Collection” makes the same claim - to have all the Hammett stories. Well, not this one, they have not.
Sorry about that mistake.

[Michelle · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.75/5: in my opinion this would've made an awesome novel

[L J Field · Rating 4 out of 5]

Excellent novella. Perhaps the best I’ve read thus far in my survey of Continental Op tales. There is no way to figure out what has been happening in the story until Hammett tells us. I’m still wondering about the relationship between the attorney and the second Mrs Estop.

[Audiobook Heaven · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great story, I listened to the audiobook version on YouTube. I will leave the link below so that everyone can enjoy it! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XAwk7...