May 25, 2022 - Staff Reviews

 

The Thin Man

By Dashiell Hammett

Release Date: December 1933

Audiobook Available from WV Reads!

https://wvreads.overdrive.com/wvreads-wvlc/content/media/114791

3 Stars - This fun and fast little classic mystery probably has something for everyone. Hammett's snappy dialouge makes up a slightly meandering mystery plot. Nick and Nora's characters are also nearly every bit as likable as in the movie series though the book is a bit darker. All the side characters are crazy and quirky leading to a wild whodunit.

Hammett's quick-paced and quick-witted style makes it easy to see why he's still read today and why Hollywood was eager to scoop up his stories. The twisty and turny but at time repetitive plot left a bit to be desired though for me. Nick's lovable rogue attitude covers his clearly sharp intellect, and he's quite a cad. Nora's around to keep him in line though, mostly, when she's not the one encouraging antics. Dorothy and Mimi the hapless femme fatales got just a little tiresome with all the fluttering and crying, etc.

I think the narrator might have had more to do with Dorothy and Mimi prickling my nerves. But overall Dufris did an excellent performance that was engaging and easy to follow. It was difficult to keep up with what Nick discovered and click the pieces together for yourself. But that's nothing new with these old-fashioned detective stories. This at times felt more like a play than a short novel turned movie. We don't get much out of the setting location wise here though the time period is obvious. We seemed to keep returning to same people and places once too often. Sometimes I had no idea where Hammett's side stories were going. Such as the slightly shocking cannabalism antecdote. And the big climatic ending and reveal felt a bit abrupt. Regardless, this was and fun and easy listen . It's perfect for Golden Age Hollywood fans looking to mix up the classics.

(NS)