Spade & Archer

The Prequel to The Maltese Falcon

By: Joseph Gores

Narrated by: Scott Brick

When Sam Spade gets drawn into the Maltese Falcon case, we know what to expect: straight talk, hard questions, no favors, and no way for anyone to get underneath the protective shell he wears like a second skin. We know that his late partner, Miles Archer, was a son of a bitch; that Spade is sleeping with Archer's wife, Iva; that his tomboyish secretary, Effie Perine, is the only innocent in his life. What we don't know is how Spade became who he is. Spade & Archer completes the picture.

1921: Spade sets up his own agency in San Francisco and clients quickly start coming through the door. The next seven years will see him dealing with booze runners, waterfront thugs, stowaways, banking swindlers, gold smugglers, bumbling cops, and the illegitimate daughter of Sun Yat-sen; with murder, other men's mistresses, and long-missing money. He'll bring in Archer as a partner, though it was Archer who stole his girl while he was fighting in World War I. He'll tangle with a villain who never loses his desire to make Spade pay big for ruining what should've been the perfect crime. And he'll fall in love - though it won't turn out for the best. It never does with dames.

Spade & Archer is a gritty, pitch-perfect, hard-boiled novel - the work of a master mystery writer - destined to become a classic in its own right.

©2009 Joe Gores (P)2009 Random House

Great writing! Great read!

He did a great job of interpreting the old writing style and making a new story with his own twist and turns. if you like The Maltese falcon you'll love this!

An excellent experience

For anyone who knows and/or is a fan of Hammett's The Maltese Falcon, this book is a great treat. The author cleverly gives us a very plausible back-story to what happens in Hammett's classic; all is believable and all fits together beautifully. The reader is also first-class--Sam Spade really comes alive, as do all of the other characters as well.

Excellent

This is a great audiobook listen. Kept me entertained for miles and miles. Gores captures the essence of Hammet's style while adding his own touch. The descriptions of the San Francisco Bay Area in the 20s are great and it is well plotted. Highly recommend.

AWESOME story and narration.

I love the old B&W film noire detective mysteries. This story and the narrator did not let me down.

Mirror Image

Truly when you finish this the absolute next sentence is the first sentence in Maltese Falcon. It expands the characters and gives a history and is on it's own a ripping yarn. I am impressed at this "prequel", in character, in time, pace and setting. Well done!

The greatest private eye.

What made the experience of listening to Spade & Archer the most enjoyable?

My favorite mystery story is the Maltese falcon. I always wished Hammet had written more than one novel and three short stories about the Adventures of Sam Spade. Mr Gores does a good job walking in Hammets shoes, and giving us more adventures of Spade

What was one of the most memorable moments of Spade & Archer?

The bad guy getting what he deserves in the end.

What does Scott Brick bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

He is a great voice talent. I also liked his work on Its Superman.

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

I was very upset when Spades lover was murderd.

Any additional comments?

I wish Mr Gores would write more of Spade adventures.

excellent

not just a good book, well read, he sounded like bogart! give me more just like it!

fine tale, great narration

the story is fair, tells of how Sam Spade was hard boiled.

Scott Brick does a great job with the reading.

Great Prequel

Loved this story and the narration was perfect! Great backstory and ends just as The Maltese Falcon begins.

really really enjoyable. excellent actually.

highly recommended. like watching a movie. detailed. colorful writing. I am going to listen to the entire book again.