
The Maltese Falcon (1930), by Dashiell Hammett.Read about the other books on the list.
The quintessential San Francisco mystery--the alleys, streets, fog, and noir of the City by the Bay. Sam Spade is the most famous San Francisco detective. No further explanation needed.
The Maltese Falcon appears on John Mullan's list of ten of the best femmes fatales in literature.
--Marshal Zeringue