Dashiell Hammett was an influential American author of crime fiction and detective novels. Known for creating the detective Sam Spade in The Maltese Falcon, Hammett set standards for hard-boiled fiction.
If you enjoy reading books by Dashiell Hammett then you might also like the following authors:
Raymond Chandler is an iconic name in detective fiction, known best for his creation of the detective Philip Marlowe. Chandler’s style is sharp, witty, and filled with memorable characters, similar to the classic approach of Dashiell Hammett.
In The Big Sleep, Chandler introduces Marlowe, a sharp-eyed detective hired by wealthy General Sternwood, whose family troubles soon lead Marlowe into a tangled web of blackmail, secrets, and hidden motives.
As Marlowe navigates the dark side of 1930s Los Angeles, he encounters corrupt businessmen, dangerous criminals, and mysterious women with uncertain intentions.
The twisting plot and tough-as-nails characters of The Big Sleep create a captivating mystery story that fans of Dashiell Hammett’s The Maltese Falcon will appreciate.
James M. Cain is a master at crafting dark and tense crime stories that grab readers with sharp dialogue and morally ambiguous characters. If you enjoy Dashiell Hammett, Cain’s The Postman Always Rings Twice could be a perfect next read.
Set in California, the novel tells the story of a drifter named Frank Chambers who stops at a roadside diner run by the older Nick Papadakis and his attractive wife, Cora. Immediately drawn to Cora, Frank embarks on a dangerous affair with her.
Soon they plot to rid themselves of her husband to live freely together. Yet, things rarely go according to plan in Cain’s ruthless world filled with passion, betrayal, and fate. This quick-paced novel keeps tension high through unpredictable twists at every turn.
Books by Ross Macdonald offer smart, suspenseful detective fiction filled with psychological depth. Fans of Dashiell Hammett’s sharp-witted mysteries might appreciate Macdonald’s Lew Archer novels. The Chill is a perfect starting point.
In this story, private detective Lew Archer investigates the disappearance of a young bride, which soon reveals layers of hidden secrets, family conflicts, and past crimes.
Macdonald gives readers a detective whose moral compass guides him through dark family histories, deceitful suspects, and complex past relationships.
Those who enjoyed Hammett’s no-nonsense detectives and tightly woven narratives will find similar appeal in Macdonald’s storytelling style.
Books by Mickey Spillane offer a gritty, fast-paced ride through the dark streets of crime fiction. If you enjoyed Dashiell Hammett’s tough and direct storytelling, Spillane’s Mike Hammer novels could appeal to you too.
In I, the Jury, detective Mike Hammer pledges to find the cold-blooded killer who murdered his closest friend. Hammer doesn’t shy away from rough tactics and the story moves quickly through violent confrontations, compelling interrogations, and tense showdowns.
Spillane builds a mystery loaded with twists, tough dialogue, and surprising reveals that keep readers turning pages fast.
Books by Jim Thompson offer dark, gritty crime fiction reminiscent of Dashiell Hammett’s style. Thompson’s novels focus on flawed, complex characters caught in webs of violence and desperation. His book The Killer Inside Me follows Lou Ford, a small-town deputy sheriff.
On the surface, Lou seems pleasant and harmless, but beneath this mask hides a chilling and unpredictable madness. The reader quickly gets pulled into Lou’s troubling mind as his true nature begins to surface, revealing disturbing secrets behind his ordinary, smiling face.
If intense psychological twists and dark character studies appeal to you, Jim Thompson is an author well worth exploring.
If you enjoy Dashiell Hammett’s direct, gritty crime narratives, Chester Himes presents another intense voice you’ll appreciate. Himes is known for sharp storytelling and vivid scenes set in mid-20th century Harlem.
His novel A Rage in Harlem throws you straight into a fast-paced world of scams, danger, and humor. The plot focuses on Jackson, a somewhat naive character wrapped up in trouble after he falls hard for a beautiful woman named Imabelle, who has her own secrets.
As Jackson tries desperately to win her affection and keep himself alive, two tough Harlem detectives, Coffin Ed Johnson and Grave Digger Jones, get involved. The narrative is both darkly funny and packed with thrill and suspense.
Fans of Hammett’s hard-edged fiction will quickly find themselves at home in Himes’ vivid and often ruthless Harlem world.
Horace McCoy is a writer worth exploring for fans of Dashiell Hammett’s sharp, no-nonsense storytelling. In particular, his novel They Shoot Horses, Don’t They? captures the gritty mood of the Great Depression through the tense atmosphere of a brutal dance marathon contest.
Contestants push themselves to physical and emotional extremes for a slim chance at prize money, revealing dark truths about desperation, ambition, and human endurance.
McCoy writes with raw clarity, pulling readers right to the heart of tough, morally complex situations—qualities that make him a must-read alongside Hammett.
David Goodis was a crime novelist who specialized in gritty, noir fiction. Fans of Dashiell Hammett will appreciate the dark streets and morally complex characters in his novels.
In Dark Passage, Goodis introduces Vincent Parry, a man wrongly imprisoned for murder, who escapes from jail and sets out to prove his innocence. Along the way, he meets a mysterious woman who becomes both his helper and potential ally.
Set in shadowy, post-war San Francisco, the story unfolds through tense encounters, unexpected twists, and characters who embody moral ambiguity.
Goodis brings readers into a suspenseful world of betrayal, desperation, and hidden motives, making Dark Passage a solid choice for readers seeking classic noir storytelling.
Readers who enjoy Dashiell Hammett’s hard-boiled mysteries might appreciate the tough, no-nonsense style of Paul Cain. His novel Fast One throws readers into the dangerous streets of 1930s Los Angeles.
Gerry Kells, the main character, is a tough criminal who gets caught up in gang rivalries, corrupt politicians, and gritty shoot-outs. Cain keeps the story fast-paced, with sharp dialogue and plenty of tension.
Fans of Hammett will recognize the careful plotting, dark atmosphere, and morally ambiguous characters that make Fast One so memorable.
Readers who enjoy Dashiell Hammett’s gritty detective stories might find Georges Simenon’s work engaging and atmospheric.
Simenon was a hugely prolific Belgian author famous for his Inspector Maigret mysteries, sharp psychological insights, and evocative depiction of mid-20th century France.
One good place to start is Maigret Sets a Trap, where a clever serial killer terrorizes the rainy streets of Paris. Maigret struggles to understand the killer’s motives and carefully builds a risky plan that turns the city’s streets into live bait.
The story explores dark human motives and tense police work while showcasing Simenon’s precision and sense of place.
If you enjoy Dashiell Hammett’s sharp dialogue and vivid characters, chances are you’ll appreciate Elmore Leonard. Leonard’s crime novels offer gritty realism, clever twists, and memorable crooks you can’t help but root for.
Take Rum Punch, for example: a story about Jackie Burke whose life takes a dangerous turn after she’s caught smuggling cash for a ruthless arms dealer. With the ATF on her back and violent criminals closing in, Jackie cooks up an ingenious scheme to stay alive and get ahead.
Leonard’s knack for tight pacing and witty banter brings the story alive, making it a treat for mystery fans.
If you enjoy Dashiell Hammett’s gritty, hard-boiled detective stories, Dennis Lehane might be perfect for you. Lehane’s novels blend sharp dialogue, dark mysteries, and memorable characters.
In Gone, Baby, Gone, private detectives Patrick Kenzie and Angie Gennaro search the rough neighborhoods of Boston for a missing child. The deeper they look, the more complicated the case becomes.
Lehane not only writes compelling mysteries but also explores the moral conflicts facing his characters, adding depth and emotional weight to their decisions. Fans of Hammett’s tough detective style and gripping plots will find Lehane’s stories equally satisfying.
Walter Mosley is an author praised for his vivid depiction of crime and mystery, especially known for his Easy Rawlins series set in post-war Los Angeles.
If you’re a fan of Dashiell Hammett’s classic storytelling and hard-boiled detectives, you’ll find Mosley’s book Devil in a Blue Dress particularly interesting. In this story, Easy Rawlins, a laid-off war veteran, finds himself drawn into detective work almost by accident.
What starts as a simple task of locating a missing woman quickly spirals into a dangerous web connected to powerful figures, secrets, and racial tensions of late 1940s Los Angeles.
Mosley captures the gritty feel of the city, reflecting on race and class issues beneath the surface of his intense mystery plot.
Lawrence Block is a writer who crafts dark, gritty detective novels with intriguing characters and sharp dialogue. If you enjoyed the gritty realism and clever detective work in Dashiell Hammett’s novels, you might appreciate Block’s The Sins of the Fathers.
It’s the first novel in his Matthew Scudder series, set in a vivid and raw New York City atmosphere. The story follows Scudder, a former cop turned private detective, as he investigates the brutal stabbing of a young woman and the suspect’s sudden suicide in jail.
Block explores themes of moral ambiguity, violence, and redemption, while building suspense through tight plotting and emotional depth. The story unfolds piece by piece, drawing you deeper into Scudder’s dark world.
Sara Paretsky is a crime novelist known for her hard-boiled detective character, V.I. Warshawski. Fans of Dashiell Hammett will enjoy Paretsky’s gritty Chicago settings and complex plots filled with sharp dialogue and tough moral choices.
In Indemnity Only, Warshawski takes on a seemingly straightforward missing-person case that quickly spirals into a tangled web involving insurance fraud, corporate cover-ups, and murder.
Warshawski faces betrayal and danger at every turn, uncovering dark secrets hidden within Chicago’s powerful elite. The tight plot, rich atmosphere, and strong, determined protagonist evoke the classic style Hammett readers appreciate.