The Thin Man is Dashiell Hammett's last novel. It was published in 1934 and is set during Prohibition (1920-1933). It is included in the hardboiled genre though it is more on the soft end of the scale. Though only one novel featured Nick and Nora Charles and their dog Asta, is spawned movies and a TV series. People who only know the movies and television series generally think that the "thin man" is Nick Charles himself rather than a character in the book.

Nick Charles is a retired detective married to a rich socialite, Nora. I can't help but think of him as the Continental Op from Red Harvest gone soft. Nick has given up detective work to manage Nora's money. They have come to New York for Christmas and New Years Eve celebrations. While stile still a detective, Nick handled a problem for eccentric inventor Clyde Wynant who was having trouble with Victor Rosewater who accused Wynant of stealing his ideas.

Nick meets Wynant's daughter, Dorothy, in a speakeasy and she tries to get him interested in locating her father who has disappeared. Later, Wynant's secretary/possible girlfriend is found murdered and Nick finds himself involved against his will. Nora thinks it is all terribly exciting. A rather convoluted plot ensues with Wynant protesting his innocence by mail and telegram. Hammett introduces one of the most dysfunctional families one could hope not to meet: Dorothy, Wynant's airhead daughter; Gilbert his son who fancies himself an observer of mankind which includes eavesdropping and steaming open mail; Mimi, Wynant's ex-wife given to fits of near psychopathic rage; and Christian Jorgeson, Mimi's new husband, a gold digger.

I found the story more interesting for its descriptions of the society than the mystery itself. If you pay attention as you read you can figure out the ending fairly easily. Though the story is set during Prohibition, the consumption of alcohol is phenomenal. Nick is a functional alcoholic who needs a cocktail immediately upon rising. Nora hits the bottle heavily herself but recognizes that Nick has a drinking problem. You would never know that alcohol consumption was illegal given that nick and Nora don't hesitate to offer police officers a drink and Nick openly admits to visiting speakeasies.

Hammett's skill at describing scenes and characters is well evidenced here. I found the scenes in Studsy's speakeasy, the apartment of a small time hoodlum Numheim, and the police procedures particularly interesting.

There are not many likable characters in the book. The owner of a popular speakeasy and a thug who shots Nick and the two most genuine characters but he only character in the book that I would like to meet is the dog Asta.

While you might find much to object to - the abuse of alcohol, a use of the n* word, the self-indulgent characters - The Thin Man nevertheless occupies an important place in the cannon of hardboiled detective stories and should read if you are a student of the genre. It also a pleasure to experience Hammett's skill as a writer which is still to be appreciated 70-plus years later.