Welcome to a hard-boiled and not without noir blog with news and reviews, occasional outbursts of maniacal Autograph Hound activity, plus archival records from the forty-five year run of The Dashiell Hammett Tour. 
The Dashiell Hammett Tour
1977-2022
Arkham House Ephemera
The Classic Years 1937–1973
Death Lit
Essays and Reviews Selected from Fifty Years of Writing 1974–2024
Willeford
The Book
Category Archives: News
Hammett: Birthday 123 Coming Up
I can’t tell if Hammett’s upcoming birthday — no.123 — on May 27 is what triggered a burst of posts on Evan Lewis’ blog, or if he just suddenly felt like it. But if you care to surf over and … Continue reading
Hammett: Jeopardy! Does Another Lightning Strike
Good grief. After the recent use of Hammett on Jeopardy! I thought I was safe for awhile, especially during the currently airing Teachers Tournament. Surely they wouldn’t be posing Hammett-themed clews for the nation’s educators. But on May 9 during … Continue reading
Frisco Beat: Naming The Names at Milkbean
Mark Murphy, one of my operatives always on the ground, constantly reporting on the Tenderloin Beat, tells me that Milkbean — a sandwich and coffee joint which opened recently in the space in the Sam Spade Building once occupied by … Continue reading
Hammett: The Black Bird Cracks Jeopardy! Again
On May 1 Hammett got in on the Jeopardy! action yet again. In the Double Jeopardy round, the $400 — a.k.a. easiest — clew in the category 1940 Movie Quotes: Humphrey Bogart: “If you kill me, how are you going … Continue reading
Rediscovered: Jeopardy! Double-Dips the Black Mask Gang
And good old Jeopardy! has hit the Hammett Clew Pile again! April 5, the category Avian Literature — you don’t have to be an expert in hard-boiled lit to just yell out “The Maltese Falcon!” before any hints get dropped. … Continue reading
Frisco Beat: The Painted Gun
I should mention a new crime novel that popped earlier this month, since it’s got the local angle for those of you who may be collecting San Francisco mysteries — rife with Bay Area action, though toward the end it … Continue reading
Posted in Frisco, Lit, News
Tagged Bradley Spinelli, Guatemala, Kent Harrington, Mystery File, Robert B. Parker, The Painted Gun
Rediscovered: The Lost Arkham Imprint
I forgot to mention that John D. Haefele wrapped up his three-part series on August Derleth and the Little Review. The third part is kind of the good one — the closer — since it deals with Derleth’s own little … Continue reading
Posted in Lit, News
Tagged Arkham House, August Derleth, Hawk & Whipoorwill, John D. Haefele, Stan McNail
Rediscovered: The Kind of Willefordian Resume of David Yow
Got a note in from Devon Morf, who sprang into action on the tip I just gave out: “Thanks for the recommendation on I Don’t Feel at Home in This World Anymore. Watched it last night. “Recognized the villain as … Continue reading
Posted in Dash, Film, News, Willeford
Tagged Blue Velvet, David Yow, Devon Morf, I Don't Feel at Home in This World Anymore, Scratch Acid, The Jesus Lizard
Hammett: The Maltese Cruise Ship
— and other curiosities of travel to exotic climes! Our pal Kevin Cook recently percolated over to Europe, and sends back a report. First, on whether you can find a Maltese falcon on Malta: “Trust me, you wouldn’t have wanted … Continue reading
