Red Harvest by Dashiell Hammett is a seminal work in American crime fiction, introducing readers to the hard-boiled detective genre. Originally published in 1929, the novel follows the Continental Op, a nameless operative from the Continental Detective Agency, as he navigates the corrupt and violent town of Personville—nicknamed "Poisonville" by its residents. Hired to clean up the town, the Op becomes entangled in a web of gang wars, deceit, and murder, employing ruthless tactics to pit rival factions against each other. Drawing from Hammett's own experiences as a Pinkerton detective, Red Harvest offers a gritty and unflinching portrayal of moral ambiguity and systemic corruption. This classic is essential for fans of noir fiction and those interested in the origins of the detective genre.
