# The Maltese Falcon — Chapters explained

> Chapter companions for The Maltese Falcon by Dashiell Hammett.

- [The Maltese Falcon](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_maltese_falcon_se/chapters/the-maltese-falcon.md): Sam Spade, a private detective in San Francisco, is hired by a woman calling herself Miss Wonderly, who is actually Brigid O'Shaughnessy. She involves him in a dangerous search for a priceless statuette, the Maltese Falc
- [Spade & Archer](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_maltese_falcon_se/chapters/i-spade-archer.md): The chapter introduces Sam Spade and his partner Miles Archer in their San Francisco detective agency. A new client, Miss Wonderly (later revealed as Brigid O'Shaughnessy), hires them to find her younger sister Corinne, 
- [Death in the Fog](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_maltese_falcon_se/chapters/ii-death-in-the-fog.md): Police detectives Dundy and Polhaus visit Sam Spade at his apartment to question him about the murder of Floyd Thursby, who was shot four times in the back shortly after Miles Archer's death. Spade deflects their suspici
- [III: Three Women](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_maltese_falcon_se/chapters/iii-three-women.md): Sam Spade arrives at his office to find Iva Archer waiting for him. She accuses him of killing her husband, Miles, but he dismisses her suspicions. Effie Perine reports that the police suspect Spade of shooting Thursby. 
- [The Black Bird](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_maltese_falcon_se/chapters/iv-the-black-bird.md): Brigid O'Shaughnessy confesses her true identity to Sam Spade and pleads for his help, revealing her fear of being implicated in Miles Archer's murder. Spade agrees to shield her from the police temporarily, then visits 

> 16 more chapter companions — [open a free preview](https://www.betterreads.dev/reader?bookId=the_maltese_falcon_se_1199kb&preview=1) to unlock the rest.

- [V: The Levantine](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_maltese_falcon_se/chapters/v-the-levantine.md)
- [VI: The Undersized Shadow](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_maltese_falcon_se/chapters/vi-the-undersized-shadow.md)
- [VII: G in the Air](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_maltese_falcon_se/chapters/vii-g-in-the-air.md)
- [Horse Feathers](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_maltese_falcon_se/chapters/viii-horse-feathers.md)
- [IX: Brigid](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_maltese_falcon_se/chapters/ix-brigid.md)
- [X: The Belvedere Divan](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_maltese_falcon_se/chapters/x-the-belvedere-divan.md)
- [The Fat Man](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_maltese_falcon_se/chapters/xi-the-fat-man.md)
- [XII: Merry-Go-Round](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_maltese_falcon_se/chapters/xii-merry-go-round.md)
- [XIII: The Emperor's Gift](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_maltese_falcon_se/chapters/xiii-the-emperor-s-gift.md)
- [XIV: La Paloma](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_maltese_falcon_se/chapters/xiv-la-paloma.md)
- [XV: Every Crackpot](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_maltese_falcon_se/chapters/xv-every-crackpot.md)
- [XVI: The Third Murder](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_maltese_falcon_se/chapters/xvi-the-third-murder.md)
- [XVII: Saturday Night](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_maltese_falcon_se/chapters/xvii-saturday-night.md)
- [The Fall-Guy](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_maltese_falcon_se/chapters/xviii-the-fall-guy.md)
- [XIX: The Russian's Hand](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_maltese_falcon_se/chapters/xix-the-russian-s-hand.md)
- [XX: If They Hang You](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_maltese_falcon_se/chapters/xx-if-they-hang-you.md)

HTML index: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_maltese_falcon_se/chapters