# Iva Archer — The Maltese Falcon character guide

> Iva Archer in The Maltese Falcon by Dashiell Hammett.

**Role:** minor

**Also known as:** Iva

**First appearance:** 0004-iii-three-women

## Who they are

Miles Archer's widow and Spade's former lover.

## Relationships

### [Sam Spade](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_maltese_falcon_se/characters/sam_spade)

_romantic_

A sordid, one-sided affair where Iva is infatuated with Spade, who uses her for information while feeling little genuine affection.

### [Sam Spade](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_maltese_falcon_se/characters/sam_spade)

_romantic_

A sordid, one-sided affair where Iva is infatuated with Spade, who uses her for information while feeling little genuine affection.

### [Sam Spade](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_maltese_falcon_se/characters/sam_spade)

_romantic_

A sordid, one-sided affair where Iva is infatuated with Spade, who uses her for information while feeling little genuine affection.

## In the story

### [III: Three Women](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_maltese_falcon_se/chapters/iii-three-women)

Iva confronts Spade, accusing him of killing her husband, and seeks reassurance of his affection.

### [VI: The Undersized Shadow](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_maltese_falcon_se/chapters/vi-the-undersized-shadow)

Iva waits in her sedan outside Spade's apartment, confronts him about the woman he is with, and is sent away.

### [The Fat Man](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_maltese_falcon_se/chapters/xi-the-fat-man)

Visits Spade to apologize for sending the police to his apartment and to warn him about her brother-in-law Phil Archer's suspicions.

### [XII: Merry-Go-Round](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_maltese_falcon_se/chapters/xii-merry-go-round)

Her alibi is recounted by Sid Wise; she claims to have followed Miles and then gone to a movie.

### [XX: If They Hang You](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_maltese_falcon_se/chapters/xx-if-they-hang-you)

Arrives at Spade's office at the end of the chapter.

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_maltese_falcon_se/characters/iva_archer
- Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_maltese_falcon_se
- All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_maltese_falcon_se/characters