Red Harvest

A city consumed by corruption, where order is restored only through deeper chaos.

In Red Harvest, Dashiell Hammett delivers a hard-edged work of detective fiction that helped define the noir tradition. Set in a mining town overtaken by crime and competing factions, the novel unfolds as a relentless campaign to dismantle a system built on violence and control.

An unnamed operative from the Continental Detective Agency arrives in the town—known as Poisonville—to investigate a case that quickly expands beyond its original scope. Rather than confronting a single adversary, he faces a network of gang leaders, corrupt officials, and shifting alliances. His strategy becomes one of calculated disruption, turning rival groups against each other in an effort to collapse the entire structure. As the situation escalates, the distinction between justice and manipulation grows increasingly uncertain.

Hammett’s prose is direct and unsentimental, emphasizing action, consequence, and moral ambiguity. Red Harvest endures as a foundational work of crime fiction, where the pursuit of order reveals its own capacity for destruction.

This Carlini Classics edition presents the complete, unabridged text in a beautifully designed format made to last.

• A defining novel of hardboiled and noir detective fiction
• A gripping exploration of corruption, power, and moral ambiguity
• A timeless reflection on justice pursued through unconventional means

Available in multiple formats:

• Paperback & Hardcover: Beautifully designed print editions presenting the complete, unabridged text made to last.

• Ebook: DRM-free EPUB compatible with Kindle, Kobo, Apple Books, and all major e-readers.

• Audiobook: Professionally narrated, complete and unabridged, available on all major audiobook platforms.

Elegantly produced and enduring in form, this edition preserves Hammett’s stark vision in a volume designed for lasting impact.

About the author

Dashiell Hammett (1894–1961) was an American author and pioneer of the hard-boiled detective genre. A former Pinkerton detective, Hammett drew on his real-life experiences to craft stories that were both realistic and gripping. His works, including The Maltese Falcon and The Thin Man, have left an indelible mark on crime fiction and inspired countless adaptations in film and literature. Hammett’s writing is renowned for its terse prose, morally ambiguous characters, and exploration of societal decay, cementing his legacy as one of the most influential crime writers of the 20th century.