Book Review: “Red Harvest”

Reviewed by Jared Bosco

“Red Harvest” is a detective novel by Dashiell Hammett. In book, the main character uses many names – however, he is employed by the Continental Detective Agency, which gives the main character the name “the Continental Op.”

Set in “Poisonville,” a small mining town in Montana, the Continental Op is hired to clean up the corrupt town.

The Continental Op and the story of Red Harvest was developed in the book Black Mask, another novel by Dashiell Hammett.

“Poisonville” has become corrupt and the murder of Donald Willsson provokes his father, controller of the oil and newspaper monopoly, to hire the Continental Op in order to clean up the town.

The job gets harder and harder for the Continental Op because the longer he stays in “Poisonville,” the more he uncovers.

Red Harvest was very well-written. Hammett once again did not disappoint.

Very similar to “The Maltese Falcon,” the book “Red Harvest” is another great detective story.

I would highly recommend this book, as well as “The Maltese Falcon,” to anyone who enjoys mystery novels.

Jared Bosco is a junior in the academically gifted program at Hahnville High. He enjoys hunting, fishing, and doing fun activities with his friends and family.

Editor’s note: Book reviews are published weekly during the summer in agreement with Hahnville High School gifted English teacher Deborah Unger in conjunction with the Brown Foundation Service Learning Program.