Hardboiled Fiction

[Lighthouse]

I watched the Maltese Falcon a few months ago, and for some reason this got me on a private eye kick, and I started reading a bunch of hardboiled fiction, and I gotta say I'm enjoying the bloody hell out of them. I've read three of Raymond Chandler's Philip Marlowe novels, and I'm starting to read some Dashelle Hammett as well. The prose in Chandler's books is some of the best I've ever read. I only wish I could think up sentences like those in my head. Anyone else like reading these stories? Any recommendations?

 

[Addendum]

I haven't yet read any Chandler or Hammett yet. I was able to snag a couple Mickey Spillane books with the first 6 Mike Hammer novels (3 in each book). If you can find a copy, get them. They're great reads.

The Mike Hammer Collection Volumes 1 and 2.