The Maltese Falcon is a classic detective novel written by Dashiell Hammett and published in 1930. The protagonist of the novel is Sam SPADE, a private detective who is hired to investigate the disappearance of a valuable statuette known as the Maltese Falcon. SPADE is a hard-boiled detective who uses his wits and cunning to solve the case. He is also known for his sharp wit and sarcastic sense of humor.