The godfather of the hard-boiled detective novel, Dashiell Hammett is widely acknowledged as one of America's greatest mystery writers. This collection brings together the BBC radio adaptations of his works for the first time, including the iconic The Maltese Falcon featuring his most famous character: Sam Spade.

The Maltese Falcon
San Francisco, 1928. When his partner is murdered on an assignment, private detective Sam Spade is drawn into a dangerous case involving a treacherous femme fatale and the priceless black statuette of a falcon... Tom Wilkinson and Jane Lapotaire star in this thrilling dramatisation of Hammett's most famous novel.

Secret Agent X-9
New York, 1934, and Secret Agent X-9 is about to embark on his most deadly mission yet. Falsely accused of murder, he struggles to stay one step ahead of the law in his relentless pursuit of his arch enemy, 'The Top'. Dramatised from a comic strip co-created by Dashiell Hammett, this tale of mystery, murder and mayhem stars Stuart Milligan, Connie Booth and William Hootkins.

Nightmare Town
Arriving in the desert boom town of Izzard, Arizona, sharp-edged tough guy Steve Threefall meets the beautiful, terrified Nova Vallance - and encounters danger, intrigue and a dark mystery... Read by Stuart Milligan.

The Man Who Killed Dan Odams
An escaped killer fleeing cross-country stumbles upon an isolated farm in Montana, inhabited by a woman and her young son... This mysterious and brooding noir western is read by Stuart Milligan.


The Maltese Falcon
Sam Spade - Tom Wilkinson
Brigid O'Shaughnessy - Jane Lapotaire
Mr Gutman - Peter Vaughan
Joel Cairo - Nickolas Grace
Effie - Mia Soteriou
Miles Archer - William Hope
Iva - Liza Ross
Wilmer - Peter Acre
Tom Polhaus - Norman Jones
Lt Dundy - Harry Towb
DA Bryan - Don Fellows
Newspaperman - Robin Summers
Taxi driver - Keith Edwards
Man with key - Arnold Diamond
Dramatised by Michael Bakewell
Directed by Jane Morgan
First broadcast BBC Radio 4, 29 December 1984

Secret Agent X-9
X-9 - Stuart Milligan
Grace Powers - Connie Booth
The Top - William Hootkins
Evelyn Powers - Rachel Power
Deacon/Alden Powers - Peter Marinker
Matthew/Steward/Luke - Michael John Paliotti
Captain Brady/Bartholomew - John Guerrasio
Jude - Bruce McGregor
Cop 1 - Clive Rowe
Harper-Carp - Kerry Shale
Waitress/Sister Agnes - Miranda Pleasance
Other parts played by the cast
Dramatised by Mark Brisenden from the comic strip created by Dashiell Hammett and Alex Raymond
Produced by Chris Wallis
First broadcast BBC Radio 5 Live, 1-22 January 1994

Nightmare Town
Read by Stuart Milligan
Abridged by Neville Teller
Produced by Elizabeth Allard
First broadcast BBC Radio 4, 5-8 November 2001

The Man Who Killed Dan Odams
Read by Stuart Milligan
Abridged by Neville Teller
Produced by Elizabeth Allard
First broadcast BBC Radio 4, 9 November 2001