The Glass Key by Dashiell Hammett is a classic detective novel reissued with a new introduction by Laura Lippmann. Set in the 1920s, it follows Ned Beaumont, a gambler and professional troubleshooter for his friend Paul Madvig, a political power broker with corrupt ambitions. Madvig targets Senator Ralph Bancroft Henry’s daughter for a potential marriage alliance, hoping to elevate his social standing. The plot takes a dark turn when the senator’s son is found dead, making Madvig the prime suspect. However, as the investigation unfolds, it becomes clear that someone else may be behind the murder, setting Beaumont on a dangerous quest to uncover the truth.

Hammett’s The Glass Key is renowned for its bulletproof plot, authentically corrupt characters, and writing of telegraphic crispness. First published in 1929, it remains a cornerstone of detective fiction, offering readers a gripping narrative that explores themes of corruption, ambition, and the moral complexities of the human condition.

With a print length of 214 pages, The Glass Key by Dashiell Hammett, published by Vintage Crime/Black Lizard on July 17, 1989, under ISBN-13: 978-0679722625, continues to captivate readers with its timeless storytelling and masterful prose.