The novel begins when Brigid O'Shaughnessy, Brigid hires Spade and partner Miles Archer to protect her from former partner, Thursby. When Archer was murdered, and then Thursby was murdered, Spade intervenes. Spade is having an affair with Archer’s wife Iva, which he kept a very good secret. Brigid eventually draws Spade into her plan to sell a statue of a falcon to Joel Cairo, Wilmer, and Casper Gutman which was Brigid’s former partners. …showed first 75 words of 624 total…

…showed last 75 words of 624 total…the Flitcraft story. Having deserted his family after a falling beam nearly killed him, Flitcraft returns to the same patterns of life he had abandoned, In Brigid's case, Spade sees that her habit of lying is fundamental. Brigid is arguably the best developed femme fatale in the novel. Not merely pretty or sexy, she is intelligent and clever – Spade's equal, making their attraction towards eachother. Also with Iva Archer and the office wife Effie Perrine.