This article deals with the Dashiell Hammett novel called Red Harvest. For the Norwegian heavy metal band, see: Red Harvest . For the bloodsimple album, see Red Harvest .
Red Harvest (1929) is a novel by Dashiell Hammett. The story is narrated by a nameless detective, The Continental Op, a frequent character in Hammett's fiction. Hammett based the story on his own experiences in Butte, Montana as a Pinkerton agent.
Plot
The Continental Op finds himself called to Personville (which is known as "Poisonville" by the locals) by Donald Willson, who is murdered before the Op has a chance to meet with him. The Op begins to work on the murder case and meets with Willson's father, Elihu, a local industrialist who has found his control of the city's economy threatened by several competing gangs whom he himself had originally invited into his city to "resolve" a labor dispute.The Op extracts a promise and a signed letter from Elihu that pays the Op $10,000 in exchange for cleaning up the ci