Who is the detective in Dashiell Hammett's novel "The Maltese Falcon," known for his tough and cynical persona?
A. Sam Spade
B. Philip Marlowe
C. Mike Hammer
D. Lew Archer
Sam Spade is the detective in Dashiell Hammett's novel "The Maltese Falcon," known for his tough and cynical persona, becoming an iconic character in hardboiled detective fiction.