Snarl of the Beast

Published in 1922, 'Snarl of the Beast' by Carroll John Daly is the first full-length novel featuring the hard-boiled detective Race Williams. The story follows Williams as he navigates danger after being attacked by a menacing figure and subsequently pursued by the police, who mistake him for a murderer. This novel is notable for establishing the hard-boiled genre and introducing a tough, wisecracking private investigator who faces peril with grit and wit.