Cosecha roja / Red Harvest

Red Harvest introduces the Continental Op, an unnamed detective who appears in many of Dashiell Hammett's short stories, though this novel is his longest and most famous outing. While the Op's cases are generally self-contained, reading this book offers a foundational understanding of his character and methods.

The corrupt mining town of Personville, nicknamed 'Poisonville,' is widely believed to be inspired by Hammett's own experiences working for the Pinkerton Detective Agency in Butte, Montana, a city known for its rough and tumble mining culture and labor disputes during the early 20th century.

While there isn't a direct, widely recognized film adaptation titled 'Red Harvest,' the novel is often cited as a major influence on Akira Kurosawa's Yojimbo and Sergio Leone's A Fistful of Dollars, both of which feature a lone protagonist manipulating warring factions in a corrupt town.