It’s now a franchise.
Books are great when the author is inspired to write them.
Writing to have two releases a year per contract just isn’t the same.
The best movies don’t mess with the stories, but most directors and screenwriters want their own imprint.
Maltese Falcon is almost line per line from the book, and John Huston was a director/screenwriter who wasn’t afraid of other peoples genius.
Thanks, I should read the book, have a little more time these days.
Had unhappily noted the same here about Stephen King after loving the Stand and hating most anything else I read that he allegedly wrote afterwards.