Friday, 4 March 2016

LAWRENCE BLOCK - KELLER IN DALLAS (2009)


Synopsis/blurb…..

This novella continues the story of Keller, after the wistful stamp-collecting hit man retired in New Orleans at the end of Hit & Run. A phone call and an economic downturn is all it takes to put him back in business.

Keller in Dallas, a Kindle bestseller, serves too as the opening episode of Lawrence Block's brand-new bestseller, Hit Me.

I’ve only read the one Keller novel way back when and this fantastic story has me itching the read the series start to finish sometime soon.

Keller has married and has a family here and is retired from the hit man game. But with a stamp auction coming up and some lots he fancies and money a bit tight, one phone call is all it takes. He’s back.

Block's on the left!
Scoping out the landscape, sees him clear out the illegal help posing as authority asking for a green card. An unexpected nap throws his plans into disarray, but an ability to adapt and think on his feet sees the job done.

A bit of a kick at the finish when the dust settles. His promised double bonus has eluded him, due to matters of the heart – who could figure?

4.5 from 5


Lawrence Block, for the second month running, again offering 5 freebies in 5 days in February – this was one of them I downloaded from Amazon. 

14 comments:

  1. Col, I'm currently reading Lawrence Block's AFTER THE FIRST DEATH which he was kind to offer free on Amazon. Maybe, it's one of the five books you mentioned.

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    1. I hope you are enjoying it Prashant. Yes that was one of the ones I added to my collection!

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  2. The Keller stories are good 'uns, Col. Not surprised you have the urge to read the whole series. Block handles every series, I think, really well: Scudder, Bernie, Keller, the whole thing.

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    1. I could easily read him back to back working through a series, but then I'd be neglecting other stuff. Just never enough time...

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  3. Never even heard of the Keller series - this man is so prolific!

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    1. I've only read the one full length Keller from 5 and I'm a massive fan. I owe it to myself to get back on board. Gotta love a hit man series!

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  4. Col – I have not read Block in a long while. Looks like I better do some catching up. Thanks.

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    1. He has been extremely prolific over the years., so plenty to choose from anyway.

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  5. As always, I remind myself I should read more Block. I have two or three on my shelves, and I keep not getting to them. That's a good sign, actually: I tend automatically to hoard by the authors whose works I like.

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    1. I am bit the same, oh hang on I hoard everything full stop.

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  6. Yep, read it and enjoyed it ;-)

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  7. I have Hit Man, the first Keller book (which is short stories?). But I have so many other unread Lawrence Block books, not sure what I would read first.

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    1. I think you're right. He seems to do that a bit with some of his stories. I know the Kit Tolliver pieces I read a month ago, formed the novel Getting Off eventually.

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