Synopsis/blurb.....
Cashed out from the NYPD after 24 years, Doak Miller operates as a private eye in steamy small-town Florida, doing jobs for the local police. Like posing as a hit man and wearing a wire to incriminate a local wife who s looking to get rid of her husband. But when he sees the wife, when he looks into her deep blue eyes... He falls and falls hard. Soon he's working with her, against his employer, plotting a devious plan that could get her free from her husband and put millions in her bank account. But can they do it without landing in jail? And once he's kindled his taste for killing...will he be able to stop at one?
Enjoyed a few months ago on audio and I have to say, I was kind of glad to be listening to it on my own, as Mr Block's main man Doak Miller enjoys an extremely active sex-life with a variety of willing participants in a variety of different orifices, seemingly favouring one where the sun doesn't usually shine - enough said. Probably too much said - Lawrence Block you'd make a sailor blush!
As for the mystery itself, our PI Miller is engaged by a local cop to entrap a waitress who's suspected of wanting her rich husband dead. Miller takes a good look at the waitress likes what he sees and schemes with her to outwit the sheriff, the husband and still run free to enjoy the proceeds.
Overall I liked it and was entertained by the whole shebang. I do wonder whether the sex elements would have the same impact as just the written word, maybe hearing them spoken gave them a greater power. I'm certainly no prude and chuckled along.With regards to the plot, I was keen to see if our amorous pair could pull it off. I liked the back story of both, Miller's previous life in New York as a cop and the path travelled by our waitress (name escapes me) in arriving at a place where her husband just has to go.
Amusing and entertaining - you wouldn't expect anything less from Lawrence Block.
4 from 5
Listened to back in March, 2016. AUDIBLE COPY purchased.
I know what you mean, Col, about too much emphasis on sexual doings. I really like Block's work a lot, but I think a person can tell a good story without quite so much detail. Still, it does sound like a solid plot for a story, and I'm glad you enjoyed it.
ReplyDeleteMargot, I enjoyed it and the sexual content was possibly the most explicit I've encountered in a book for a while, though I do wonder if it seemed "more" because I was hearing it out loud. I keep reading that LB cut his teeth writing soft porn/erotica back in the late 50s early 60s - its almost like he was revisiting his youth. The mystery element was enjoyable but possibly overshadowed by the sex. In no way am I complaining whatsoever, but I was slightly surprised.
DeleteCol, from what I have read about Lawrence Block's work, mostly through reviews, he seems to have reinvented crime fiction, both in style and story. The premise of this novel is one such example.
ReplyDeletePrashant, never a dull moment with Mr Block's work. When you read his non-series books, expect the unexpected!
DeleteCol – Haven’t read Block in a while. It might be time to catch up. Thanks.
ReplyDeleteElgin, I ought to read more from him myself. It's always a juggling act with what's next!
DeleteI am sure I would like this book; Block writes so well I think I would enjoy anything he wrote. But I have many other books by Block on the piles unread, so I will get to them first.
ReplyDeleteI think you might blush if you read this one. Block is very entertaining though and yes, I have stacks of his stuff still to get to.
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