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A review by saareman
Hit and Run by Lawrence Block
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Keller on the Run
A review of the HarperCollins eBook (June 24, 2008) released simultaneously with the original William Morrow & Co. hardcover.
<blockquote><i>He couldn’t be Keller anymore. Keller was over and done with—and, when he thought about it, he realized that everything in Keller’s life was already gone, so what difference could it make if the name vanished along with it?</i></blockquote>
Breaking the pattern from the short stories as a novel format of the first 3 Keller books, this 4th entry in the series is an actual one story novel. The neurotic hitman is sent out on a decoy job which places him in Des Moines at the same time as the real target, a high-profile State Governor is assassinated. Keller has been setup as the fall-guy and is forced to go on the run.
With his photo released to the media and no way home except for a cross country trip via stolen vehicles, Keller heads back to New York City. But it soon transpires that even his NYC identity has been revealed to the public and there is no returning to his past life. And it appears that even his handler Dot has been eliminated by the conspiracists with the house in White Plains burnt down with a body inside it.
A chance encounter gives Keller a path to a new life. But then a chance glance at an ad in a stamp catalogue suddenly awakens yet another possibility.
This was the best of the Kellers and, although it was followed by one further book in 2012, it was a good finale to go out on.
Trivia and Links
I read a considerable number of Lawrence Block books in my pre-GR and pre-reviewing days. Probably 40 or so out of the 100+ that are available. That included all of the <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/series/53461-matthew-scudder">Matt Scudder</a> books, several of the <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/series/40960-bernie-rhodenbarr">Bernie Rhodenbarrs</a>, several of the <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/series/53464-evan-tanner">Evan Tanners</a>, several of the <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/series/49488-john-keller">Kellers</a>, a dozen or so standalones and some of the memoirs. There were even a few of the earlier pulp novels which were originally published under pseudonyms. This re-read is part of an ongoing look back at some of those.
Lawrence Block (June 24, 1938 - ) considers himself retired these days, but still maintains an occasional newsletter with the latest issued in <a href="https://lawrenceblock.com/at-long-last-lbs-august-newsletter/">August 2024</a>. He self-publishes some of his earlier works that have otherwise gone out of print, using his own LB Productions imprint.
A review of the HarperCollins eBook (June 24, 2008) released simultaneously with the original William Morrow & Co. hardcover.
<blockquote><i>He couldn’t be Keller anymore. Keller was over and done with—and, when he thought about it, he realized that everything in Keller’s life was already gone, so what difference could it make if the name vanished along with it?</i></blockquote>
Breaking the pattern from the short stories as a novel format of the first 3 Keller books, this 4th entry in the series is an actual one story novel. The neurotic hitman is sent out on a decoy job which places him in Des Moines at the same time as the real target, a high-profile State Governor is assassinated. Keller has been setup as the fall-guy and is forced to go on the run.
With his photo released to the media and no way home except for a cross country trip via stolen vehicles, Keller heads back to New York City. But it soon transpires that even his NYC identity has been revealed to the public and there is no returning to his past life. And it appears that even his handler Dot has been eliminated by the conspiracists with the house in White Plains burnt down with a body inside it.
A chance encounter gives Keller a path to a new life. But then a chance glance at an ad in a stamp catalogue suddenly awakens yet another possibility.
This was the best of the Kellers and, although it was followed by one further book in 2012, it was a good finale to go out on.
Trivia and Links
I read a considerable number of Lawrence Block books in my pre-GR and pre-reviewing days. Probably 40 or so out of the 100+ that are available. That included all of the <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/series/53461-matthew-scudder">Matt Scudder</a> books, several of the <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/series/40960-bernie-rhodenbarr">Bernie Rhodenbarrs</a>, several of the <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/series/53464-evan-tanner">Evan Tanners</a>, several of the <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/series/49488-john-keller">Kellers</a>, a dozen or so standalones and some of the memoirs. There were even a few of the earlier pulp novels which were originally published under pseudonyms. This re-read is part of an ongoing look back at some of those.
Lawrence Block (June 24, 1938 - ) considers himself retired these days, but still maintains an occasional newsletter with the latest issued in <a href="https://lawrenceblock.com/at-long-last-lbs-august-newsletter/">August 2024</a>. He self-publishes some of his earlier works that have otherwise gone out of print, using his own LB Productions imprint.