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A review by saareman
Hit Parade by Lawrence Block
3.0
Keller Eyes Retirement
A review of the HarperCollins eBook (March 17, 2009) of the original William Morrow & Co. hardcover (July 3, 2006).
[3.67 average rounded down to 3]
This 3rd collection featuring the neurotic hitman John Keller again uses the short stories as a novel structure. The titled stories each range over several chapters. There isn't much of an overall arc to it though and several of the stories are rather depressing, so it felt like more of an overall 3 rather than a 4 rating. It does provide a bit of a setup towards book #4 [b:Hit and Run|2196210|Hit and Run (Keller, #4)|Lawrence Block|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1439260018l/2196210._SX50_.jpg|2865937] (2008) which is an actual novel and the best of the series.
The following provides individual story ratings and synopses. It mostly discusses setups without details, but I have spoiler blocked it just in case:
2. Keller by a Nose **** [Chapters 6-9] Keller's target is a horse jockey, but the job is contingent on whether the jockey performs correctly during a certain race. Meanwhile, Keller is hoping to raise enough money to buy the rare stamps Mauritius #2 and #17 for his collection.
A Mauritius #17 stamp. Image sourced from All Nations Stamp and Coin.
3. Keller's Adjustment **** [Chapters 10-20] Keller has to adapt to a post 9/11 world with new security procedures in airline travel. He drives home from a Miami job. He works at a soup kitchen at Ground Zero, He drives to Scottsdale, Arizona for the next job. After coming home he tells Dot he wants to retire after saving a $1 Million nest egg.
4. Proactive Keller ** [Chapters 21-26] After one job is cancelled almost before it began, Keller flies back home and decides his seatmate is a potential client due to his venting about his business partner. But things turn bad and it becomes somewhat of a betrayal. This one was rather downbeat.
5. Keller the Dogkiller ** [Chapters 27-32] Keller is asked to put down a vicious dog who kills the pets of others due to incitement by the dog’s owner. But there is a twist when one of the clients also puts a hit out on the other. This was another depressing one.
6. Keller’s Double Dribble **** [Chapters 33-41] Keller’s target is an accountant at a firm that is being shorted by a hedge fund. During the lull we learn about Keller’s childhood with a single mother and why he hates basketball. On the verge of doing the job he learns of a double cross and takes steps to avert it. He passes stock tip advice to Dot and they make a killing of a different kind.
7. Quotidian Keller *** [Chapters 42-47] Keller has to do the job on a fellow stamp collector. They are both at a major stamp auction and actually become friends.
8. Keller’s Legacy *** [Chapters 48-50] Keller worries about his legacy and gives Dot instructions on what to do if he dies or is arrested. Mostly it is just about securing his stamp collection.
9. Keller and the Rabbits **** [Chapter 51] Keller is in a rental car which has a forgotten audiobook CD which is a narration of “A Rabbit’s Odyssey” (it sounds a bit like [b:Watership Down|76620|Watership Down (Watership Down, #1)|Richard Adams|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1405136931l/76620._SY75_.jpg|1357456]). He drives to a home where he cold-bloodedly does the job. He gets back into the car and worries about the conclusion to the audiobook: “Poor little rabbits. he hoped nothing bad would happen to them.”
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 Matt Scudder books, several of the Bernie Rhodenbarrs, several of the Evan Tanners, several of the Kellers, 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 August 2024. 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 (March 17, 2009) of the original William Morrow & Co. hardcover (July 3, 2006).
[3.67 average rounded down to 3]
This 3rd collection featuring the neurotic hitman John Keller again uses the short stories as a novel structure. The titled stories each range over several chapters. There isn't much of an overall arc to it though and several of the stories are rather depressing, so it felt like more of an overall 3 rather than a 4 rating. It does provide a bit of a setup towards book #4 [b:Hit and Run|2196210|Hit and Run (Keller, #4)|Lawrence Block|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1439260018l/2196210._SX50_.jpg|2865937] (2008) which is an actual novel and the best of the series.
The following provides individual story ratings and synopses. It mostly discusses setups without details, but I have spoiler blocked it just in case:
Spoiler
1. Keller's Designated Hitter **** [Chapters 1-5] Keller's target is a baseball player and he follows the team around during a series of away games, seemingly reluctant to finish the job. Suddenly an apparent competitor appears who is also showing up at all of the away games.2. Keller by a Nose **** [Chapters 6-9] Keller's target is a horse jockey, but the job is contingent on whether the jockey performs correctly during a certain race. Meanwhile, Keller is hoping to raise enough money to buy the rare stamps Mauritius #2 and #17 for his collection.
A Mauritius #17 stamp. Image sourced from All Nations Stamp and Coin.
3. Keller's Adjustment **** [Chapters 10-20] Keller has to adapt to a post 9/11 world with new security procedures in airline travel. He drives home from a Miami job. He works at a soup kitchen at Ground Zero, He drives to Scottsdale, Arizona for the next job. After coming home he tells Dot he wants to retire after saving a $1 Million nest egg.
4. Proactive Keller ** [Chapters 21-26] After one job is cancelled almost before it began, Keller flies back home and decides his seatmate is a potential client due to his venting about his business partner. But things turn bad and it becomes somewhat of a betrayal. This one was rather downbeat.
5. Keller the Dogkiller ** [Chapters 27-32] Keller is asked to put down a vicious dog who kills the pets of others due to incitement by the dog’s owner. But there is a twist when one of the clients also puts a hit out on the other. This was another depressing one.
6. Keller’s Double Dribble **** [Chapters 33-41] Keller’s target is an accountant at a firm that is being shorted by a hedge fund. During the lull we learn about Keller’s childhood with a single mother and why he hates basketball. On the verge of doing the job he learns of a double cross and takes steps to avert it. He passes stock tip advice to Dot and they make a killing of a different kind.
7. Quotidian Keller *** [Chapters 42-47] Keller has to do the job on a fellow stamp collector. They are both at a major stamp auction and actually become friends.
8. Keller’s Legacy *** [Chapters 48-50] Keller worries about his legacy and gives Dot instructions on what to do if he dies or is arrested. Mostly it is just about securing his stamp collection.
9. Keller and the Rabbits **** [Chapter 51] Keller is in a rental car which has a forgotten audiobook CD which is a narration of “A Rabbit’s Odyssey” (it sounds a bit like [b:Watership Down|76620|Watership Down (Watership Down, #1)|Richard Adams|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1405136931l/76620._SY75_.jpg|1357456]). He drives to a home where he cold-bloodedly does the job. He gets back into the car and worries about the conclusion to the audiobook: “Poor little rabbits. he hoped nothing bad would happen to them.”
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 Matt Scudder books, several of the Bernie Rhodenbarrs, several of the Evan Tanners, several of the Kellers, 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 August 2024. He self-publishes some of his earlier works that have otherwise gone out of print, using his own LB Productions imprint.