Staff Picks Blog

Lawrence Block is a very prolific writer.  Most of his stories are set in New York City and feature an array of series characters.  I am most familiar with Matthew Scudder, the alcoholic private investigator and Bernie Rhodenbarr, a bookseller by day and a burglar by night.  Block’s latest work features low key hitman, John Keller, who has appeared in three previous outings.  In the opening of Hit and Run, the latest effort, Keller is in (you’ll like this one!) Des Moines doing one last job before retiring.  While he’s adding to his precious stamp collection at a suburban shop the governor of Ohio (no need to tell you why another state’s governor would be in Des Moines) is assassinated downtown, and the evidence points to Keller.  He’s been set up.  His face is on the news, his friend and "agent", Dot, isn’t answering the phone, and she held the key to all of his retirement funds.  Hunted and almost broke in Des Moines, Keller needs to get back to New York and try to rebuild his life, if he can stay a free man!  A fun and suspenseful read.