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John Keller #0.1
Keller's Therapy
"Answers to Soldier" marked Keller's first appearance—and I never expected to write more about the wistful hit man. But time passed, and I got to thinking about him. I figured he was just the sort of Urban Lonely Guy to find himself on a psychotherapist's couch. And if the shrink has an ex-wife, and the ex-wife has a dog, well, you can see how one thing might lead to another …
"Keller's Therapy" appeared first in Playboy, and won an Edgar Allan Poe award as the best short story of the year. And it launched Keller on a continuing career as a series character …
"Keller's Therapy" appeared first in Playboy, and won an Edgar Allan Poe award as the best short story of the year. And it launched Keller on a continuing career as a series character …
32 pages, Kindle Edition
First published February 17, 2013
67 people are currently reading
248 people want to read
About the author
Lawrence Block
758 books3,012 followersLawrence Block has been writing crime, mystery, and suspense fiction for more than half a century. He has published in excess (oh, wretched excess!) of 100 books, and no end of short stories.
Born in Buffalo, N.Y., LB attended Antioch College, but left before completing his studies; school authorities advised him that they felt he’d be happier elsewhere, and he thought this was remarkably perceptive of them.
His earliest work, published pseudonymously in the late 1950s, was mostly in the field of midcentury erotica, an apprenticeship he shared with Donald E. Westlake and Robert Silverberg. The first time Lawrence Block’s name appeared in print was when his short story “You Can’t Lose” was published in the February 1958 issue of Manhunt. The first book published under his own name was Mona (1961); it was reissued several times over the years, once as Sweet Slow Death. In 2005 it became the first offering from Hard Case Crime, and bore for the first time LB’s original title, Grifter’s Game.
LB is best known for his series characters, including cop-turned-private investigator Matthew Scudder, gentleman burglar Bernie Rhodenbarr, globe-trotting insomniac Evan Tanner, and introspective assassin Keller.
Because one name is never enough, LB has also published under pseudonyms including Jill Emerson, John Warren Wells, Lesley Evans, and Anne Campbell Clarke.
LB’s magazine appearances include American Heritage, Redbook, Playboy, Linn’s Stamp News, Cosmopolitan, GQ, and The New York Times. His monthly instructional column ran in Writer’s Digest for 14 years, and led to a string of books for writers, including the classics Telling Lies for Fun & Profit and The Liar’s Bible. He has also written episodic television (Tilt!) and the Wong Kar-wai film, My Blueberry Nights.
Several of LB’s books have been filmed. The latest, A Walk Among the Tombstones, stars Liam Neeson as Matthew Scudder and is scheduled for release in September, 2014.
LB is a Grand Master of Mystery Writers of America, and a past president of MWA and the Private Eye Writers of America. He has won the Edgar and Shamus awards four times each, and the Japanese Maltese Falcon award twice, as well as the Nero Wolfe and Philip Marlowe awards, a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Private Eye Writers of America, and the Diamond Dagger for Life Achievement from the Crime Writers Association (UK). He’s also been honored with the Gumshoe Lifetime Achievement Award from Mystery Ink magazine and the Edward D. Hoch Memorial Golden Derringer for Lifetime Achievement in the short story. In France, he has been proclaimed a Grand Maitre du Roman Noir and has twice been awarded the Societe 813 trophy. He has been a guest of honor at Bouchercon and at book fairs and mystery festivals in France, Germany, Australia, Italy, New Zealand, Spain and Taiwan. As if that were not enough, he was also presented with the key to the city of Muncie, Indiana. (But as soon as he left, they changed the locks.)
LB and his wife Lynne are enthusiastic New Yorkers and relentless world travelers; the two are members of the Travelers Century Club, and have visited around 160 countries.
He is a modest and humble fellow, although you would never guess as much from this biographical note.
Born in Buffalo, N.Y., LB attended Antioch College, but left before completing his studies; school authorities advised him that they felt he’d be happier elsewhere, and he thought this was remarkably perceptive of them.
His earliest work, published pseudonymously in the late 1950s, was mostly in the field of midcentury erotica, an apprenticeship he shared with Donald E. Westlake and Robert Silverberg. The first time Lawrence Block’s name appeared in print was when his short story “You Can’t Lose” was published in the February 1958 issue of Manhunt. The first book published under his own name was Mona (1961); it was reissued several times over the years, once as Sweet Slow Death. In 2005 it became the first offering from Hard Case Crime, and bore for the first time LB’s original title, Grifter’s Game.
LB is best known for his series characters, including cop-turned-private investigator Matthew Scudder, gentleman burglar Bernie Rhodenbarr, globe-trotting insomniac Evan Tanner, and introspective assassin Keller.
Because one name is never enough, LB has also published under pseudonyms including Jill Emerson, John Warren Wells, Lesley Evans, and Anne Campbell Clarke.
LB’s magazine appearances include American Heritage, Redbook, Playboy, Linn’s Stamp News, Cosmopolitan, GQ, and The New York Times. His monthly instructional column ran in Writer’s Digest for 14 years, and led to a string of books for writers, including the classics Telling Lies for Fun & Profit and The Liar’s Bible. He has also written episodic television (Tilt!) and the Wong Kar-wai film, My Blueberry Nights.
Several of LB’s books have been filmed. The latest, A Walk Among the Tombstones, stars Liam Neeson as Matthew Scudder and is scheduled for release in September, 2014.
LB is a Grand Master of Mystery Writers of America, and a past president of MWA and the Private Eye Writers of America. He has won the Edgar and Shamus awards four times each, and the Japanese Maltese Falcon award twice, as well as the Nero Wolfe and Philip Marlowe awards, a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Private Eye Writers of America, and the Diamond Dagger for Life Achievement from the Crime Writers Association (UK). He’s also been honored with the Gumshoe Lifetime Achievement Award from Mystery Ink magazine and the Edward D. Hoch Memorial Golden Derringer for Lifetime Achievement in the short story. In France, he has been proclaimed a Grand Maitre du Roman Noir and has twice been awarded the Societe 813 trophy. He has been a guest of honor at Bouchercon and at book fairs and mystery festivals in France, Germany, Australia, Italy, New Zealand, Spain and Taiwan. As if that were not enough, he was also presented with the key to the city of Muncie, Indiana. (But as soon as he left, they changed the locks.)
LB and his wife Lynne are enthusiastic New Yorkers and relentless world travelers; the two are members of the Travelers Century Club, and have visited around 160 countries.
He is a modest and humble fellow, although you would never guess as much from this biographical note.
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Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 reviews
December 2, 2024
Always wanted to know the origin of Keller’s character, one of the darkest in Block’s work. I found this short story original and well executed (no pun intended). Block’s humor shines and he produced in this story a well written summary of Keller’s fascinating life story.
January 29, 2018
Amusing short. Keller's trip from the therapist's couch to the man's ex-wife's bed with a dog thrown in as a bonus after the body count.
-available through Kindle Unlimited
-available through Kindle Unlimited
October 31, 2024
It was really nice, even therapeutic (pun intended) spending some time with our favourite assassin. It seems a re-read of the entire run is due.
In the meanwhile, the series is highly recommended.
In the meanwhile, the series is highly recommended.
January 8, 2017
Weird but worth reading on so far.
May 19, 2015
Great short story
I really liked this short , about Kellers personal fray into therapy , which if he were a real character he would desperately need ! Normally I do not like s.s. and I only read it because it was Keller story. Love Keller and really wish Lawrence Block would continue the Keller novels. Quite , for me , a surprise ending , and not some I thought he would do. I didn't see it coming. After thinking it over. It makes perfect sense. Spoiler !!, stop here or you'll know a key part of ending ! This person knew too much.
I really liked this short , about Kellers personal fray into therapy , which if he were a real character he would desperately need ! Normally I do not like s.s. and I only read it because it was Keller story. Love Keller and really wish Lawrence Block would continue the Keller novels. Quite , for me , a surprise ending , and not some I thought he would do. I didn't see it coming. After thinking it over. It makes perfect sense. Spoiler !!, stop here or you'll know a key part of ending ! This person knew too much.
June 18, 2020
Another short story about Keller. It is still but odd to enjoy reading about a hit man but there is something interesting and delightful about his out look on life and even his humor. This is a delightful short story about 3 people that has a bit of a surprise but not over the top. Simple enjoyment.
March 29, 2013
Keller the hit man is seeing a therapist and learning things about himself without actually telling what he really does. While doing this, he does a few jobs, then comes to a decision about his therapist over an incident.
A nice look at the man.
A nice look at the man.
July 4, 2016
Cleverly Surprised
Keller going to a psychoanalyst...it was everything I expected. By which I mean that the direction the story took was quite unexpected. I continue to be fascinated by Block's creation and I look forward to reading more.
Keller going to a psychoanalyst...it was everything I expected. By which I mean that the direction the story took was quite unexpected. I continue to be fascinated by Block's creation and I look forward to reading more.
July 29, 2016
(This is from Hit Man (chapter 3). Having read Hit Man, I've read this. I don't want to think I've missed something when I go back and take inventory ("Let's see, have I read all the Keller titles?))
It's a well-told story (they all are.)
It's a well-told story (they all are.)
March 18, 2019
A short story from the John Keller series by Lawrence Block. In this story, Keller visits a therapist. Keller is a hit man, but he can't exactly admit that to his therapist. A nice introduction to one of my favorite characters.
May 15, 2014
Another great Keller mystery. -love the twist at the end!
August 1, 2017
After exhausting Parker books, Keller is my last hope for a quick kill.
October 9, 2019
Enjoyable little story, featuring hitman John Keller, who Block like enough to write a series
July 13, 2024
A short story that appeared first in Playboy, and won an Edgar Allan Poe award as the best short story of the year. It features Keller , Lawrence Block’s hitman, and his sessions with a psychotherapist, which are only postponed for the hitman jobs that take him out of town. A mildly interesting and essentially humorous tale that engages but does not excite. It just isn’t the Block I like, but it’s still worth the time if you are looking for something short and entertaining.
July 26, 2020
This is an excellent short story! Different from any other "therapy" stories or books I've read!
February 25, 2021
Be careful what you start speaking in hypothetical.
March 29, 2022
Read as part of Hitman book
March 2, 2024
Interesting assassin
March 9, 2013
The Keller stories, I’ll be honest, I’ve never tried to get into until this one. I picked it up on Amazon when I stumbled across the fact that it was on sale (no longer as of this writing, sorry).
It could use slightly better editing — the grammar and punctuation looks fine, but there’re occasional missing words. Also, the cover is odd — it’s not about dogs.
The story is only 32 pages, so I’m not sure I can sum it up very well. I suppose a few basics would suffice. The stories are about one J. P. Keller, a professional hit man. This particular one is about Keller’s sessions with a psychotherapist.
It’s simply a very engrossing tale. Hard to put down, easy to finish: an all-round fantastic read. I will say, it’s drier and less fun than the Bernie’s, so if you know Block for them and are looking for more of the same you might be disappointed, if you simply are enamoured with Block’s overall style you’ll certainly dig it.
It could use slightly better editing — the grammar and punctuation looks fine, but there’re occasional missing words. Also, the cover is odd — it’s not about dogs.
The story is only 32 pages, so I’m not sure I can sum it up very well. I suppose a few basics would suffice. The stories are about one J. P. Keller, a professional hit man. This particular one is about Keller’s sessions with a psychotherapist.
It’s simply a very engrossing tale. Hard to put down, easy to finish: an all-round fantastic read. I will say, it’s drier and less fun than the Bernie’s, so if you know Block for them and are looking for more of the same you might be disappointed, if you simply are enamoured with Block’s overall style you’ll certainly dig it.
August 24, 2016
When I started this novella, I thought I had opened "Keller on the Spot" again by mistake, but it soon diverges, not totally successfully. I've enjoyed the Keller series as a diversion, but doubt I would have invested any time had I started with either of these novellas originally.
January 2, 2015
A good bridge piece.
June 13, 2016
Wow! Keller in therapy. Love it. As usual, there's always a twist and it's a good one!
Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 reviews