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John Keller #2
Hit List
Keller is a regular guy. He goes to the movies, works on his stamp collection. Call him for jury duty and he serves without complaint. Then every so often he gets a phone call from White Plains that sends him flying off somewhere to kill a perfect stranger. Keller is a pro and very good at what he does. But the jobs have started to go wrong. The realization is slow coming yet, when it arrives, it is irrefutable: Someone out there is trying to hit the hit man. Keller, God help him, has found his way onto somebody else's hit list.
388 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 2000
338 people are currently reading
1022 people want to read
About the author
Lawrence Block
767 books2,977 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 - 30 of 290 reviews
August 3, 2019
As I'm sure I've said before, after Matthew Scudder, my favorite of the characters created by Lawrence Block is Keller, the affable and otherwise somewhat boring hit man. Keller first appeared in a series of short stories, most of which were initially published in Playboy. A number of the stories were then gathered into the collection Hit Man, which was published in 1999. A year later, Keller returned in this novel, which I've just reread for the first time since it came out.
For those who haven't had the pleasure of discovering this character, Keller lives quietly in New York. He's single and occasionally enjoys a relationship with a woman, but for whatever reason, the relationships don't seem to last very long. He eats out a lot and spends most of his spare cash on his stamp collection. And, every once in a while, he takes the train out to White Plains, where he meets with his agent, Dot, who gives him his next assignment. Then he goes off somewhere and kills someone.
Early in this book, Keller flies off to Louisville to do a job, but even before he can get out of the airport, he has a bad feeling about the whole thing. Of course, professional that he is, he completes the mission, and in the course of things has to change his motel room because of noisy neighbors. Soon after, he discovers that the couple that had been given his original room--a pair of adulterers--has been shot to death in the room. This only feeds Keller's belief that the whole job was jinxed from the start.
When something similar happens at the conclusion of Keller's next job, it's Dot who finally figures out what is going on: Another professional hit man is trying to weed out the competition and he has Keller in his sights. Keller has luckily escaped him twice, but how long will he be able to do so?
Keller is a professional killer and of course, the reader should not be rooting for him. But you just can't help yourself--the guy is otherwise just too likable. He's also very clever in the way he goes about his business, and one can't help but admire that. He's also a good citizen who even does jury duty, without complaining about it. The fact that the Keller stories and novels are so lighthearted also makes it easier to ignore the fact that you're cheering for a killer for hire. Clearly, these stories are not designed to be taken very seriously, but they are great fun and I always look forward to returning to them.
For those who haven't had the pleasure of discovering this character, Keller lives quietly in New York. He's single and occasionally enjoys a relationship with a woman, but for whatever reason, the relationships don't seem to last very long. He eats out a lot and spends most of his spare cash on his stamp collection. And, every once in a while, he takes the train out to White Plains, where he meets with his agent, Dot, who gives him his next assignment. Then he goes off somewhere and kills someone.
Early in this book, Keller flies off to Louisville to do a job, but even before he can get out of the airport, he has a bad feeling about the whole thing. Of course, professional that he is, he completes the mission, and in the course of things has to change his motel room because of noisy neighbors. Soon after, he discovers that the couple that had been given his original room--a pair of adulterers--has been shot to death in the room. This only feeds Keller's belief that the whole job was jinxed from the start.
When something similar happens at the conclusion of Keller's next job, it's Dot who finally figures out what is going on: Another professional hit man is trying to weed out the competition and he has Keller in his sights. Keller has luckily escaped him twice, but how long will he be able to do so?
Keller is a professional killer and of course, the reader should not be rooting for him. But you just can't help yourself--the guy is otherwise just too likable. He's also very clever in the way he goes about his business, and one can't help but admire that. He's also a good citizen who even does jury duty, without complaining about it. The fact that the Keller stories and novels are so lighthearted also makes it easier to ignore the fact that you're cheering for a killer for hire. Clearly, these stories are not designed to be taken very seriously, but they are great fun and I always look forward to returning to them.
March 14, 2019
Keller, the most average Joe hit man you will ever read about, returns. This time, Keller continues collecting stamps, he sees movies at the cinema, goes to the beach, attends an art show and serves his time… on jury duty. Yep, Keller’s life is ordinary and slightly dull, but every once in a while he gets a phone call from White Plains and flies off somewhere to kill someone.
He’s a constant professional, but he’s noticing some peculiarities recently. Jobs start going wrong in unexpected ways. For example, someone steals his coat, and then winds up dead later in the day… and Keller didn’t even kill him. Peculiarities such as this go on and on, until he comes to the realization that he’s made some other hit man’s hit list.
The second book in the series, much like the first, is very episodic. We go from hit, to hit, telling short stories about Keller’s interactions with the locals of whatever town he’s visiting and him planning out how to pull off his job. Unlike the first, this one is structured more like a classic novel though with an overarching plot and each story leads into the next in some way (it was very apparent that the first was a short story collection, whereas this one was obviously intended to be together as one work). While I typically like novels better than short stories (just a personal preference), I find this works for the Keller books, and genuinely enjoy the mini-narratives and tangents. While I’m giving both books the same star rating, I honestly enjoyed the first book more, as the short story approach honestly worked better for me with this character. I didn’t particularly feel like the other hit man story was that great, and much preferred the moments that focused on Keller’s daily life and his approach to his jobs.
I did have one issue with the book though, but it requires a spoiler tag.
I must note here though, the thing Block does exceptionally well with this series is Keller’s daily life. I find him just doing everyday things to be so massively entertaining. Honestly, if someone had told me that my favorite part of a hit man novel would be him discussing stamps, I would have laughed at them. I have zero interest in stamps, and why would I care about this hobby? With the Keller books I genuinely do. It’s so entertaining reading his interactions with others and his thoughts on his collections and such that I can’t help but smile.
Another solid 4 stars and a recommendation for all who enjoyed the first.
He’s a constant professional, but he’s noticing some peculiarities recently. Jobs start going wrong in unexpected ways. For example, someone steals his coat, and then winds up dead later in the day… and Keller didn’t even kill him. Peculiarities such as this go on and on, until he comes to the realization that he’s made some other hit man’s hit list.
The second book in the series, much like the first, is very episodic. We go from hit, to hit, telling short stories about Keller’s interactions with the locals of whatever town he’s visiting and him planning out how to pull off his job. Unlike the first, this one is structured more like a classic novel though with an overarching plot and each story leads into the next in some way (it was very apparent that the first was a short story collection, whereas this one was obviously intended to be together as one work). While I typically like novels better than short stories (just a personal preference), I find this works for the Keller books, and genuinely enjoy the mini-narratives and tangents. While I’m giving both books the same star rating, I honestly enjoyed the first book more, as the short story approach honestly worked better for me with this character. I didn’t particularly feel like the other hit man story was that great, and much preferred the moments that focused on Keller’s daily life and his approach to his jobs.
I did have one issue with the book though, but it requires a spoiler tag.
I must note here though, the thing Block does exceptionally well with this series is Keller’s daily life. I find him just doing everyday things to be so massively entertaining. Honestly, if someone had told me that my favorite part of a hit man novel would be him discussing stamps, I would have laughed at them. I have zero interest in stamps, and why would I care about this hobby? With the Keller books I genuinely do. It’s so entertaining reading his interactions with others and his thoughts on his collections and such that I can’t help but smile.
Another solid 4 stars and a recommendation for all who enjoyed the first.
February 3, 2021
While I like this character and series, this is easily my least favorite story as it misses the mark (pun intended). 2 of 10 stars
September 18, 2012
Keller continues on his career path as a professional killer. He has casual relationships with two women, gets picked for jury duty, continues building his stamp collection, and gets weirdly interested in astrology, all the while things start going wrong. Targets die before he can hit them, people around him turn up dead, and all signs point to someone gunning for Keller himself...
Lawrence Block does it again. If anything, Keller seemed more human and relatable in this book than in Hit Man. His relationship with his astrologer is fairly touching. Dot, his employer, cracks me up whenever Keller goes up to White Plains to see her, which is fairly often. The ways Keller "finalizes the sales" are well-done. Block's writing is as snappy as it always is.
Hit List is another satisfying entry in the saga of John Keller. Looks like I'll be hunting down the other two now.
Lawrence Block does it again. If anything, Keller seemed more human and relatable in this book than in Hit Man. His relationship with his astrologer is fairly touching. Dot, his employer, cracks me up whenever Keller goes up to White Plains to see her, which is fairly often. The ways Keller "finalizes the sales" are well-done. Block's writing is as snappy as it always is.
Hit List is another satisfying entry in the saga of John Keller. Looks like I'll be hunting down the other two now.
March 26, 2010
Keller is a creature of habit. He leads a low-key New York lifestyle and his idea of a good time is collecting stamps. Even his job as a hit man has a certain routine. He gets a job, he flies somewhere, he kills someone, and he flies home.
But weird disruptions are happening to Keller in this second book in the series. A trip to Louisville with complications leaves him out of sorts. Odd events on a couple of other jobs don’t help matters. An offhand comment from a woman he’s seeing leaves him wondering if he was destined to be a killer, and leads him to consult an astrologist. Keller even has to deal with jury duty. And he’s starting to realize that he may be in a rival’s crosshairs.
Block has done a great job of turning a hired killer into a sympathetic character and while Keller’s story is serious, there’s also an undercurrent of absurd black humor. I read these books not just for the plots about how Keller carries out his work but for Keller’s idle musings about certain aspects of everyday life and his conversations with Dot, the woman who books his contracts.
But weird disruptions are happening to Keller in this second book in the series. A trip to Louisville with complications leaves him out of sorts. Odd events on a couple of other jobs don’t help matters. An offhand comment from a woman he’s seeing leaves him wondering if he was destined to be a killer, and leads him to consult an astrologist. Keller even has to deal with jury duty. And he’s starting to realize that he may be in a rival’s crosshairs.
Block has done a great job of turning a hired killer into a sympathetic character and while Keller’s story is serious, there’s also an undercurrent of absurd black humor. I read these books not just for the plots about how Keller carries out his work but for Keller’s idle musings about certain aspects of everyday life and his conversations with Dot, the woman who books his contracts.
August 19, 2025
Обичам много кримките на мистър Блок и често препрочитам няколкото издадени на български език. Имам някои от тях и на английски, които също изчетох с удоволствие - лек и приятен стил, съчетан с оригинални и интересни истории.
Това е втората книга с навързани разкази за Келър - своенравен и интуитивен наемен убиец, колекционер на пощенски марки. Често, поръчките които се налага да изпълнява го вкарват в интересни размисли и ситуации, което прави книгата доста забавна.
Сега установих, че има още три части от серията и ще ги потърся в оригинал.
Това е втората книга с навързани разкази за Келър - своенравен и интуитивен наемен убиец, колекционер на пощенски марки. Често, поръчките които се налага да изпълнява го вкарват в интересни размисли и ситуации, което прави книгата доста забавна.
Сега установих, че има още три части от серията и ще ги потърся в оригинал.
July 7, 2019
Remember how the seminal HBO series The Sopranos was not really a crime series ala The Shield or The Wire. It was a drama where the protagonist just happened to be a criminal. It is the same here. Hit List is a novel about the life and times of Keller, an assassin for hire. It's not really a thriller and the hits themselves are incidental.
The first book in the series was a collection of short stories, this one is more of an episodic novel. There is an overarching plot about Keller himself being caught in the sights of a rival hitman. But the real focus is on Keller's long meandering conversations specially with his handler and his important musings about trivial matters. Block fills the chats with subtle humor - a dry sarcastic wit that sometimes borders on the absurd. The conversations can occasionally get too cute for its own good, so it will be boring or grating to some readers.
Keller does think profoundly about answers to questions no one ever thought to ask, such as a thesis on pros and cons of coffee refills . Plus there are long chunks of the book that go on a tangent which might or not might not appeal depending upon individual tastes. I personally liked Keller's time on the jury while not caring for his visits to his astrologer.
My suggestion is not to let this series be your introduction to Block. Read his Scudder series, one of the best crime protagonists of his generation, and if you like Block's style give Keller a shot. This is not necessarily a great book but might be an interesting diversion if you are a fan of the author. Rating - 3/5.
The first book in the series was a collection of short stories, this one is more of an episodic novel. There is an overarching plot about Keller himself being caught in the sights of a rival hitman. But the real focus is on Keller's long meandering conversations specially with his handler and his important musings about trivial matters. Block fills the chats with subtle humor - a dry sarcastic wit that sometimes borders on the absurd. The conversations can occasionally get too cute for its own good, so it will be boring or grating to some readers.
Keller does think profoundly about answers to questions no one ever thought to ask, such as a thesis on pros and cons of coffee refills . Plus there are long chunks of the book that go on a tangent which might or not might not appeal depending upon individual tastes. I personally liked Keller's time on the jury while not caring for his visits to his astrologer.
My suggestion is not to let this series be your introduction to Block. Read his Scudder series, one of the best crime protagonists of his generation, and if you like Block's style give Keller a shot. This is not necessarily a great book but might be an interesting diversion if you are a fan of the author. Rating - 3/5.
November 5, 2024
Keller is Hunted
A review of the Harper Collins eBook (October 13, 2009) of the William Morrow & Co. hardcover original (2000).
This second book in the series with the neurotic hitman John Keller has more of a novel story arc although you could still say it is a novel in short stories. Each story is usually 2 to 4 chapters and I made notes in order to follow the overall arc. I mostly titled the stories according to which city Keller travels to for each assignment. I didn't do individual ratings, but the early setups from Chapters 1 to 14 were the best and would be 4s. The later stories and the ending are somewhat downbeat due to the unlikely coincidences and the "collateral damage," so you don't feel that great about the resolution. So 2's for those, resulting a 3 rating overall.
All throughout, Keller continues his stamp collecting and the somewhat tedious banter with his contractor Dot. The stamp collecting is a parallel with author Lawrence Block's own hobby for which he wrote a series of columns collected in Generally Speaking: All 33 columns, plus a few philatelic words from Keller (2019).
The following notes provide my story capsulations and chapter groupings. I have spoiler blocked it, although I'm not giving away too many details.
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 Harper Collins eBook (October 13, 2009) of the William Morrow & Co. hardcover original (2000).
This second book in the series with the neurotic hitman John Keller has more of a novel story arc although you could still say it is a novel in short stories. Each story is usually 2 to 4 chapters and I made notes in order to follow the overall arc. I mostly titled the stories according to which city Keller travels to for each assignment. I didn't do individual ratings, but the early setups from Chapters 1 to 14 were the best and would be 4s. The later stories and the ending are somewhat downbeat due to the unlikely coincidences and the "collateral damage," so you don't feel that great about the resolution. So 2's for those, resulting a 3 rating overall.
All throughout, Keller continues his stamp collecting and the somewhat tedious banter with his contractor Dot. The stamp collecting is a parallel with author Lawrence Block's own hobby for which he wrote a series of columns collected in Generally Speaking: All 33 columns, plus a few philatelic words from Keller (2019).
The following notes provide my story capsulations and chapter groupings. I have spoiler blocked it, although I'm not giving away too many details.
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.
January 23, 2018
Keller is a hit man.
Every so often, he goes out on a job, but lately, all the jobs are going wrong. Turns out there's a rival hitman out to corner the market.
Not bad, but Keller reminds me a bit too much of Block's other character, Burglar Bernie. I like my hit man novels a little more hard boiled than that.
Every so often, he goes out on a job, but lately, all the jobs are going wrong. Turns out there's a rival hitman out to corner the market.
Not bad, but Keller reminds me a bit too much of Block's other character, Burglar Bernie. I like my hit man novels a little more hard boiled than that.
March 25, 2012
The second book in this "series" of books (does no one write stand alone novels anymore?). I am still surprised that I'm interested in these books. A series of novels centering around the exploits and personal life of a professional hit man is not something I would ever have expected to be caught up in.
This volume finds Keller still "employed" after the "passing" of the "Old Man" who used to run the...umm, contracting service. He ran it until he got a little less than compos mentis. Having had an accident (poison somehow finding its way into his cup) Dot had taken over the operation. Keller had (in the first volume) been considering retirement, but got involved heavily in (of all things) stamp collecting and spent a large amount of his retirement fund. So, he needed to keep working.
As this book opens, Keller and Dot are still, taking jobs. Unfortunately soon it becomes apparent that there is a "hitter" out there hitting, hit men, and Keller has had a couple of close calls.
In this book Keller seems to me to be somewhat more neurotic than he was when we saw him last. I suppose his life might do that. I did get concerned that Dot might get worried about him a couple of times though.
Another thing, not really a draw back or even a negative. The dialog in this book now and then put me in mind of the old Dragnet series on TV. Sometimes Keller and Dot would have these slightly odd, sort of cryptic conversations where they'd exchange short somewhat abstruse sentences. It was often Dot having to drag things out of Keller.
While I can't say these are great literature, I give a 4 star rating simply because the book is well written and definitely holds the interest.
And yes, I do plan to read the next "installment".
This volume finds Keller still "employed" after the "passing" of the "Old Man" who used to run the...umm, contracting service. He ran it until he got a little less than compos mentis. Having had an accident (poison somehow finding its way into his cup) Dot had taken over the operation. Keller had (in the first volume) been considering retirement, but got involved heavily in (of all things) stamp collecting and spent a large amount of his retirement fund. So, he needed to keep working.
As this book opens, Keller and Dot are still, taking jobs. Unfortunately soon it becomes apparent that there is a "hitter" out there hitting, hit men, and Keller has had a couple of close calls.
In this book Keller seems to me to be somewhat more neurotic than he was when we saw him last. I suppose his life might do that. I did get concerned that Dot might get worried about him a couple of times though.
Another thing, not really a draw back or even a negative. The dialog in this book now and then put me in mind of the old Dragnet series on TV. Sometimes Keller and Dot would have these slightly odd, sort of cryptic conversations where they'd exchange short somewhat abstruse sentences. It was often Dot having to drag things out of Keller.
While I can't say these are great literature, I give a 4 star rating simply because the book is well written and definitely holds the interest.
And yes, I do plan to read the next "installment".
September 11, 2008
Relatively lame. The plot was actually somewhat interesting, but Block's style of dialog between the main characters is obnoxiously repetitive. The book would be 100 pages shorter if he didn't think it was so witty to have characters have conversations like:
"Hi Dot, I'm back in New York."
"I'm not surprised. You live in New York."
"Yes, but I'm back in New York. I was in Louisville."
"I know you were in Louisville. You called me from there."
"Well that's why I'm telling you I'm back in New York now."
"Where else would you be?"
"Still in Louisville, I suppose."
"You liked it that much that you'd stay there?"
"No, it's just that I was there, and now I'm back in New York, and you asked where else I might be, so I suppose Louisville is the best answer."
"But now you're in New York, where you live."
"Yes."
Seriously, he writes conversations like this and expects us to be amused. Awful. Also, the 'twist' at the end was a big letdown.
"Hi Dot, I'm back in New York."
"I'm not surprised. You live in New York."
"Yes, but I'm back in New York. I was in Louisville."
"I know you were in Louisville. You called me from there."
"Well that's why I'm telling you I'm back in New York now."
"Where else would you be?"
"Still in Louisville, I suppose."
"You liked it that much that you'd stay there?"
"No, it's just that I was there, and now I'm back in New York, and you asked where else I might be, so I suppose Louisville is the best answer."
"But now you're in New York, where you live."
"Yes."
Seriously, he writes conversations like this and expects us to be amused. Awful. Also, the 'twist' at the end was a big letdown.
September 20, 2007
Hit List - G+
Lawrence Block - 2nd in series
Keller seems the archetypal contemporary urban man. He lives a mostly solitary and quotidian existence on Manhattan's East Side. He eats out; he ruminates in Seinfeldian fashion about how to "clean his plate" in a restaurant that trumpets a bottomless coffee cup: every time he empties his cup, a waitress refills it. He works on his stamp collection and goes to jury duty when summoned. Occasionally, he visits Dot in White Plains, then goes to Louisville or Muscatine, Iowa, to murder a stranger. Keller is a contract killer, and Dot is his "broker." Here Keller realizes that someone is stalking him; he and Dot examine it from every angle and conclude that another hit man is pulling a Microsoft--trying to eliminate the competition. Keller's outrage at this unethical behavior recalls the bizarre logic of Catch-22.
I love Block's use of works and dialogue. Only Block could carry this off.
Lawrence Block - 2nd in series
Keller seems the archetypal contemporary urban man. He lives a mostly solitary and quotidian existence on Manhattan's East Side. He eats out; he ruminates in Seinfeldian fashion about how to "clean his plate" in a restaurant that trumpets a bottomless coffee cup: every time he empties his cup, a waitress refills it. He works on his stamp collection and goes to jury duty when summoned. Occasionally, he visits Dot in White Plains, then goes to Louisville or Muscatine, Iowa, to murder a stranger. Keller is a contract killer, and Dot is his "broker." Here Keller realizes that someone is stalking him; he and Dot examine it from every angle and conclude that another hit man is pulling a Microsoft--trying to eliminate the competition. Keller's outrage at this unethical behavior recalls the bizarre logic of Catch-22.
I love Block's use of works and dialogue. Only Block could carry this off.
March 10, 2019
Сблъсъците ми с Лорънс Блок през годините са били доста инцидентни (както може да се очаква при заемки от градската библиотека), но всичко, дето ми е попадало от серията за Матю Скъдър - детектив и бивш алкохолик, който дарява част от хонорарите си на църковни приюти и АА - е било абсолютна благина. Тия дни пък си чукнах първа среща с друг негов емблематичен герой (уви, книгата е втора от серията, ама...) - наемният убиец Келър - шантав тип и запален филателист, понякога с доста изкривено чувство за морал. Екшънът потече от самото начало, тънък хумор прозираше от почти всяка страница, а в един момент чатнах и най-якото - Блок е написал роман, изграден предимно от диалози, оставяйки героите да се разкрият пред нас чрез думите си. Свежо, много свежо, мистър Лари!!!
January 29, 2024
I loved the first one in the series, Hit Man. This one, the second in the series, not so much.
The main man is a hitman, all business, but most of the book is about everything but the hit. This was true in the first book too, but it was much better.
What I liked:
-He seems like a nice guy for a hit man.
What I didn't like:
-Too much time about his everyday life.
-Too much time on his stamp collection.
-Oddly, I did not like the dialogue between him and his handler/boss lady. It really tried hard to be cute, but for me, it came off badly.
The main man is a hitman, all business, but most of the book is about everything but the hit. This was true in the first book too, but it was much better.
What I liked:
-He seems like a nice guy for a hit man.
What I didn't like:
-Too much time about his everyday life.
-Too much time on his stamp collection.
-Oddly, I did not like the dialogue between him and his handler/boss lady. It really tried hard to be cute, but for me, it came off badly.
June 28, 2008
John Keller is an avid stamp collector and professional killer. In this quick read, someone is systematically knocking off hitmen, which is a problem for Keller.
I found Keller to be an interesting character, and his conversations with Dot, the woman who sets up his contracts, make for amusing, if highly unlikely, dialogue.
The ending was rather anti-climatic and a bit disappointing, but all-in-all, I liked this one.
This is the first of Lawrence Block's mysteries I've read (though it's apparently the second book with Keller as main character), and I wouldn't mind reading another.
I recommend it as a quick, distracting summer read. If that's what you're into.
I found Keller to be an interesting character, and his conversations with Dot, the woman who sets up his contracts, make for amusing, if highly unlikely, dialogue.
The ending was rather anti-climatic and a bit disappointing, but all-in-all, I liked this one.
This is the first of Lawrence Block's mysteries I've read (though it's apparently the second book with Keller as main character), and I wouldn't mind reading another.
I recommend it as a quick, distracting summer read. If that's what you're into.
August 8, 2020
It’s always a great time reading about Keller matching wits with a Dexter-like hitman of hitmen, no matter how many times I re-read this book.
December 16, 2020
The second Lawrence Block read soon after publication. I purchased a hardback copy from Barnes and Noble.
July 8, 2020
Someone has been hitting Keller’s targets before he gets the chance. It’s not all bad though as Keller still gets paid in the end. The worrisome part deals with the fact that after murdering his mark, the competing hit man is also trying to kill Keller. Can Keller uncover his stalker before it’s too late?
After I finished the first Keller collection on my Kindle, I immediately picked up book two. Turns out I bought this alongside an Evan Tanner novel a few years ago in a used book store. Lucky me! Much like the first book, this was a breezy read that had me journey from cover to cover in only three days. This time around, between jobs, Keller goes on a few dates and gets hauled in for jury duty.
The jury duty bits were among my favorite moments in the book. Block gets to mess around with the idea of an assassin getting to play a part in whether or not someone goes to jail, which is funny enough in and of itself, but Block makes sure to add in a lot of humor that had me laughing out loud. At this point, Block could ruminate about anything at this point and I’d be entertained – it just happens to be so impressive that he does so from the mind of an assassin that we can all somehow sympathize with.
The long conversations with Dot are also welcome, which both serve to entertain the reader and build upon each character. Although it’s not as light-hearted, I get the same vibe from these two as the one I get between Perry and Della from the old Perry Mason series – the two play off each other that well. Keller would be lost without Dot as the nature of his profession doesn’t exactly make it easy for Keller to foster a close and honest relationship, which I suppose serves to keep Keller from losing his mind from loneliness as much as it pains him to admit it.
Hit List is another excellent peek into the life of a humble hit man for hire.
After I finished the first Keller collection on my Kindle, I immediately picked up book two. Turns out I bought this alongside an Evan Tanner novel a few years ago in a used book store. Lucky me! Much like the first book, this was a breezy read that had me journey from cover to cover in only three days. This time around, between jobs, Keller goes on a few dates and gets hauled in for jury duty.
The jury duty bits were among my favorite moments in the book. Block gets to mess around with the idea of an assassin getting to play a part in whether or not someone goes to jail, which is funny enough in and of itself, but Block makes sure to add in a lot of humor that had me laughing out loud. At this point, Block could ruminate about anything at this point and I’d be entertained – it just happens to be so impressive that he does so from the mind of an assassin that we can all somehow sympathize with.
The long conversations with Dot are also welcome, which both serve to entertain the reader and build upon each character. Although it’s not as light-hearted, I get the same vibe from these two as the one I get between Perry and Della from the old Perry Mason series – the two play off each other that well. Keller would be lost without Dot as the nature of his profession doesn’t exactly make it easy for Keller to foster a close and honest relationship, which I suppose serves to keep Keller from losing his mind from loneliness as much as it pains him to admit it.
Hit List is another excellent peek into the life of a humble hit man for hire.
December 8, 2014
I’m reading several on-going series at the moment, and without a doubt Keller is my favorite lead character. How Block manages to evoke sympathy for a cold-blooded contract killer is a pretty neat trick. In a way, he's a lot like us, except of course for his line of work. I really like this guy, this stamp collecting, dog loving, pensive loner who travels the country and takes out random people with great efficiency.
In this second book, Keller goes about his business as usual, but his sixth sense is roused, and he soon discovers that another hit man has targeted him in order to “thin the herd.” The relationship between Keller and Dot is developed, and Keller takes counsel from an astrologist and enters a “no strings attached” relationship with a young woman who notices his Murderer’s Thumb (which I learned is a real thing, at least according to palm readers). I can’t imagine how a series about a contract killer can be more fun.
In this second book, Keller goes about his business as usual, but his sixth sense is roused, and he soon discovers that another hit man has targeted him in order to “thin the herd.” The relationship between Keller and Dot is developed, and Keller takes counsel from an astrologist and enters a “no strings attached” relationship with a young woman who notices his Murderer’s Thumb (which I learned is a real thing, at least according to palm readers). I can’t imagine how a series about a contract killer can be more fun.
December 27, 2014
Enjoyed this one which was a novel rather than the first Keller book which was more like a series of related short stories. Not quite a four star one though - found the "jury duty" part a bit of an unnecessary diversion from the main plot (pretty hard even for LB to make his killer being sent on jury duty be very exciting). Clever ending though and he has made me find stamp collecting interesting which probably only he could do. Great potential for this character so on to the next one in the series....
April 12, 2018
A great sequel in the Keller series. Lawrence Block has crafted a wonderful series that almost makes being a hitman seem fun, definitely interesting. Great characters.
July 22, 2011
Judging from reviews on Amazon and Goodreads, Hit List was not as well-received as Hit Man, the first volume in the series. But I actually liked this one better. Like Hit Man, the story revolves around the wistful, brooding assassin John Keller. The first book was really a collection of barely-related short stories; this novel is episodic, but there is a narrative thread running through most of the stories. It is a darkly comic tale, not really intended to be suspenseful or action-oriented.
I can see why some people were turned off by the many digressions, such as Keller's obsessions with stamp collecting, or several chapters where he reports to jury duty, or frustrating assignments where intended victims keep dying of natural causes before Keller can complete the job. These vignettes never really tie into the main story, but they are entertaining diversions that allow you to immerse yourself into Keller's view of the world.
I could have given this book 5 stars, but my only small complaint is that the rapport between Keller and his handler Dot was at times slightly inane and forced (but at other times also very funny).
But as always, Lawrence Block is very good at mixing wit and drama, and creating memorable characters.
I can see why some people were turned off by the many digressions, such as Keller's obsessions with stamp collecting, or several chapters where he reports to jury duty, or frustrating assignments where intended victims keep dying of natural causes before Keller can complete the job. These vignettes never really tie into the main story, but they are entertaining diversions that allow you to immerse yourself into Keller's view of the world.
I could have given this book 5 stars, but my only small complaint is that the rapport between Keller and his handler Dot was at times slightly inane and forced (but at other times also very funny).
But as always, Lawrence Block is very good at mixing wit and drama, and creating memorable characters.
May 5, 2014
Another story about John Keller & Dot. Keller does the killing and Dot takes care of the financials and kill allocations. The last book was mostly made up from short tales this one is one long tale with various jobs being done by Keller. Only this time things are off, strange things that could be coincedences happen like two killings that may or may not involve Keller. Doing the job he does Keller is naturally suspicious and does share his thoughts with Dot who initially does not share Kellers suspicions.
Keller gets also involved in astrology and a very strange sexual relationship and they do play a part in the conclusion of this tale. Keller the master of cool and stamp collecting together with Dot makes this another book full of suspense and an adventure like the first one was not.
What Lawrence Block managed to do with Keller and Dot is creating two fascinating characters on the wrong side of morality and makes them look human and compasionate, albeit for themselves. Another tour de force when it comes to making criminals/murderers look acceptable. And this book does want you to read a few more of the Keller books which happily do excist.
Keller gets also involved in astrology and a very strange sexual relationship and they do play a part in the conclusion of this tale. Keller the master of cool and stamp collecting together with Dot makes this another book full of suspense and an adventure like the first one was not.
What Lawrence Block managed to do with Keller and Dot is creating two fascinating characters on the wrong side of morality and makes them look human and compasionate, albeit for themselves. Another tour de force when it comes to making criminals/murderers look acceptable. And this book does want you to read a few more of the Keller books which happily do excist.
November 29, 2012
Lawrence Block's mind must be an interesting place to live.
How do you mainstream a cold-blooded killer? By making him a stamp-collecting loner who drifts listlessly through life, hooks up with the occasional cynical lover, and has a wise-cracking Westchester County suburbanite who employs him in her off-beat contracting business. One could imagine Dick Powell and Myrna Loy in the parts, presuming they went over to the dark side. And when Keller the Killer finds himself in the crosshairs, you root for him in spite of all your better instincts.
Each time I picked up the book it was with the same mixture of curiosity, fascination, and revulsion I have when witnessing an autopsy. It was made easier, though, by a well-paced plot with some unexpected twists and turns and quirky characters to execute it, in all senses of the word.
But when I finished the book, for the first time in my life, I actually wanted to see Mary Poppins.
How do you mainstream a cold-blooded killer? By making him a stamp-collecting loner who drifts listlessly through life, hooks up with the occasional cynical lover, and has a wise-cracking Westchester County suburbanite who employs him in her off-beat contracting business. One could imagine Dick Powell and Myrna Loy in the parts, presuming they went over to the dark side. And when Keller the Killer finds himself in the crosshairs, you root for him in spite of all your better instincts.
Each time I picked up the book it was with the same mixture of curiosity, fascination, and revulsion I have when witnessing an autopsy. It was made easier, though, by a well-paced plot with some unexpected twists and turns and quirky characters to execute it, in all senses of the word.
But when I finished the book, for the first time in my life, I actually wanted to see Mary Poppins.
September 14, 2019
John Keller is a generally good guy if a bit boring. An ordinary looking fellow, he lives in New York City where he spends his time working on his stamp collection and for the most part enjoying a quiet life. But every now and then he takes a trip out of town and kills someone. You see, in addition to being an ordinary Joe, Keller is a professional hit man.
In this second Keller book, Keller continues his life without any major disturbances until he breaks his own rule against working in his home town and takes a job in New York City. Then things turn strange. When Keller is out on jobs sometimes seemingly unrelated people are killed by a third party, and sometimes his targets die before he gets to them. It soon becomes apparent that Keller himself has become a target. It becomes hit man vs hit man. Who will survive?
Another good crime-fiction novel from Lawrence Block. He never disappoints. Solid 4 stars.
In this second Keller book, Keller continues his life without any major disturbances until he breaks his own rule against working in his home town and takes a job in New York City. Then things turn strange. When Keller is out on jobs sometimes seemingly unrelated people are killed by a third party, and sometimes his targets die before he gets to them. It soon becomes apparent that Keller himself has become a target. It becomes hit man vs hit man. Who will survive?
Another good crime-fiction novel from Lawrence Block. He never disappoints. Solid 4 stars.
May 6, 2018
Keller's back, and this time it's personal.
Not on his side, not at first anyway. But when a series of less than coincidental murders start to follow the ones he himself is committing, a worrying pattern emerges - Keller the killer has a killer on his trail.
Who would have believed that the hired execution business could be so cutthroat?
In this third outing for Block's most enjoyable character, Keller and Dot enjoy their usual deadpan conversations about the jobs and other important subjects, such as stamp collecting and the superior benefits of watching the TV with the sound turned down.
When not killing people or talking to Dot, Keller continues to collect his stamps, receives an alarming horoscope from an astrologist, does a spell of jury duty (very funny) and is dismayed to discover that he has a 'murderer's' thumb.
More than enough material for another Bloc(k) party.
Not on his side, not at first anyway. But when a series of less than coincidental murders start to follow the ones he himself is committing, a worrying pattern emerges - Keller the killer has a killer on his trail.
Who would have believed that the hired execution business could be so cutthroat?
In this third outing for Block's most enjoyable character, Keller and Dot enjoy their usual deadpan conversations about the jobs and other important subjects, such as stamp collecting and the superior benefits of watching the TV with the sound turned down.
When not killing people or talking to Dot, Keller continues to collect his stamps, receives an alarming horoscope from an astrologist, does a spell of jury duty (very funny) and is dismayed to discover that he has a 'murderer's' thumb.
More than enough material for another Bloc(k) party.
February 1, 2017
I thought 'Hit Man' was OK, so whilst deciding what to read next, i thought i would have a look at this, the second 'Keller' novel in the series. What a snooze-fest.
Keller's hits in Hit List, such as they are, barely merit more than a perfunctory mention. More words are spent with Keller enthusing over his stamp collection & pointless, banal conversations with Dot (his handler). Not to mention Keller's equally banal internal dialogues, a seemingly unrelated stint as a juror & an endless supply of irrelevant effluvia.
Had all the irrelevant crap been left out, the result would have been, at most, a novella of dubious readability.
I've read several of Block's other efforts & am somewhat baffled by the poor quality of this effort.
I would have scored this 1 star, were it not for Lawrence Block's otherwise mostly worthwhile efforts.
Keller's hits in Hit List, such as they are, barely merit more than a perfunctory mention. More words are spent with Keller enthusing over his stamp collection & pointless, banal conversations with Dot (his handler). Not to mention Keller's equally banal internal dialogues, a seemingly unrelated stint as a juror & an endless supply of irrelevant effluvia.
Had all the irrelevant crap been left out, the result would have been, at most, a novella of dubious readability.
I've read several of Block's other efforts & am somewhat baffled by the poor quality of this effort.
I would have scored this 1 star, were it not for Lawrence Block's otherwise mostly worthwhile efforts.
August 13, 2007
It was a pretty good book I thought after reading it. But i did notice that while reading the book that there were some typos, and erros in his Bloxks writting. And also i got lost in the converstations that people were having in the book. I couldnt tell who was saying what he didnt clearly quote whos line was what, and i easliy got lost in it. But other then that he wrote the book pretty well if you look past the errors and typos, and getting lost in the converstaions characters where having.
November 29, 2016
Keller the Everyman assassin really grows on you. I can't feel much kinship with a hitman who has an 8th degree Black belt in several martial arts and can beat the crap out of any six normal thugs at once but Keller is different. He collects stamps, goes to the movies, dates with varying levels of success, visits an analyst and an astrologer ...you know, he's just your average guy. Block does a great job of drawing Keller writing with a very dry sense of humor. I look forward to more Keller adventures.
November 9, 2008
Different than the first one, but still worthy of reading. I can't wait to find the 3rd and 4th novels, I am sure they will be worth reading as well. I was a little dissapointed. there were less dead in this one, and someone other than Keller was doing the killing. he only personally killed 7 that is less than half the total death toll. you would think being that he is a killer he would have more notches than that in his oun book. took me 3 nights to read.
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