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Hit and Run (John Keller Mysteries)
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Manufacturer: William Morrow
Author: Lawrence Block
Publisher: William Morrow
Average Customer Rating:
Our Price: $16.47
You Save: $ 8.48 ( 34% )
Usually ships in 24 hours
Manufacturer: William Morrow
Author: Lawrence Block
Publisher: William Morrow
Average Customer Rating:
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Hit and Run (John Keller Mysteries) Description
Binding: Hardcover
Dewey Decimal Number: 813.54
EAN: 9780060840907
ISBN: 0060840900
Label: William Morrow
Manufacturer: William Morrow
Number Of Items: 1
Book Pages: 304
Publication Date: 2008-07-01
Publisher: William Morrow
Product Release Date: 2008-06-24
Studio: William Morrow
Dewey Decimal Number: 813.54
EAN: 9780060840907
ISBN: 0060840900
Label: William Morrow
Manufacturer: William Morrow
Number Of Items: 1
Book Pages: 304
Publication Date: 2008-07-01
Publisher: William Morrow
Product Release Date: 2008-06-24
Studio: William Morrow
Editorial Review of Hit and Run (John Keller Mysteries)
Keller's a hit man. For years now he's had places to go and people to kill.
But enough is enough. He's got money in the bank and just one last job standing between him and retirement. So he carries it out with his usual professionalism, and he heads home, and guess what?
One more job. Paid in advance, so what's he going to do? Give the money back? In Des Moines, Keller stalks his designated target and waits for the client to give him the go-ahead. And one fine morning he's picking out stamps for his collection (Sweden 1-5, the official reprints) at a shop in Urbandale when somebody guns down the charismatic governor of Ohio.
Back at his motel, Keller's watching TV when they show the killer's face. And there's something all too familiar about that face. . . .
Keller calls his associate Dot in White Plains, but there is no answer. He's stranded halfway across the country, every cop in America's just seen his picture, his ID and credit cards are no longer good, and he just spent almost all of his cash on the stamps.
Now what?
Customer Reviews of Hit and Run (John Keller Mysteries)
Customer Rating: 
Review Summary: The finale of the Keller books?
Review: Any reader who is unfamiliar with the previous books in the Keller series will be puzzled by the latest entry. Rather than tracking down his latest victim, our hero is almost immediately on the run from at least two groups of pursuers. This goes on for about half of the novel, before Keller settles in again to do what he does best.
The plot will certainly keep Block fans reading late. It did me. But it would appear that there are a couple of loose ends, and I wanted those tied up. They are: (1) Why was the governor of Ohio assassinated? For political reasons? Racial reasons? I realize that in the vast scheme of things it doesn't matter--but I wanted to know. (2) Why was it necessary to try to lay the blame on Keller? The real perps go to considerable lengths and expense to do that, but to what end? After all, the governor was killed and the real killer had escaped.
The characters are excellent, as usual in Block books, but I can't go into all of that without giving away an essential part of the plot. Ditto for the dialogue. Those who have read the book will know why immediately. And the atmosphere is also first rate.
But somehow I still feel that I wanted clarification with respect to the motives for setting up Keller. And I wanted a better come-uppance at the end. Maybe it's just me.
Whither Keller from here? Perhaps Mr. Block will now return to the Burglar, Tanner or some other series. I can't quite imagine Keller taking up assassination again, after the pleasure of nailing up sheet rock in rehab jobs.
Customer Rating:
Review Summary: The best of the series - hope its not the last
Review: After a reluctant start (I had read the reviews and learned Keller was in serious trouble) I found myself deep in the book reading at breakneck speed. Once I had finished, I picked it up the next day and started reading it again at a slower pace.
Having read everything published about Keller many times over, I can thoroughly recommend this book about this droll and resourceful hitman.
Customer Rating:
Review Summary: The best Keller by far!
Review: If the ending is any indication, this may be the last in the Keller series. If that's the case, Block is going out in style. This one is by far the best in the series.
How does he do it? First off, Block paints Keller into a corner he can't get out of. He's lured into one last job in Des Moines, Iowa. While he's there, a black presidential candidate is murdered. His fingerprints are on the gun, and his face is on every channel on television. To make matters even worse, Keller can't use his credit cards and he's spent almost all of his cash on stamps. And his only contact seems to be dead. Things can't get much worse than that. Only a Grand Master would put his guy in that kind of impossible situation.
One of Block's more endearing qualities as a writer (or frustrating, depending upon your tastes) is to take his sweet time resolving his major conflict. Ironically, while he's on the run, Keller finds the love of his life and a much more satisfying occupation, working on construction. All of this, plus his stamp collecting hobby, makes Keller more likable and answers the question: How do you make a professional killer a sympathetic character? Easy with Block at the helm.
I will admit there are a few "Wait a minute!" segments. For one thing, the woman Keller falls in love with isn't all that bothered by what he does for a living. And she's a substitute teacher! But I found myself with about seventeen pages left and I was thinking Block couldn't possibly rap things up in so few pages. But he managed. If this is the last Keller, I'm sure sorry to see him go. He's right up there with Matt Scudder as my favorite Block character.
Customer Rating:
Review Summary: Back in the Saddle
Review: Broke, destitute, without a friend in the world, every member of law enforcement in the continent is looking for you, your face on every media format available. Can it get worse? Actually, he might say that it wasn't bad at all. Without going into detail, life dramatically changes for the man who rode a thousand miles to kill a man he never met, and he still collects a few stamps along the way. I enjoyed every book the LB has written; this one is not a disappointment. It slows down a wee bit in the middle as the angels are singing, the birds are chirping and life is becoming a strange wonderful dream for Keller. I like the way LB weaves the book together. We are lulled into a feeling of nirvana and in a second, the man of action is back in the saddle and the gears are shifted again. While Mr. Keller is still the deep thinker, still trying to figure the half-full/half-empty what life is all about puzzle he is still the man who reacts instantly with conviction. Some of his reactions are amazing in this book. He is becoming human, with feelings and desires beyond a complete collection. But if it is the series finale, it's a good way to go out, and he does it with style.
Customer Rating:
Review Summary: Not four stars....the book is just too slow
Review: I've read most of Lawrence Block's work and I enjoy his books a great deal, but this time I finished and just felt "empty" as John Keller once again is on an assignment only to find out that he becomes the number one suspect in an assassination. He was framed and he realizes he must run, but the book just didn't go anywhere. I tired of the adventure back to New York and just did not have any interest in the direction of the plot.
Yes, Dot is back (and as funny as ever) and Keller has his moments, but I was disappointed in the book. Will Keller be back? Who knows. Block leaves the ending sort of open though I'm not sure that Block is trying to retire Keller for good.
Anyway, it's an "okay" read. Lawrence Block has better books and I just can't recommend this one as one of the better reads in his extensive writings.
Review Summary: The finale of the Keller books?
Review: Any reader who is unfamiliar with the previous books in the Keller series will be puzzled by the latest entry. Rather than tracking down his latest victim, our hero is almost immediately on the run from at least two groups of pursuers. This goes on for about half of the novel, before Keller settles in again to do what he does best.
The plot will certainly keep Block fans reading late. It did me. But it would appear that there are a couple of loose ends, and I wanted those tied up. They are: (1) Why was the governor of Ohio assassinated? For political reasons? Racial reasons? I realize that in the vast scheme of things it doesn't matter--but I wanted to know. (2) Why was it necessary to try to lay the blame on Keller? The real perps go to considerable lengths and expense to do that, but to what end? After all, the governor was killed and the real killer had escaped.
The characters are excellent, as usual in Block books, but I can't go into all of that without giving away an essential part of the plot. Ditto for the dialogue. Those who have read the book will know why immediately. And the atmosphere is also first rate.
But somehow I still feel that I wanted clarification with respect to the motives for setting up Keller. And I wanted a better come-uppance at the end. Maybe it's just me.
Whither Keller from here? Perhaps Mr. Block will now return to the Burglar, Tanner or some other series. I can't quite imagine Keller taking up assassination again, after the pleasure of nailing up sheet rock in rehab jobs.
Customer Rating:
Review Summary: The best of the series - hope its not the last
Review: After a reluctant start (I had read the reviews and learned Keller was in serious trouble) I found myself deep in the book reading at breakneck speed. Once I had finished, I picked it up the next day and started reading it again at a slower pace.
Having read everything published about Keller many times over, I can thoroughly recommend this book about this droll and resourceful hitman.
Customer Rating:
Review Summary: The best Keller by far!
Review: If the ending is any indication, this may be the last in the Keller series. If that's the case, Block is going out in style. This one is by far the best in the series.
How does he do it? First off, Block paints Keller into a corner he can't get out of. He's lured into one last job in Des Moines, Iowa. While he's there, a black presidential candidate is murdered. His fingerprints are on the gun, and his face is on every channel on television. To make matters even worse, Keller can't use his credit cards and he's spent almost all of his cash on stamps. And his only contact seems to be dead. Things can't get much worse than that. Only a Grand Master would put his guy in that kind of impossible situation.
One of Block's more endearing qualities as a writer (or frustrating, depending upon your tastes) is to take his sweet time resolving his major conflict. Ironically, while he's on the run, Keller finds the love of his life and a much more satisfying occupation, working on construction. All of this, plus his stamp collecting hobby, makes Keller more likable and answers the question: How do you make a professional killer a sympathetic character? Easy with Block at the helm.
I will admit there are a few "Wait a minute!" segments. For one thing, the woman Keller falls in love with isn't all that bothered by what he does for a living. And she's a substitute teacher! But I found myself with about seventeen pages left and I was thinking Block couldn't possibly rap things up in so few pages. But he managed. If this is the last Keller, I'm sure sorry to see him go. He's right up there with Matt Scudder as my favorite Block character.
Customer Rating:
Review Summary: Back in the Saddle
Review: Broke, destitute, without a friend in the world, every member of law enforcement in the continent is looking for you, your face on every media format available. Can it get worse? Actually, he might say that it wasn't bad at all. Without going into detail, life dramatically changes for the man who rode a thousand miles to kill a man he never met, and he still collects a few stamps along the way. I enjoyed every book the LB has written; this one is not a disappointment. It slows down a wee bit in the middle as the angels are singing, the birds are chirping and life is becoming a strange wonderful dream for Keller. I like the way LB weaves the book together. We are lulled into a feeling of nirvana and in a second, the man of action is back in the saddle and the gears are shifted again. While Mr. Keller is still the deep thinker, still trying to figure the half-full/half-empty what life is all about puzzle he is still the man who reacts instantly with conviction. Some of his reactions are amazing in this book. He is becoming human, with feelings and desires beyond a complete collection. But if it is the series finale, it's a good way to go out, and he does it with style.
Customer Rating:
Review Summary: Not four stars....the book is just too slow
Review: I've read most of Lawrence Block's work and I enjoy his books a great deal, but this time I finished and just felt "empty" as John Keller once again is on an assignment only to find out that he becomes the number one suspect in an assassination. He was framed and he realizes he must run, but the book just didn't go anywhere. I tired of the adventure back to New York and just did not have any interest in the direction of the plot.
Yes, Dot is back (and as funny as ever) and Keller has his moments, but I was disappointed in the book. Will Keller be back? Who knows. Block leaves the ending sort of open though I'm not sure that Block is trying to retire Keller for good.
Anyway, it's an "okay" read. Lawrence Block has better books and I just can't recommend this one as one of the better reads in his extensive writings.