Let me start by saying I love Lawrence Block's books. I find his Bernie Rhodenbarr novels some of the funniest mysteries out there; his Keller stories so wildly improbable that I can't help but love them; Matthew Scudder's struggles with alcoholism realistic and vivid; and so on through each of his series. That said, I wasn't as wild about this offering.

The problem is that there's simply no way for me to like the main character, not even a little bit, and that's not something I expect from this author. I kept trying to root for him, but I got to page 205 and it hadn't happened.

And yet, I kept reading. The writing is tough and fast-paced, exactly the pulp style that Hard Case Crime wants to revive. The resolution of the drama was somewhat surprising and the final paragraphs of the book very much so. It left me feeling bleak and grim, exactly Block's intention, I'm sure.

So, I'm forced to say it was better written but less fun than the first HCC book I tried (Westlake's Somebody Owes Me Money).

I'd recommend it but, if you're an existing Block fan, leave your expectations behind. ( )

Hardboiled tale of a grifter who is down on his luck looking for the next big score. He steals some suitcases from the airport (I have always been alarmed at how easy this would be) and finds that they contain a heavy-duty amount of heroin. He ends up falling for the bags' owner's young trophy wife and plots with her to kill the husband. Of course things don't turn out well for anyone involved (they never do, do they?).

When spelled out so baldly, it sounds mundane, but it's extremely well-told. The ending of the book is a real punch in the gut. This is ultimately a dark, dark tale. High recommended. While this was my first Block book, it will certainly not be the last. This book showcases Block's writing talents. I can see why he is such a big name.

Review copyright 2009 J. Andrew Byers ( )

Just the type of book I enjoy and read in a single sitting, this excellent start to the Hard Case Crime series didn't in any way disappoint. It's the first book I've read by Lawrence Block but the language is so familair to anyone who enjoys the American pulp detective fiction of Raymond Chandler, Dashiell Hammett or Jim Thompson; and is certainly planted firmly in its time with self service elevators, automat restaurants and proper conversations on the telephone.
The story deals with a small time grifter drifting from "easy mark" to "easy mark" taking enough money to live comfortably for a time before, without a moment's hesitation or backwards glance, he disappears in the night when "the heat" comes down to re-surface elsewhere wth someone else's name, and in this case, luggage. He then falls in love, with the inevitable consequences in this dim world where nothing is as it seems, which leaves him out of his depth in unfamiliar territory where he finds he can no longer drift out of trouble with a second thought. This all leads of course to only one inevitable conclusion for him and everyone associated with him but Lawrence moves the story along as such a pace and such ingenuity that despite the dozen or so outcomes you can imagine as you get near to the end Lawrence still manages to surprise the reader.

To anyone who enjoys a good crime yarn I'd recommend this without a moments hesitation and it's also made me dig deep into my pockets and start to invest in the next Hard Case Crime instalment. I'll definitely be re-reading this with pleasure at a later date which, according to my rating system (4 stars meaning I'd happily re-read it) means it gets 4 stars. ( )

Hard Case Crime is great, simple as that. This one's surprisingly disturbing later on.

Also published under the title "Sweet Slow Death," this is an engaging early Block story of love and disaffection, wrapped in a tough shell.