Small Town: A Novel Of New York - Hardcover

Block, Lawrence

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0752838415 ISBN 13: 9780752838410

Publisher: Orion, 2003

Synopsis

One of the premier crime writers of our time delivers a mesmerizing thriller about the effects of a tragedy on a disparate group of New Yorkers whose lives begin to intersect.

A beautiful young woman called Marilyn picks up a stranger in a bar and takes him home to her Manhattan apartment. The next morning her housekeeper arrives, unwittingly cleans the crime scene, then enters the bedroom to wake his client, to discover her strangled body. Marilyn's life and death have far-reaching effects on others, even people she has never met: a charismatic former police commissioner on the verge of a breakdown; a struggling writer on the verge of a breakthrough; a folk art dealer plumbing the depths of her own fierce sexuality; a lawyer who prefers murder trials because there's one less witness; and in the shadows of a city reeling from 9/11, an unlikely mass murderer waging a one-man war against everyone.

In telling this big, gripping, multi-faceted story, Block not only brings to life in brilliant detail his beloved New York City, but makes it crystal clear that he is one of the most talented, innovative and surprising crime writers in the business.

About this title

Review:

Small Town is Lawrence Block's post 9/11 novel and despite its grim inspiration, it's another example of why he writes about New York like no other crime novelist. The death of a young woman, whose body is discovered the night after she picks up a random stranger in a bar, sends ripples through the lives of a disjointed bunch of New Yorkers she never even knew: a dangerous and virtually indiscriminate murderer, a struggling writer who was the last person to be seen with the dead girl but who doesn't remember a thing, a cop facing a total mental collapse and a sexually ambitious art dealer (who stars in some rather perverse and, for Block, unusually graphic sex scenes).

The real joy lies in Block's labyrinthine plotting and connecting the dots between the characters. As always though, the Big Apple is the real star of the show and Block's immense emotional connection with the city shines through his prose. His vivid descriptions of streets and locations at times read like travel guides but they help conjure an engaging and unique atmosphere as oppressive and confining as the city itself often appears. Small Town is not one of Block's best books--try one of the Matthew Scudder novels such as The Devil Knows You're Dead--but as a stand-alone introduction to one of the best spinners of New-York-based crime fiction, it's an excellent starting point and one that all fans of solid American crime-writing should seek out. --Jon Snow

Review:

Lawrence Block will be visiting the UK 2nd-6th June and will be talking at an event at Ottakar's Putney on 3rd June and will visit Murder One and Crime In Store for advertised signings. Reviews so far have been superb: '...all comes together effortlessly from the pen of one of crime writing's most accomplished stylists. Gripping and at times dead scary, this is a major book by an author in full control of his craft and talent.'THE GUARDIAN, Maxim Jakubowski'Block is a flat-out entertainer, and this is one of his best.' TELEGRAPH, William Leith 'Working with a large cast of characters, Block exhibits technical as well as analytical expertise in telling his tale, the result a wonderfully entertaining and thought-provoking read.' Michael Painter, IRISH TIMES '...a great crime thriller, a race against time to catch the killer and in thisand every other respect Small Town is classic Block and comes highly recommended.'WATERSTONE'S ENIGMA, Paul Wake 'a compulsively readable thriller... this is class.' HUDDERSFIELD WEEKLY NEWS 'Block weaves a modern morality tale full of pathos, sexual deviants, and charged with an inventive plot, but most of all charged with a love for life, when sometimes love gets hidden by the shadow of evil. This is my first MUST read of 2003. Wonderful, a book that willlay in the mind for a long, long time.'Review by Ali Karim to be featured onwww.shotsmag.co.uk and www.Deadlypleasures.com 'Block's attention to detail is impressive.' HELLO magazine 29th April 'sharp, credible, and precise insights into the lives of those who make up the heartbeat of the world's greatestand most conflicted "small town." HIGHLY RECOMMENDED.' www.iloveamystery.comSmall Town has already caused a stir in the specialist crime press. CRIME TIME will be dedicating their August issue to Lawrence Block and DEADLY PLEASURES and TIME OUT have reviewed it. On the internet, reviewingtheevidence.com is featuring a review Small Town was also given a mention on the books pages in THE MIRROR and reviewed in the HAM & HIGH, WOOD & VALE, GOOD BOOK GUIDE, LEMINGTON EVENING TELEGRAPH, HUDDERSFIELD DAILY EXAMINER, NUNEATON EVENING TELEGRAPH, COVENTRY EVENING TELEGRAPH, HAM & HIGH, THURROCK RECORDER,ROMFORD RECORDER, TOWER HAMLETS RECORDER, RUGBY EVENING TELEGRAPH, HAROLD REC

About this edition

• Publisher: Orion
• Publication date: 2003
• ISBN 10: 0752838415
• ISBN 13: 9780752838410
• Binding: Hardcover
• Number of pages: 320