Small Town: A Novel Of New York
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Product Description
Amazon.co.uk 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 --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
Review
"Erotic, intriguing and thrilling. Block's customary sure-fire plotting, exemplary characterisation and a patent love of the Big Apple translate into a superb read." (MANCHESTER EVENING NEWS )
"This is a gripping, scary crime thriller set in the shadows of a city reeling from September 11." (BRADFORD TELEGRAPH & ARGUS )
"Block displays his first class technique of crime-writing in a thrilling tale set amongst the darkened back streets of the city that never sleeps." (CARDIFF WESTERN MAIL ) --This text refers to the Paperback edition.
"This is a gripping, scary crime thriller set in the shadows of a city reeling from September 11." (BRADFORD TELEGRAPH & ARGUS )
"Block displays his first class technique of crime-writing in a thrilling tale set amongst the darkened back streets of the city that never sleeps." (CARDIFF WESTERN MAIL ) --This text refers to the Paperback edition.
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
To say Lawrence Block is a prolific writer barely does the man justice. He seems to churn out new titles with amazing regularity - and I've never read a dud. Small Town had me gripped right through until the end, and I cannot recommend it highly enough as a page-turning thriller, but also as a study of a city coming to terms with tragedy and loss on a huge scale. The plotting is absolutely meticulous, and one of Block's many strengths is to set his characters problems and then explain how they solve them - in crisp, clear, wonderfully written prose that demands your attention.
"Unputdownable" is an over-used label by reviewers, but in the case of Small Town, completely justified.
"Unputdownable" is an over-used label by reviewers, but in the case of Small Town, completely justified.
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
I loved this book!
I'm a fan of Block, I'll admit this up front. But this is a great book.
It is a snap-shot of 'small town' New York. Centred around a district of the city it tells the story of a writer & a range of other characters. It is mellow, erotic & increasingly page-turning. In the end I was hoping the story would not end.
A one-off novel of class & distinction. A great read.
I'm a fan of Block, I'll admit this up front. But this is a great book.
It is a snap-shot of 'small town' New York. Centred around a district of the city it tells the story of a writer & a range of other characters. It is mellow, erotic & increasingly page-turning. In the end I was hoping the story would not end.
A one-off novel of class & distinction. A great read.
8 of 10 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
OK, it's not Matt Scudder but it is compulsive stuff. Once you are into ityou will find any distraction unbearable. Block has this ability, justlike his friend Mcbain, to make his books the most important part of yourlife for as long as you are reading them.
Don't want to give away theplot, just to say that it is well up to Block's previous work and hisamazing skill in holding you on the edge of your seat until the last page.
Don't want to give away theplot, just to say that it is well up to Block's previous work and hisamazing skill in holding you on the edge of your seat until the last page.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
A well written , multi faced epic!!!!!!!!!!
This book has got to be one of Block's best yet.The many converging elements and characters in this book are great- from an accused writer, a somewhat FIREY art dealer , and a... Read more
Published on 29 Sep 2003
Small Town Review
If you are obsessed with "9/11", wierd and oddball characters, kinky sexual fantasies, too many characters in a plot which jumps all over the place before knitting together for the... Read more
Published on 1 Aug 2003
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