- Hardcover: 320 pages
- Publisher: Orion (17 April 2003)
- Language English
- ISBN-10: 0752838415
- ISBN-13: 978-0752838410
- Product Dimensions: 23.4 x 16.4 x 4 cm
- Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
- Amazon Bestsellers Rank: 1,456,374 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
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
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
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Rivetting,
By Jl Adcock "John Adcock" (Ashtead UK) - See all my reviews (VINE VOICE) (TOP 1000 REVIEWER) (REAL NAME)
This review is from: Small Town: A Novel Of New York (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.
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
A story of |New York,
By
This review is from: Small Town: A Novel Of New York (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.
8 of 10 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Block at his best,
By
This review is from: Small Town: A Novel Of New York (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.
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