Synopses & Reviews
In the shadows of unbearable tragedy, an unlikelykilling machine begins a one-man war tobring a city to its knees -- a battle that will touchthe lives of its eight million citizens including:
- a writer on the verge of a breakthrough
- a charismatic ex-police commissioner -- and the inside choice for the next mayor -- on the edge of a breakdown
- a beautiful, sophisticated art dealerplumbing the depths of her own fiercesexuality
- a defense attorney who prefers murdertrials because theres one less witness
- an ex-addict who has turned being cleaninto a living, mopping up after New Yorksnightlife
Pulsating with the lives of its denizens -- bartenders and hookers, power brokers andpoliticos, cops and secretaries, editors anddreamers -- Lawrence Block's electrifying newnovel reveals the small town at the heart of theBig Apple in all its power, terror, and starkbeauty.
Review
"[A] rich tapestry of modern life....[A] novel at once profoundly disturbing, graphically erotic, satiric, and above all, entertaining. A fascinating effort by a writer who never fails to exceed expectations. Expect intense demand." Wes Lukowsky, Booklist
Review
"[H]aunting....[C]an these isolated individuals barely aware of each other's existence pull together to defeat a madman? It's an excellent question for us all." Kirkus Reviews
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"Has Lawrence Block ever written a graceless sentence?...Small Town is a blessed dose of perverse comedy of the sort only someone like Block could invent or pull off." Paul Skenazy, The Washington Post
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"[A]n intimate knowledge of New York and its...urban character and conversation, has always been one of Block's great strengths, and is on plentiful show again here....[A] bold and flashy effort..." Publishers Weekly
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"Small Town is so good so perfect that, upon completing it, one almost wishes they hadn't read it, so that they could have the pleasure of reading it again for the first time....Highest possible recommendation." Joe Hartlaub, BookReporter
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"Engaging characters....Block has never treated the city with more tenderness than he does here." The New York Times Book Review
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"Block has always had a thing about his hometown, and this is his heartfelt valentine to it. Like watching a couple squabble and then make up in public, it's a little embarrassing at times, but you walk away smiling at this veteran novelist's audacity and his pure ability to spin a tale." Kevin Burton Smith, January Magazine
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"Ambitious and personal....Block's use of multiple viewpoints skillfully advances the plot, his villain is as wily as any in his brilliant collection Enough Rope, and his large-scale portrait of a city in transition is...mesmerizing." USA Today
Review
"Haunting....The cast is a vivid assortment of urban realists confronting their vulnerabilities. Stark action and rich details of New York City neighborhoods enhance a gritty story set in times that are full of doubt as well as surprising moments of hope." People
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"I think this is the best book to deal with the aftermath of 9/11 on New York City that I have read....With Block you get the great dialogue and sweet flow of the narrative, plus his own quirky viewpoints. Unbeatable!" The Poisoned Pen
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"[W]ell plotted, at times lurid, and ultimately fascinating....[A] consummate chronicle of New York City..." Fort Lauderdale Sun Sentinel
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"What Block has accomplished here is nothing short of phenomenal....Small Town is a kaleidoscopic virtuoso hymn to the city that the author loves....This is the 'big NYC book' Block always wanted to write, but it too has been forged anew and recreated in the fires of 9/11." Mystery News
Synopsis
One of the premier crime writers of our time delivers a mesmerizing thriller that embraces the city he knows and loves so well. Characters include a writer on the verge of a breakthrough, a charismatic ex-Police Commissioner on the verge of a breakdown, 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 all.
About the Author
Lawrence Block is one of the most widely recognized names in the mystery genre. He has been named a Grand Master of the Mystery Writers of America and is a four-time winner of the prestigious Edgar and Shamus Awards, as well as a recipient of prizes in France, Germany, and Japan. He received the Diamond Dagger from the British Crime Writers' Association—only the third American to be given this award. He is a prolific author, having written more than fifty books and numerous short stories, and is a devoted New Yorker and an enthusiastic global traveler.