Another Review at MyShelf.Com

One Night Stands and Lost Weekends
Early Stories

by Lawrence Block



      This is a reprint of early stories by Block.  It is in two parts.  The first is a collection of earlier crime short stories, and the second three novellas featuring NYC private investigator Ed London.  The author has written an introduction to each part in which he admits that he hasn't reread these stories and only allowed their reprints for monetary reasons and perhaps for the interest of those researchers of the genre.

Part one includes 25 stories, one of which was his attempt at science fiction (Happy that he abandoned that genre!).  All stories have a twist at the end: "Murder is my Business" about a man hired to murder but who is really the victim and "Pseudo Identity" about a man who begins to live two lives but what happens to one identity when the reason for it is eliminated.

The novellas featuring London are classic, with a hard boiled gumshoe tangling with a blonde and lying clients.   There is a blend of suspense, puzzles and cynical first person narrative....reminiscent of the pulp magazine fiction of days long gone by.

Block has written an introduction to both parts of the book. The reading of them is as worthwhile and interesting as the stories themselves. It is an excellent experience to observe the progress and improvement he has made.

The Book

Harper Paperback / HarperCollins
November 18, 2008
Trade Paperback
97800615821141
Mystery
More at Amazon.com
Excerpt
NOTE:

The Reviewer

Barbara Buhrer
Reviewed 2008
NOTE:
© 2008 MyShelf.com