Grifter's Game (Hard Case Crime #1)

by Lawrence Block
Grifter's Game (Hard Case Crime #1)  
published September 7th 2004 by Hard Case Crime
first published 1961
binding Mass Market Paperback
isbn 0843953497   (isbn13: 9780843953497)
url http://www.hardcasecrime.com/b...'s%20Game
pages 205
description Con man Joe Marlin was used to scoring easy cash off gullible women. But that was before he met Mona Brassard--and found himself holding a stol...more
date added
03-19-07



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other reviews (showing 1-20 of 105)



Don
Don rated it: 3 of 5 stars3 of 5 stars3 of 5 stars3 of 5 stars3 of 5 stars
07/01/08

Read in July, 2008
Its definitely disturbing towards the end.

Written in 1961, it seems to be near the end of that '50's hard-boiled style. Writing economically, Block moves his story along at a fast pace. Ultimately, there is nothing particularly memorable about the characters or the story which would make this book more than just a good example of the genre. One jarring note--the narrator quotes Kipling and Shakespeare, which certainly seems out of character.

We forget how the world once revolved around...more
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Andy
Andy rated it: 5 of 5 stars5 of 5 stars5 of 5 stars5 of 5 stars5 of 5 stars
02/29/08

bookshelves: hard-case-crime
Read in December, 2006
recommends it for: heroin, drug dealers, junksploitation
Kick-ass drug dealer noir from Lawrence Block from way back in 1961 when such things were still scary. Get this instead of the awful write-for-the-rent "A Diet of Treacle" that Hard Case just released. This is da shit.
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Bruce
Bruce rated it: 5 of 5 stars5 of 5 stars5 of 5 stars5 of 5 stars5 of 5 stars
11/04/07

Read in October, 2007
recommends it for: Hard crime, noir, and mystery fans
Five stars if you are a hard crime or noir fan. Four if you prefer mysteries. Probably three if you read mostly mainstream. I read it in one sitting. Clear and compelling prose and storyline, and a powerfully dark ending. One of the best I've read by Block, and reminiscent of some of the best of Jim Thompson.
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  2 comments

Adam
Adam rated it: 4 of 5 stars4 of 5 stars4 of 5 stars4 of 5 stars4 of 5 stars
03/29/08

bookshelves: crime-fiction
Read in March, 2008
Grifter's Game, which was originally published as Mona in 1961, was the first novel by Lawrence Block I've read. It was really good, so I'm sure it won't be the last. The doomed characters and the protagonist's fatalistic point of view reminded me of everything I like about Jim Thompson's best novels.
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J
J rated it: 2 of 5 stars2 of 5 stars2 of 5 stars2 of 5 stars2 of 5 stars
08/23/07

Read in August, 2007
Nasty, brutish and short, with visions of grandeur that kick in about halfway through. Notable is the "honest" approach to male sexuality, which comes across more like James Bond on Horny Goat Weed.
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Sheryl
Sheryl rated it: 4 of 5 stars4 of 5 stars4 of 5 stars4 of 5 stars4 of 5 stars
07/17/08

Read in July, 2008
I thought it would be fun to read this old mystery. I expected to just breeze along, knowing how it would all come out. Surprise! The ending is not what I expected at all.
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Kim
Kim rated it: 3 of 5 stars3 of 5 stars3 of 5 stars3 of 5 stars3 of 5 stars
11/22/07

Read in November, 2007
I like Lawrence Block so I gave this a try. Not bad...interesting ending. Dark. Reminds me of the pulp fiction crime from 50's...probably supposed to.
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Tony
Tony rated it: 5 of 5 stars5 of 5 stars5 of 5 stars5 of 5 stars5 of 5 stars
03/27/08

bookshelves: hard-case-crime
Read in January, 2006
This book is the definition of hard-boiled, in my opinion. Double crossing is the name of the game here. One of my favorite endings ever.
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Brian
Brian rated it: 3 of 5 stars3 of 5 stars3 of 5 stars3 of 5 stars3 of 5 stars
04/16/08

Read in January, 2006
I love this kind of hard-boiled writing. The ending was bit darker than I expected, but it was a fun weekend read!
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Elijah
Elijah rated it: 4 of 5 stars4 of 5 stars4 of 5 stars4 of 5 stars4 of 5 stars
07/01/07

Hard Case Crime is great, simple as that. This one's surprisingly disturbing later on.
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Larry
Larry rated it: 4 of 5 stars4 of 5 stars4 of 5 stars4 of 5 stars4 of 5 stars
01/12/08

early Lawrence Block....
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Robfussell
Robfussell rated it: 4 of 5 stars4 of 5 stars4 of 5 stars4 of 5 stars4 of 5 stars
02/28/08

bookshelves: hard-case
This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here.
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Dawn
Dawn rated it: 3 of 5 stars3 of 5 stars3 of 5 stars3 of 5 stars3 of 5 stars
07/22/08

bookshelves: 2008, audiobook, mystery
Read in May, 2008
 

Jeremy
Jeremy marked it as to-read
03/25/08

bookshelves: to-read
 

J Dean
J rated it: 4 of 5 stars4 of 5 stars4 of 5 stars4 of 5 stars4 of 5 stars
06/26/08

bookshelves: crime-mystery, hard-case-crime
Read in June, 2008
 

Joe
Joe rated it: 4 of 5 stars4 of 5 stars4 of 5 stars4 of 5 stars4 of 5 stars
07/06/08

 

John
John rated it: 3 of 5 stars3 of 5 stars3 of 5 stars3 of 5 stars3 of 5 stars
09/02/07

 

Chris
Chris rated it: 3 of 5 stars3 of 5 stars3 of 5 stars3 of 5 stars3 of 5 stars
02/26/08

 

James
James rated it: 4 of 5 stars4 of 5 stars4 of 5 stars4 of 5 stars4 of 5 stars
01/11/08

 

Bill Florio
Bill marked it as to-read
05/20/08

bookshelves: to-read
 


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book data (includes all editions)

avg rating (all editions): 3.68 (81 ratings)
avg rating (this edition): 3.67 (80 ratings)
number of reviews: 12






other editions

Grifter's Game (Audio CD)
Grifter's Game (Audio Cassette)
Grifter's Game (Audio CD)