Chris Birdy's Blog - Posts Tagged "lawrence-block"

The story was enjoyable. I'm still not sure if it was a satire on the Nero Wolf mysteries or if Lawrence Block was paying homage to the fat genius. Either way, it was entertaining. I loved the way all the suspects were gathered in a room for grand finale - pure nostalgia. Although it's not one of his best works, Make our with Murder is certainly worth a read..

It was a pleasure to welcome Bernie Rhodenbarr back. Unlike the rest of us, he didn't age but enjoys life as a burglar while running a bookstore. His bookstore can barely survive and he's facing competition in the burglary business too. As always, I was entertained by Lawrence Block's writing with another Nero Wolfe-type ending.

The Girl with the Long Green Heart is an interesting and entertaining story of the long con and double crosses. The details are a bit dated but the book was still very enjoyable. Even if it's not his best, Lawrence Block always comes through.

I like to think of Small Town: A Novel of New York as Lawrence Block's homage to New York in this post 9/11 tale. His love of the city is obvious as he brings in several disparate characters and shows the effects on their lives. However, once the gay cleaning guy served his purpose as the discoverer of bodies, he vanished into the woodwork. The erotica was so out of place in this story that it felt uncomfortable. Overall, well-written but not Lawrence Block's best.

Martin Ehrengraf is the greatest criminal lawyer of our time. He is well-spoken, dapper and only gets paid when he proves his client's innocence. To round out the picture of the perfect lawyer, Martin Ehrengraf has no conscience. This tongue in cheek satire of the legal system is thoroughly enjoyable. As soon as I finish laughing, I'm writing a letter to the Pope and submitting Martin Ehrengraf's name for sainthood. He could become the patron saint of all lawyers.

Warm and Willing is a lesbian coming of age story that takes place in the 1960's. When Rhoda ends a loveless marriage believing there is something wrong with her, she encounters another woman who helps her understand that she's a lesbian. Their life together is not perfect as they secretly band together with other lesbians for a social life. The story gives a glimpse of what life was like for a lesbian fifty years ago. It was a long way from being out and proud.