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Enough Rope: Edgar Award-Winning Crime and Mystery Stories with Ingenious Plots and Humor
Enough Rope , a collection of superb stories, establishes the extraordinary skill, power, and versatility of contemporary Grand Master Lawrence Block. Block's beloved series characters are on hand, including ex-cop Matt Scudder, bookselling burglar Bernie Rhodenbarr, and the disarming duo of Chip Harrison and Leo Haig. Here, too, are Keller, the wistful hit man, and the natty attorney Martin Ehrengraf. Keeping them company are dozens of other refugees from Block's dazzling imagination, all caught up in more ingenious plots than you can shake a blunt instrument at. Half a dozen of Block's stories have been short-listed for the Edgar Award, and three have won it outright. All the tales in Block's three previous collections are here, along with two dozen new stories. Some will keep you on the edge of the chair. Others will make you roll on the floor laughing. Enough Rope is an essential volume for Lawrence Block fans, and a dazzling introduction for others to the wonderful world of Block magic!
896 pages, Paperback
First published August 1, 2002
376 people are currently reading
415 people want to read
About the author
Lawrence Block
767 books2,982 followersLawrence Block has been writing crime, mystery, and suspense fiction for more than half a century. He has published in excess (oh, wretched excess!) of 100 books, and no end of short stories.
Born in Buffalo, N.Y., LB attended Antioch College, but left before completing his studies; school authorities advised him that they felt he’d be happier elsewhere, and he thought this was remarkably perceptive of them.
His earliest work, published pseudonymously in the late 1950s, was mostly in the field of midcentury erotica, an apprenticeship he shared with Donald E. Westlake and Robert Silverberg. The first time Lawrence Block’s name appeared in print was when his short story “You Can’t Lose” was published in the February 1958 issue of Manhunt. The first book published under his own name was Mona (1961); it was reissued several times over the years, once as Sweet Slow Death. In 2005 it became the first offering from Hard Case Crime, and bore for the first time LB’s original title, Grifter’s Game.
LB is best known for his series characters, including cop-turned-private investigator Matthew Scudder, gentleman burglar Bernie Rhodenbarr, globe-trotting insomniac Evan Tanner, and introspective assassin Keller.
Because one name is never enough, LB has also published under pseudonyms including Jill Emerson, John Warren Wells, Lesley Evans, and Anne Campbell Clarke.
LB’s magazine appearances include American Heritage, Redbook, Playboy, Linn’s Stamp News, Cosmopolitan, GQ, and The New York Times. His monthly instructional column ran in Writer’s Digest for 14 years, and led to a string of books for writers, including the classics Telling Lies for Fun & Profit and The Liar’s Bible. He has also written episodic television (Tilt!) and the Wong Kar-wai film, My Blueberry Nights.
Several of LB’s books have been filmed. The latest, A Walk Among the Tombstones, stars Liam Neeson as Matthew Scudder and is scheduled for release in September, 2014.
LB is a Grand Master of Mystery Writers of America, and a past president of MWA and the Private Eye Writers of America. He has won the Edgar and Shamus awards four times each, and the Japanese Maltese Falcon award twice, as well as the Nero Wolfe and Philip Marlowe awards, a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Private Eye Writers of America, and the Diamond Dagger for Life Achievement from the Crime Writers Association (UK). He’s also been honored with the Gumshoe Lifetime Achievement Award from Mystery Ink magazine and the Edward D. Hoch Memorial Golden Derringer for Lifetime Achievement in the short story. In France, he has been proclaimed a Grand Maitre du Roman Noir and has twice been awarded the Societe 813 trophy. He has been a guest of honor at Bouchercon and at book fairs and mystery festivals in France, Germany, Australia, Italy, New Zealand, Spain and Taiwan. As if that were not enough, he was also presented with the key to the city of Muncie, Indiana. (But as soon as he left, they changed the locks.)
LB and his wife Lynne are enthusiastic New Yorkers and relentless world travelers; the two are members of the Travelers Century Club, and have visited around 160 countries.
He is a modest and humble fellow, although you would never guess as much from this biographical note.
Born in Buffalo, N.Y., LB attended Antioch College, but left before completing his studies; school authorities advised him that they felt he’d be happier elsewhere, and he thought this was remarkably perceptive of them.
His earliest work, published pseudonymously in the late 1950s, was mostly in the field of midcentury erotica, an apprenticeship he shared with Donald E. Westlake and Robert Silverberg. The first time Lawrence Block’s name appeared in print was when his short story “You Can’t Lose” was published in the February 1958 issue of Manhunt. The first book published under his own name was Mona (1961); it was reissued several times over the years, once as Sweet Slow Death. In 2005 it became the first offering from Hard Case Crime, and bore for the first time LB’s original title, Grifter’s Game.
LB is best known for his series characters, including cop-turned-private investigator Matthew Scudder, gentleman burglar Bernie Rhodenbarr, globe-trotting insomniac Evan Tanner, and introspective assassin Keller.
Because one name is never enough, LB has also published under pseudonyms including Jill Emerson, John Warren Wells, Lesley Evans, and Anne Campbell Clarke.
LB’s magazine appearances include American Heritage, Redbook, Playboy, Linn’s Stamp News, Cosmopolitan, GQ, and The New York Times. His monthly instructional column ran in Writer’s Digest for 14 years, and led to a string of books for writers, including the classics Telling Lies for Fun & Profit and The Liar’s Bible. He has also written episodic television (Tilt!) and the Wong Kar-wai film, My Blueberry Nights.
Several of LB’s books have been filmed. The latest, A Walk Among the Tombstones, stars Liam Neeson as Matthew Scudder and is scheduled for release in September, 2014.
LB is a Grand Master of Mystery Writers of America, and a past president of MWA and the Private Eye Writers of America. He has won the Edgar and Shamus awards four times each, and the Japanese Maltese Falcon award twice, as well as the Nero Wolfe and Philip Marlowe awards, a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Private Eye Writers of America, and the Diamond Dagger for Life Achievement from the Crime Writers Association (UK). He’s also been honored with the Gumshoe Lifetime Achievement Award from Mystery Ink magazine and the Edward D. Hoch Memorial Golden Derringer for Lifetime Achievement in the short story. In France, he has been proclaimed a Grand Maitre du Roman Noir and has twice been awarded the Societe 813 trophy. He has been a guest of honor at Bouchercon and at book fairs and mystery festivals in France, Germany, Australia, Italy, New Zealand, Spain and Taiwan. As if that were not enough, he was also presented with the key to the city of Muncie, Indiana. (But as soon as he left, they changed the locks.)
LB and his wife Lynne are enthusiastic New Yorkers and relentless world travelers; the two are members of the Travelers Century Club, and have visited around 160 countries.
He is a modest and humble fellow, although you would never guess as much from this biographical note.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 60 reviews
October 19, 2017
Lawrence Block has written almost exclusively in the field of crime fiction for sixty years. This collection of 84 stories—comprised of almost his entire output of short fiction from 1960 to 2002—showcases the variety of styles possible within the genre. This may be one of the best short story collections of the last 25 years.
Block can be funny (“One Thousand Dollars a Word”, “Nothing Short of Highway Robbery”). He can write gritty noir (“Looking for David”, “By the Dawn’s Early Light”). His stories can be dry and witty (“The Ehrengraf Nostrum”, “Collecting Ackermans”) or serious and literate (“A Blow for Freedom”, “With a Smile for the Ending”).
He can make you root for the bad guy (“Answers to Soldier”) or shudder at the evil of human nature (“Like a Bug on a Windshield”). He can use crime to offer insightful social commentary (“Batman’s Helper”, “The Merciful Angel of Death”). He even wrote one of the best baseball stories of all time (“Almost Perfect”).
In addition to many previously uncollected pieces, this collection includes the complete contents of several previous short story collections, including:
1. Like a Lamb to Slaughter (1984)
2. Sometimes They Bite (1992)
3. Some Days You Get the Bear (1994)
4. Ehrengraf for the Defense (1994, first edition only)
5. The Collected Mystery Stories (1999, UK publication only)
Block can be funny (“One Thousand Dollars a Word”, “Nothing Short of Highway Robbery”). He can write gritty noir (“Looking for David”, “By the Dawn’s Early Light”). His stories can be dry and witty (“The Ehrengraf Nostrum”, “Collecting Ackermans”) or serious and literate (“A Blow for Freedom”, “With a Smile for the Ending”).
He can make you root for the bad guy (“Answers to Soldier”) or shudder at the evil of human nature (“Like a Bug on a Windshield”). He can use crime to offer insightful social commentary (“Batman’s Helper”, “The Merciful Angel of Death”). He even wrote one of the best baseball stories of all time (“Almost Perfect”).
In addition to many previously uncollected pieces, this collection includes the complete contents of several previous short story collections, including:
1. Like a Lamb to Slaughter (1984)
2. Sometimes They Bite (1992)
3. Some Days You Get the Bear (1994)
4. Ehrengraf for the Defense (1994, first edition only)
5. The Collected Mystery Stories (1999, UK publication only)
August 6, 2010
Ah, Lawrence Block...
When you've been reading other mystery writers for a while, coming back to Lawrence Block feels a lot like pulling a treasured but scuffed old leather jacket out of your closet, putting it on, and feeling that perfect fit with a very faint lingering scent of old tobacco and ale. He captures time and place so masterfully that you're instantly transported to New York, but his sense of style, turn of the phrase, and ear for dialogue is so idiosyncratic, that you're taken to Block's New York. The New York Block produces doesn't exist anymore, and probably never did, but that doesn't stop you from feeling giddy each time you visit.
This is a tome of near 900 pages and the writing of it must have been a labor of love. Most of it consists of short stories, a form obviously loved by Block. Almost all of them produce that bittersweet short story reaction on finishing: satisfaction of a tale well-told, but disappointed that it was a once-off. You leave each story wishing many of the characters would spawn a series of their own, yet you know in your heart it ain't happening. Ships in the night.
The book also contains two Chip Harrison stories and ten Martin Ehrengraf tales. I find each of these fairly formulaic and I don't really care for the formula, so they left me cold. There are also three Bernie Rhodenbarr stories, who I can take or leave. There are five Keller stories, which is one of the most unique series in literature today, a shocking blend of humor, mystery, and violence. Nine Matthew Scudder stories are also herein, mystery's best alcoholic private detective, which is a bit like saying baseballs best right-handed pitcher.
Great book for both the old lovers of Block and new ones looking for an introduction (albeit a lengthy one) to mystery's great master.
When you've been reading other mystery writers for a while, coming back to Lawrence Block feels a lot like pulling a treasured but scuffed old leather jacket out of your closet, putting it on, and feeling that perfect fit with a very faint lingering scent of old tobacco and ale. He captures time and place so masterfully that you're instantly transported to New York, but his sense of style, turn of the phrase, and ear for dialogue is so idiosyncratic, that you're taken to Block's New York. The New York Block produces doesn't exist anymore, and probably never did, but that doesn't stop you from feeling giddy each time you visit.
This is a tome of near 900 pages and the writing of it must have been a labor of love. Most of it consists of short stories, a form obviously loved by Block. Almost all of them produce that bittersweet short story reaction on finishing: satisfaction of a tale well-told, but disappointed that it was a once-off. You leave each story wishing many of the characters would spawn a series of their own, yet you know in your heart it ain't happening. Ships in the night.
The book also contains two Chip Harrison stories and ten Martin Ehrengraf tales. I find each of these fairly formulaic and I don't really care for the formula, so they left me cold. There are also three Bernie Rhodenbarr stories, who I can take or leave. There are five Keller stories, which is one of the most unique series in literature today, a shocking blend of humor, mystery, and violence. Nine Matthew Scudder stories are also herein, mystery's best alcoholic private detective, which is a bit like saying baseballs best right-handed pitcher.
Great book for both the old lovers of Block and new ones looking for an introduction (albeit a lengthy one) to mystery's great master.
October 25, 2018
I had read this humongous tome long back. It contains several memorable stories, several unpleasant stories with twist endings, and several duds, as expected. Most of the stories, if tried to be read today, would appear rather unreadable, since they had been written for a readership that doesn't exist any longer. Nevertheless, if you are in suitably dark mood, and looking for some twisted and dark tales laced with crime & human frailty, get hold of this one.
It would take care of your needs for many-many days.
Enough rope, indeed.
It would take care of your needs for many-many days.
Enough rope, indeed.
January 5, 2014
A pretty good collection of short stories by one of my favorite authors. As the print version is almost 900 pages, Block calls it "more of a doorstop than book".
All of Block's characters are represented as well as many of his stand alone stories, so there is something for all Block fans.
All of Block's characters are represented as well as many of his stand alone stories, so there is something for all Block fans.
September 3, 2021
We had no idea when we borrowed the eBook “Enough Rope” from the library that it represented (with a few noted exceptions) Lawrence Block’s entire short-story writing career – an astounding 84 stories comprising some 3000 pages (even 900 in hardback; apparently some 50 hours in the audio version!)! It took us almost four weeks of rather dedicated reading to wade through it, but mostly great fun was the reward, with both familiar and new characters at hand.
Described in itself a rather charming introduction, Block decided to organize his tome into: 42 tales previously published; two featuring Chip Harrison; ten about Martin Ehrengraf; three starring Bernie Rhodenbarr; five featuring Keller; nine Matthew Scudder tales; and finally 13 brand new stories followed by one last entry – the first story Block ever sold!
The 42 standalone stories to originally appear elsewhere were almost all clever and enjoyable, with maybe just two or three that did not particularly appeal, but at least half a dozen that were nothing short of spectacular. These were organized into alphabetic order, as opposed to the ones from series that were presented mostly chronological.
The two Chip Harrison tales are probably the most skippable as Chip is sort of a minor throwaway character with little to which to draw one’s attention.
The Martin Ehrengraf entries are interesting. The first one (or probably any single one picked at random) seemed spectacular – twisty, surprising, and very clever. Unfortunately, the next nine were virtually the same story, with just different clients and slightly different circumstances, but basically somewhat boring once you got the drift.
The charming gentleman burglar and bookseller by day Bernie Rhodenbarr indeed amused in three low-profile tales.
Meanwhile, we had not previously met Keller, assassin-for-hire subject of five episodes as he dispatches various victims to the beyond for undisclosed reasons – not necessarily an appealing premise. We had one of his full-length novels on our to-read list, but now decided against it.
Can there be a bad story to feature Matthew Scudder? Probably Block’s most famous character starring in his longest running full-length novel series presents as usual Matt’s clever solutions of devious crimes – consistently entertaining. In the early ones Matt is still a suffering alcoholic; in the later ones, he’s better off sober and with Elaine.
Lastly came the 13 new stories (not previously published) that were topically all over the place, and rather good fun. Possibly one that was close to erotic might not appeal to prudish readers…
Finally, and ultimately, we actually felt somewhat privileged to read Block’s first story ever sold for publication, a decent debut entitled “You Can’t Lose.” (The eBook also included a bonus short tale to feature Keller again.)
For someone who reads approximately two novels per week, to devote nearly a month to any single author, let alone to nearly 100 short stories (admittedly a favorite medium), is almost quite an achievement in itself. While we were a little surprised at the number of these tales that were a tad violent (along the lines of somebody being killed or severely double-crossed near the end), we tip our hats to one of the most prolific, versatile, entertaining, and excellent crime thriller writers of the 20th century – right up there with Rex Stout and Robert B. Parker for sure!
Described in itself a rather charming introduction, Block decided to organize his tome into: 42 tales previously published; two featuring Chip Harrison; ten about Martin Ehrengraf; three starring Bernie Rhodenbarr; five featuring Keller; nine Matthew Scudder tales; and finally 13 brand new stories followed by one last entry – the first story Block ever sold!
The 42 standalone stories to originally appear elsewhere were almost all clever and enjoyable, with maybe just two or three that did not particularly appeal, but at least half a dozen that were nothing short of spectacular. These were organized into alphabetic order, as opposed to the ones from series that were presented mostly chronological.
The two Chip Harrison tales are probably the most skippable as Chip is sort of a minor throwaway character with little to which to draw one’s attention.
The Martin Ehrengraf entries are interesting. The first one (or probably any single one picked at random) seemed spectacular – twisty, surprising, and very clever. Unfortunately, the next nine were virtually the same story, with just different clients and slightly different circumstances, but basically somewhat boring once you got the drift.
The charming gentleman burglar and bookseller by day Bernie Rhodenbarr indeed amused in three low-profile tales.
Meanwhile, we had not previously met Keller, assassin-for-hire subject of five episodes as he dispatches various victims to the beyond for undisclosed reasons – not necessarily an appealing premise. We had one of his full-length novels on our to-read list, but now decided against it.
Can there be a bad story to feature Matthew Scudder? Probably Block’s most famous character starring in his longest running full-length novel series presents as usual Matt’s clever solutions of devious crimes – consistently entertaining. In the early ones Matt is still a suffering alcoholic; in the later ones, he’s better off sober and with Elaine.
Lastly came the 13 new stories (not previously published) that were topically all over the place, and rather good fun. Possibly one that was close to erotic might not appeal to prudish readers…
Finally, and ultimately, we actually felt somewhat privileged to read Block’s first story ever sold for publication, a decent debut entitled “You Can’t Lose.” (The eBook also included a bonus short tale to feature Keller again.)
For someone who reads approximately two novels per week, to devote nearly a month to any single author, let alone to nearly 100 short stories (admittedly a favorite medium), is almost quite an achievement in itself. While we were a little surprised at the number of these tales that were a tad violent (along the lines of somebody being killed or severely double-crossed near the end), we tip our hats to one of the most prolific, versatile, entertaining, and excellent crime thriller writers of the 20th century – right up there with Rex Stout and Robert B. Parker for sure!
April 7, 2024
Block at his best
About two hundred short stories in this collection and not a klunker in the bunch. I have been a big fan of the novels, especially Matthew Scudder and Bernie Rhodenbarr, for years, and never really latched on to any of the short forms of Block’s work. Until now.
Thanks o Enough Rope, I have a new found appreciation for his genius. Quite simply, this collection is more evidence of the profound blessing that Lawrence Block lives and has taken up storytelling as his profession.
About two hundred short stories in this collection and not a klunker in the bunch. I have been a big fan of the novels, especially Matthew Scudder and Bernie Rhodenbarr, for years, and never really latched on to any of the short forms of Block’s work. Until now.
Thanks o Enough Rope, I have a new found appreciation for his genius. Quite simply, this collection is more evidence of the profound blessing that Lawrence Block lives and has taken up storytelling as his profession.
July 18, 2023
Book #: 50
Title: Enough Rope
Author: Lawrence Block
Series: Short Stories, multiple series
Format: 896 pages, Hardcover
Pub Date: First published August 1, 2002
Started: 3/22/23 Ended: 7/12/23
Awards: none
Categories: mystery, short stories
Rating: ***** five out of five stars
Yes, you're reading that correctly, nearly 900 pages of short stories. I normally rank a story collection as a 3, a few gems, a few clunkers, but mostly so-so. Not here. I love reading Lawrence
Block, he has a way of creating characters I enjoy. Bernie Rhodenbarr is a thief who solves murders because he keeps getting caught at murder scenes while robbing houses and has to prove his innocence. Chip Harrison has become the Archie to a private investigator who thinks he's Nero Wolf. Martin Ehrengraf is a trial lawyer who almost never goes to court. His clients are always innocent. Keller is a professional hit man. Matthew Scudder is an ex-cop with a drinking problem. These characters all have novel series, but the short stories are even better. It took me awhile to finish because the book is massive and not easily carried around. I met Block when he was at the Buffalo Library giving a talk. He was answering questions afterward. This was shortly after the movie Burglar came out, based on one of his books. They gender flipped the two main characters. "Any questions?" "I'm not sure how to ask this." "Go for it." "Whoopie Goldberg???" "Isn't that how you picture Bernie?" :D He went on toexplain that writers don't have a lot of say in how characters are portrayed and the object is to get someone well known, not someone close to the description. Normally, I don't list all the short stories in a collection, but I'm entering a six-shooter
mystery challenge, http://rickmillsproject.com/reading_c...
So, . . .
Short Stories
-------------
A Bad Night for Burglars
A Blow for Freedom
A Little Off the Top
And Miles to Go Before I Sleep
As Good as a Rest
The Books Always Balance
The Boy Who Disappeared Clouds
Change of Life
Cleveland in My Dreams
Click!
Collecting Ackermans
The Dangerous Business
Death Wish
The Detweiler Solution
Funny You Should Ask
The Gentle Way
Going Through the Motions
Good for the Soul
Hilliard's Ceremony
Hot Eyes, Cold Eyes
How Would You Like It?
If This Be Madness
Leo Youngdahl, R.I.P.
Like a Bug on a Windshield
Like a Dog in the Street
The Most Unusual Snatch
Nothing Short of Highway Robbery
One Thousand Dollars a Word
Passport in Order
Someday I'll Plant More Walnut Trees
Some Days You Get the Bear
Something to Remember You By
Some Things a Man Must Do
Sometimes They Bite
Strangers on a Handball Court
That Kind of a Day
This Crazy Business of Ours
The Tulsa Experience
Weekend Guests
When This Man Dies
With a Smile for the Ending
You Could Call It Blackmail
Martin Ehrengraf
----------------
The Ehrengraf Defense
The Ehrengraf Presumption
The Ehrengraf Experience
The Ehrengraf Appointment
The Ehrengraf Riposte
The Ehrengraf Obligation
The Ehrengraf Alternative
The Ehrengraf Nostrum
The Ehrengraf Affirmation
The Ehrengraf Reverse
Chip Harrison
-------------
Death of the Mallory Queen
As Dark as Christmas Gets
Matthew Scudder
---------------
Out the Window
A Candle for the Bag Lady
By the Dawn's Early Light
Batman's Helpers
The Merciful Angel of Death
The Night and the Music
Looking for David
Let's Get Lost
A Moment of Wrong Thinking
Bernie Rhodenbarr
-----------------
Like a Thief in the Night
The Burglar Who Dropped In on Elvis
The Burglar Who Smelled Smoke
Keller
------
Answers to Soldier
Keller's Therapy
Keller on the Spot
Keller's Horoscope
Keller's Designated Hitter
New Stories
-----------
Almost Perfect
Headaches and Bad Dreams
Hit the Ball, Drag Fred
How Far Could It Go
In for a Penny
Like a Bone in the Throat
Points
Sweet Little Hands
Terrible Tommy Terhune
Three in the Side Pocket
You Don't Even Feel It
Two Old Stories
---------------
It Took You Long Enough
You Can't Lose
Title: Enough Rope
Author: Lawrence Block
Series: Short Stories, multiple series
Format: 896 pages, Hardcover
Pub Date: First published August 1, 2002
Started: 3/22/23 Ended: 7/12/23
Awards: none
Categories: mystery, short stories
Rating: ***** five out of five stars
Yes, you're reading that correctly, nearly 900 pages of short stories. I normally rank a story collection as a 3, a few gems, a few clunkers, but mostly so-so. Not here. I love reading Lawrence
Block, he has a way of creating characters I enjoy. Bernie Rhodenbarr is a thief who solves murders because he keeps getting caught at murder scenes while robbing houses and has to prove his innocence. Chip Harrison has become the Archie to a private investigator who thinks he's Nero Wolf. Martin Ehrengraf is a trial lawyer who almost never goes to court. His clients are always innocent. Keller is a professional hit man. Matthew Scudder is an ex-cop with a drinking problem. These characters all have novel series, but the short stories are even better. It took me awhile to finish because the book is massive and not easily carried around. I met Block when he was at the Buffalo Library giving a talk. He was answering questions afterward. This was shortly after the movie Burglar came out, based on one of his books. They gender flipped the two main characters. "Any questions?" "I'm not sure how to ask this." "Go for it." "Whoopie Goldberg???" "Isn't that how you picture Bernie?" :D He went on toexplain that writers don't have a lot of say in how characters are portrayed and the object is to get someone well known, not someone close to the description. Normally, I don't list all the short stories in a collection, but I'm entering a six-shooter
mystery challenge, http://rickmillsproject.com/reading_c...
So, . . .
Short Stories
-------------
A Bad Night for Burglars
A Blow for Freedom
A Little Off the Top
And Miles to Go Before I Sleep
As Good as a Rest
The Books Always Balance
The Boy Who Disappeared Clouds
Change of Life
Cleveland in My Dreams
Click!
Collecting Ackermans
The Dangerous Business
Death Wish
The Detweiler Solution
Funny You Should Ask
The Gentle Way
Going Through the Motions
Good for the Soul
Hilliard's Ceremony
Hot Eyes, Cold Eyes
How Would You Like It?
If This Be Madness
Leo Youngdahl, R.I.P.
Like a Bug on a Windshield
Like a Dog in the Street
The Most Unusual Snatch
Nothing Short of Highway Robbery
One Thousand Dollars a Word
Passport in Order
Someday I'll Plant More Walnut Trees
Some Days You Get the Bear
Something to Remember You By
Some Things a Man Must Do
Sometimes They Bite
Strangers on a Handball Court
That Kind of a Day
This Crazy Business of Ours
The Tulsa Experience
Weekend Guests
When This Man Dies
With a Smile for the Ending
You Could Call It Blackmail
Martin Ehrengraf
----------------
The Ehrengraf Defense
The Ehrengraf Presumption
The Ehrengraf Experience
The Ehrengraf Appointment
The Ehrengraf Riposte
The Ehrengraf Obligation
The Ehrengraf Alternative
The Ehrengraf Nostrum
The Ehrengraf Affirmation
The Ehrengraf Reverse
Chip Harrison
-------------
Death of the Mallory Queen
As Dark as Christmas Gets
Matthew Scudder
---------------
Out the Window
A Candle for the Bag Lady
By the Dawn's Early Light
Batman's Helpers
The Merciful Angel of Death
The Night and the Music
Looking for David
Let's Get Lost
A Moment of Wrong Thinking
Bernie Rhodenbarr
-----------------
Like a Thief in the Night
The Burglar Who Dropped In on Elvis
The Burglar Who Smelled Smoke
Keller
------
Answers to Soldier
Keller's Therapy
Keller on the Spot
Keller's Horoscope
Keller's Designated Hitter
New Stories
-----------
Almost Perfect
Headaches and Bad Dreams
Hit the Ball, Drag Fred
How Far Could It Go
In for a Penny
Like a Bone in the Throat
Points
Sweet Little Hands
Terrible Tommy Terhune
Three in the Side Pocket
You Don't Even Feel It
Two Old Stories
---------------
It Took You Long Enough
You Can't Lose
January 17, 2018
Solid collection of short stories. The lawyer that never wins, and the assassin, were my favorites as far as the series-characters go. I think Block is more into sports than I am; was annoyed by that, in a couple of the one-offs. These were all pretty great. The one-offs that weren't really mysteries at all were the most effective/affecting, I think. I am not a frequent reader of short stories, and bought this collection on the recommendation of a friend, because I wanted to see how good short stories were put together. For my purpose, and as general entertainment, this was great.
January 21, 2015
I'm writing about Enough Rope - Volume II. I can't imagine that there was a Volume I because this set of tapes was massive with more than 23 hours of listening. Enough Rope has 3 Bernie Rhodenbarr stories, 5 Keller stories, 9 Matthew Scudder stories and 13 more. Between Bernie Rhodenbarr, Matt Scudder and the little attorney Keller there is a treasure trove of entertainment. If you're not a Lawrence Block fan when you start this, you will be by the end.
March 28, 2014
Brilliant. Some of the best short stories I have ever read. Its difficult to believe that this entire body of work (900+ pages) all came from one person.. and that this is just a fraction of his total work! One of those rare books which you do not want to finish. Block really is the master of the crime short story format.
Read
April 2, 2011Martin Ehrengraf is not good, Keller & Scudder stories are good.
June 13, 2014
Block is possibly more of a master of short fiction than novels. His deceptively simple prose qualifies as "compulsively readable."
December 12, 2023
At 1/3 of a penny per page, I can afford to skip some stories.
I got this book on sale for $2.99. That's a bargain for a 900-page book, but still I hesitated. I have mixed emotions about Block. He's a fine writer and I love his quirky Bernie Rhodenbarr mysteries. Bernie's a bookstore owner who occasionally pulls off a burglary for excitement and profit. He always finds a corpse (sometimes several) and has to find the murderer before the cops collar him. Absurd, but they're fun and it's impossible not to love Bernie and his platonic gal-pal Carolyn.
But most of Block's stuff is too dark and violent for my tastes, so I hesitated before I pushed "Buy Now." I'm glad I was weak because there's a lot to like in this impressive collection of eighty-four (!) short stories.
There are three Bernie Rhodenbarr stories and if you don't love them I don't want to hear about it. There are two stories narrated by Chip Harrison, who acts as Archie Godwin to his Nero Wolfe-like employer Leo Haig. Haig collects tropical fish instead of orchids, but you get the idea. They're OK, but I'm not a Nero Wolfe fanatic. A fan, yes, but not a fanatic.
Ten stories feature lawyer Martin Ehrengraft, who accepts murder cases on spec. His prices are high, but you pay ONLY if he can pin the murder on someone else. And he always can. It's an interesting concept, but the counselor is a bit too prissy for my taste. Or maybe I'm tired of reading about corrupt lawyers.
There are five stories about Keller the hired killer. I read the first one and skipped the rest. I have nothing against hired killers. It's a job. But I don't want to read about them. If you do, there's a series of books about the gun-slinging entrepreneur.
There are nine stories about Mathew Scudder, who also appears in a series of books. He's an alcoholic ex-cop who's still solving murders. It seems like every other new mystery is about an alcoholic ex-cop who's still solving murders. Are that many cops on the bottle? Do I want to know?
The other stories are a mixed bag. All are good and some are very good. There are career criminals and normally law-abiding people who turn to crime (usually murder) to achieve some important goal. The first story has BOTH a career criminal and an amateur, which is nice.
I realized that I understand the amateurs who commit ONE murder, but am shocked by the stories of those who've turned it into a hobby. What does that say about me? Several stories concern dumb Southerners with poor impulse control and defective planning skills. Mr Block accepts stereotypes about Southerners or finds it more fun to write about us if he pretends to do so. It's OK, Larry. We can take it.
Of current interest is "A Blow for Freedom" which examines the effects of gun ownership on a previously sensible, law-abiding citizen. Judging by today's headlines, Block has nailed the problem quite satisfactorily.
Only one has Block's typical sadistic violence. Skip "Like a Bone in the Throat." I wish I had.
My favorites are the two with the most humor. "Cleveland in My Dreams" concerns two men who have the same dream every night, which is unnerving and interferes with their sleep. One finds an oddball shrink with a winning suggestion, but will it work for everyone?
"Hit the Ball, Drag Fred" has two great golf jokes, both about the obsession of golfers with the game. Can't wait to repeat them to my golf-loving friends. But it's also a fine example of a regular guy who turns to murder to avenge a personal insult. For an amateur, he comes up with an impressive plan to avoid being suspected. Cold-blooded, but impressive.
Like I said, all of them are good and some are better than good. Even if you don't care for Block's series books, you should check out this collection. It's worthwhile, even at full price.
I got this book on sale for $2.99. That's a bargain for a 900-page book, but still I hesitated. I have mixed emotions about Block. He's a fine writer and I love his quirky Bernie Rhodenbarr mysteries. Bernie's a bookstore owner who occasionally pulls off a burglary for excitement and profit. He always finds a corpse (sometimes several) and has to find the murderer before the cops collar him. Absurd, but they're fun and it's impossible not to love Bernie and his platonic gal-pal Carolyn.
But most of Block's stuff is too dark and violent for my tastes, so I hesitated before I pushed "Buy Now." I'm glad I was weak because there's a lot to like in this impressive collection of eighty-four (!) short stories.
There are three Bernie Rhodenbarr stories and if you don't love them I don't want to hear about it. There are two stories narrated by Chip Harrison, who acts as Archie Godwin to his Nero Wolfe-like employer Leo Haig. Haig collects tropical fish instead of orchids, but you get the idea. They're OK, but I'm not a Nero Wolfe fanatic. A fan, yes, but not a fanatic.
Ten stories feature lawyer Martin Ehrengraft, who accepts murder cases on spec. His prices are high, but you pay ONLY if he can pin the murder on someone else. And he always can. It's an interesting concept, but the counselor is a bit too prissy for my taste. Or maybe I'm tired of reading about corrupt lawyers.
There are five stories about Keller the hired killer. I read the first one and skipped the rest. I have nothing against hired killers. It's a job. But I don't want to read about them. If you do, there's a series of books about the gun-slinging entrepreneur.
There are nine stories about Mathew Scudder, who also appears in a series of books. He's an alcoholic ex-cop who's still solving murders. It seems like every other new mystery is about an alcoholic ex-cop who's still solving murders. Are that many cops on the bottle? Do I want to know?
The other stories are a mixed bag. All are good and some are very good. There are career criminals and normally law-abiding people who turn to crime (usually murder) to achieve some important goal. The first story has BOTH a career criminal and an amateur, which is nice.
I realized that I understand the amateurs who commit ONE murder, but am shocked by the stories of those who've turned it into a hobby. What does that say about me? Several stories concern dumb Southerners with poor impulse control and defective planning skills. Mr Block accepts stereotypes about Southerners or finds it more fun to write about us if he pretends to do so. It's OK, Larry. We can take it.
Of current interest is "A Blow for Freedom" which examines the effects of gun ownership on a previously sensible, law-abiding citizen. Judging by today's headlines, Block has nailed the problem quite satisfactorily.
Only one has Block's typical sadistic violence. Skip "Like a Bone in the Throat." I wish I had.
My favorites are the two with the most humor. "Cleveland in My Dreams" concerns two men who have the same dream every night, which is unnerving and interferes with their sleep. One finds an oddball shrink with a winning suggestion, but will it work for everyone?
"Hit the Ball, Drag Fred" has two great golf jokes, both about the obsession of golfers with the game. Can't wait to repeat them to my golf-loving friends. But it's also a fine example of a regular guy who turns to murder to avenge a personal insult. For an amateur, he comes up with an impressive plan to avoid being suspected. Cold-blooded, but impressive.
Like I said, all of them are good and some are better than good. Even if you don't care for Block's series books, you should check out this collection. It's worthwhile, even at full price.
April 21, 2020
This is the only book I have ever actually pitched in the trash. The stories were okay (not great, just okay) until I came across one profoundly racist and misogynistic story that I can't believe was published in 2002. I do not recommend this book to survivors of childhood or adolescent sexual abuse because there is at least one story that completely trivializes the gross sexual exploitation of a minor.
SPOILER for the story "A Little Bit off the Top."
Two brothers trade a 15-year-old mixed race girl's virginity for vintage cognac. The girl is a ward of one of the brothers - he describes her as "Like a daughter to me." The "twist" at the end is that the girl's doctor, who subjects her to unnecessary vaginal surgery to unrealistically remove and restore her hymen, takes her virginity before the other two men can! There is no other twist. The whole point of the story is three men passing around a 15-year-old dependent minor for sex after mutilating her genitals and fetishizing her for her racial heritage. Probably the most offensive thing about it is that the young girl is described as carefree and unself-conscious while undergoing vaginal surgery. There's no thought or attention paid to this young girl's experience at all.
I can deal with straightforward depictions of evil (see the first story, A Bad Day for Burglars, which focuses on a clearly evil man.) But the fact that the young girl is depicted as "carefree" while she's passed around by a bunch of men reflects poorly on the author, not the characters. Her reaction, what little the author provides, is so unrealistic it is demeaning to women and girls.
Block may well be a great storyteller, but I'm put off forever. I can't imagine what else he thought was worthy of inclusion in this book but I don't trust his or his editor's judgment enough to read further.
SPOILER for the story "A Little Bit off the Top."
Two brothers trade a 15-year-old mixed race girl's virginity for vintage cognac. The girl is a ward of one of the brothers - he describes her as "Like a daughter to me." The "twist" at the end is that the girl's doctor, who subjects her to unnecessary vaginal surgery to unrealistically remove and restore her hymen, takes her virginity before the other two men can! There is no other twist. The whole point of the story is three men passing around a 15-year-old dependent minor for sex after mutilating her genitals and fetishizing her for her racial heritage. Probably the most offensive thing about it is that the young girl is described as carefree and unself-conscious while undergoing vaginal surgery. There's no thought or attention paid to this young girl's experience at all.
I can deal with straightforward depictions of evil (see the first story, A Bad Day for Burglars, which focuses on a clearly evil man.) But the fact that the young girl is depicted as "carefree" while she's passed around by a bunch of men reflects poorly on the author, not the characters. Her reaction, what little the author provides, is so unrealistic it is demeaning to women and girls.
Block may well be a great storyteller, but I'm put off forever. I can't imagine what else he thought was worthy of inclusion in this book but I don't trust his or his editor's judgment enough to read further.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 14, 2022
Eighty Four Stories!!
This is an anthology of this author's short stories. Not all of them, but a goodly number just the same. Apparently, the first of them might have been written in 1957 or 1958. They are not, however, presented in chronological order.
It would be impossible, of course, to review all eighty-four stories, so I will touch on only a few of them. You will for sure want to read the one about driving to Cleveland, and the one about used blue jeans. I thought they were great!
One Thousand Dollars a Word has an interesting twist at the end and so does Some Things a Man Must Do. I found Strangers on a Handball Court to be a bit predictable, but I guess we can't have everything . . . This Crazy Business of Ours did not end quite the way I expected, but it is a good story.
When This Man Dies will surprise you with its ending. I never expected what I had read. It is a great short story, IMO. Death of the Mallory Queen was quite a good story about a woman who predicts her own murder.
This book has the capability to keep a reader entertained for a long time. While some of the stories are a bit blah, many of them are quite well-written and entertaining. I award four stars and a recommendation. If you like this author’s novels, you will like many of his short stories.
This is an anthology of this author's short stories. Not all of them, but a goodly number just the same. Apparently, the first of them might have been written in 1957 or 1958. They are not, however, presented in chronological order.
It would be impossible, of course, to review all eighty-four stories, so I will touch on only a few of them. You will for sure want to read the one about driving to Cleveland, and the one about used blue jeans. I thought they were great!
One Thousand Dollars a Word has an interesting twist at the end and so does Some Things a Man Must Do. I found Strangers on a Handball Court to be a bit predictable, but I guess we can't have everything . . . This Crazy Business of Ours did not end quite the way I expected, but it is a good story.
When This Man Dies will surprise you with its ending. I never expected what I had read. It is a great short story, IMO. Death of the Mallory Queen was quite a good story about a woman who predicts her own murder.
This book has the capability to keep a reader entertained for a long time. While some of the stories are a bit blah, many of them are quite well-written and entertaining. I award four stars and a recommendation. If you like this author’s novels, you will like many of his short stories.
March 3, 2024
finished 3rd march 2024 good read three stars i liked it kindle library loaner what would be a big heavy door stopper if i'd have it in paperback you could advance it on kindle ten pages or more before it registered 1% read all short stories that include most of what block wrote but i think even he says in a foreword not all inclusive and one scudder title i returned without reading it appears to have most if not all of those stories here...and the keller stories were in other previous reads including on at the end not listed in the index. all entertaining stories there's even a boxing story, a baseball story and a tennis story. took me a while to plow through them all as i prefer novel length stories but these are well worth a read...plus there's a group of stories about that shyster lawyer whose clients are always innocent.
February 18, 2021
This was a hard one for me to rate. Block was a terrific writer, and short stories were his forte. This collection includes "A Blow for Freedom," which I came across in some anthology years ago (I think it was an Edgar winner?). I promptly forgot both author and title, but I sure remembered the story, and I’ve been searching for it ever since. It’s only one of the great stories in Enough Rope, which certainly qualifies the book for 5 stars plus.
But ... two or three of the stories involve animal cruelty. I don’t remember the titles, but at least they are each easy to identify in the first few paragraphs, so those of us who don’t find that sort of thing entertaining can skip them.
But ... two or three of the stories involve animal cruelty. I don’t remember the titles, but at least they are each easy to identify in the first few paragraphs, so those of us who don’t find that sort of thing entertaining can skip them.
December 1, 2023
I don't know whether I am reviewing the right book here. It seems there is a volume 1 and 2. Whatever, my audiobook is about 43 hours long and contains some 84 (Yes, 84!) short stories. I am also reviewing before finishing since I read a few stories, read something else, then something else again, then come back to Block to, shall we say, cleanse the palate. Of course, some of these are better than others, but all are decent and readable unlike so many short stories which are pointless, slice of life, don't I write "purty" tedium. If you are a fan of Scudder, Rhodenbarr, Keller, other Block characters, or just his writing, you must read these short stories.
October 21, 2017
A mammoth collection of short stories by one of my favorite authors. I originally had the paperback version, but lost that when my house flooded in 2015. Found it again in hardcover soon thereafter.
All Block's regular characters are well-represented here, Matthew Scudder and John Keller being my favorites. There are also plenty of "stand alone" stories, and I don't recall a bad one in the whole collection.
I'm not 100% sure I have read all the stories. There are so many and I tend to read them at random and out of order... But I've read enough that I'm going to count this as finished.
All Block's regular characters are well-represented here, Matthew Scudder and John Keller being my favorites. There are also plenty of "stand alone" stories, and I don't recall a bad one in the whole collection.
I'm not 100% sure I have read all the stories. There are so many and I tend to read them at random and out of order... But I've read enough that I'm going to count this as finished.
December 15, 2023
A very large collection of Block stories, including his great characters Matt Scudder, Bernie Rhodenbarr, John Keller and others. Block is a fabulous writer, one of my all time favorites, and this collection is brilliant.
Read
May 11, 2020Great collection of short stories. Many I've read before but the re-reads of Ehrengraff, Chip, Bernie and Matthew were as well crafted as when they were first written.
August 7, 2022
A nice collection of short stories
October 28, 2024
Amazing
Amazing is how I feel whenever I read Mr. Block. He never fails to keep me on the edge of my seat.
Amazing is how I feel whenever I read Mr. Block. He never fails to keep me on the edge of my seat.
Currently reading
April 21, 2025LB's stories are something to behold. Most have tongue firmly in cheek and can be laugh-out-loud hilarious! Others may make one say "Now that is just wrong!" while silently chuckling.
October 14, 2025
never Disappointing
Great stories. Some of the best AND, that many were from Block himself was the ICING on the cake. Superb.
Great stories. Some of the best AND, that many were from Block himself was the ICING on the cake. Superb.
August 25, 2023
A quintessence of the crime genre, 900 pages, 84 stories.
The imporatant thing is, Block has an expert knowledge of what has been written before in crime novels. He works with the material and produces something new. Outstanding.
The imporatant thing is, Block has an expert knowledge of what has been written before in crime novels. He works with the material and produces something new. Outstanding.
September 21, 2025
I'm not usually a fan of short stories. I find that they often don't have much character development (duh, they are short) and I like for plots to add some unguessable twists and turns. But I've been converted, I've seen the light! Lawrence Block offers a really fabulous collection of stories, sometimes with a recurring character (thus we get to know him.) Most are hits with an occasional O'Henry wannabe miss. I particularly liked the Matthew Scudder and the Keller series (Keller is a stamp collecting hit man whose dialogues with his handler Dot are delightful.) In fact, much of the dialogue throughout the stories evokes the great Damon Runyon (Guys and Dolls was based on his stories.) "Enough Rope" is unadulterated fun reading, perfect for traveling or bedtime where you just want a bite not a full meal. Enjoy!
December 19, 2025
This was a behemoth but I really enjoyed the stories. From slow burn crime to devilish thriller Block really can write them all. Great stuff and I’ll continue to seek out his work when I can get it
December 31, 2023
An 894-page collection of crime stories—85 in all (there’s an extra story in the ebook edition)—featuring works from 1957 to 2002 from a master storyteller. It took me several weeks to get through this massive ebook, but I wasn’t in a hurry. This is a book to savor. Block’s versatility is a wonder to behold. He excels at every type of crime story, including humorous capers, cozy mysteries, gritty noir, sardonic thrillers, and pulp fiction with a nasty twist. He does it all, and he does it extremely well. Bravo on a spectacular writing career!
June 9, 2015
883 pages is a lot of book, or as Block says in the introduction (attributing to a friend, but we know better after reading the book!), 84 stories isn't a book, it's a skyscraper.
This book merits its 5-star Rating based on a straight-through reading forced by a three-week, no-renewal new-book policy at the library, but would be even better sitting on the shelf for reading in smaller chunks.
The stories cover several different character-based series, and collections of old and new stories arranged randomly--alphabetically by title, which as Block explains and becomes obvious to the reader by book's end, is a most effective method of creating apparent order in the midst of meaningless chaos.
The stories are seldom straight standard detective fiction, often taking on a psychological Twilight Zone thriller feel, with subtle shifts of setting, meaning, and perspective keeping the reader off guard and guessing--and usually shaking his head with a gentle ironic grin at the end.
Not to pick out any favorites of a consistently quality collection, a couple of particularly strong series are based on Martin Ehrengraf, a criminal lawyer who only represents innocent clients and only collects a fee if the client never faces trial (after all, Ehrengraf tells one client, do you really want to put your life in the hands of 12 people who aren't smart enough to get out of jury duty?), and always ensures that he collects through means legal, illegal, or other; and Keller, a killer-for-hire with a strong sense of justice, a Gemini if not gentle sensitivity, and a June 19th birthday, a fact that (even though I know it affected me more than most readers purely by chance) practically lifted me out of my seat.
This book merits its 5-star Rating based on a straight-through reading forced by a three-week, no-renewal new-book policy at the library, but would be even better sitting on the shelf for reading in smaller chunks.
The stories cover several different character-based series, and collections of old and new stories arranged randomly--alphabetically by title, which as Block explains and becomes obvious to the reader by book's end, is a most effective method of creating apparent order in the midst of meaningless chaos.
The stories are seldom straight standard detective fiction, often taking on a psychological Twilight Zone thriller feel, with subtle shifts of setting, meaning, and perspective keeping the reader off guard and guessing--and usually shaking his head with a gentle ironic grin at the end.
Not to pick out any favorites of a consistently quality collection, a couple of particularly strong series are based on Martin Ehrengraf, a criminal lawyer who only represents innocent clients and only collects a fee if the client never faces trial (after all, Ehrengraf tells one client, do you really want to put your life in the hands of 12 people who aren't smart enough to get out of jury duty?), and always ensures that he collects through means legal, illegal, or other; and Keller, a killer-for-hire with a strong sense of justice, a Gemini if not gentle sensitivity, and a June 19th birthday, a fact that (even though I know it affected me more than most readers purely by chance) practically lifted me out of my seat.
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