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You Could Call It Murder
While investigating a seemingly routine missing persons case, private investigator Roy Markham suddenly finds himself plunged into a deadly world of pornography, blackmail, and murder where he must fight for his own survival. Reprint.
144 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1962
About the author
Lawrence Block
744 books3,025 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 - 29 of 51 reviews
February 15, 2018
Not bad, but not his best.
You Could Call It Murder is a somewhat paint-by-numbers detective novel done by a writer still working on his craft, and at a time when he was still pumping out potboilers with titles like Campus Tramp, High School Sex Club, Sexpot!, and Gutter Girl for Nightstand Books and the like. The prose is a little rough and the sex stank lingers.
What I found interesting about this was-it-murder-was-it-suicide mystery was seeing Block making tiny mistakes in his prose that he would rail against in his book on writing some twenty years later. As a writer it's encouraging to see professional like Block improve upon his own work. The difference between this early '60s book and the stuff he was putting out ten years later is, if not night and day, at least a marked improvement.
You Could Call It Murder is a somewhat paint-by-numbers detective novel done by a writer still working on his craft, and at a time when he was still pumping out potboilers with titles like Campus Tramp, High School Sex Club, Sexpot!, and Gutter Girl for Nightstand Books and the like. The prose is a little rough and the sex stank lingers.
What I found interesting about this was-it-murder-was-it-suicide mystery was seeing Block making tiny mistakes in his prose that he would rail against in his book on writing some twenty years later. As a writer it's encouraging to see professional like Block improve upon his own work. The difference between this early '60s book and the stuff he was putting out ten years later is, if not night and day, at least a marked improvement.
November 30, 2016
Good early Lawrence Block book. Lot's of nice twists and other great hardboiled plot elements. Favorite quote:
"I finished my cigarette. There were no ashtrays; I dropped the butt to the bare wooden floor and squashed it with my foot. I left the coffee there. The management was welcome to reheat it and collect another quarter for it."
"I finished my cigarette. There were no ashtrays; I dropped the butt to the bare wooden floor and squashed it with my foot. I left the coffee there. The management was welcome to reheat it and collect another quarter for it."
September 23, 2021
This was very good, but I thought I had it figured out pretty soon. But only until the very end was my hunch verified. Unusual for Lawrence Block but still a great read.
March 11, 2017
This one was a stinker. A wealthy man asks a private investigator friend to find his missing college daughter, but her body soon shows up in the Hudson River. You could call it a number of other things, but I won't. I'll try a few other works by Block.
June 8, 2017
You Could Call It Murder was one of the first few books Block published under his own name rather than under a pseudonym.
This book published in 1961 was originally written as a tie-in to a tv show. It's a mystery tale typical of the pulp era of the late fifties and early sixties. It's not filled with surprises for today's well informed reader, but it's a damn good piece of writing. It is, without qualification, well worth your time. To top it off, it is easy to read and the pages ( even virtual pages) turn very quickly in your hands. Roy Markham is a PI. A wealthy acquaintance wants Markham to find his college age daughter who disappeared from her exclusive college in a small New England town. Solving the riddle takes Markham into the small town and involves him with scandalous photos, blackmail, mobsters, and rescuing damsels in distress. The book was quite enjoyable to read.
This book published in 1961 was originally written as a tie-in to a tv show. It's a mystery tale typical of the pulp era of the late fifties and early sixties. It's not filled with surprises for today's well informed reader, but it's a damn good piece of writing. It is, without qualification, well worth your time. To top it off, it is easy to read and the pages ( even virtual pages) turn very quickly in your hands. Roy Markham is a PI. A wealthy acquaintance wants Markham to find his college age daughter who disappeared from her exclusive college in a small New England town. Solving the riddle takes Markham into the small town and involves him with scandalous photos, blackmail, mobsters, and rescuing damsels in distress. The book was quite enjoyable to read.
April 26, 2019
Before starting to read this book I checked the information page for the copyright date. The only date available was 2002 so I thought I would give it a try. Turns out it was first published in 1962.
I don't much like noires, but I decided to give it a try. It's a fast and easy read, but it has not aged well. The characters are stereotypes: the self-made millionaire, the spoiled and sexually active debutante, the feisty, sexy and crooked middle class coed, and the cynical detective who always solves the mystery and always finds the miscreants. Ugh!
I don't much like noires, but I decided to give it a try. It's a fast and easy read, but it has not aged well. The characters are stereotypes: the self-made millionaire, the spoiled and sexually active debutante, the feisty, sexy and crooked middle class coed, and the cynical detective who always solves the mystery and always finds the miscreants. Ugh!
August 14, 2019
From what I can determine, Lawrence Block published a whopping thirteen novels back in 1961. Sure, they were thin, pulpy little affairs, but still. Even a young Dean Koontz would be hard-pressed to match that kind of output. And unlike Koontz, Block didn't need to go back and substantially re-write those old novels before re-releasing them under his actual name. Up to now, I've read four of the thirteen Block novels from 1961, and three of those were downright excellent. (The fourth, KILLING CASTRO, was just OK.)
I guess it's nearly impossible to write thirteen novels in one year and not wind up with a few lemons. But being that as it may, YOU COULD CALL IT MURDER is no lemon. Far from it. Rather, it's a well-oiled mystery machine, full of surprise twists, fast cars, and seductive women. Though only 23 at the time it was published, Block already had the skill and confidence of a hardened literary veteran, instilling in his detective characters just the right degree of wisdom and world-weariness.
The original title for this book was MARKHAM: THE CASE OF THE PORNOGRAPHIC PHOTOS. It was a tie-in to the TV series MARKHAM that starred Ray Milland and aired on CBS back in 1958-1960. (I imagine the producers expected the show to have a longer run, otherwise why commission a tie-in novel just as the network is giving you the axe?) But though Markham was already a well-established character, YOU COULD CALL IT MURDER is a Lawrence Block novel through and through. Nothing in these pages would feel the least out of place in his other detective novels from that same year, such as COWARD'S KISS and GRIFTER'S GAME. The story is also too racy for TV during that period, in that the whole mystery centers on pornographic photos being used for blackmail. With lines like "Nobody could rape you...because you'd never resist," I never got the sense Block was toning himself down any.
Reading this book made me want to catch an old episode of MARKHAM on YouTube someday. As far as I can tell, the show has been completely forgotten, but if it can deliver even an ounce of the entertainment value I received from YOU COULD CALL IT MURDER, it would be well worth tracking down. Yes, indeed.
I guess it's nearly impossible to write thirteen novels in one year and not wind up with a few lemons. But being that as it may, YOU COULD CALL IT MURDER is no lemon. Far from it. Rather, it's a well-oiled mystery machine, full of surprise twists, fast cars, and seductive women. Though only 23 at the time it was published, Block already had the skill and confidence of a hardened literary veteran, instilling in his detective characters just the right degree of wisdom and world-weariness.
The original title for this book was MARKHAM: THE CASE OF THE PORNOGRAPHIC PHOTOS. It was a tie-in to the TV series MARKHAM that starred Ray Milland and aired on CBS back in 1958-1960. (I imagine the producers expected the show to have a longer run, otherwise why commission a tie-in novel just as the network is giving you the axe?) But though Markham was already a well-established character, YOU COULD CALL IT MURDER is a Lawrence Block novel through and through. Nothing in these pages would feel the least out of place in his other detective novels from that same year, such as COWARD'S KISS and GRIFTER'S GAME. The story is also too racy for TV during that period, in that the whole mystery centers on pornographic photos being used for blackmail. With lines like "Nobody could rape you...because you'd never resist," I never got the sense Block was toning himself down any.
Reading this book made me want to catch an old episode of MARKHAM on YouTube someday. As far as I can tell, the show has been completely forgotten, but if it can deliver even an ounce of the entertainment value I received from YOU COULD CALL IT MURDER, it would be well worth tracking down. Yes, indeed.
June 21, 2020
This is my first book to read in this series, called The Classic Crime Library; this one was written in 1961. Roy Markham, a private eye, is on the trail of a missing college student (Barbara Taft). He has to travel to the tiny college town of Cliff's End, New Hampshire. After looking around in New Hampshire, he gets the news that the coed is dead (back in New York). When the police claim that the girl committed suicide in the Hudson River, her father talks Markham into taking a look into the death. The police agree to have Markham look into the death because they know they have no choice with such a wealthy man.
The premise of the story is a bit dated; few folks commit suicide over a few pornographic photos these days. The book is only about 200 pages but the author writes evocative scenes and pithy dialogue. I felt the author explained the story completely in just the few words of this book -- now that is a Grand Master of Mystery (which the Mystery Writers of America have named Lawrence Block).
Classic Crime Library
1. After the First Death (1969)
2. Deadly Honeymoon (1967)
3. Grifter's Game (1961)
4. The Girl with the Long Green Heart (1965)
5. The Specialists (1960)
6. The Triumph of Evil (1972) (as by Paul Kavanagh)
7. Such Men Are Dangerous (1969) (as by Paul Kavanagh)
8. Not Comin' Home to You (1974) (as by Paul Kavanagh)
9. Lucky at Cards (1964)
10. Killing Castro (1961)
11. A Diet of Treacle (1961)
** 12. The Case of the Pornographic Photos (1961) aka Markham / You Could Call it Murder
The premise of the story is a bit dated; few folks commit suicide over a few pornographic photos these days. The book is only about 200 pages but the author writes evocative scenes and pithy dialogue. I felt the author explained the story completely in just the few words of this book -- now that is a Grand Master of Mystery (which the Mystery Writers of America have named Lawrence Block).
Classic Crime Library
1. After the First Death (1969)
2. Deadly Honeymoon (1967)
3. Grifter's Game (1961)
4. The Girl with the Long Green Heart (1965)
5. The Specialists (1960)
6. The Triumph of Evil (1972) (as by Paul Kavanagh)
7. Such Men Are Dangerous (1969) (as by Paul Kavanagh)
8. Not Comin' Home to You (1974) (as by Paul Kavanagh)
9. Lucky at Cards (1964)
10. Killing Castro (1961)
11. A Diet of Treacle (1961)
** 12. The Case of the Pornographic Photos (1961) aka Markham / You Could Call it Murder
December 31, 2022
You Could Call It Murder is my least-favorite Lawrence Block book I've read thus far. Block is one of my favorite writers and is someone I look up to, not least because his work is always interesting, in one way or another. Published in 1961, "You Could" was among Block's early novels. Perhaps his first.
Despite the lackluster quality of You Could as a standalone effort, every aspiring writer could learn a lot by reading, in no particular order, the author's memoir, entitled, A Writer Prepares, along with You Could and Block's other early novels like Grifter's Game, Lucky at Cards, and A Diet of Treacle. Block discusses his early years coming of age as a writer in 1950s and 1960s New York City and republished them. These books are instructive examples for younger writers about how to get started learning to write mystery stories. Hence, I rated You Could Call It Murder two stars instead of one: reading it carefully and critically helps me in my study of how to write mystery stories--especially when read alongside Block's memoir.
Despite the lackluster quality of You Could as a standalone effort, every aspiring writer could learn a lot by reading, in no particular order, the author's memoir, entitled, A Writer Prepares, along with You Could and Block's other early novels like Grifter's Game, Lucky at Cards, and A Diet of Treacle. Block discusses his early years coming of age as a writer in 1950s and 1960s New York City and republished them. These books are instructive examples for younger writers about how to get started learning to write mystery stories. Hence, I rated You Could Call It Murder two stars instead of one: reading it carefully and critically helps me in my study of how to write mystery stories--especially when read alongside Block's memoir.
December 12, 2020
I enjoyed it, though it's quite dated in terms of tech, money, and social attitudes. I find it - useful? instructive? horrifying? - to read books that paint women as objects. There's more acceptance, and even expectation of male (and specifically police) violence than would be countenanced now, but again, that goes with the times. It makes me wonder what our current society will look like 30 years from now.
The book starts at dinner. Roy is dining at the Taft's home in NYC, and they ask him to look into their daughter Barb's disappearance. That task leads him up to a small NH town and college, where he discovers more than he expected.
There are several twists and turns, interesting characters, and timeless dialogue. As much as I love the Bernie Rhodenbarr books, I think this is where Block really shines.The narrator was good, though he sounded more upper crust East Coast than Brit. If they'd used a more pronounced British accent, I'd give this 5 stars.
The book starts at dinner. Roy is dining at the Taft's home in NYC, and they ask him to look into their daughter Barb's disappearance. That task leads him up to a small NH town and college, where he discovers more than he expected.
There are several twists and turns, interesting characters, and timeless dialogue. As much as I love the Bernie Rhodenbarr books, I think this is where Block really shines.The narrator was good, though he sounded more upper crust East Coast than Brit. If they'd used a more pronounced British accent, I'd give this 5 stars.
February 21, 2026
A very early novel by Block, from 1961, and originally published under the title Markham, which is the name of the protagonist. There was a TV detective series, Markham, starring Ray Milland, that the book was supposedly a tie-in to, but the book is not at all like the description of the TV series given in Wikipedia - but the book has very little backstory. Milland is pictured on the cover of the original Belmont paperback #236. It is a quick and enjoyable read. The description of a liberal arts college in New Hampshire is appropriately bleak.
October 21, 2021
This book was written in 1961. It was interesting being able to note how society has changed in the past 60 years. No cell phones, Dean of Women, $5 cab fare for speeding all over NYC, $0.25 for a coffee being expensive. The lack of forensic police work. Writing was styled like it was 60 year old. Interesting as a historical representation.
April 19, 2023
Written in 1961 so it definitely does not match the current climate with respect to feminism, alcoholism or smoking but is a good noir. As with all the author’s characters, they are all beautifully crafted and the dialogue between them excellent. A good page turner.
May 25, 2024
I don't know what list I saw this on that made me want to read it, but I regret ever seeing that list.
It was originally published in 1962, and it has every problematic theme you can imagine it would have from a gumshoe novel of the time.
It was originally published in 1962, and it has every problematic theme you can imagine it would have from a gumshoe novel of the time.
August 19, 2024
One of the early novels Block was pumping out like Lucy at the Chocolate factory, but it's a cut above the other early works under different pseudonyms.....It almost could be reworked right into a Scudder entry.
March 16, 2019
I tend to like more current books. This one was a bit too old for my taste.
September 2, 2020
An early Block novel, and not as gripping as the Scudder books, but a good read nonetheless. I think most fans of PI novels will dig this.
January 29, 2021
Plot and style unfortunately not up to Block's usual standard. Disappointing. Where have the story-telling skill and humour gone ?
August 6, 2021
Like a better Lew Archer
March 12, 2022
Audible. Nice quick crime story
October 12, 2023
Great book. Good characters a bit of a who done it and I wasn't surprised by the ending.
February 27, 2024
Reading in 2024 the story and writing felt dated, and I figured out the whodunit early on.
April 16, 2024
Audio version. It held my interest, but neither the story nor the private eye was very well developed.
October 27, 2024
This was a referral from the Great Courses mystery book course (which I highly recommend), but the book was dated
March 22, 2025
an oldie by a master, this one is off his beaten track - full noire. OK, but it has not aged well
October 27, 2025
3.5 ⭐️
March 16, 2026
🎧 I listened on libby.
April 10, 2022
Written in 1987. Very sexist, slant toward the female characters. This book never would have been published in 2022.
Displaying 1 - 29 of 51 reviews