Hit Man

By: Lawrence Block

Narrated by: Robert Forster

Length: 7 hrs and 44 mins

Publisher's summary

Keller possesses all the qualities of a professional killer. He's cool, confident, reclusive, icy, and ruthlessly efficient. But this seasoned hit man is also prone to self-doubt as he finds himself caught in the clutches of a mid-life crisis. Between contracts, he learns a few crucial truths about himself and the ways of the world he's become detached from, and winds up a wiser - if not better - man.

©1998 by Lawrence Block (P)1998 by Dove Audio, Inc.

Better heard than read

I had originally started reading this book, but something just didn't click for me and I put the book aside. Robert Forster (a great, underrated and underused Hollywood actor), does a phenomenal job with this book. His droll reading gives the character of the Hit Man a wry sense of humor and depth that makes you empathize with someone who, in the eyes of many, is a fairly unscrupulous character. I realize that this comes from the writing of Mr. Block, but it wasn't until I heard Mr. Forster's interpretation of the words that I could truly appreciate what the writer had intended. I can't recommend this audio book enough.

What a Great Surprise

I don't even remember why I picked this book - I hadn't heard anything about it beforehand. It took me a long time to even start listening to it but once I started I couldn't believe how great it was. Now I'm very surprised I hadn't hear of it before.

I have been recommending it to a lot of friends - both print and audio readers. I like detective/crime stories and so have read a lot of them. But these (it's a collection of stories about the same characters - not a novel) were a very fresh take on the genre. The different "hits" were all interesting but the views into his everyday life are also great because they're very funny. Also - very important - good reader: clear and enjoyable.

Good Listen...not great, but good

This book actually gives you all the elements you would want from a book entitled "Hit Man". You have a professional hit man, realistic situations and even morbid humor. I listened twice because I enjoyed it. It is not long, 7 hrs, 44 minutes, so that might be a turn off to some for the credit, but if I recall correctly, the price is real gentle if you opt to pay. I would give the book a 3-1/2 but did not have that option. The reader is excellent.

A different slant on the profession of murder

Would you listen to Hit Man again? Why?

No. I don't tend to listen to books more than once unless I forget that I listened to them in the first place. This has been known to happen.

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

Laugh! Can't believe I felt compassion for the character.

Not a typical story of a killer

I have no idea what a real hit man's life is really like but the author creates a believable character and the masculine matter-of-fact voice of Robert Forster is perfect for the part.

Block's hit-man is surprisingly likable. He doesn't particularly enjoy killing but it provides him a good living and he is good at it despite that he is forever on call. He can't reveal what he does or predict how long he will be gone. A girlfriend would ask too many questions, so he has no hope of ever having a wife or family. The fact that this guy is actually murdering people for a living becomes far less significant than how he deals with his life as a result of what he does.

I love the way that Lawrence Block got me wrapped up in his main characters head. I will be looking for more of his work.

Engaging

I was sad when the story ended. I wanted to know more about the man and his every day life. The writing is superb and the narrator fit the role.

Hit Man (Unabridged)

Hit Man is an interesting book. One would think this to be a morbid tale of gruesome killing and debauchery, when actually Lawrence Block writes a story that is very human and compassionate. At least from the killers perspective and the readers as well, after all we each have our job to do. I recommend this book, the price is right and Robert Foster does a fantastic reading.

Each chapter is a short story and complete.

I expected Kellar to be a James Bond: swave, strong, fast on the uptake, emotionally restrained. But he is much more interesting than that. Narration is truely superior. He delivers just the right note of restrain to make this book shine. In one way Kellar is like Bond.

word play

i love the witty repartee and the literary allusions. I learn something unrelated to the main story.

Character study & FUNNY

Killing is not the important part of this great collection of stories. The study of Keller's character is key to everything. Keller is first and foremost a mundane person who just happens to be a hitman. Most of the time he contemplates life, eats at boring cafes, collects stamps, watches tv and walks his dog. Occasionally Dot calls him to White Plains, where the two of them sip lemonade. The conversations between Dot and Keller are clever and insightful(you learn a lot about each character during these meetings.) Dot gives him his assignment, he flys to some city, carrys out the murder and returns to his boring life. Keller does a lot of sole searching in an attempt to justify why a person might need to die. He does this everytime he gets a job. Just listen carefully to Hitman and you really will see how much depth there is to Keller and Dot. Great fun.