Hit Man

Keller is a professional hitman who lives a mundane life in New York City between his deadly assignments. He collects stamps, walks his dog, and meets with his handler Dot to discuss new contracts and payment details. Through a series of episodic jobs, Keller travels to different cities across America to carry out his work. The assignments range from straightforward to complex, forcing him to adapt his methods while maintaining his cover as a regular citizen. His internal monologues and conversations with Dot reveal the psychological dimensions of living as a contract killer. Their discussions cover ethics, purpose, loneliness, and the nature of their business relationship. The novel examines the compartmentalization required to be both an ordinary person and a professional killer. It raises questions about morality and human connection in a life defined by isolation and violence.

Readers describe Hit Man as a fun, quick thriller that balances dark humor with action. The first-person narration and casual tone make Keller an oddly relatable protagonist despite his profession. Liked: - Short chapters that work as standalone stories while building the larger narrative - Keller's mundane hobbies and everyday concerns between jobs - Dry wit and matter-of-fact approach to violence - Details about stamp collecting provide interesting contrast Disliked: - Some found the episodic structure too fragmented - Less action than expected from a hitman novel - Character development moves slowly - Stamp collecting sections bore non-collectors Ratings: Goodreads: 3.9/5 (8,800+ ratings) Amazon: 4.3/5 (900+ ratings) Reader quote: "Like sitting down with a friend who happens to kill people for a living. The normal life stuff makes the violence more impactful when it happens." - Goodreads reviewer

The Butcher's Boy by Thomas Perry A professional assassin battles both the mafia and law enforcement while executing contracts with clinical precision and navigating a complex web of loyalty and betrayal.

The Killer Inside Me by Jim Thompson A small-town deputy sheriff leads a double life as a calculating murderer who maintains a facade of normality while pursuing his deadly impulses.

The Terminal List by Jack Carr A former Navy SEAL becomes a methodical hitman who systematically eliminates the people responsible for his family's murder.

Beat the Reaper by Josh Bazell A witness-protected former mob hitman works as an emergency room doctor while his past catches up to him through a chain of violent encounters.

The Confessor by Daniel Silva An Israeli intelligence operative functions as a government assassin while pursuing targets across Europe in a plot involving Vatican secrets and historical conspiracies.

🔪 The novel's protagonist, Keller, is an introverted stamp collector who happens to be a professional hitman - this unique combination helped create one of crime fiction's most unexpectedly relatable anti-heroes. 📚 Hit Man began as a series of short stories published in Playboy magazine before being collected into a novel, with Block seamlessly connecting the individual tales. 🏆 Lawrence Block wrote Hit Man while already established as a Grand Master of the Mystery Writers of America, making this a later-career work from an author at the height of his powers. 🎭 The character of Keller appears in five total books by Block, with Hit Man being the first, followed by Hit List, Hit Parade, Hit and Run, and Hit Me. 🎬 Despite multiple attempts and strong interest from Hollywood, Hit Man has never been adapted for film or television, partially due to concerns about the sympathetic portrayal of a professional killer.