REVIEW
EVEN THE WICKED by Lawrence Block
Orion --- (0 7528 0437 5) £15.99
What is it that makes a good crime novel? Whatever it is Lawrence Block has it. Within a few paragraphs the reader is hooked and then old Loz just plays with his catch for the sport of it, before reeling him in. Except, well, he doesn't actually reel him in - it goes to show that you can't take an analogy too far. In any case, what I'm trying to say is that Block is really good. There are no great plot innovations; the furrow he ploughs has been erm ploughed a lot er before.
What you do get are stories written with style, intelligence and wit - stories that leave his rivals in the shade. Or is it, perhaps, out in the cold? In "Even the Wicked" he goes to the extent of outlining a closed room murder and then, when you've worked out the case the author leads you off in another direction. The novel concerns an apparent psycho killer who carries out his murders on behalf of us all in the name of justice. He announces his executions beforehand and folks can't wait to hear from the Will of the People again after his entertaining series of snuffs of those nasty individuals who appear to be outside the pale of the law - a child killer, a Mafia boss,a black supremicist (slain before Will could get to him) and an anti abortionist who incites murder in his followers. But then a lawyer, seemingly no worse than any of that pack of hyenas,is fingered as Will's next victim and that is where Matt Scudder becomes involved.
Matt is a man with a past - unfortunately, he can't remember most of it. Now his only connection with the demon alcohol is his occasional attendance at A.A. meetings. In between taking things easy he takes on cases. Not for any pecuniary advantage you understand, but because he can't help himself being sucked into murky situations when asked by a friend, or even a friend of a friend. Yes, he's one of those Sir Galahad detectives that swarm like flies around a warm crime novel. Put your money away, I'm doing this for my neighbour's ex - husband's cousin. If Matt Scudder found your wallet he would only hand it in to the cops after paying off your credit card bill. I like Matt, but I worry that he'll be bankrupt before his next book is due out.
This is one of those books that come in the category - "A Good Read" - lucid, urbane and witty. Mind you, it's not as amusing as the author's "Burglar" books. They are on a different plane altogether.

THE BURGLAR WHO THOUGHT HE WAS BOGART
pbk No Exit Press --- (1 874061 55 6 ) £5.99
is, as the title suggests, a playful piece drawing heavily on Bogies' two most famous films - "The Maltese Falcon" and "Casablanca". All the familiar characters are there; the fat man, the neurotic little guy with the big talk,the semi - corrupt cop and the love interest. She is sad,alluring and mid - European. She also has a political goal that overrides her own personal happiness. At the same time, whilst the plot is unfolding, good egg burglar, Bernie Rhodenbarr, plays out waggish conversations with diminutive sidekick, Carolyn, a la Nick and Nora Charles from the "Thin Man" series of movies. I could also point out that the Charles's dog is replaced by a cat, but I wouldn't wish to give pedantry a bad name.
The Bernie Rhodenbarr books are a lot of fun and this one is no exception. For those who don't know the bloke, Bernie is the proprietor of a second hand bookshop who supplements his income with the odd burglary. Of course, he really makes these odd transgressions of the bounds of acceptable behaviour not so much for the money, but because he's so good at it. Bernie is the best housebreaker in town, but it appears that whenever he is in the middle of one of those jobs sponsored by a third party something untoward happens - usually a murder. And that's when Bern has to transform himself into an amateur sleuth in order to clear his name.I know how he feels. I was writing a review the other day when the toast burned and by sheer brain power I was eventually able to prove to my wife that the toaster didn't exist and, even if it did, it was probably the cat's fault. So life can imitate art - or vice versa - but so what? The reason you should read this book is that if you don't you could fill your time reading trash like I do most of the time.
JRC