Customer Reviews

Killer

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4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
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KILLER is the final instalment of Zeltserman's "man-out-of-prison" series. SMALL CRIMES and PARIAH take some beating, but KILLER is superb. When once-upon-a-time hit-man, Leonard March, is freed from prison, he's like an old, de-fanged wolf, battle scarred and shunned by the pack. Zeltserman, in this meditation on the mind of a killer, expertly weaves together two time frames: Leonard now, and Leonard in his bloody heyday. KILLER is a measured, compelling, character study that manages to be at once terrifying and strangely moving, as Leonard struggles with alienation, loneliness, and old ghosts. But don't be lulled into expecting a Hollywood ending to this story: this is vintage Zeltserman, and that means there's always a tail. With a sting. Be warned.

I've read a few of Zeltserman's books, and Killer is easily one of the best. Like all Zeltserman novels you go in knowing it may either turn out well for the main character or maybe not, which I wish more authors would do. It's a simple plot, a now become old by age and more importantly by hard time served, man Leonard March is released from prison. He brilliantly had a much would be heavier sentence reduced by half for the murder of a policeman by promising to testify and bring down his employer, mafia boss Salvatore Lombard. His plan was so brilliant, because he forced prosecutors to put in writing that he would never be prosecuted for his other crimes that he would divulge while providing the information that would bring down Lombard. What he didn't tell the prosecution was that those other crimes were the murders of eighteen people. You see Leonard March was a mob hit man.

Like with Zeltserman's Small Crimes initially we the reader don't know should we be hoping this inflictor of terrible atrocities is able to move on with his life or should we in fact be hoping those he comes across get their vengeance. Flashbacks to his years as a hit man paint a different picture to that which the public (and the relatives of the victims) have portrayed of those events. So is or was Leonard really a villain? Zelterserman takes us along for the ride to find out as those who wrongly believe a ruthless killer now trapped in a withered old man's body do, that you can only push an old killer so far. All Leonard wants to do is work hard and move on with a peaceful life and overtime reconnect with his children, who along with his wife who died of cancer while he was behind bars, was what he was doing the highly paid work for in the first place.

It's a good read, these sort of Zeltserman novels remind me of Richard Stark's Parker series in that we know the main character is a violent criminal and if those crimes were against us we'd certainly want to see him stopped, but as readers knowing he's a fictional character, we now still sort of want him to succeed. Through the flashbacks we get a lot more information on Leonard March than Westlake (Stark) ever gave us on Parker though, and for this novel, that's a great thing! Some parts of the novel, Sophie related and so forth are a little predictable but the fun is in how Zeltserman delivers us there.

Cleverly crafted tale structured about the ebb and flow from present to past in alternate chapters -- two books in one. The climax is the most astonishing one I have ever come across.The Gangster Film Reader (Softcover) (Limelight)

Aged hit man Leonard March is back in Boston after fourteen years in the slammer. And he's lucky it was only fourteen-- turning state's evidence on his former employer spared him a longer term.
But now, working as a janitor and living in a filthy dive, March is haunted by the memories of his murders and wracked with guilt over his non-existent relationship with his children. He's playing out his final days, knowing that, sooner or later, his old boss's thugs will come after him and make him pay for his betrayal. Either that, or one of his victim's relatives.
There's more to this sad old man than what meets the eye, however. While Leonard March may be repentant, just how much of the cold-blooded killer is left inside him? Before Killer is over, the reader will learn the chilling answer to that question.
This is Dave Zeltserman's final book in the so-called "Man Out of Prison" trilogy, and fans of Pariah and Small Crimes might be surprised by the strangely contemplative nature of the story. On the surface, Killer is about regret, loneliness, and that old inevitable mortality thing. But scratch a little deeper and even darker themes emerge... it all leads to a truly shocking climax that could be Zeltserman's darkest yet-- and this is a writer who has made a fine art out of dark and shocking climaxes.

I loved this book from the first page until the very end. This author has a unique style of writing, it is refreshingly succinct yet still descriptive. So many authors in this genre either don't give you enough information or they inundate you with too much. Zeltserman paints the picture so you can vividly picture what he is detailing without getting bogged down. Also, the ending of this book is perfectly done...

This is an excellent book, really unpredictable. You will think you know where this book is going, but I bet you'll be surprised. I also loved the humble details of Leonard's re-entry into the world: his grotty apartment, looking up bus schedules, spending time at the library... all of these details added up to a complete-feeling character.

On a side note, I live in the town where Leonard settles after his release, and the author captured the feel of the city well. Many of the specifics were fictional (I only wish we had a department store and a Korean barbeque!), but the tone felt right.

It won't take you long to read this book, but you'll be glad you went along for the ride!

Zeltserman's Killer is the whip-crack story of a man out of prison. A man trying to go straight with the past as tight as a noose around his neck.Brilliantly written hardboiled noir.

Zeltserman is one of my favorite authors. I don't think he has yet written a book worthy of making a 'greatest mystery/thriller' stories ever list. But he has come close. 'Small Crimes', Zeltserman's most simple story is still his best in my opinion. 'Killer' comes close, but it has a fault that would keep me from recommending it to any of my friends.

OK, what makes Zeltserman great. He understands his craft. He knows that a good noir thriller is better the simpler it gets, when it comes down to raw human emotion pitted against raw human emotion. All of his best books explore darker characters superbly well. Other than Jim Thompson and maybe Edward Bunker, I dont think any author has ever explored the 'bad guy' as well as Zeltserman has. Lastly, this authors stories are awash in a mood you just don't find anywhere else. Its a grimy dirty world here... it has its positive side, but ultimately, its a mess.

When I think of authors to compare Zeltserman to, I think mostly of Lawrence Block. Both writers churned out pulp fast. In his early days, before he focused on series', Block wrote at least half a dozen outstanding stand alone noir stories. Each one was unique in its own way and stood head over heals above other noir stories I have read. With Small Crimes, Pariah, and Killer, Zeltserman tackles this same territory... His stories are simple in scope, while hard hitting and brutal in execution.

Killer is a great concept. It contains an outstanding protagonist. It doesn't go overboard and turn into some thriller epic. It remains low key. It has some unique twists.

On the down side, I think that Zeltserman became too attached to one cute flaw. He alternated time periods from 'present'(action occurring now as the story unfolds) with the 'past' (action that occurred anywhere from 40 years ago to 14). I feel that this destroyed a large part of the continuity of the unfolding drama. It turned what could have been exceptional into an also ran. In my mind authors who use this trick, shifting focus from one point of view or time to another, 99% of the time they mess it up. I wish I could have refused publication of this novel and demanded that Zeltserman take a different approach to conveying what he wanted to say with these chapters.

Ok, enough with that. I am giving the author a hard time that in a lot of ways he doesn't deserve. I look forwards to reading his work more than just about anyone these days.