Search - Hit Man (Keller, Bk 1)

Lawrence Block is a great popular fiction writer.
His Keller character is both a sociopath and a
philatelist. This author makes you want to know more
about Keller. He convinces you that you care about
this character; that stamp collecting is worthwhile
and interesting. (I collect stamps - he's right). He
has created a singular anti-hero.

This book is a compilation of short stories that were published in magazines. The hit man is Keller--one letter off of Killer--a loner who lives in NYC and gets phone calls from Dot, a woman in a house in White Plains. The man upstairs in the house gives the orders, and Keller does the dirty work. Keller is an interesting character -- kind of like the Tin Man, he wants to have a heart. It has humor, too. In one chapter, Keller goes to a therapist. He gets a dog who leaves him for the dogwalker. He starts collecting stamps. All in all, it's a good read and sets us up for the next book.