Novel paints portrait of desperate criminal lives

While character development and insight are wonderful things for a novel to have, they easily can be replaced with a gritty plot that sucks you in.

"The Grifter’s Game" by crime fiction master Lawrence Block is such a story. Originally published in 1961, this novel should be a gold standard by which every other piece of pulp fiction, or stories usually containing love or crime, is compared. Lawrence’s blend of slick lingo and cleverly orchestrated plot twists make this the smoothest 200-plus pages you may ever read.

Long before the days of political correctness, the 1960’s were the glory days of pulp fiction. Republished thanks to Hard Case Crime, "The Grifter’s Game" is an amazing example of escapist literature. While this novel has some of the best dialogue ever written, it also has a complete lack of morals, which only further electrifies the tale.

Narrated in first person by self-proclaimed con-man Joe Marlin, "The Grifters Game" paints a picture of lust, greed and deception told in a way only Block can. It harkens back to a time of suits and cigarettes, booze and broads — and this account does so with all six chambers loaded.

This criminal account knocks you further off your seat by the sheer speed with which plot and characters are presented. It is no doubt a plot-driven story with minimal time for suspense or humanity. The only lesson the reader takes away is the despair with which these criminals live theirs lives.

As an author of countless mystery novels, Lawrence Block truly mastered his craft. His precise and detailed writing is awe-inspiring. By mixing real street grime with wit and humor, Block is able to suck the reader in and force them to read the book cover-to-cover in one sitting.

It is difficult to explain just how marvelous a work of fiction Block composed without giving any of its surprises away. Just know that if you pick up "Game," you will have to clear your schedule — you won’t want to put it down until you finish.