Lawrence Block is one of the most established and accomplished authors in popular fiction today, with dozens of popular, well-crafted mysteries to his credit, so it isn't always news when he comes out with a new book. What makes Hitman worth noting is Block's introduction of Keller, a highly skilled and successful professional killer whose struggles with loneliness and alienation bother him more than the act of murder. The reader follows Keller on his assignments and watches as he sees his therapist, decides to take up stamp collecting, gets the dog he always wanted, fantasizes about moving into every small town he passes through, and even kills people. Block's mastery is in maintaining his audience's attention while simultaneously keeping the multiple acts of murder in the background; Keller frets over all the same imponderables that everyone else does, and the real conflict here is in his head. He's the anti-Walter Mitty, a man with a lucrative and exciting career who just wants to be a normal guy with a normal guy's anonymity, and he's a wonderful character. Block should be commended for taking time off from the more comfortable established characters of his Matt Scudder and Bernie Rhodenbarr novels to take this thoughtful detour.