Defender of the Innocent: The Casebook of Martin Ehrengraf is another great book just published by Subterranean Press. It collects all of Lawrence Block’s noirish, amoral Martin Ehrengraf stories. The Ehrengraf stories are very wicked. Ehrengraf works on a contingency basis: if he does not free his clients charged with murder, he doesn’t collect his huge fees. Yet in puzzling, almost inexplicable ways, Ehrengraf’s clients find themselves freed. I found a number of these stories clever and tricky. If you’re looking for something different, dark, and devious you’ll find it here in these Ehrengraf stories.
Table of Contents:
◦ The Ehrengraf Defense
◦ The Ehrengraf Presumption
◦ The Ehrengraf Experience
◦ The Ehrengraf Appointment
◦ The Ehrengraf Riposte
◦ The Ehrengraf Obligation
◦ The Ehrengraf Alternative
◦ The Ehrengraf Nostrum
◦ The Ehrengraf Affirmation
◦ The Ehrengraf Reverse
◦ The Ehrengraf Settlement
◦ The Ehrengraf Fandango
◦ Afterword-Edward D. Hoch/Lawrence Bloch
That’s George – I do like Block (I wish the move of TOMBSTONES had done better – perhaps Scudder should go on TV) and will look for this one – is it just me, or does ‘Ehrengraf’ sound like an anagram of somethign else?
Sergio, Lawrence Block writes about the genesis of the Ehrengraf series in the AFTERWARD but there’s nothing about an anagram.
I’ve read a lot of Block’s short stories (a lot of Block, period) including at least half of the Ehrengraf stories. As usual with Block they are quite clever. It’s good to see them all collected in one place.
Jeff, like you I read some of the Ehrengraf over the years, but having them all together in this great Subterranean volume is wonderful!
I really enjoy the Ehrengraf stories, but then I enjoy just about everything Block writes.
Bill, I’m a fan of Lawrence Block’s work, too. He’s a clever short story writer. But the Ehrengraf stories employ a lot of Black Humor.
Just finished this one last week.
Randy, I was delighted by DEFENDER OF THE INNOCENT! I’m guessing you were too!!
Yep!
I also like Block’s writing. I’ve never heard of theses stories and I’ll bet I’d like them, but I’m not going to buy the book. Too much coming in and not enough going out. The house is unable to hold anything not life-or-death. Like model kits.
George, I have a few of Block’s paperbacks though I haven’t got round to reading them yet. They don’t include the Martin Ehrengraf series. I plan to read a couple of his novels in quick succession.
Prashant, the Ehrengraf stories are worth seeking out. HARD CASE CRIME has reprinted some of Lawrence Block’s older work. With the movie version of WALK AMONG THE TOMBSTONES still in theaters, sales of the reprint of Block’s novel it’s based on should be strong.