This Scudder mystery is gritty enough, but the final solution comes too quickly and from the merest of clues. Still, it's hard to beat Lawrence Block's Matt Scudder books for an entertaining read. I have read many of these out of sequence and find it interesting to have meet some of the characters before they are introduced into the series. Chance, the unlikely pimp, is an example. In or out of sequence, recommended. ( )

Bouncing around in the Scudder saga as I am, I don't necessarily know how much of the character of this fascinating detective is covered in books I haven't read. I'm sure that in the first book I read, very late in the series, Scudder was comfortable not drinking, going to AA meetings and telling his story, but back in this one he's really struggling with it, which makes for some fascinating reading.

I'm not sure I really can buy into the whole plot. The character who hires Scudder is designed specifically to be a contradiction in terms, which is something you can get away with once in a while, but if you overuse the device the story turns into satire, or even farce.

But the pace is quick and exciting, the thriller ending works pretty well, and there were quite a few laugh-out-loud moments for me. A good ride. ( )

http://www.books.com.tw/exep/prod/boo... ( )

This is one of the best Matthew Scudder books ... along with When the Sacred Gin Mill Closes. Lawrence Block is a wonderful writer. ( )