All the Flowers Are Dying

A Matt Scudder book that came perilously close to the "DNF" as soon as I discovered Block using a serial killer viewpoint.


Dear Block, why did you do this? It was such a great run--was a serial killer really the direction you wanted to take the Scudder series? Why, I remember the good ol' days when Scudder was a life drop-out, hanging out on bar stools and nursing his way through a whiskey and coffee, subsisting on his favors for 'friends.' Now officially retired and respectable, Scudder is still taking the occasional case, but comes equipped with a cell phone, a computer and actually--gasp--takes a taxi.

Actually, I'm not bothered by changing technology and Scudder aging. In fact, I feel Block missed the opportunity to be innovative show more with showing us more about Scudder's experience on the downside of a long life and the contrast between his emotional and economic states from beginning to end. There is a short meditation on the role of TJ in his life and the absence of his own children, but there isn't too much else. The story opens with Joe Durkin's retirement, which could have been an interesting exploration of a duo working both sides of the law, much as Block did with Scudder and Mick. Instead, about a third of this book is from the perspective of a serial killer, an altogether disgusting experience that I feel adds little to the tale except a bitter aftertaste.



Digression. I do not understand why reading about a serial killer's imaginings would be a reading experience people want to have. I believe in art with both capital and lowercase 'a,' and to experience a killer's thoughts as he anticipates, stalks, rapes and kills--especially the young boys leaves me wishing I could Brillo my brain from the imagery. I get absolutely nothing out of the experience, not a single thrill of horror, nor sadness from witnessing a destroyed life, or any type of emotional catharsis. Nor does it meet any definition of entertainment value. The killer is one sick twist and we spend more than enough time in his head to make it believable. If reading Stephanie Plum left a jelly-doughnut sick aftertaste, this was the sour aftertaste of vomit.

I resorted to skimming over the killer's parts, but there was nothing to be gained from finishing except series continuity. Set-up for the ending failed on even the mystery/detective fronts, marked by a series of paranormal "feelings" which came too fast and coincidental for any trace of book redemption. Characterization hits a low for Block, with everyone but a shop woman essentially bland and fading into the background. TJ is magically transformed to day-trader, and there's something about his portrayal that is becoming uncomfortable. Perhaps it's the "Tonto" sidekick role where both Block and Scudder are content to leave T.J.'s emotional experience a blank slate. Perhaps it's the way he is a boy wonder, a natural success with everything he tries, and is almost always able to provide Scudder with a crucial puzzle piece.

Easily the best parts of the book are the first two chapters. I found myself stopping at a quote on page 7, reminding me of Block's ability to get at emotional truths:

"The last thing I wanted was a partner, but there's something about that sort of offer that makes one want to accept it. You think it's a cure for loneliness. A lot of ill-advised partnerships start that way, and more than a few bad marriages."

I'll check out the end of the series, but only out of sense of duty, and the hope the Block rediscovers the Scudder in his early books.

Cross posted at http://clsiewert.wordpress.com/2013/04/28/all-the-flowers-are-dying-by-lawrence-... show less

From Amazon:

A man in a Virginia prison awaits execution for three horrific murders he must have committed but swears he didn't . An aging investigator in New York City has seen too much and lost too much -- and is ready to leave the darkness behind . But a nightmare is coming home -- because a brilliant, savage, patient monster has unfinished business in the big city . . . and a hunger that can be satisfied only by fear and the slow, agonizing death of Matthew Scudder and the woman he loves.

My Thoughts:

This one just didn't click for me the way most of the other Scudder books did. There was far too much of the killer's thoughts, his stream of consciousness slowing the read down. It detracted from the sense that this was Matthew Scudder's show more world. Also, the changing back and forth from the first to third person also seemed to interfere with the enjoyment of the book. For fans, you will read this one because it is Scudder, but don't be surprised if it leaves you feeling...well, a bit tired. show less

"All The Flowers Are Dying" Is the 16th of the 17 Matthew Scudder novels. After it, Block took six long years before publishing another one. If you are just hopping on the Scudder train, you are late and you've missed much of the journey. Scudder Is a former NYPD officer who took it hard when a young child got killed in a shooting and lost the taste for the job. He also lost the taste for his first marriage and his suburban home and moved into a residential hotel and into the bars and dives. Eventually, he picked himself up and started taking it one day at a time with endless AA meetings. He would work off the books without paperwork, taking on impossible cases as favors for friends, chasing down the slimmest of leads. At its best, this show more series is dark and gritty and the characters are all too real.
This volume takes an aging Scudder on a journey into several disparate mysteries that ends with a serial killer unleashing terror. It takes a real long while for this story to get moving, perhaps because too much time is spent inside the killer's head. There are threads of the story that don't immediately feel connected.Ultimately, the latter sixty percent of the story saves the day and runs ahead at breackneck speed. I still enjoy the Scudder series, and the characters I have come to know. show less

I've enjoyed watching Scudder grow old. These last two have been particularly gruesome with half the book showing the POV of a deranged but capable sociopath. Nasty stuff.

Post 9/11 Matt Scudder story, where in his 60s, contently married to Elaine, all but retired and still sober, Scudder is as laid back and away from his old life as we've ever seen him.

However, winding his way across the states, returning to New York is a mass murderer, whose attention to detail, patience and changing MO has at least one man on death row for the rape and murder of three children he didn't commit.

Back in New York, and AB is killing time - and people - whilst planning a vengeance on Scudder for a slight either real or imagined. It's only in the last act that things begin to fall into place (perhaps a little too late to please some readers), and some lose threads from earlier stories, that I think I havent read, get tied up.

Very slow start, hard time getting into it but big twist at the end that recovered for the rest of it

Somewhat illogical at times---why stay in NY?---but an engrossing read.