A Walk Amoung the Tombstones: A Matthew Scudder Crime Novel

If there is a better living crime novelist than Lawrence Block, I'd like to know who it is. I have yet to read a Scudder story that did not have me riveted! Having only recently discovered this series, every time I read another one it is deemed my new "favorite." So, until I finish "Time to Murder and Create", which is excellent so far, "A Walk Among the Tombstones" is my favorite to date - vicious killers, flawed protagonists, interesting secondary characters and lots of action - what more could you want? I am a big fan of the Lawrence Sanders Commandment and Deadly Sin series so now that he is gone, I am glad that there are so many Scudder books yet to be read and savored. By the way, I have not read these books in any kind of order and it makes absolutely no difference!

I rate this the best of the Scudder novels. I couldn't put this book down. I loved the other characters in it too. Can't wait for the movie to come out. It was so good I will most likely read it again sometime. Mr. Block outdoes himself on this one.

Matthew Scudder is Lawrence Block's remarkable private investigator. He's a former NYPD detective who left the force after an accident left a child dead in crossfire. Because he is unlicensed you can't "hire" him. Instead he does you a favor by taking your case and solving the crime. "Walk among the Tombstones," is one of the most chilling of all the Scudder novels to date. Other reviews here have said it's dark and brooding. This I agree. A drug dealer to find out who kidnapped and killed his wife hires Scudder. Even though drug dealers are low on Scudder's list even they deserve justice. Block introduces several new characters, the Kongs, a pair of teenage hackers who break into the telephone company's computers and a streetwise African-American kid who goes by the name T.J. This kid has real spunk is a very likeable character I hope Block and Scudder keep around for a while. Other characters that have been in past novels are off to Ireland. Elaine, Scudder's, call-girl friend who he has had more than a passing interest in comes center stage as a lover. Read one Scudder novel is not unlike eating potato chips. You just can't read just one. I've got others sitting on my table waiting to be read.

Block has created one of the best serial mystery characters with Matt Scudder and this book is no exception to the series success. The reason behind this success is Block's easy writing style and his atmospheric descritions of New York. In this installment, after some reluctance, Scudder decides to take the case of drug dealer who's wife was kidnapped and killed. A dark, brooding book, it shows the seamier side of the world, but also gives us portraits of some interesting supporting characters.

Lawrence Block is at the top of his game here. The plot crackles with moral questions. Make no mistake about it this is a dark, brooding book but it is also fascinating. I honestly could not put the book down. Block excels in probing those grey areas of morality, his characters are real and we can easily sit long into the night wondering what we would do under their dire circumstances. Highly recommended but not for the faint of heart...