Hookers...blackmail...murder...police corruption...S&M fetishes...politics...and lots...and lots...and LOTS of Welcome to another scintillating episode in the 80-proof life of New York's favorite unlicensed private detective.Lawrence Block's Matthew Scudder series is about as close to a sure thing as you're gonna find in the mystery/crime jurisdiction. Not only is Scudder one of the most exceptionally well-drawn characters populating the genre, but Block is adept at devising smart, attention-holding plots that keep you tuned in to the story's goings on.Here, Matt gets hired by a dirty cop turned whistleblower, who suddenly finds himself framed (?) for the murder of a fetish-specializing prostitute, whose clientele includes some of the city's most influential gentlemen. To solve the mystery and reach the end of this little drama, Scudder will have to wade through a sordid array of the smarmy, the sick, and the slimy. Good times for all. One of the aspects of these stories that I find really appealing is Matt's method of investigation. He doesn't Sherlock Holmes the crime scene or solve cases by knowing how to identify the 43 different kinds of tobacco ash. He's an unassuming "Columbo" type who just strolls around talking to people, usually while slugging bourbon, and gets by with a common sense knack for piecing things together. He’s smart, but not brilliant, and has a good grasp of human nature and an ability to recognize behavior patterns that people develop over time. However, as entertaining as Matt working the case is, what really makes this series so miss-resistant is the time Block devotes to showing us the "non case specific" aspects of Matt's life. Over the course of the first three novels, the reader has seen Matt as a fully realized human being, one who tries to do the right thing, but struggles with demons of his own. There is a level of intimacy that is not typically present in these kinds of stories. We care about Matt, we care about what he cares about, and this makes the events of the story significantly more impactful.Thus, the most compelling facet of the novel is Matt's continued devolution into becoming a serious alcoholic. From the opening pages of book 1 of the series, The Sins of the Fathers, Matt has been on a steady diet of bourbon and coffee, bourbon and beer, and bourbon and ice. Block, to his credit, has allowed Scudder's drinking to work its way into the story naturally, without fanfare, and we've seen Matt's problem steadily get worse. Now, we're finally seeing signs that Matt's drinking is in bloom and starting to impact his work. I left Kenny’s shortly after that. Then there’s a stretch of time I don’t remember clearly. I probably hit a bar or two. Eventually I found myself in the vestibule of Jerry Broadfield’s building on Barrow Street. I don’t know what led me there or why I thought I ought to be there. But it must have made some sort of sense to me at the time. A strip of celluloid popped the inner lock, and did the same job on the door to his apartment. Once inside his apartment, I locked the door and went around turning on lights, making myself at home. I found the bottle of bourbon and poured myself a drink, got a beer from the refrigerator for a chaser. I sat sipping bourbon and chasing it with beer. The casualness with which Block relays the above is just perfect and adds, in my opinion, to the power of the scene. Eventually, we finally have a character asking Matt the $64,000 question, and Matt's reply struck me as rather foresshadowy. 'Are you an aloholic?' 'Well, what’s an alcoholic? I suppose I drink enough alcohol to qualify. It doesn’t keep me from functioning. Yet. I suppose it will eventually.' 'Could you stop drinking? Or cut down?' 'Probably. If I had a reason.' I haven't read the subsequent novels yet, but I understand this issue will continue to evolve. Given my fondness for Matt and my thorough enjoyment of Block's storytelling, I intend to stick around to see what happens.I would HIGHLY RECOMMEND that you come along for the ride.4.0 stars.
Matt Scudder continues to impress and please me. He has become such a richly realized character, after only three short books, that I have a hard time believing he isn't living out his golden years somewhere (on or off the wagon -- haven't decided yet) with a lovely lady by his side or a scruffy Heinz 57 mutt to keep him company. The temptation to just plow ahead and read all the books in the series as fast as I can is a strong one. As soon as one case wraps up, I find myself immediately jonesing to check in with Scudder again to see what's up with him now. Each book brings a little more insight into his private life, and an update on the status of his on-going battles with booze and various other personal demons of guilt and self-loathing. Published in 1976, there is a real vibe of authentic '70s New York City, replete with seedy settings and gritty characters. Corruption is rife in the NYPD and Block's fictional account is written in the long shadow of the infamous Serpico case of 1971 giving these early Scudder books welcome depth. Sometimes I'm so wrapped up in the time and place I'm reading about, I want to walk out my front door, turn the corner, and get a drink at Armstrong's. This is vintage New York, and for anyone with a Big Apple fetish, it's the bee's knees baby, I'm telling you.I wasn't too crazy about the mystery this time around, what really got me is the way Block makes it all about something else anyway and it's in the little touches (view spoiler)[the way Scudder keeps calling the murder victim's phone to hear her voice, the way Scudder makes a connection with his client's wife to the point where he even cuts back his drinking (for a day). His return to the bottle when this "might have been" opportunity is lost struck me as sharply poignant. Although, truth be told, this lady did nothing for me and did not seem like a good match for our guy so part of me was very relieved. (hide spoiler)]
What do You think about In The Midst Of Death (2002)?
Lawrence Block created a character that I have grown so fond of, Matthew Scudder even though this is only the second book in the series that I’ve read.An ex NYC cop (is there ever one?) he’s an un-licensed PI because being a licensed PI requires paperwork, reports, and reporting income to the IRS. He would rather do ‘favors’ for friends (or perhaps acquaintances) for ‘gifts’ from same.In The Midst of Death we learn a little more about Matt and his relationship with the NYPD, his character (what makes him tick) and his moral values. He does not draw a fine line between what’s right and what’s wrong and seems to be less judgmental than folks around him. (I’m trying hard to not think of other protagonists such as Dismas Hardy or Dave Robicheaux who have their own personal and different, maybe, moral codes. But it’s hard not to keep them away,in my mind, from Matt.) Regarding moral codes, you won't find any Stephanie Plum's on my reading list; well, maybe one or two during my experimental stage. Not sure she knows there is such a thing as moral code. And not doing any SP bashing, here. Different strokes for different folks and as long as you're reading, good for you! Published in 1976, the quick read doesn’t seem dated except Matt’s always using dimes in the phone booths. Doesn’t bother me a whit though. If you haven’t read Lawrence Block, put him down to-read if you enjoy an easy, enjoyable book or short story. He uses descriptive phrases such as: with a mouth with lines on either side that look like parenthesis; sorry, paraphrasing there, he said it much better. He creates a great plots and subplots that don't let you get bogged down. And he writes clean and easy. How I love clean writing. Must insert one of my favorite quotes by Nathaniel Hawthorne, "Easy reading is damn hard writing."The ending of this book was particularly surprising to me and a little disappointing. Not the writing, of course, just the ending. I’m always rooting for Matt in the hope that he’ll do himself a favor and ease up on his drinking and stop punishing himself for past experiences. But, if he did that, then I would have such a great reading experience. I love fallen characters. Always hoping they will find a way to better themselves and only want the best for this ‘sweet man’ Matt Scudder. (Oh my, sounds like I’m talking about a real live, heart beating, flesh and blood person. Block’s writing does that to me.)
—Cathy DuPont
After hemming and hawing about whether to start Block's Matthew Scudder series, I finally read one of the books. Granted, I was unable to read the first in the series, but IN THE MIDST OF DEATH doesn't require that the first one be read to enjoy the story. Block does a wonderful job of painting the portrait of Matthew Scudder, ex-cop turned PI who has a drinking problem, self-worth issues, two sons that he rarely sees, and a world outlook that might best be described as misanthropic. But Scudder cares; he only shows it when he wants to and in almost awkward gestures. The premise of the novel is as follows: Jerry Broadfield is a cop who wants to turn whistle blower; but his aim is not to stop the corruption within the NYPD, rather, his goal is to reap the benefits of fame and fortune. He's not a valiant type of guy: he's been known to "hunt" for a bribe or two, and his desires of the flesh extend beyond the touch of his wife. When he is accused with the murder of a prostitute that he may or may not have been extorting, Scudder is hired to clear his name. In what would have been a straight murder mystery with other writers, Block changes this, does things his way. The murder mystery takes a backseat to the journey Scudder has to go on to make the pieces fall together. Block is able to give the reader the right amount of detail without overwhelming, but at the same time, the amount of detail never seems rushed or ignored. As Michael Connelly states in praise of Block’s skills: “[Block] makes storytelling look so effortless, which in fact is the hardest thing to pull off.” I couldn’t agree more. In what appears to be a sparsely written crime novel is actually a multilayered story packed with human emotion and insight. (Thanks to Dan and Kemper for this wonderful recommendation.)Best line: "What the hell is a toilet slave?" HIGHLY RECOMMENDED
—TK421
This time around, Scudder's in the cups while dealing with dead hookers, corrupt cops and (view spoiler)[people who will do anything for a book deal (hide spoiler)]
—Mara
