Helpful Score: 1
Great Scudder book, would recommend to anyone who likes detective fiction. More layers of story in this one.
Helpful Score: 1
Great Scudder novel!
Frank H. (perryfran) reviewed A Stab in the Dark (Matthew Scudder, Bk 4) on + 1180 more book reviews
Another great entry in the Matthew Scudder series. I've been reading these in no particular order over the last few years. This is an early entry in the series with Scudder still struggling with his alcoholism even though he won't admit it. "I can quit whenever I want!"
Scudder is hired by a man who wants him to try to find out who actually killed his daughter nine years previously. A psycho has been arrested who admits to killing seven women using an ice-pick nine years ago but the last victim, Barbara Ettinger, he swears was a copycat killing that he had nothing to do with and he has an alibi to back this up. So Barbara's father wants Scudder to find out the truth. But the truth may not be what the father really wants. Was his daughter having an affair that could have led to her death? What about her husband...could he have killed her? Or is it another psycho waiting to kill again? Scudder agrees to look into the murder with little hope of success. He pounds the pavement, interviews anyone who may have information about the case, and stops at bar after bar along the way.
This was really an engaging read with several unexpected twists and turns. It paints a very good picture of Scudder and his life living alone with only a bottle for companionship. He does meet a woman who shares some of his tendencies but can their relationship survive the hangovers? I really enjoy this series by Block and luckily I still have several yet to read. Can't wait!
Scudder is hired by a man who wants him to try to find out who actually killed his daughter nine years previously. A psycho has been arrested who admits to killing seven women using an ice-pick nine years ago but the last victim, Barbara Ettinger, he swears was a copycat killing that he had nothing to do with and he has an alibi to back this up. So Barbara's father wants Scudder to find out the truth. But the truth may not be what the father really wants. Was his daughter having an affair that could have led to her death? What about her husband...could he have killed her? Or is it another psycho waiting to kill again? Scudder agrees to look into the murder with little hope of success. He pounds the pavement, interviews anyone who may have information about the case, and stops at bar after bar along the way.
This was really an engaging read with several unexpected twists and turns. It paints a very good picture of Scudder and his life living alone with only a bottle for companionship. He does meet a woman who shares some of his tendencies but can their relationship survive the hangovers? I really enjoy this series by Block and luckily I still have several yet to read. Can't wait!
pretty good book
Thomas F. (hardtack) -
This is the fourth book in the series. And I am learning not to try to guess who the killer is among the characters Block introduces to us in the early chapters. I haven't been right yet, or even had enough suspicion to guess.
In this book, Matthew is beginning to suspect his drinking is a bigger problem than he previously suspected.
In this book, Matthew is beginning to suspect his drinking is a bigger problem than he previously suspected.
Stephen P. (thelad48) reviewed A Stab in the Dark (Matthew Scudder, Bk 4) on + 495 more book reviews
One of the early Scudder books.
Nine long yeras have passed since the killer last struck - nine years since eight helpless young women were hideously slaughtered by an icepick-wielding fiend. But now ex-cop Matthew Scudder has been hired to finally bring victim Barbara Ettinger's slayer to justice -- setting the relentless manhunter on a bloody trail of death almost a decade cold, searching for a psycho who's either long gone, long dead....or patiently waiting to kill again.
Lawrence Block's view of New York in the 70's is fascinating and authentic. His characters, settings and plots broke new ground when they were written and are just as vital today. Matthew Scudder is a wonderfully complex hero, and this book, which introduces Matt to Jan Keane, laid the groundwork for all the changes in Matt's life in books to come.
