Karen S. (CacaoBear) reviewed on 5/18/2025 + 92 more book reviews

I grew up reading Lawrence Block, and only stopped reading the Matthew Scudder novels when he took a decidedly darker turn around book #9 & #10. But I eventually got past those and I'm happy to say that this book was pretty darned good!! Matt Scudder is a retired police detective, a recovering alcoholic, and an unlicensed private investigator. He is an eminently flawed character, which makes him absolutely real. I'm not saying I'd like to hang out with him - he's a little too glum for me - but he makes for great reading. In A long Line of Dead Men, there is a club formed of 31 gentlemen, and the whole purpose of the club is too meet one day each year and remember those members who have passed. When there is only one member remaining, he selects 30 new members from a younger generation, and the whole thing starts anew. One day, one of the club's members approaches Matt with some concerns. It seems that the current roster of members is dying off at an alarming rate - some homicides, some suicides, some accidents - and Matt is tasked with determining if there is something sinister in the works. This is a fabulous vehicle for character studies - 30 men who really don't know each other all that well, and they must face the possibility that one of them is much more than what he seems. I'm afraid I figured out what was going on before Matt did, but that didn't detract from my enjoyment of the story. It posed an interesting conundrum: how to resolve the situation. And I'll admit that I didn't see the resolution coming. This is a mystery of the best kind - not a silly cozy, not a gory thriller - it's a combination whodunnit/whydunnit. It's crafty and detailed, engaging and thought-provoking. That's a LOT to ask from a mystery novel. Recommended.

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