Writer - Lawrence Block
Series - Matthew Scudder #1
Published By - Orion Books
I have heard a lot of good things about the writing of 'Lawrence Block', but sadly the one book I read from him didn't really impress me much. And yet, I keep hearing people praising him so much. So I finally decided to check out his most famous and loved character. And finally I see what the hype is about. Matthew Scudder is a character who is very unique and the author details his personality brilliantly in the first novel of the series.
A pretty young girl is butchered in her Greenwich Village apartment, who the reporters identified as a call girl. The prime suspect is a minister's son, who is found dead in his jail cell and as far the NYPD is concerned the case is closed. Enters, Matt Scudder, an ex-cop,who is persuaded to look into the case by the dead girl's father, to find out about the girl's past. And the deeper he delves the more complicated this seemingly simple murder case becomes.
The actual plot and the twists might seem a bit predictable at times to seasoned readers of crime pulp, but then again, pulp to me is all about execution. And here, the author executes all the plot-points and various twists and turns flawlessly. This is a brilliantly paced novel, which manages to tell a story almost perfectly in such a short length. Scudder investigates in his unusual method while dealing justice in his own way as well, while taking the readers on the ride of this emotional roller-coaster with him every step of the way.
Once again, I would like to talk about Lawrence Block's strength at creating and detailing characters, whether positive or negative, he attempts to give the readers a glimpse into the psyche of his creations. Scudder seems way simpler at first glance, but there is a hidden depth in him and the sudden mood swings keep the readers guessing what he might try next. Both the aforementioned fathers are also given the spotlight and Block gets them his special treatment as well to make them shine in their specific roles. I would have loved to learn a bit more about some of the side characters and hopefully the next books in the series will give me the chance to do so.
Without spoiling anything further I would just like to say that if you are a lover of crime pulp, or even of mystery or thriller, you should this 'gem' a try. This book might have some weaknesses and does contain some predictable noir twists, it is also the beginning of one of the best noir fiction series' ever.
4 out of 5 Stars from me.
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