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Loading... The Devil Knows You're Dead (Matthew Scudder) (original 1993; edition 2002)by Lawrence Block (Author)
Work InformationThe Devil Knows You're Dead by Lawrence Block (1993)
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Sign up for LibraryThing to find out whether you'll like this book. No current Talk conversations about this book. Took awhile to get going, interesting the social commentary is the same 30 years later ( ) "The Devil Knows You're Dead" is the eleventh of the seventeen Scudder novels and, like the other books in the series, it is an excellent piece of fiction. Scudder is a detective unlike any other written about in mystery fiction. He's a former NYPD detective, who lost the taste for the work after a bystander who was all of seven years old gets killed by a stray bullet. At the beginning of the series, Scudder lives in a rundown hotel and drinks himself to oblivion in NY's Hell's Kitchen. By this time, he has passed through rock bottom, attended more 12-step meetings than anyone can imagine, and surprisingly finds himself in a long term relationship with a former call girl whose life he saved from a homicidal psychopath. A lawyer who Scudder knew casually is shot to death at a pay phone around the corner and a homeless Vietnam Vet with the shell casings in his pocket is arrested. The suspect's brother tracks Scudder down and asks him to look into it, because the homeless brother is crazy, but not violent. Without much to go on, Scudder methodically chases down tiny little clues and theories, finding a lot that doesn't make sense. Meanwhile, Scudder's relationship with Elaine goes through a difficult, strained phase. This book is as much about the ongoing development of Scudder's character as it is about the mystery. This story has an execution style murder, a planned suicide, a mysterious locked box, a sexy widow, old flames reappearing, and strange discrepancies in someone's past. It is a great novel and well worth reading. Another fun episode in the Matthew Scudder series. At first, I was disappointed in the mystery. It seemed like such a let down. But, Lawrence Block twisted the ending and left me with the fun surprise I have come to love with his writing. I also loved the twists and turns in Matthew's personal life in this episode. I liked the way that part of the story ended as well. no reviews | add a review
Belongs to SeriesMatthew Scudder (11) AwardsDistinctions
A deranged derelict, a crazed Vietnam vet, has been arrested for gunning down successful young lawyer Glenn Holtzmann at a corner phone booth on Eleventh Avenue -- and the suspect's brother wants p.i. Matthew Scudder to prove the madman innocent. But Scudder's curiosity and dedication are leading him to dark, unexplored places in his own heart...and to passions and secrets that could destroy everything be loves. No library descriptions found. |
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Google Books — Loading... GenresMelvil Decimal System (DDC)813.54Literature English (North America) American fiction 20th Century 1945-1999LC ClassificationRatingAverage:
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