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A review by saareman
The Devil Knows You're Dead by Lawrence Block
4.0
Scudder Astray
A review of the LB Productions eBook (October 4, 2020) of the original William Morrow & Co. hardcover (1993).
The case seems almost beside the point in this 11th Matthew Scudder investigation. A lawyer is mysteriously shot while making a call in a phone booth. A mentally troubled man is arrested for the crime due to being in the vicinity and even confesses to the crime. His brother hires Scudder to attempt to prove his innocence. Scudder meets with the widow and even begins an affair with her.
As with most in the latter parts of this series, Scudder's continued AA attendance and meetings with his sponsor take up a lot of the proceedings. His relationship with girlfriend Elaine seems to be rocky as he hovers over commitment. Ex-girlfriend Jan has a fatal medical diagnosis and asks Scudder to help her commit suicide. Scudder continues to tempt fate and regularly sits with Irish gangster friend Mick Ballou in overnight sessions (although only drinking coffee or soda) in Ballou's bar before attending the butcher's mass in the early morning.
The investigation resolves in an odd way and proves to have been a case of mistaken identity, adding to the haphazard nihilistic aura. But Scudder continues to fascinate as a character and I continue to enjoy these re-reads 30+ years later.
The front cover of the original 1993 William Morrow & Co. hardcover edition. Image sourced from Goodreads.
Trivia and Links
I read a considerable number of Lawrence Block books in my pre-GR and pre-reviewing days. Probably 40 or so out of the 100+ that are available. That included all of the Matt Scudder books, several of the Bernie Rhodenbarrs, several of the Evan Tanners, several of the John Kellers, a dozen or so standalones and some of the memoirs. There were even a few of the earlier pulp novels which were originally published under pseudonyms. This re-read is a look back at some of those.
Lawrence Block (June 24, 1938 - ) considers himself retired these days, but still maintains an occasional newsletter with the latest issued in August 2024. He self-publishes some of his earlier works which have otherwise gone out of print, using his own LB Productions imprint. This current eBook edition of The Devil Knows You're Dead is one of those.
A review of the LB Productions eBook (October 4, 2020) of the original William Morrow & Co. hardcover (1993).
May the road rise to meet you
May the wind be always at your back
May you be in heaven an hour before
The Devil knows you're dead. - An Irish Blessing, the epigraph used for "The Devil Knows You're Dead."
The case seems almost beside the point in this 11th Matthew Scudder investigation. A lawyer is mysteriously shot while making a call in a phone booth. A mentally troubled man is arrested for the crime due to being in the vicinity and even confesses to the crime. His brother hires Scudder to attempt to prove his innocence. Scudder meets with the widow and even begins an affair with her.
As with most in the latter parts of this series, Scudder's continued AA attendance and meetings with his sponsor take up a lot of the proceedings. His relationship with girlfriend Elaine seems to be rocky as he hovers over commitment. Ex-girlfriend Jan has a fatal medical diagnosis and asks Scudder to help her commit suicide. Scudder continues to tempt fate and regularly sits with Irish gangster friend Mick Ballou in overnight sessions (although only drinking coffee or soda) in Ballou's bar before attending the butcher's mass in the early morning.
The investigation resolves in an odd way and proves to have been a case of mistaken identity, adding to the haphazard nihilistic aura. But Scudder continues to fascinate as a character and I continue to enjoy these re-reads 30+ years later.
He wasn’t hitting the Jameson bottle very hard, just topping up his glass often enough to keep from losing that edge. It was maintenance drinking, and I remembered it well; I had done my own share of it, until life took me to a point where maintaining was no longer possible because the traitorous booze would get me drunk before it would let me get comfortable.
The front cover of the original 1993 William Morrow & Co. hardcover edition. Image sourced from Goodreads.
Trivia and Links
I read a considerable number of Lawrence Block books in my pre-GR and pre-reviewing days. Probably 40 or so out of the 100+ that are available. That included all of the Matt Scudder books, several of the Bernie Rhodenbarrs, several of the Evan Tanners, several of the John Kellers, a dozen or so standalones and some of the memoirs. There were even a few of the earlier pulp novels which were originally published under pseudonyms. This re-read is a look back at some of those.
Lawrence Block (June 24, 1938 - ) considers himself retired these days, but still maintains an occasional newsletter with the latest issued in August 2024. He self-publishes some of his earlier works which have otherwise gone out of print, using his own LB Productions imprint. This current eBook edition of The Devil Knows You're Dead is one of those.