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A review by saareman
Time to Murder and Create by Lawrence Block
4.0
Scudder's Choice
Review of the William Morrow eBook (October 13, 2009) of the original Dell paperback (1976).
Time to Murder and Create finds alcoholic ex-cop Matthew Scudder fulfilling a promise to a some-time colleague, the informer/blackmailer "Spinner" Jablon. Jablon entrusted Scudder with an envelope to be opened in the event of his death. It contains his blackmail material on three victims and a fee for Scudder. Accepting the assignment means finding the murderer and giving the other two a pass.
In order to find the culprit, Scudder adopts the persona of a blackmailer who has inherited Jablon's hoard and who plans to continue the squeeze. This makes him yet another potential target for the guilty one of the three desperate victims. But which one is it and will Scudder survive long enough to solve the case?
Front cover of the original 1976 Dell paperback edition. Image sourced from Goodreads.
This was again an excellent early outing for Block's anti-hero un-official investigator who has no licence and works on the basis of doing "favours" for cash. The descent into alcoholism continues with a steady intake of bourbon. This won't be relieved until several books into the series when Scudder goes to his first AA meeting. Remarkably he still manages to function, even though his instincts at times fail him, with others suffering the consequences.
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 that have otherwise gone out of print, using his own LB Productions imprint.
Review of the William Morrow eBook (October 13, 2009) of the original Dell paperback (1976).
There will be time, there will be time
To prepare a face to meet the faces that you meet;
There will be time to murder and create. - excerpt from [b:The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock and Other Poems|118389|The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock and Other Poems|T.S. Eliot|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1229242079l/118389._SX50_.jpg|1800811] by [a:T.S. Eliot|18540|T.S. Eliot|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1612500008p2/18540.jpg].
Time to Murder and Create finds alcoholic ex-cop Matthew Scudder fulfilling a promise to a some-time colleague, the informer/blackmailer "Spinner" Jablon. Jablon entrusted Scudder with an envelope to be opened in the event of his death. It contains his blackmail material on three victims and a fee for Scudder. Accepting the assignment means finding the murderer and giving the other two a pass.
In order to find the culprit, Scudder adopts the persona of a blackmailer who has inherited Jablon's hoard and who plans to continue the squeeze. This makes him yet another potential target for the guilty one of the three desperate victims. But which one is it and will Scudder survive long enough to solve the case?
Front cover of the original 1976 Dell paperback edition. Image sourced from Goodreads.
This was again an excellent early outing for Block's anti-hero un-official investigator who has no licence and works on the basis of doing "favours" for cash. The descent into alcoholism continues with a steady intake of bourbon. This won't be relieved until several books into the series when Scudder goes to his first AA meeting. Remarkably he still manages to function, even though his instincts at times fail him, with others suffering the consequences.
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 that have otherwise gone out of print, using his own LB Productions imprint.