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A review by saareman
When the Sacred Ginmill Closes by Lawrence Block
5.0
Scudder Looks Back
Review of the LB Productions eBook (September 26, 2020) of the original Arbor House hardcover (1986).
Anecdotally, this novel is the top favourite Matthew Scudder book by Lawrence Block fans. That is slightly confirmed by its current GR rating of 4.17 which is a fraction of .01 or .02 greater than its closest contenders. I'm certainly not going to dispute that, and a 5-rating is the way to reinforce it.
The book is written as if it were a memoir by a now sober Scudder looking back at a case from his drinking days. Dating the events back to 1975 makes it a prequel to the first Scudder [b:The Sins of the Fathers|39507|The Sins of the Fathers (Matthew Scudder, #1)|Lawrence Block|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1408929959l/39507._SY75_.jpg|1593410] (1976). Unlike many series characters, Scudder ages in real time and current events are often noted in the plot.
The mournful tone of the book is reinforced by the constant referencing to the Dave Van Ronk song of the title (*Protip* Don't miss the backstory to the song at the link above). It is a Scudder looking back, perhaps with some nostalgia, to a time when he could still function despite his then two-fisted drinking. During the course of the novel he tackles three separate cases and they often have very noirish conclusions. There is a heist at an all-night speakeasy, a ransom demand and the murder of an associate's wife.
Front cover of the original 1986 Arbor House hardcover edition. Image sourced from Goodreads.
The cases come to a surprising conclusion with some unexpected crossovers. And justice is served, but not the kind that is obtained in a court of law. This was a strong return for Scudder after being retired by Block 4 years earlier. The series would now continue until 2023's [b:The Autobiography of Matthew Scudder|123263146|The Autobiography of Matthew Scudder|Lawrence Block|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1679087348l/123263146._SY75_.jpg|144637315]
Soundtrack
Used as the book's epigraph, the entire lyrics of Dave Van Ronk's Last Call are quoted in the book when Scudder's friend Keegan plays the record for him. You can hear the song on YouTube here or on Spotify here.
There is one other song mentioned (but not named) in the book:
From the description, this can only be Melanie Safka's Brand New Key which you can hear on YouTube here or on Spotify here.
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 such as this current eBook edition for When the Sacred Ginmill Closes.
Review of the LB Productions eBook (September 26, 2020) of the original Arbor House hardcover (1986).
And so we’ve had another night
Of poetry and poses
And each man knows he’ll be alone
When the sacred ginmill closes. - Excerpt from the song Last Call by Dave Van Ronk (1936-2002), used as the epigraph for this book.
Anecdotally, this novel is the top favourite Matthew Scudder book by Lawrence Block fans. That is slightly confirmed by its current GR rating of 4.17 which is a fraction of .01 or .02 greater than its closest contenders. I'm certainly not going to dispute that, and a 5-rating is the way to reinforce it.
The book is written as if it were a memoir by a now sober Scudder looking back at a case from his drinking days. Dating the events back to 1975 makes it a prequel to the first Scudder [b:The Sins of the Fathers|39507|The Sins of the Fathers (Matthew Scudder, #1)|Lawrence Block|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1408929959l/39507._SY75_.jpg|1593410] (1976). Unlike many series characters, Scudder ages in real time and current events are often noted in the plot.
The mournful tone of the book is reinforced by the constant referencing to the Dave Van Ronk song of the title (*Protip* Don't miss the backstory to the song at the link above). It is a Scudder looking back, perhaps with some nostalgia, to a time when he could still function despite his then two-fisted drinking. During the course of the novel he tackles three separate cases and they often have very noirish conclusions. There is a heist at an all-night speakeasy, a ransom demand and the murder of an associate's wife.
Front cover of the original 1986 Arbor House hardcover edition. Image sourced from Goodreads.
The cases come to a surprising conclusion with some unexpected crossovers. And justice is served, but not the kind that is obtained in a court of law. This was a strong return for Scudder after being retired by Block 4 years earlier. The series would now continue until 2023's [b:The Autobiography of Matthew Scudder|123263146|The Autobiography of Matthew Scudder|Lawrence Block|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1679087348l/123263146._SY75_.jpg|144637315]
Soundtrack
Used as the book's epigraph, the entire lyrics of Dave Van Ronk's Last Call are quoted in the book when Scudder's friend Keegan plays the record for him. You can hear the song on YouTube here or on Spotify here.
There is one other song mentioned (but not named) in the book:
On the jukebox, a girl sang about having a brand-new pair of roller skates. Her voice seemed to slip in between the notes and find sounds that weren’t on the scale.
From the description, this can only be Melanie Safka's Brand New Key which you can hear on YouTube here or on Spotify here.
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 such as this current eBook edition for When the Sacred Ginmill Closes.