A Walk Among The Tombstones
-
-
4.0 • 11 Ratings
-
-
- $12.99
-
- $12.99
Publisher Description
A brilliant, fast-paced thriller from 'a flat out entertainer' Daily Telegraph
Also a major film starring Liam Neeson, Dan Stevens and Ruth Wilson - now available on Netflix
Kenan Khoury's wife never returned from her shopping trip - at least, not alive. A ransom is demanded and paid; and his wife is duly returned to him - in small pieces in the boot of an abandoned car. But as Khoury's wealth has not come entirely honestly, he can't go to the police.
PI Matt Scudder is left to speculate on the motives of a very unusual kidnapper. And soon he is on the trail of a pair of ruthlessly sadistic psychopaths whose cruel games have only just begun...
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
Despite their dark titles (the words Slaughterhouse and Boneyard figured in the previous two), Block's splendid, award-winning Matt Scudder novels are by no means unrelievedly bleak. His latest-as well as offering the customary skillful plotting, adroit pacing and sure sense of New York character-features a wry humor all its own, along with a particularly ingratiating and convincing pair of computer hackers. The premise is grim, certainly: a pair of men who prey murderously on women progress to kidnapping the womenfolk of drug dealers and demanding huge ransoms. Former alcoholic PI Scudder-now going to more AA meetings than ever-reluctantly agrees to help one dealer, a Lebanese, after his wife is killed by the kidnappers. Slowly and methodically he discerns a pattern in the mayhem. With the help of his erstwhile police colleagues, his black Times Square sidekick TJ and his call-girl sweetheart, Elaine, Scudder tightens the net on the culprits. When they seize the daughter of a Russian dealer, he is ready for the showdown. Block isn't big on action, though when it comes it is swift, vivid and horribly convincing; his Scudder books are built on character, atmosphere, crackling dialogue and a great deal of brooding-the taste for them is addictive. An equal of Elmore Monard and Robert Parker, Block deserves similar acclaim. Author tour.
Customer Reviews
JUST ANOTHER ALK TINE CLASSIC!!!!!!!!
By immersing myself in this fantastic novel, I finally get the chance to return to the universe in which my reading became serious. The Matthew Scudder series by arguably the genre's finest ever contributor, Lawrence Block. If you are new to Matthew Scudder, you owe it to yourself to read them in order. I know that is a big ask but the effort will be worth it.
Now on to the book...
The reader suspects that something nasty is bound to happen to Mrs Francine Khoury as soon as the blue van starts its engine and begins to follow the Toyota Camry to the supermarket. Camry's don't get followed by blue vans in order to hand out public duty salutations. Mr Block's writing style, even from the beginning of the book - is so well crafted and finely tuned that suspense and even terror start to build up in the stomach of the reader as you progress from page one. Two stories are developing, running like express trains on parallel tracks - one featuring Francine Khoury, blissfully unaware of the horrible fate that is about to visited upon here, and the other story focuses on our man Scud as he enjoys an evening date with girlfriend Elaine. Even Scudder feels a coming tempest in his guts, in the air he breathes and even the sight of the moon in the sky above New York City feels wrong. Of course these two separate trains are destined to collide and that is when the s*** really hits the fan.
Mr Block's writing skills have always been above question. His genius lies in his ability to tell stories and create characters that resonate with the world and lives that we all lead. Characters from one book often reappear in later books as fan favourites and are sometimes used as cornerstones from which the plot evolves. Emotional attachment is therefore a given. We see the flaws of Scudder and as each book finishes we can revel in his success and growth toward salvation and redemption.
I feel that with the Scudder series, Mr Block has created yet another sub-genre within the mystery field. New-age Noir. Each book is dark, gritty, realistic and sometimes very violent expressions of life in one of the most dangerous cities on the planet. Phillip Marlowe has evolved and extrapolated into a 20th century super hero. Throughout the series, Scudder has managed to grow and evolve but has retained some flaws and therefore his humanity. His ability to resonate with the readers and fans of the series has never been stronger than it is here and the legend of The Scud will only grow to become a classic series of must read novels that will live on forever.
BFN Greggorio!