Reviewed By: Harriet Klausner
Everybody Dies
Amazon US PB Amazon Canada PB
Lawrence Block
Class/Genre: Mystery
Series: Matthew Scudder # 14
Morrow, Oct 1998, $25.00, 292 pp.
Gracefully adapting to a more mellow lifestyle, Matthew Scudder is happily married to Elaine Mardell and finally licensed as a private investigator. Long time friendships remain important and Matthew soon finds himself helping mobster Mick Ballou bury two of his thugs, who were recently murdered.
If that was all he had to do, Matthew could continue his new respectable life. However, the killers of Ballou's henchmen have the big gun targeted for removal. Since Matthew has assisted Mick, he too has become a potential victim. With no places to turn for help, Mick and Matthew join forces in a last stand against a personal vendetta that makes the OK Corral seem like child's play as very few will leave the battle alive.
In the fourteenth Scudder novel, Lawrence Block provides a fresh perspective as Matthew has fully cleaned up his act. However, personal integrity in terms of friendship compels Matthew to risk all the respectability he has recently gained. This and the underlying theme that death is the final absolute turns EVERBODY DIES into one of the series best entries. The characters are wonderful and witty, adding a needed comic relief to the consistent feel of impending tragedy. A must read for fans of the series and anyone who enjoys a bloody New York non-stop action tale.
Harriet Klausner
Reprinted with permission. Do Not repost without permission from the author, Harriet Klausner
If you enjoy this website, a link would be appreciated. |