The Devil Knows You're Dead (Matthew Scudder) (original 1993; edición 2002)

yuppie lawyer with mysterious lifestyle killed in error, Matt fears Mike may have done it, decides to marry Elaine

The detective part of this was sort of secondary to advancing the more soap opera bits of Scudder's life. So one out of eleven books is kind of a dud. That's a pretty good record. Still a good porch book. ( )

"The Devil Knows You're Dead" is the eleventh of the seventeen Scudder novels and, like the other books in the series, it is an excellent piece of fiction. Scudder is a detective unlike any other written about in mystery fiction. He's a former NYPD detective, who lost the taste for the work after a bystander who was all of seven years old gets killed by a stray bullet. At the beginning of the series, Scudder lives in a rundown hotel and drinks himself to oblivion in NY's Hell's Kitchen. By this time, he has passed through rock bottom, attended more 12-step meetings than anyone can imagine, and surprisingly finds himself in a long term relationship with a former call girl whose life he saved from a homicidal psychopath.

A lawyer who Scudder knew casually is shot to death at a pay phone around the corner and a homeless Vietnam Vet with the shell casings in his pocket is arrested. The suspect's brother tracks Scudder down and asks him to look into it, because the homeless brother is crazy, but not violent. Without much to go on, Scudder methodically chases down tiny little clues and theories, finding a lot that doesn't make sense. Meanwhile, Scudder's relationship with Elaine goes through a difficult, strained phase.

This book is as much about the ongoing development of Scudder's character as it is about the mystery.
This story has an execution style murder, a planned suicide, a mysterious locked box, a sexy widow, old flames reappearing, and strange discrepancies in someone's past.
It is a great novel and well worth reading. ( )

Another fun episode in the Matthew Scudder series.  At first, I was disappointed in the mystery.  It seemed like such a let down.  But, Lawrence Block twisted the ending and left me with the fun surprise I have come to love with his writing.  I also loved the twists and turns in Matthew's personal life in this episode.  I liked the way that part of the story ended as well. ( )

I just haven't been able to get into the Matt Scudder character and this book didn't help. Way too much whining about AA and his need for a drink, and then his cheating on his girlfriend even as he makes plans to live with her. What a jerk. The plot was OK, but didn't overcome the significant character flaws. I just didn't like any of them except for the dying ex-girlfriend. ( )