Pamela M. (Pyan) reviewed A Walk Among the Tombstones (Matthew Scudder, Bk 10) on + 106 more book reviews
In "Tombstones," a drug dealer whose wife was kidnapped and hideously murdered hires Scudder to track down the perpetrators. Scudder quickly discovers that the deed was the work of a team of serial killers who have decided to turn their "fun" into profit. Like most novels in the Scudder series, this one is dark and obssessed with death. It seems that even as the alcoholic Scudder gets more of a firm handle on his sobriety and his life, his cases get uglier.
Helen K. (Billie-K) reviewed A Walk Among the Tombstones (Matthew Scudder, Bk 10) on + 459 more book reviews
SYNOPSIS
A new breed of entrepreneurial monster has set up shop in the big city. Ruthless, ingenious murderers, they prey on the loved ones of those who live outside the lawknowing full well that criminals will never run to the police no matter how brutal the threat. So other avenues for justice must be exploredwhich is where ex-cop-turned-p.i. Matthew Scudder comes in. Scudder has no love for the drug dealers and poison peddlers who now need his help. Nevertheless, he is determined to do whatever it takes to put an elusive pair of thrill-kill extortionists out of business. For they are using the innocent to fuel their terrible enterprise.
A new breed of entrepreneurial monster has set up shop in the big city. Ruthless, ingenious murderers, they prey on the loved ones of those who live outside the lawknowing full well that criminals will never run to the police no matter how brutal the threat. So other avenues for justice must be exploredwhich is where ex-cop-turned-p.i. Matthew Scudder comes in. Scudder has no love for the drug dealers and poison peddlers who now need his help. Nevertheless, he is determined to do whatever it takes to put an elusive pair of thrill-kill extortionists out of business. For they are using the innocent to fuel their terrible enterprise.
April D. (knittymama) reviewed A Walk Among the Tombstones (Matthew Scudder, Bk 10) on + 424 more book reviews
A woman is kidnapped. Her husband is a heroin dealer. He responds to the kidnappers demands and pays to get her back..in pieces. Ex-cop Matthew Scudder must try to save her. Exciting, ruthess, suspenseful.
A stunningly resourceful brand of criminal has recently set up shop in the big city; an ingenious breed of human predators who victimize the loved ones of those who live outside the law. These sadistic extortionists have certainly chosen their victims wisely; knowing that criminals will never run to the police, no matter how brutal the threat. As a result, these vicious monsters have consistently been able to get away with their nefarious business.
On a Thursday morning in late March, Francine Khoury leaves her home to run some errands. Hours later, her heroin-dealing husband Kenan receives a mysterious phone call demanding a hefty ransom for Francine's safe return. Despite following all of the caller's instructions - including delivering payment - Kenan is devastated by the discovery of his wife's mutilated body in the trunk of a car.
Desperate to bring his wife's sadistic murderers to justice, Kenan knows that he can't turn to the police for help. Instead, he explores alternative avenues for justice: which is where Matthew Scudder comes in. Matthew Scudder - ex-cop turned private eye - has absolutely no love for the drug dealers and glorified poison peddlers who have now come to him for help. However, Matt's personal aversion to Kenan Khoury's shady lifestyle in no way lessens the private investigator's sorrow for the man's horrific loss.
Matthew Scudder, private eye, will do whatever it takes to bring these perpetrators to justice - because they are using the innocent to fuel their diabolical schemes. He is determined to find the elusive extortionists and put them out of business permanently. Before another drop of innocent blood is spilled.
First of all, let me say that I had initially wanted to read this book after seeing advertisements for the 2014 film adaptation starring Liam Neeson. I may never actually see the movie, but the book was definitely worth the wait to read. In my opinion, while the plot dealt with some seriously dark issues, it was still remarkably realistic. Although parts of the story were difficult for me to read because of some graphically violent passages, I still enjoyed the book very much. I would give this book an A+!
On a Thursday morning in late March, Francine Khoury leaves her home to run some errands. Hours later, her heroin-dealing husband Kenan receives a mysterious phone call demanding a hefty ransom for Francine's safe return. Despite following all of the caller's instructions - including delivering payment - Kenan is devastated by the discovery of his wife's mutilated body in the trunk of a car.
Desperate to bring his wife's sadistic murderers to justice, Kenan knows that he can't turn to the police for help. Instead, he explores alternative avenues for justice: which is where Matthew Scudder comes in. Matthew Scudder - ex-cop turned private eye - has absolutely no love for the drug dealers and glorified poison peddlers who have now come to him for help. However, Matt's personal aversion to Kenan Khoury's shady lifestyle in no way lessens the private investigator's sorrow for the man's horrific loss.
Matthew Scudder, private eye, will do whatever it takes to bring these perpetrators to justice - because they are using the innocent to fuel their diabolical schemes. He is determined to find the elusive extortionists and put them out of business permanently. Before another drop of innocent blood is spilled.
First of all, let me say that I had initially wanted to read this book after seeing advertisements for the 2014 film adaptation starring Liam Neeson. I may never actually see the movie, but the book was definitely worth the wait to read. In my opinion, while the plot dealt with some seriously dark issues, it was still remarkably realistic. Although parts of the story were difficult for me to read because of some graphically violent passages, I still enjoyed the book very much. I would give this book an A+!
Thomas F. (hardtack) -
This series deals with a lot of graphic, vicious crimes. I'm not sure why Block goes there, as he doesn't usually write this way in his other series. If that type of description bothers you, it's probably best to skip this series. Still, the story of how Scudder solves the crimes is interesting.
I've gotten so I've been skipping to the back of the books to see what happens so I can feel less tension while I'm reading them. If I wasn't a Block fan I'd probably not read this series. Plus, it doesn't help that I have seven more books in this series sitting in a pile at my house.
I've gotten so I've been skipping to the back of the books to see what happens so I can feel less tension while I'm reading them. If I wasn't a Block fan I'd probably not read this series. Plus, it doesn't help that I have seven more books in this series sitting in a pile at my house.
Frank H. (perryfran) reviewed A Walk Among the Tombstones (Matthew Scudder, Bk 10) on + 1223 more book reviews
Hardcore-gritty-thriller from Block. I read this one because there is a new movie version of it that was just released starring Liam Neeson. Not sure the movie will live up to the book (they rarely do) because I thought this was an outstanding outing for Matt Scudder. I have read a few other Scudder books (most recently In The Midst of Death) and I have to say this is probably the best so far. In this one, Scudder is called in to try to locate a pair of sex killers who kidnapped a drug dealer's wife and then after receiving the ransom, sexually mutilated and killed her. Scudder has little to go on but with the help of a street-smart kid, TJ, a couple of young phone hackers, the Kong brothers, and piecing together other similar crimes, he is able to get to the bottom of who the killers are. The novel is very graphic in describing the sex mutilations of the killers and overall an engrossing read. This book was written in 1992 and does show its age in some ways. For example, there was no caller ID which could have aided in identifying the killers and computer hackers were relatively unknown! Even given this, I would highly recommend this one and will be looking forward to the movie.
Judith C. (craftsgranny) reviewed A Walk Among the Tombstones (Matthew Scudder, Bk 10) on + 200 more book reviews
A new breed of entrepreneurial monster has setup shop in the big city-ruthless,sadistic,ingenious butchers who prey on the loved ones of those living outside the law. Matthew Scudder has no love for the poison peddlers-but drug dealers can't turn to the police for help. It falls to the unlicensed excop-turned p.i.to put the thrill-kill extortionists out of business.
Stephen P. (thelad48) reviewed A Walk Among the Tombstones (Matthew Scudder, Bk 10) on + 495 more book reviews
classic Matt Scudder
