BOOKS BY LAWRENCE BLOCK
They’ve been coming at you relentlessly since 1961. Here’s
a rundown on the complete works, with the titles of each series
listed in chronological order, along with info on what’s in
print and what’s not.
THE MATTHEW SCUDDER NOVELS
In the early books, he’s an angst-ridden hard-drinking ex-cop
and unlicensed private eye. In later books he’s sober. He’s
twenty-five years older than when I first started writing about
him, and he’s gone through changes, even as you and I. Remember
what Eubie Blake said on his 100th birthday? "if I’d known
I was going to last this long I’d have taken better care of
myself."
NEWS FLASH!
 This
sixteenth novel takes the series to a new level of suspense and a
new depth of characterization. Scudder finds himself at the very
edge of the abyss. A man in a Virginia prison awaits execution for
three hideous murders he swears—in the face of irrefutable
evidence—he did not commit.
 A psychologist who claims to believe the
convict spends hours with the man in his death row cell, and
ultimately watches in the gallery as the lethal injection is
administered. His work completed, the psychologist heads back to New
York City to attend to unfinished business. Meanwhile, Scudder
agrees to investigate the suspicious on-line lover of an
acquaintance. It seems simple enough. At first. But when people
start dying and the victims are increasingly closer to home, it
becomes clear that a vicious killer is at work. And the final
targets may be Matt and Elaine Scudder.
To read an excerpt or peruse the reviews,
click here!
Other books in the Matthew
Scudder Series:
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THE
SINS OF THE FATHERS. First in the series. A Dell paperback
original (1976), with a hardcover first edition from Dark
Harvest (1992). Currently available as an Avon mass-market
paperback. |
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3
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IN
THE MIDST OF DEATH. A Dell paperback original (1976).
Currently available as an Avon mass-market paperback.
A hardcover first edition
was published by G&G Books in 1995; it's out-of-print,
but LB has a handful of copies available. |
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4
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A
STAB IN THE DARK. First published in hardcover by
Arbor House in 1981, and nominated for the Shamus award.
Currently available as an Avon mass-market paperback. |
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5
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EIGHT
MILLION WAYS TO DIE. Arbor House, 1982. The book where
Scudder has to come to terms with his drinking, and the
basis (sort of) for a not-very-good film with excellent
performances by Jeff Bridges and Andy Garcia. Winner of
the Shamus award as best novel, and shortlisted for the
Edgar. Currently available as an Avon mass-market paperback.
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6
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WHEN
THE SACRED GINMILL CLOSES. Arbor House, 1986. This
is a prequel, with Scudder in the mid-eighties recollecting
events that took place a decade earlier. A Shamus award
nominee, and winner of the Japanese Maltese Falcon award.
It's a favorite of a lot of readers, and I frequently
suggest it as a starting point for readers new to the
series. (A note to book collectors: There's no statement
of printing on the copyright page of the Arbor House edition,
but not to worry. They're all firsts, as there was no
second printing.) Currently available as an Avon mass-market
paperback. |
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7
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OUT
ON THE CUTTING EDGE. William Morrow, 1989. This is
the one in which Scudder meets Mick Ballou. Currently
available as an Avon mass-market paperback. |
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9
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A
DANCE AT THE SLAUGHTERHOUSE. William Morrow, 1991. Winner of the Edgar award as best novel of the year. The book that introduces TJ. Currently available as an Avon trade paperback. |
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Scudder has also appeared in several short
stories.
And what does the future hold for Matthew Scudder? I’ll tell you, one of the reasons I’ve been able to write about him for so many years is that I never know what the guy’s gonna do next. When I do know, we'll post that info here.
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