A man in a Virginia prison awaits execution for three horrific murders he must have committed but swears he didn't . . .
An aging investigator in New York City has seen too much and lost too much -- and is ready to leave the darkness behind . . .
But a nightmare is coming home -- because a brilliant, savage, patient monster has unfinished business in the big city . . . and a hunger that can be satisfied only by fear and the slow, agonizing death of Matthew Scudder and the woman he loves.
Excellent Entry in Superior SeriesJuly 24, 2005 N. Bilmes(Vernon, CT United States) 5 out of 7 found this review helpful
Matthew Scudder is back in this book, and I was shocked to find out how much I missed visiting his world. Lawrence Block has written a gripping, moving, and suspenseful novel to mark the return of Scudder, Elaine, TJ, and other lesser characters. This is the first of the Scudder books to be set in post-9/11 NYC, and Block is able to convey the characters' reactions to that event without belaboring it. The mystery is excellent and the taut narrative keeps the story moving.
It's been a pleasure to follow Matthew Scudder over the years, watching him age and interact with his cadre of supporting colleagues. If Lawrence Block needs to take this much time between books in the series, I hope he continues to do so. It was well-worth the wait.
Not Getting Older, Just Getting BetterJuly 4, 2005 Gary Griffiths(Los Altos Hills, CA United States) 4 out of 6 found this review helpful
Lawrence Block, if not the greatest living writer of crime fiction, is most certainly the most prolific. Today's new class of the hardboiled gumshoe novel - Dennis Lehane, Robert Crais, even Lee Child - certainly must owe some allegiance to Block. "All the Flowers are Dying" is a poignant example of the master at the top of his craft - a powerful entry in the Matt Scudder series in which both the author and the characters face the inevitable sunset of their years. Scudder, now in his mid-sixties, a mostly-retired warhorse still haunts the Irish taverns and church basement AA meetings in New York's old Hell's Kitchen neighborhood familiar from previous works. Scudder reluctantly takes on the investigation of an elusive boyfriend as a favor to a friend, but soon finds himself drawn into the trap of a heinously clever serial killer. Make no mistake - "Flowers" is as brutal as it is melancholy, flush with gut wrenching scenes of child rape, torture, murder, and other depravity. But if you were looking for fairy tales, you wouldn't be reading Lawrence Block. There are a few twists along the way, and Block's patented grit, grime, and urban beauty of New York, building to a classic if predictable climax. The Scudder fan will appreciate the patina of Block's prose, mellowed by time, more introspective, even fatalistic. Even the fearful one-time gangster Mick Ballou has mellowed into a Brando-like Godfather figure, reminiscing about the old days while dispatching homespun wisdom. In summary, a masterful blend of savagery and passion, of black humor and reflection - compelling fiction that you'll not soon forget.
A Masterpiece from the Mystery GrandmasterFebruary 16, 2005 David Montgomery(davidjmontgomery.com) 21 out of 32 found this review helpful
For nearly three decades, Lawrence Block has been writing mysteries that rank among the finest in the genre. The best of his work has been the 16-volume Matt Scudder series.
Scudder is a former NYPD detective who hung up his shield and climbed into a bottle years ago. Now sober and mostly retired from the private investigator business, he is content to live a quiet life with the woman he loves and leave the violence of his past far behind.
"All the Flowers are Dying," the latest in the series, opens on the eve of an execution. Despite all evidence to the contrary, the man on death row protests he did not commit three murders. The only one who believes him is a psychologist who meets with the condemned man before witnessing his death by lethal injection.
At the same time, Scudder agrees to help out a friend by checking out a man she has met through an online dating service. He could be Mr. Right, but he seems to have secrets in his life that trouble her. As Scudder finds out, he has good reason to keep some things hidden.
Block's extraordinary skill as a writer is evident in the way he brings together the different parts of his plot into one electrifying whole. He spins his story with such cunning ability that you can't help being drawn into his web.
The suspense in "All the Flowers Are Dying" is acute enough to make you hold your breath. Combine that with a hero for the ages and a villain to match, and Block has given us yet another triumphant entry in this fine and memorable series.
A Great New Scudder AdventureApril 1, 2005 Jim Cooper(plainsboro, nj United States) This is by far the best Scudder installment since Dance At The Slaughterhouse. Block has shied away from repetitive plot lines, as happens with so many authors and their serial protagonists, and presented an exciting page turner. Bravo!
A Master at workMarch 13, 2008 sirbed(the great wide open) If your a fan of crime fiction do yourself a favor and read all 16 of the Matt Scudder novels.
Unlike many series characters Scudder ages in real time in the books and this makes for a deep and realistic look at one characters life.
The highest praise I can give is that Scudder seems like a real person and he's someone you'd like to have on your side.
The villian in this book takes Scudder to the edge and the payoff is satisfying. If this is the last Scudder book the series is going out on top.
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