[.ca] Eight Million Ways to Die (ISBN 0061457965)

Scudder Descends into the Depths:
"Eight Million Ways to Die" is a classic piece of hardboiled detective fiction that represents a turning point in the life of its hero, Matthew Scudder. Early on in the narrative, Scudder is told frankly by a young doctor after a two-day alcohol blackout, "if you drink, you'll die." Scared by the warning, Scudder takes a case he doesn't want in a despearte attempt to distract him from alcohol. His struggles with the bottle come across very real and are harrowing to behold. The case is a good one as well with Scudder attempting to track the manaical killer of a hooker who was trying to leave the life. Death is an ever constant theme, with the book's title being a riff on the old literary saying "there are eight million stories in the naked city." This book is everything great private detective fiction should be; dark, cynical, violent and lonely. Frankly, I like Scudder better during this period than later on after he sobers up. If you agree, you'll love this book.

One of the Best (Mystery) Novels-Ever:
I read approximately 2-3 books a week. Admittedly, I am a big fan of Lawrence Block and particularly Matt Scudder. However, this book not only works as a mystery novel, but also as a portrait of a man battling his addiction. For me, a good ending is 75% of what makes a book great. This has a fantastic ending! This is definitely one of the best books I have ever read.

Eight Million Ways to Die Blocks Best Scudder Novel Ever?:
Having only read one other Lawrence Block novel "A Dance at the Slaughterhouse", I was intrigued at the depth of Eight Million Ways to Die. The characters and the environment of New York being the backdrop for this story makes for an entertaining read. As well as Scudders unwillingness to accept that he's an alcoholic. The ending was a classic one. The way Block is able to bring to life the city as a main part of the plot in the story is amazing. Eight Million Ways to Die is a classic and will forever be remembered as one of the top 25 mystery novels of all time! Other recommended books: Death in Uptown by Michael Raleigh

Eight Million Ways To Die:
Eight Million Ways To Die Her hair long and braided, wrapped around her head like a turban. Her clothes fitting her in a way so perfect that you'd think that you would have to peel them off carefully. She walked as though she were floating on clouds and did not have a worry in the world. By the time I put my cup of coffee on the table she was walking towards me and sitting on the chair at the opposite end of my table. I was amazed that of all the people there she came to sit near me. She was so close that I could smell her rose petal perfume, which filled the air that I breathed in as much as I could. But by the noticeable actions of her character, I could tell that she, if any, was a hooker. The main characters of this story are Matthew Scudder, a retired policeman who is trying to get over a drinking problem, Chance, Kim's pimp, and Kim Dakkinen, the hooker that hired Matthew to get her out of her business that has been killed. Matthew Scudder gets to know Kim by her introducing herself to Matt at a bar where Matt was drinking coffee. Kim asks him if she pays him a certain amount of money if he will talk to her pimp and get her out of the business of being a hooker. By the time that Matt talks to the pimp, Chance, he says its ok for her to leave. The next thing that happens is Kim turns up dead in some nearby hotel. Now hired by Chance, Matthew Scudder is being paid to find who the killer is and why they did it. Hitting many potholes in his journey to find the killer, Matt keeps running into those dead ends and now is getting closer than ever. I like this book for many reasons. It has many mysteries and riddles to figure out. It will keep your attention to the book and you will love or like this book. This is the kind of book I like to read, that's why I picked it up in the first place. This is the best crime novel I have ever read. Matthew Scudder is a great character for this book in many different ways. He's a great detective and cares for his work in a weird way that no one could understand. Chance, the pimp, plays a great role here too. The way he acts and talks make's you jump back and forth to whether he's the person who killed Kim. Chance in this book leans towards the side of helping look for the real killer in the book. This is a very good book to read if you are interested in this sort of thing. It keeps your mind busy and thinking throughout the whole time that you are reading the book. These are great characters that have life styles that most people can relate to in some way. Matthew would have found the killer faster if he would have stayed sober and that would have kept his mind clear. I'm not saying that Matthew Scudder is not a good detective, but he has most of his personal problems like drinking jumping into the way of him getting the killer. By the time that he starts staying sober he finds a suspect that fits the profile of the killer, but it seems as though the suspect vanishes before he is found. This book twisted my mind in different directions while I was reading it. The great mystery that Lawrence Block puts in his books is what makes it one of the best crime novels ever.

Eight Million Reasons to Read It:
Believe me, I could list them all, but I won't do that to you. This is one of the best Matt Scudder books I've read yet, and it keeps you guessing until the end. Scudder's battle with alcohol is also a great addition to the story, never giving him a moment's rest. The book is good, a bit slow with all the interrogations, but interesting and fun nonetheless. I would definitely have to recommend it to any fan of quality mystery novels.