A Mystery Writers of America Grand Master, Lawrence Block is a four-time winner of the Edgar Allan Poe and Shamus Awards, as well as a recipient of prizes in France, Germany, and Japan. The author of more than fifty books and numerous short stories, he is a devout New Yorker who spends much of his time traveling.
Though Roberts is an expressive, earnest narrator, fans of Block's endlessly satisfying Matthew Scudder mysteries will find the tone of this reading somehow off. Block's writing is understated and restrained, reflecting his hero's resigned acceptance of humankind's darker nature. Scudder is not surprised by the failings of people, including himself. Roberts's reading is showy, infused with an incredulity that is simply not in keeping with Scudder's informed fatalism. Still, this is a Scudder mystery, and listeners will enjoy his relentless investigation into the brutal nine-year-old murder of a pregnant woman. The novel is early in the Scudder series, by the way, and an important stepping-stone on his way to sobriety. M.O. (c)AudioFile, Portland, Maine
