Product Description

Louis Pinell, the recently apprehended "Icepick Prowler," freely admits to having slain seven young women nine years ago -- but be swears it was a copycat who killed Barbara Ettinger Matthew Scudder believes him. But the trail to Ettinger's true murderer is twisted, dark and dangerous...and even colder than the almost decade-old corpse the p.i. is determined to avenge.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #261951 in Books
• Published on: 2002-04
• Released on: 2002-04-30
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Mass Market Paperback
• 304 pages

About the Author
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.

From AudioFile
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

Customer Reviews

Matt Scudder Solves a Cold Case
In this fourth novel of the Matt Scudder series, Scudder is hired to investigate the murder of a young woman that happened nine years ago. The police assumed that the Icepick Prowler, a serial killer, had murdered her, but they recently caught him, and he confessed to all the other murders, but swore he did not do this one. Although the murder showed the characteristics of the Icepick Prowler's work, Scudder notes enough differences to make him think that a copycat killer did it and is still loose. This leads us on Scudder's plodding, careful investigation through streets (and bars) of New York. It's a gritty picture, but the author gives us clues that help to identify the killer. Otherwise, it's a surprise. Block's writing is outstanding, and his descriptions of the dark streets and alleys of New York are priceless. This is a great book to keep your attention on a long flight.

Best Scudder book in the series up to this point
Lawrence Block took his Scudder books to a new level in "Stab in the Dark". The first three books were good enough to keep me reading, but they were not anything special. In the other books the only thing that kept me interested was Block's style and Scudder's character. The mysteries were never that interesting. This book however has a wonderful plot and has a wonderful supporting cast. Everything about this book surpassed the previous entries. While Scudder, himself, has always been a good character this entry allows the reader to probe inside his mind a little more. Hopefully this was Block's stepping stone and the rest of the series is on par with this one. It is a must read for any P.I. lover.

Scudder is losing control
The fourth novel in the Matthew Scudder series shows our hero's drinking starting to spin out of control. Eventually, this would lead him to AA, sobriety and a more upbeat outlook. But back in the bad old days, he investigates a compelling mystery in which the supposed victim of a serial killer turns out to have been the victim of a copycat crime. This is made more complicated by the fact that the murder happened nine years before. Though the story is relatively brief at a mere 180 pages in trade paperback form, it is well written and contains enough suspense to keep you on edge. Scudder wasn't a happy guy before he dried up. And this is one of the best of his early "wet" adventures.