The pretty young prostitute is dead. Her alleged murderer—a minister's son—hanged himself in his jail cell. The case is closed. But the dead girl's...
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reviews
Jan 01, 2012
Greg
rated it: 
As my first bit of book reviewing for the new year (being started seven minutes into the new year, yep another exciting new year's eve with me reporting on books here on goodreads), I'll admit that I was wrong in my opinion of Lawrence Block. For years I thought nothing of him, I thought he was another of those male macho writers, sort of a mystery version of say a Vince Flynn, or a Brad Thor, or some other preposterously monikered hack. Or I thought he was the type of writers old men read, li
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10 comments
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(25 people liked it)
Aug 07, 2011
Stephen
rated it: 
Standing among the crowd of burned out, “ex-cop,” morally suspect private investigators inside the dingy, cluttered, dimly lit literary bar called "Mysteries," Matt Scudder manages to stand out and sparkle shine, despite his seeming overabundance of unassumingness. Well appearances deceive and depth takes time to appreciate. Trust me when I say you haven’t met Matt Scudder before.
This guy is an original. Scudder isn’t the macho, “steely-eyed” superior type. He doesn’t gruf More...
This guy is an original. Scudder isn’t the macho, “steely-eyed” superior type. He doesn’t gruf More...
15 comments
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(39 people liked it)
Nov 16, 2011
Lou
rated it:
Dead son and a dead daughter.
Father and son, Father and daughter all have a dark past and all weigh up in the play of good and evil.
Suicide is tragic and a last call out of turmoil and distress, it’s a sin even Scudder knows that otherwise he himself confesses to contemplating taking that road. Scudder ex-cop turned Private Investigator was on the force for almost sixteen years divorced with kids, he works as infrequently as he can for now and in no need for money, he has a cheap roo More...
Father and son, Father and daughter all have a dark past and all weigh up in the play of good and evil.
Suicide is tragic and a last call out of turmoil and distress, it’s a sin even Scudder knows that otherwise he himself confesses to contemplating taking that road. Scudder ex-cop turned Private Investigator was on the force for almost sixteen years divorced with kids, he works as infrequently as he can for now and in no need for money, he has a cheap roo More...
Oct 10, 2011
Brandon
rated it:
I needed a hole to fill the VOID left by my consumption of the John Connolly Charlie Parker series. Luckily, Connolly has a new book coming out in September, The Burning Soul. Until then, I needed a detective series of substance. A character so cool, so awesome, that I could branch out from Charlie Parker into another series. I've actually had this book on my to-read list for several months now. I have no idea what took me so long to pick it up. I mean, it's not like Kemper, Dan or Stephen
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7 comments
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(8 people liked it)
Feb 07, 2011
Kemper
rated it:
On the surface, Matt Scudder would appear to be something of a lowlife.
As a cop in New York in the 1970s, he wasn’t above taking bribes or framing someone. After he accidentally shot and killed a child while trying to break up a robbery, he quit the cops and left his wife and two sons to live in a hotel in Manhattan. He makes his living as an unlicensed private detective who refuses to keep records or file reports, and he gets information by bribing various cops and government work More...
As a cop in New York in the 1970s, he wasn’t above taking bribes or framing someone. After he accidentally shot and killed a child while trying to break up a robbery, he quit the cops and left his wife and two sons to live in a hotel in Manhattan. He makes his living as an unlicensed private detective who refuses to keep records or file reports, and he gets information by bribing various cops and government work More...
12 comments
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(9 people liked it)
Jan 28, 2011
Dan
rated it:
When call girl is murdered and her roommate/killer hangs himself in prison, the girl's wealthy stepfather hires Matthew Scudder to investigate the girl's past and find out why her life ended the way it did. Scudder's investigations lead him through a web of sex and lies...
Wow. Lawrence Block always keeps me entertained but this was one hell of a read. It's less than 200 pages but one of the more powerful pieces of detective fiction I've read in years. I figured Scudder would unea More...
Wow. Lawrence Block always keeps me entertained but this was one hell of a read. It's less than 200 pages but one of the more powerful pieces of detective fiction I've read in years. I figured Scudder would unea More...
5 comments
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(13 people liked it)
Oct 16, 2011
Randy
rated it:
The facts seemed pretty clear. A young woman, thought to be a prostitute, had been murdered by her live-in. He, in turn, had hanged himself in a jail cell with a noose made of sheets and pillowcases.
All the young woman's father wanted from Matt Scudder was to build a picture of his daughter and possibly a solution to how her life had turned into what it became.
As he started developing a picture, he learns that, one, she seemed a reluctant prostitute. Even in college, she More...
All the young woman's father wanted from Matt Scudder was to build a picture of his daughter and possibly a solution to how her life had turned into what it became.
As he started developing a picture, he learns that, one, she seemed a reluctant prostitute. Even in college, she More...
2 comments
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(3 people liked it)
Apr 05, 2008
Patrick
rated it: 
This is the first published mystery in the Matthew Scudder "series" by Lawrence Block. It is also one of Block's first novels. Since i have devouring more recent books in this series, I decided to go back to the beginning to see what the early books were like.
This is an OK mystery...pretty straightforward, and you'll guess who the real killer is pretty quickly. The book is really dated with a 1970's old-fashioned view of many social trends we take for granted today, such More...
This is an OK mystery...pretty straightforward, and you'll guess who the real killer is pretty quickly. The book is really dated with a 1970's old-fashioned view of many social trends we take for granted today, such More...
0 comments
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(3 people liked it)
Feb 18, 2012
J.F.
rated it:
This is magnificent. I love the Matthew Scudder character. He's no typical PI by any means. He's no super hero either, and while he does drink every chance he gets, he's not the type to sit in a bar and cry in his beer because he's so sensitive and he feels for his clients. He's not the least bit sensitive and I can't picture him crying over anybody. He pays off whoever he needs something from, including cops, and he's quite open and honest about it. He doesn't have a license, and doesn't
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Mar 15, 2011
Esme
rated it:
"The Sins of the Fathers" ist der erste Roman mit Matt Scudder und bereits 1976 erschienen. Auf Deutsch 1977 bei Pabel unter dem Titel "Mord unter vier Augen" veröffentlicht.
Matt Scudder, ehemaliger NYPD-Cop, ist ein Privatdetektiv ohne Lizenz. Er tut den Leuten Gefallen und forscht in ihrem Auftrag nach, während diese wiederum ihm einen Gefallen tun, indem sie ihm Geld geben.
Case closed
Wendy Hanniford, eine junge Prostituierte, wurde brutal ermo More...
Matt Scudder, ehemaliger NYPD-Cop, ist ein Privatdetektiv ohne Lizenz. Er tut den Leuten Gefallen und forscht in ihrem Auftrag nach, während diese wiederum ihm einen Gefallen tun, indem sie ihm Geld geben.
Case closed
Wendy Hanniford, eine junge Prostituierte, wurde brutal ermo More...
May 27, 2009
Tim
rated it:
Matthew Scudder is an ex New York City cop who makes his living as an off the books private investigator. When a young woman is brutally murdered in her Greenwich Village apartment by her roommate, a young man who subsequently takes his own life, Scudder is retained by the woman's father to learn about her life and why such a thing would happen. Scudder is a classic loner who would pave the way for the likes of Andrew Vachss' great character Burke and Lee Child's Reacher. Moving alone through th
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Jul 15, 2011
Craig
rated it:
This is only the 2nd Matt Scudder novel I've read. After Eight Million Ways to Die (which I thought was very good), I wanted to go back and start the series from the beginning. As a mystery, this book is not nearly as polished or effective. I figured out the "whodunnit" almost from the very beginning. Not to mention that Scudder's big reveal in the last chapter was nonsensical--based solely on conjecture, not the clues given in the narrative.
However, even despite its f More...
However, even despite its f More...
Jan 17, 2011
Keiran
rated it:
I just finished sister and it was about 3 in the morning (I was at work) and I wanted something I could read that would be quick and would help pass the next few hours. I picked this one, I didn't read the back or anything I just started to read. I loved the character Matt Scuddle, he is tough but passionate at the same time. I do feel that this is a crime novel for the male audience as he fits the typical stereotype of an American tough man cop, I may be totally wrong, read it and see it's a da
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Feb 02, 2012
Sins of the Fathers, by Lawrence Block, a-minus, Narrated by Alan Sklar, Produced by Audiogo, Downloaded from audible.com.
as young, pretty...and dead, butchered in a Greenwich Village apartment. The prime suspect, a minister's son, was also dead, the victim of a jailhouse suicide. The case is closed, as far as the NYPD is concerned. Now the murdered prostitute's father wants it opened again--that's where Matthew Scudder comes in. But this assignment carries the unmistakable stench of More...
as young, pretty...and dead, butchered in a Greenwich Village apartment. The prime suspect, a minister's son, was also dead, the victim of a jailhouse suicide. The case is closed, as far as the NYPD is concerned. Now the murdered prostitute's father wants it opened again--that's where Matthew Scudder comes in. But this assignment carries the unmistakable stench of More...
Dec 28, 2011
Michael
rated it:
Fast moving and lean, this reads quickly -- I finished it in a day. I know Matthew Scudder has a series of novels, and I'm interested to continue with him. Scudder is dark, that much I had known previous to reading the book, but the bringing out of his darkness within the novel is done wonderfully, had me reading passages aloud to my wife, a grin on my face.
I was expecting something more formulaic, and it could be that I don't know the genre well enough, but this seemed fresh to me. I More...
I was expecting something more formulaic, and it could be that I don't know the genre well enough, but this seemed fresh to me. I More...
Apr 02, 2011
Dianne
rated it:
Well written, well paced, well plotted. This was a reread and I enjoyed it as much as I did on the first occasion. I prefer these early Matt Scudder novels to the later ones when he has conquered his alcoholism and turned respectable.
A pretty young girl is found butchered in her Greenwich apartment. Her room mate, the son of a Baptist minister is arrested and commits suicide in his cell. The case is closed as far as the police are concerned. The girl's father asks Matt to look into t More...
A pretty young girl is found butchered in her Greenwich apartment. Her room mate, the son of a Baptist minister is arrested and commits suicide in his cell. The case is closed as far as the police are concerned. The girl's father asks Matt to look into t More...
Mar 05, 2011
David
rated it:
I have only recently found Lawrence Block. I chanced on 'Hit and Run' and liked it. Looking through his bibliography I decided I needed a Matt Scudder book next. This one dates back 34 years, and stands the test of time. It paints a fascinating picture of the late 70s. It's an edgy novel, involving some troubled characters. And a flawed investigator. Block doesn't waste his prose, and you stay with the lead the whole way. The casual corruption of the police force is particularly striking
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Jan 29, 2012
Ryssa
rated it:
This was my first Matthew Scudder mystery and I loved it.
The mystery was good. I completely didn't see the ending coming.
But more than the mystery, I thoroughly enjoyed Block's portrayal of his protagonist.
I enjoyed the unapologetic portrayal of Scudder. He ain't no nice guy, he ain't sorry about it, and he gets the job done. Will he win any awards for morality? Not in this lifetime. Does he make a damn good protagonist? Absolutely.
Overall, if you like y More...
The mystery was good. I completely didn't see the ending coming.
But more than the mystery, I thoroughly enjoyed Block's portrayal of his protagonist.
I enjoyed the unapologetic portrayal of Scudder. He ain't no nice guy, he ain't sorry about it, and he gets the job done. Will he win any awards for morality? Not in this lifetime. Does he make a damn good protagonist? Absolutely.
Overall, if you like y More...
Mar 09, 2009
LJ
rated it:
SINS OF THE FATHER (Unl. Inv.-Matt Scudder-NYC-Cont) - Ex
Block, Lawrence - 2nd in series
From Fantastic Fiction: A pretty young girl is butchered in her Greenwich Village apartment. The prime suspect dies and NYPD consider the case closed, but Scudder looks into the death for the girl's father. Suddenly he's up to his neck in sleaze and corruption in a world where children must pay for their parents' sins.
Scudder is a wonderfully comples character. This is one of m More...
Block, Lawrence - 2nd in series
From Fantastic Fiction: A pretty young girl is butchered in her Greenwich Village apartment. The prime suspect dies and NYPD consider the case closed, but Scudder looks into the death for the girl's father. Suddenly he's up to his neck in sleaze and corruption in a world where children must pay for their parents' sins.
Scudder is a wonderfully comples character. This is one of m More...
May 13, 2011
Harmonybites
rated it:
This novel is of the kind that your eyes hit the page and before you know, it, you sit up blinking, having devoured the book in one setting. The style is clean and flows well enough to do that. I also admit I have a weakness for books set in my home town of New York City, so that was another plus for me.
Yet I didn't leave the novel wanting to read more of Block or his protagonist/narrator Matthew Scudder for several reasons. Some of those reasons are idiosyncratic, I know. I hold it a More...
Yet I didn't leave the novel wanting to read more of Block or his protagonist/narrator Matthew Scudder for several reasons. Some of those reasons are idiosyncratic, I know. I hold it a More...
Jan 30, 2008
matt
rated it:
I don't read alot of genre fiction, but got interested in Block when I heard that he was co-writing a movie with Wong Kar-Wai, and yet that his fiction was the kind of stuff bought in airports rather than reviewed in the Times. I read some short stories and then picked this up, the first in his popular series featuring private investigator Matthew Scudder.
What it comes down to is that Block is a natural, just a really good writer. Like Stephen King, if perhaps possessed of a lighter More...
What it comes down to is that Block is a natural, just a really good writer. Like Stephen King, if perhaps possessed of a lighter More...
Jan 18, 2011
Janet
rated it:
Stephen King, who wrote the introduction to this book, says about Lawrence Block, "His novels combine clarity, simplicity, honesty, and vividness to create nearly seamless entertainments." Since I like to read a series of books in order, I selected this book as my entre to Lawrence Block. It was very enjoyable, and as clean, clear, and concise a read as I can remember. I loved the intro and agree completely with Stephen King. I am so glad that I started readings at the beginning of hi
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Mar 16, 2011
John
rated it:
Block's prose, along with the alcoholic and ruthless Matthiew Scudder make for a very enjoyable hard boiled read. He cleverly counterbalances that with a sensitive and realistic portrayal of the victims. Their story emerges with a sense of tragedy that makes this stand out among entertainment mysteries.
I would give it four stars but for an annoying cheat that appears in other Block novels. It involves his protagonist's discovery of a key piece of evidence, then keeping it from the r More...
I would give it four stars but for an annoying cheat that appears in other Block novels. It involves his protagonist's discovery of a key piece of evidence, then keeping it from the r More...
Apr 07, 2010
John
rated it:
I have read many books by Lawrence Block, and I keep coming back to the Matt Scudder series. This is book one of the series that consists of 16 books total by now.
I had read this book a long time ago, but wanted to reacquaint myself with this series again. I certainly was not disappointed. Matt Scudder is not a private detective; rather he does favors for people. He is a former NYPD detective who had to leave the job for personal reasons.
The favor he does this time is for More...
I had read this book a long time ago, but wanted to reacquaint myself with this series again. I certainly was not disappointed. Matt Scudder is not a private detective; rather he does favors for people. He is a former NYPD detective who had to leave the job for personal reasons.
The favor he does this time is for More...
May 26, 2009
Jim
rated it:
I've read at least five of the Matthew Scudder series, but am now trying to go back and read chronologically those I've missed.
"Sins of the Father" is a great start for the series. Matthew Scudder emerges as a fully formed character, and Lawrence Block shows his tremendous capacity for dialog and emotional complexity.
This edition includes an interesting introduction written in 1991 by Stephen King, along with an afterward by Block.
"Sins of the Father" is a great start for the series. Matthew Scudder emerges as a fully formed character, and Lawrence Block shows his tremendous capacity for dialog and emotional complexity.
This edition includes an interesting introduction written in 1991 by Stephen King, along with an afterward by Block.
Nov 05, 2009
Johnny
rated it:
Good start to the series. More procedural than hardboiled, but it works as a developing character study of both victim and investigator. We only get hints of Scudder, but what we do see is intriguing (definitely bodes well for the character as a series creation).
Not a lot of new ground is covered in this book, but it accomplishes exactly what it sets out to do, which is accomplishment in itself. A good story, well-told.
Not a lot of new ground is covered in this book, but it accomplishes exactly what it sets out to do, which is accomplishment in itself. A good story, well-told.
Jan 24, 2011
J.D.
rated it:
I absolutely love the Matthew Scudder character and series. I've read all 16 from this book all the way through to "All The Flowers Are Dying" twice. It fascinates me to read about the 70's in a book that was written during the 70's and to share Scudder's life for the following 30's years. I felt very connected to his experiences with sobriety and AA. There's a new book scheduled for this year (2011).
Aug 15, 2007
Adam
rated it:
I started re-reading the Matthew Scudder books last year and haven't made a lot of progress, unfortunately. Like al of my favorite mystery novels, Block's books are less concerned with solving a murder than they are showing us the inner workings of the main character. And what a main character. Scudder's development mirrors that of his writer in a lot of ways. When the series begins, they were both alcoholics struggling to make it through the day. We get to watch them make the first tentative st
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Sep 25, 2011
Amanda
rated it:
The first in the long-running popular Matt Scudder series.
A woman is slaughtered in her apartment in Greenwich Village apartment. Scudder investigates the death for the girl's father.
The underbelly of the city is exposed. Filled with corruption, immoral escapades and the sins of the fathers (and mothers), children are often left to pay for their parents' sins.
A woman is slaughtered in her apartment in Greenwich Village apartment. Scudder investigates the death for the girl's father.
The underbelly of the city is exposed. Filled with corruption, immoral escapades and the sins of the fathers (and mothers), children are often left to pay for their parents' sins.
Jun 27, 2011
William
rated it:
Gritty crime from the streets of 1970's New York. Block's first work with Matthew Scudder introduces the reader to the world of crime within the urban sprawl landscape. The beat of the novel is fast, taking the reader through the grisly murder of a call girl up until the eventual deduction of the killer's identity. This book is one entertaining read that will prompt the reader to indulge in more private investigative work of Matthew Scudder.
