A young prostitute who wants out of the business comes to Matthew Scudder for help. But soon after she is brutally murdered on a crumbling waterfro...
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Jan 30, 2012
Kemper
rated it: 
Someday I’m going to get around to putting together my list of the greatest mystery/crime novels I’ve read. When I do, this one is going to be very near the top.
Matt Scudder is still working as an unlicensed private detective, and he is approached by an upscale prostitute named Kim. She wants to quit the business but is nervous about telling her pimp, Chance. Kim hires Matt to break the news to Chance and gauge his reaction to see if he’ll try to keep her working.
Aft More...
Matt Scudder is still working as an unlicensed private detective, and he is approached by an upscale prostitute named Kim. She wants to quit the business but is nervous about telling her pimp, Chance. Kim hires Matt to break the news to Chance and gauge his reaction to see if he’ll try to keep her working.
Aft More...
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Feb 27, 2011
Dan
rated it:
A hooker hires Matthew Scudder to tell her pimp she's leaving. Scudder delivers the message and everything is cool. Only the hooker ends up dead and the pimp hires Scudder to find out who killed her. Can Scudder find the killer before he ends up dead himself?
Sometimes, I really struggle with rating a book. This was not one of those times. Eight Million Ways To Die is easily the best Lawrence Block book I've read yet, head and shoulders about the others. The characters are more More...
Sometimes, I really struggle with rating a book. This was not one of those times. Eight Million Ways To Die is easily the best Lawrence Block book I've read yet, head and shoulders about the others. The characters are more More...
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Nov 15, 2010
Mohammed
rated it:
Another amazing novel by Block,i kept thinking wow this is something.It was very much about Scudder himself,his struggles with alcohol that made it so strong this time too. The case was even less important than the novel before. It was complex story emotionally,i could have read 340+ pages of Matt Scudder and his problems without the crime plot,the violence.
The personal struggles made it much more darker than any violence could have been. I didnt care about the fact the case,the cr More...
The personal struggles made it much more darker than any violence could have been. I didnt care about the fact the case,the cr More...
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Oct 31, 2011
Patrick
rated it: 
Block wrote three books in one with Eight Million Way to Die. The first is the obvious, a mystery/thriller with Scudder helping find out who killed Kim, the hooker who went to him for help. This story is pretty interesting on it's own. There is a lot going on, high priced hookers each with their own story and eccentricities, Chance the different sort of pimp, all of the informants Scudder has built up, and of course red herring galore.
Second is a look at crime ridden 1980s NYC throu More...
Second is a look at crime ridden 1980s NYC throu More...
Apr 16, 2010
Tim
rated it:
Matthew Scudder is a former police officer and off the books private eye living in New York City. When he is approached by a prostitute looking to leave the life, he thinks this will be a pretty easy task. Locating her pimp, he is able to get a promise to let her go with no harm done. He thinks his task is over only to read in the newspaper of the woman's brutal murder. The pimp swears his innocence and hires Scudder to find the real killer. The Matt Scudder books are filled with a kind of lonel
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Jun 26, 2009
Johnny
rated it: 
It isn't easy for an ex-cop and alcoholic to put his life back together. In fact, Matthew Scudder seems to fail as often as he succeeds. As this novel begins, earlier in the series than the fine A Walk Among the Tombstones I discovered first, it appears that Scudder succeeds more easily than would normally be expected.Then, the carpet is jerked out from under him and it looks, on the surface as though he has failed.
Then, with typical verisimilitude, the plot unfolds in a complex, mes More...
Then, with typical verisimilitude, the plot unfolds in a complex, mes More...
Nov 29, 2008
Eric_W
rated it:
Another quick novel is Eight Million Ways to Die by Lawrence Block, author of the “Burglar” series of mysteries (wonderful stuff). In this book his hero is Matthew Scudder, who reminds me of Ross Mac- Donald’s hero, Lew Archer. Scudder is hired by Kim, a hooker, who wants him to intercede with her pimp, Chance, so she can leave the business. Kim is subsequently murdered, with all the suspicion falling on Chance, who then hires Scudder to find the real killer. Chance is an unusual pi
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Mar 15, 2008
Patrick
rated it:
A good murder mystery book for killing time in an airport while waiting for a flight. An interesting narrator, intriguing characters, and a decently paced plot. Lots of New York City flavor. The narrator's struglles with overcoming his alcoholism and his interaction with AA are an interesting twist, and provide some humorous parts. Recommended if you like urban detective stories.
Sep 09, 2011
Brandon
rated it:
Wow. Just wow. I can easily say this is the first "great" Scudder book. I knew I made a mistake rating the first 4 novels at 5 stars each. It's not that they're bad books, they're just not in the same league as Eight Million Ways to Die.
In the 5th installment of the series, Block takes Scudder and the City of New York all the way down to rock bottom. Whether he's exposing the reader to gang violence and random murders or he's having Scudder drink himself half to death; n More...
In the 5th installment of the series, Block takes Scudder and the City of New York all the way down to rock bottom. Whether he's exposing the reader to gang violence and random murders or he's having Scudder drink himself half to death; n More...
Nov 10, 2011
Debra
rated it:
Private investigator, Matt Scudder, is hired by a call girl named Kim to give her pimp a message. Kim wants out of the business, but is afraid to tell him face-to-face. Her pimp, known as Chance, isn’t a violent man, but she’s not sure how he’ll handle the news. Since Kim is paying Matt much-needed cash, he reluctantly agrees. After spending a few days tracking down the elusive Chance, the message is delivered and all is well, until Kim ends up butchered in a hotel room. Everyone assumes Chance
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Dec 22, 2011
Ensiform
rated it:
Scudder is hired by a whore to get her out of the life; the pimp, an agreeable man, acquiesces without argument. But when the whore turns up dead, the pimp hires Scudder to find out who did it. This is, so far, the best Scudder mystery by some distance.
As a character study, it builds on the bleak fatalism of the previous books. Here, the unlicensed alkie truly struggles with his drinking, going through blackouts and attending AA meetings. Block has a very good sense of what AA is a More...
As a character study, it builds on the bleak fatalism of the previous books. Here, the unlicensed alkie truly struggles with his drinking, going through blackouts and attending AA meetings. Block has a very good sense of what AA is a More...
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Aug 10, 2011
The book is a little slow to start, in my opinion, but I eventually got into and really loved the vivid description of Matt's alcoholism and his thoughts on his life and those of the murder victims. I was seriously impressed at how he solved the murder because I was just sitting back awaiting another clue to jump out and just slap me in the face. I'm looking forward to reading the rest of the series to see if Matt is able to keep up his fight against his drinking or does he give in. I'm not sur
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Mar 03, 2011
John
rated it:
Ex-cop and struggling alcoholic Scudder is hired by a pimp to investigate the murder of one of the pimp's girls -- a killing the cops think the pimp committed himself. As the killings continue, so Scudder's struggles with the demon booze intensify; when finally he does unravel the mystery, the solution is one that comes clear out of left field. Among many lovely, near-surrealistic strokes are that the pimp is, despite all stereotyping, an intelligent, intellectual and caring man (I imagine More...
Dec 01, 2008
Tony
rated it:
This book was my introduction to Matthew Scudder and still ranks as one of my favorites in the series. This is a turning point of sorts in the ongoing series-- Scudder finally makes a decision to stop drinking, and his psychological tussles with the demon bottle, including some piquantly hilarious adventures in rationalization, are mighty and moving. The multiple murder mystery in which he is involved is a particularly good one as well. And Block describes Manhattan in knowing ways this ex-New
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Nov 30, 2011
Mark
rated it:
The actual murder mystery takes second place to Scudder's struggle with the bottle in 8 Million Ways to Die. When I realized that I was 60 pages in and the murder hadn't been committed yet I knew I was going to like this book. I look forward to reading the earlier books in the series to get more of Matthew Scudder's back story, but I enjoyed the way Lawrence Block lets us truly get inside his character's head, and live his problems along with him. If you like your mysteries with lots of characte
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Dec 22, 2011
Heidi
rated it:
I just found out about Lawrence Block and feel compelled to read all his books as I really enjoy his style and honesty. I'm about halfway through this book and I am enjoying it. Strangely, the first Block book I read was the last one he wrote in the Scudder series, A Drop of the Hard Stuff, which I loved. I followed that up with Small Town (not a Scudder book). The man is so prolific it's a wonderful and deep well of future reading. I like this book, 8 Million Ways to Die, slightly less than the
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Oct 24, 2011
Marti
rated it:
If you like a series where the main character is an alcoholic now licensed private investigator, this is the one for you. Matthew Scudder seems at times as though he has slipped to the bottom of the heap, and then he comes through with some sort of intuition as to how the crime went down. In this one, he is trying to find the killer of two prostitutes. He becomes friendly with their pimp, and at times, manages not to drink, and to figure things out. The reader has to give him some slack, and
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May 08, 2011
Theresa Leone
rated it:
I really like the Matthew Scudder series, the books I have read are all solid three - three and a half stars but this one gets more because of Block's wonderful writing of Scudder's struggle with his alcoholism, and just for going for that much character development instead of taking the easy way out and keeping the character as he was. I also particularly liked this one because it's about a prostitute who was killed, and the people in her world are all multi-dimensional, the prostitutes, the pi
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Sep 17, 2010
Concord Newfree
rated it:
Not as good as his Small Town or When the Sacred Gin Mill Closes, but how could it be?
The story lingered a little too long on the interviews with all of the various hookers (we get it already). The buddy-cop-pimp duo arose pretty fast, the ending was really rushed, I somehow didn't believe the fear we were supposed to feel for the protagonist after the blackout sequence, and, as usual, the less important whodunnit is burried under the more important style, but what style!
The story lingered a little too long on the interviews with all of the various hookers (we get it already). The buddy-cop-pimp duo arose pretty fast, the ending was really rushed, I somehow didn't believe the fear we were supposed to feel for the protagonist after the blackout sequence, and, as usual, the less important whodunnit is burried under the more important style, but what style!
Nov 19, 2009
LJ
rated it: 
EIGHT MILLION WAYS TO DIE - Okay
Block, Lawrence - 5th in series
[From Fantastic Fiction:] P.I. Matthew Scudder's investigation into the brutal killing of a young hooker, who was trying to get out of the business, reveals lethal secrets that are even dirtier than her clients--and puts Scudder's life on the market as well.
As much as I love Block's writing, I did not feel this book was a good as some of the others in the series. For me, it was only okay.
Block, Lawrence - 5th in series
[From Fantastic Fiction:] P.I. Matthew Scudder's investigation into the brutal killing of a young hooker, who was trying to get out of the business, reveals lethal secrets that are even dirtier than her clients--and puts Scudder's life on the market as well.
As much as I love Block's writing, I did not feel this book was a good as some of the others in the series. For me, it was only okay.
Sep 25, 2011
Amanda
rated it:
Matt Scudder is an ex-cop. He is a recovering alcoholic. He is now a Private Investigator working without a license.
Upmarket prostitute, Kim, wants to leave the business. She asks Scudder to help her. Her pimp, Chance doesn't want her to.
When Kim is found dead, Matt Scudder has to find her killer.
Block is in your face when he deals with the subject of addiction. The writing is raw and real. One of the best books in the series.
Upmarket prostitute, Kim, wants to leave the business. She asks Scudder to help her. Her pimp, Chance doesn't want her to.
When Kim is found dead, Matt Scudder has to find her killer.
Block is in your face when he deals with the subject of addiction. The writing is raw and real. One of the best books in the series.
Oct 24, 2011
Perry
rated it:
This is about the 5th in the series of the Matt Scudder mystery series, and its a big improvement on the previous one, A Stab in the Dark, which I read not long before.
Scudder is descending irrevocably into alcoholism in this one, and the story is punctuated with his daily visits to various AA meetings, where he never speaks out and settles for listening to the "qualifications" of the other alcoholics, sometimes with less than his full attention.
I liked these passages a More...
Scudder is descending irrevocably into alcoholism in this one, and the story is punctuated with his daily visits to various AA meetings, where he never speaks out and settles for listening to the "qualifications" of the other alcoholics, sometimes with less than his full attention.
I liked these passages a More...
Sep 28, 2009
Lynn
rated it:
I've always been a great fan of Block's Scudder books -- the perfect Imperfect Hero. The drunk with the heart of gold. Actually Scudder does find sobriety in later books and I suspect the AA meetings he attends are actual meetings in NYC.
Someone in Hollywood bought rights to the book, but I think the only thing they used was the title. Which comes from the fact there are 8 million souls in NYC...
Someone in Hollywood bought rights to the book, but I think the only thing they used was the title. Which comes from the fact there are 8 million souls in NYC...
Apr 04, 2010
THOMAS
rated it:
Ah Scudder...this might be one of your best. Riveting in its portrayal of a man walking a tightrope as he tries to solve a vicious murder and stay sober. One of the most crucial books in the series, as it marks the most serious turning point for the grim detective. I've only got two more Scudder books to read...makes me pretty sad. I wish I could erase my memory and read them all over again...
Jun 29, 2011
Craig
rated it:
Very engaging story. Block adds a new wrinkle to a fairly standard PI novel by addressing the effects of alcoholism on the main character. The mystery is first-rate, very character-driven.
My only complaint--and the only thing keeping this from a 5 stars--is the ending is a little forced since
[MINOR SPOILER]
... the killer turns out be a character we have not met previously in the story...
[END SPOILER]
Highly recommended to mystery fans.
My only complaint--and the only thing keeping this from a 5 stars--is the ending is a little forced since
[MINOR SPOILER]
... the killer turns out be a character we have not met previously in the story...
[END SPOILER]
Highly recommended to mystery fans.
Jun 12, 2011
T.R.
rated it:
A little too much AA palaver for my taste, but the plot and characters are first rate. So is the dialogue. I got bogged down in A Tale of Two Cities, more of a chore than I remembered. Lawrence Block is the perfect antidote. Not a lot of hookers in Dickens -- not that there's anything wrong with that.
Very good, straight through to a satisfying ending. Now all I want is a drink.
Very good, straight through to a satisfying ending. Now all I want is a drink.
May 07, 2011
Nathan
rated it:
Woah, I thought after reading all the greats like Hammett and Chandler there were just re-hashes of their work in varying degrees of quality left. I was wrong. I am a huge fan of the P.I. genre and this might be the best work I've read. What gets me thimking is what else is out there that I havn't discovered yet and where has Matt Scudder been all my P.I. living life?
I wont go into a long description of the plot but let me just say that if you're the least bit interested in P.I. stories, More...
I wont go into a long description of the plot but let me just say that if you're the least bit interested in P.I. stories, More...
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May 20, 2011
Sally
rated it:
Apparently this author has several respected mystery series. This series has a burned-out ex-NYC cop as the sleuth. I almost stopped reading it early on, but my interest grew. In general gritty, see-the-underbelly-of-a-city mysteries aren't my type, but this was good. I may read more of this series.
Jul 16, 2010
Bill
rated it:
Matt Scudder is a wonderful character--flawed, recognizes his weaknesses, and tries to rise above them. His strengths always seem to come out at some point and he takes care of the business at hand. Eight Million Ways to Die is one of Lawrence Block's best in the series.
Jul 21, 2009
Peter
rated it:
This novel, featuring Block's very dark character Matthew Scudder is filled with New York atmosphere and real bits of evidence that truth is trule stranger than fiction. Block can craft a good mystery novel without doubt but this tour of death in its weirdness is a masterpiece.
