Judi Singleton book Review of The Sins of the Fathers (Matthew Scudder Mysteries Book 1)Kindle Edition

The Sins of the Fathers (Matthew Scudder Mysteries Book 1)Kindle Editior by Lawrence Block

From Publishers Weekly

Block has been getting better and better in recent Matt Scudder novels, but as this first hardcover version of a 16-year-old paperback shows, he was pretty good from the start. King's admiring introduction is generous but by no means overstated. This tale, which introduced the then-hard-drinking ex-cop, is spare and lean and full of dark insights into lonesomeness and anguish. The father of murdered Wendy Hanniford comes to Scudder to try to find out more about his errant daughter--not to find her killer, who was apparently her living partner, a brittle young man who was found in the street raving and covered with her blood and who killed himself shortly after he was arrested. In his dour, methodical, oddly empathetic way, Scudder finds out a great deal, altering several lives in the process. As always in the Scudder books, New York City--its small-hours bars, its jokey, edgy encounters--is a major character; as in the later books, too, Block's style is admirable: free of gimmicks, plain but utterly telling in every line. This is a fine opportunity to get in on the start of what has become one of the most rewarding PI series currently in progress.
Copyright 1992 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Kirkus Reviews

The 1976 paperback that introduced Block's melancholy, alcoholic shamus Matt Scudder finally gets a well-deserved hardcover edition--as well as a charming fan letter of an introduction from Stephen King. King pinpoints why the nine-book Scudder series (A Dance at the Slaughterhouse, 1991, etc.) is among mystery's most popular and finest: ``The absence of cats,'' i.e., ``tricks.'' As King says, Scudder is a ``pure'' detective who ``is real because his milieu is real.'' The fascinating ordinariness of Scudder and the harsh realness of his New York City arrive full force here as the p.i. is hired by a distraught father to look into the recent stabbing murder of his estranged daughter. Not to solve it, because the apparent killer, the girl's gay male roommate, has already been arrested--and punished: he's hung himself in his jail cell; but to find out more about the girl and why anyone would want to kill her. Scudder accepts the job reluctantly, as is his dour way, and during the course of his brief digging exhibits the sort of brave yet flawed behavior that sets him apart from other literary p.i.s: doggedly following the victim's trail down unexpected alleys as he learns that she was a moderately happy hooker who in fact was loved like a sister by her alleged killer; as he tithes 10% of his earnings to random churches; casts a cynical yet kindly eye on his fellow citizens; seeks release from the evil he finds in some through booze, the hired love of call-girl Elaine, and stunning bursts of violence, particularly against a mugger whose fingers he carefully snaps one by one. And, of course, Scudder turns up the real killer. Not as richly textured as most of the later cases, but, still, as haunting and mournful as the baying of a hound at the moon--and a must for Block/Scudder fans. -- Copyright ©1992, Kirkus Associates, LP. All rights reserved.

Judi Singleton's review of Sins of the Father.

 Matthew Scudder is Lawrence Block's surprising private agent. He's a previous NYPD criminologist who left the power after a mischance left a tyke dead in a crossfire. Since he is unlicensed you can't "procure" him. Rather he helps you out by taking your case and fathoming the wrong doing. In return for the support the customer gives back where its due by giving him some money. Scudder is a drunkard. Seldom do you discover him without a beverage in has hand or at one of has most loved watering gaps. "Sins of the Fathers" is the first in a progression of books about Matthew Scudder. There are around a fourteen others as of this written work. Scudder is employed by a father to investigate the homicide of his girl. The task is not to tackle the wrongdoing on the grounds that the young lady's gay flat mate has been captured and was discovered dead in his cell. He has hung himself and this "demonstrates" he did it. Anyway, did he truly? We locate the girl is a hooker and was adored like a sister by the affirmed executioner. So who isn't that right?
With the 15th Matthew Scudder book due out December 2001 from Lawrence Block, I thought it would be a decent time to re-read the greater part of the starting 14, starting with this, the first in the line. It's intriguing to note that not at all like numerous other expanded arrangement, Scudder maintains the introductory subtle elements set around the creator. He is not yet a conceded alcoholic, but rather the signs are starting to show. He is willing to curve the law to suit his own particular arrangement of good values, which he has always kept on doing. There is an individual roughness in this introductory scene which is more self-controlled later on, however it is a movement that is reasonable. There are a couple of superfluous pages presenting the Elaine character which has nothing what-so-ever to do with this riddle and appears like basic filler to make the book a fitting length. Yet, in future books, Elaine turns into a noteworthy member. Would it be able to be that Block as of now had her future part mapped out for her when he composed this first book? 

The puzzle isn't that great, I had it fairly made sense of around 66% into the story. Be that as it may, the horrifying subtle elements are clearly depicted, the dialog is hard bubbled, and there is a vibe for the district that has turn into a trademark of the Scudder books. On the off chance that you are Scudder fan, this is an unquestionable requirement read. At the same time, on entire, it is a bit powerless and perhaps why Block himself proposes you read another book in the arrangement first - conceivable to better whet your ravenous  for additional books.

 This is a real page turner and I am not the best one for writing a review on a mystery. I am not really a fan of mysteries. But I liked the characters and the plot is good with promise of much to come. I read this in a 24 hour period. Did I like it, yes I did very much and would recommend it to all my friends.

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