Skip to main content
PBS logo
 
 

Book Reviews of A Long Line of Dead Men (Matthew Scudder, Bk 12)

A Long Line of Dead Men  (Matthew Scudder, Bk 12)
A Long Line of Dead Men - Matthew Scudder, Bk 12
Author: Lawrence Block
ISBN-13: 9780380720248
ISBN-10: 0380720248
Publication Date: 2/1/1996
Pages: 368
Rating:
  • Currently 3.9/5 Stars.
 27

3.9 stars, based on 27 ratings
Publisher: Avon
Book Type: Paperback
Reviews: Amazon | Write a Review

8 Book Reviews submitted by our Members...sorted by voted most helpful

fox20000 avatar reviewed A Long Line of Dead Men (Matthew Scudder, Bk 12) on + 6 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 1
This is a great read. Mat Scudder is a New York ex-cop and detective who goes to AA meetings and knows some bad people. He manages to stay on the good side of things for the most part. If you like detective novels, try this guy on. There are many in the series and you need not read them in order.
reviewed A Long Line of Dead Men (Matthew Scudder, Bk 12) on + 517 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 1
Members of a secret club are dying. Some by accident, some have commited suicide and some were murdered. Or we they all murdered? Matt Scudder must find out. Good story.
perryfran avatar reviewed A Long Line of Dead Men (Matthew Scudder, Bk 12) on + 1223 more book reviews
This is the 12th book in Block's Matt Scudder series. I have read all of the previous eleven books and I'll be looking forward to finishing the series. This is one of my favorite crime series...Matthew Scudder is a former cop who quit the force when a young girl was killed accidentally by his bullet during a gun fight. He becomes an unlicensed private investigator and has fought for years to stay sober by attending AA meetings religiously. In this novel, he is asked to investigate whether the deaths in a group of 31 men may not all be according to the laws of probability. The group is a supposed ancient brotherhood of 31 prosperous men who meet once a year to discuss the life happenings of each member. The current group was formed in the 60s and when there is only one survivor, a new group will be formed. But the death rate among the group seems extremely high with only fourteen remaining after thirty years. Could someone be killing the group members? But if so, what is the motive and why have the deaths been stretched out over thirty years. Scudder agrees to look into the case and finds that some of the deaths do indeed look questionable.

This was an unusual case for Scudder. It doesn't really involve any of the usual down and outs or the dregs of New York that he mostly gets involved with but it was still a very good novel in the series. Matt is still with Elaine, a former prostitute, but he is also seeing someone on the side. And then there are also the other wonderfully portrayed supporting characters including TJ, a young black street person who helps Matt with his cases, and Mick Ballou, a bar owner and mobster who Matt goes to for advice and long conversations. Great series that I recommend highly!
reviewed A Long Line of Dead Men (Matthew Scudder, Bk 12) on + 30 more book reviews
Great Scudder book!
wgw avatar reviewed A Long Line of Dead Men (Matthew Scudder, Bk 12) on + 136 more book reviews
Lawrence Block writes as well as anybody. Another great Matthew Scudder novel.
bookmanpc avatar reviewed A Long Line of Dead Men (Matthew Scudder, Bk 12) on + 53 more book reviews
Very good, if a bit weary for old Scudder.
Didn't see the killer until almost he did.. Enjoyable!
grannysharon avatar reviewed A Long Line of Dead Men (Matthew Scudder, Bk 12) on + 25 more book reviews
This book is about an ancient brotherhood of prosperous men created in secret to celebrate life by celebrating its dead. Scudder is called in to investigate a baffling 30-year run of suicides, random accidents that has plagued this elite group. Suddenly his life is threatened and he has hit pay dirt!
reviewed A Long Line of Dead Men (Matthew Scudder, Bk 12) on + 11 more book reviews
HARDCOVER