::AMAZON REVIEWS::

One of the all-time great detective books
The mystery is pretty good in itself, but what sets this book and all of Block's books apart is the vivid world in which it takes place. Block has John D. MacDonald's gift for dialogue matched with Charles Dickens' ability to develop characters, wrapped in a noir sensibility that creates an unforgettable reading experience. Block's portrayal of the standard hard-drinking detective as he struggles with the decision to become sober is particularly poignant. I have given away several copies of this book, and so far every person I gave it to has read most or all of the Matt Scudder series.

A Private Eye, A Great Mystery, and Alcoholism
I loved this mystery. It is a literary page-turner about the search for a prostitute's murderer.

Detective Matt Scudder's on-going battle with alcohlism is as vivid and intricately described as anything I've ever read. I am a clinical social worker and marriage and family therapist and I often give copies of this book to my clients who have alcohol issues or addictions. Anyone who has a problem with alcohol or addictions or has a loved one with addiction problems should read this book.

Anyone who loves a good mystery with great characters will love this book.

Very good book.. weak ending...
Superb character development.. may have dragged a bit at times...but entertaining and better written than most crime novels I have read... but the ending...hmm... how can a book that had been that good up until the final chapters end so.. well.. disappointingly...

great mystery with well-defined, interesting characters
Read a lot of L Block books. Going to go back and read some earlier titles that I missed. Terrific story teller.

Reviews from the Weekend Reader, Elizabeth Jean Allen
Matthew Scudder is not a licensed private investigator. To claim he was one would not be ethical. Besides, private investigators have to keep up with records and billable hours... No, you can't hire him, but you can ask him to do a favor. In return for said favor, you can buy him a drink and give him a little cash.

At one point in his life Matt was a detective for the NYPD, but when a stray bullet from his gun struck and killed an innocent child during a shootout, Matt resigned. He buried his grief in a bottle and started doing favors for friends.

In Eight Million Ways to Die, Matt has reached a crossroads. After experiencing blackout that lasted several days that ended with Matt in the hospital, he knew he had to come to terms with his drinking. He agreed to go to AA, but he was not ready to label himself an alcoholic.

In need of money, Matt agreed to act as an intermediary for a hooker. She wanted out of the business but was afraid to tell her pimp. It was a simple job and the situation was settled without bloodshed or tears. Chance, the pimp, felt Kim wasted her money. She didn't need to hire Matt. All she had to do was tell him she wanted out. When Kim was found dead a few days later, the police and Matt assumed Chance was the guilty party.

The police would never be able to prove that Chance was guilty. Chance knew that, but the fact that the police assumed he did it and were not looking elsewhere irritated him. Kim was a hooker, but she was one of his girls. The cloud of suspicion was hurting his business. As Matt already had a vested interest in the case, Chance hires him. Matt would ferret out the truth.

It has been 25 years since Laurence Block's Eight Million Ways to Die was first released. New York City has changed since then, but it was easy to visualize the rabble and the rubble of the New York City of old through the eyes of Matthew Scudder. It was descriptive without the lengthy prose to go with it.

It is a classic hardboiled detective story. The clues are doled out at regular intervals. An astute mystery reader may be able to identify the killer before Matt puts the pieces together. I had my suspicions but there was enough doubt to keep me guessing right up until the end.

Eight Million Ways to Die is dark, cynical, violent and incredibly lonely--all that a great PI mystery should be. For the mystery fans out there, I highly recommend it.