Wed 10 Oct 2018
Mystery Review: LAWRENCE BLOCK – Time to Murder and Create.
Posted by Steve under Reviews[8] Comments
LAWRENCE BLOCK – Time to Murder and Create. Matt Scudder #2. Dell, paperback original, 1977. Avon, paperback, 1991. Dark Harvest, hardcover, 1993.
This book was published relatively early in Block’s career, hence the fact that when it first came out, it was as a lowly paperback original. The first hardcover edition didn’t come along until many years later, well after later books in the series had started to gather quite a lot of critical attention and acclaim.
Many people like to go through a series in order, and because there has been some question about that, it was Block himself who has verified that Time to Murder and Create was the second to be written but the third to be published. Having that additional insight into the growth of a fictional character is a big plus to many fans, and Matt Scudder has become a guy who has lots of them.
But just in case he’s someone who’s new to you, Scudder is an ex-cop who quit the force soon after accidentally killing a small child by a ricocheting bullet in the line of duty. He manages a small living acting as an unlicensed private investigator.
In this book he’s approached by an acquaintance generally known as Spinner. Spinner is not really a friend, but recently he seems to be doing well, as if he has come into some money.
He has a favor to ask of Scudder, who after agreeing is given an envelope to be opened on the occasion of Spinner’s death.
Not surprisingly, that’s exactly what happens. When Spinner’s body is pulled from the East River, Scudder opens the envelope and … you may be ahead of me. If you’ve already guessed that Spinner had been doing some blackmailing, you’d be right.
He’d had his hooks into three people, as a matter of fact, and in all likelihood, one of them is responsible for his death. Scudder decides that it’s up to him to find out which one it is.
It’s easy to tell that Block is the author of both the Scudder books and his “Burglar†series — the voice is exactly the same — but even as early in the series as this one is, it has a harder edge to it than any of the Bernie Rhodenbarr ever had.
As always, or so it’s been my experience, the mystery itself may not be your primary reason for reading a book by Block. It’s the voice, the rhythm, the attitude, the take you out of your everyday problems, even if only for a short time. Two or three hours will do for me.
Any of his books, including this one.
October 10th, 2018 at 6:51 pm
Cover images and some fine tuning on the formatting to come later!
October 10th, 2018 at 7:51 pm
Scudder was a favorite in early days, eventually the unrelenting darkness of the series got to me, but I still dip a toe in once in a while when a plot or title catches my eye.
I think you make a valid point about Block, in that while he is perfectly good, perhaps well above average, at plot I read him for voice, style, word play, and a visit as much as anything. I prefer his lighter voice, Bernie, Tanner, Keller, but Scudder is one of the great P.I. voices, always to be reckoned with.
October 10th, 2018 at 11:19 pm
Yes the series certainly did get darker over the years, which is why the books became such a big success with noir fans. It’s also why I’ve read more of the Rhodenbarr series than I have the Scudders.
So far in the movies Scudder has been impersonated by Jeff Bridgrs and Liam Neesen. I like Bridges in the part more than I do the latter, but the movie he was in was awful.
October 11th, 2018 at 7:12 am
TIME TO CHECK THE TITLE UP THERE.
I liked the first three paperback originals (including this more) more than some of the later, more vicious – if more highly praised – ones that came later. I haven’t read all of them, while I have read all of most of Block’s other series, which I suppose is a comment in itself.
October 11th, 2018 at 12:56 pm
“Murfreesboro” for “Murder and Create”? Autocorrect gets awfully creative at times, doesn’t it? I’ve fixed that and will finally get to add a couple of cover images very soon now. Some things I just can’t do from an iPhone.
October 11th, 2018 at 10:47 am
It seemed to me like Lawrence Block was born to write for Gold Medal, and I have to say I enjoy those early books more tan his later stuff.
As usual, I must wait for fashion to catch up with me.
October 11th, 2018 at 1:43 pm
About “Murfreesboro” I thought my eyes were just getting worse!
October 11th, 2018 at 1:50 pm
I thought the character development over the course of the series was pretty realistic. Instead of having one book were the lead goes from drunk to sober, he fell off the wagon several times, and it was several books in before he stopped drinking completely. I also thought what an alcoholic feels was done very, very well. Also, Scudder ages and settles down as time goes on.
Block’s writing is always smooth and just seems to flow along that before you know it you are several chapters along.