Private detective Matt Scudder has calculated that New York is a city that harbors at least eight million ways to part with life. An honest guy trying to give up alcohol, a loyal friend, and a capable detective—that’s Matt Scudder, the hero of Lawrence Block’s brilliant series of novels. In this novel, he agrees to help his friend, a call girl trying to get out of “the business.” A simple request turns into the girl’s murder, and now Scudder must walk a long road strewn with corpses in search of a brutal killer. Vivid, compelling characters (above all Scudder himself), an ingenious plot, the palpable atmosphere of a vast metropolis, magnificent descriptions and dialogue, expertly staged hard-boiled scenes, and an unexpected finale—all of this guarantees an enjoyable read.