When the Sacred Ginmill Closes
A Matthew Scudder Crime Novel
Book - 1986
In the dark days, in a sad and lonely place, ex-cop Matt Scudder is drinking his life away -- and doing "favors" for pay for his ginmill cronies. But when three such assignments flow together in dangerous and disturbing ways, he'll need to change his priorities from boozing to surviving.
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Add a QuoteOn Actors Guild Union Rules: How many actors it takes to change a light bulb? Nine. One to climb up and replace it and eight others to stand around the ladder and say, 'That should be me up there!'
..how many husbands cheat? What is it they say? Ninety percent admit they cheat and ten percent lie about it? --- It looked as though it hadn't been through a car wash since it left Detroit. The ashtray overflowed with cigarette butts and the floor was deep in litter. ---

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Add a CommentCrime / mystery novel
If you are new to Scudder, this is a great place to start. I did not think I would like these books, but they have become one of my favorite mystery series.
Another great story about Scudder recalling past events and his continuing struggle with alcoholism. There is no self-pity in his story, no superhero crime solving. I have never liked other authors whose characters drink a lot. But I find Scudder more poignant than pathetic, similar in some ways to Jame Lee Burke's Robicheaux. Block's writing is lean. Burke is more dense and intense. Both Robicheaux and Scudder have to overcome their personal demons. The contrast is a wonderful and intense blend of personal conviction and courage.
Scudder was consulted by a couple from his alcoholic community, owners of gin-mills, to look into who robbed them. In between, another bar hopper retained him to investigate his wife's murder. All the while, he was drinking away to forget the reason why he chose to leave NYPD. Crisp and colorful detective story in various NYC neighborhoods.