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jakewritesbooks's review against another edition
4.0
Ah yes, the year 2000. Right before The Troubles. Before 9/11, Katrina, Iraq, Recession 1, the Tea Party, melting coastlines, Trump, and the coronavirus hailing Recession II. Matthew Scudder has emerged from the social decay of 70s and 80s Manhattan to make a decent life for itself in a city that’s enjoying its final moments of pre-9/11 glory.
But who knows what trouble lurks in the hearts of men? The Scudder does! This time with (sigh) yet another serial killer. These have always been the weakest of Block’s Scudder novels, Eight Million Ways to Die barely excluded (and I don’t love that one as much as others do). We even get some POV chapters from the killer, which the novel doesn’t need.
But as I’ve said before, I come here mostly to dwell in Scudder’s world. His view of Manhattan and what makes the city scratch the deepest tourist itch, especially since there’s no real life tourism. I like seeing how the characters are doing, how some have evolved (though I think he’s killed off the wrong ones over the years). And the shoe leather detective work, always a fun aspect of the Scudder books, is of high quality here, much better than its predecessor.
I was going back and reading some of my old Scudder reviews. For book three, Time to Murder and Create, I wrote something along the lines of how I’ll one day look back at these novels and realize I’ve read most of them and remembered none. That’s not true. The series takes off at book four and hits moments of true greatness, peaking with A Dance at the Slaughterhouse. This one is a plot I likely won’t remember as time passes on. But let the record show I liked it well enough because I like the series so much.
But who knows what trouble lurks in the hearts of men? The Scudder does! This time with (sigh) yet another serial killer. These have always been the weakest of Block’s Scudder novels, Eight Million Ways to Die barely excluded (and I don’t love that one as much as others do). We even get some POV chapters from the killer, which the novel doesn’t need.
But as I’ve said before, I come here mostly to dwell in Scudder’s world. His view of Manhattan and what makes the city scratch the deepest tourist itch, especially since there’s no real life tourism. I like seeing how the characters are doing, how some have evolved (though I think he’s killed off the wrong ones over the years). And the shoe leather detective work, always a fun aspect of the Scudder books, is of high quality here, much better than its predecessor.
I was going back and reading some of my old Scudder reviews. For book three, Time to Murder and Create, I wrote something along the lines of how I’ll one day look back at these novels and realize I’ve read most of them and remembered none. That’s not true. The series takes off at book four and hits moments of true greatness, peaking with A Dance at the Slaughterhouse. This one is a plot I likely won’t remember as time passes on. But let the record show I liked it well enough because I like the series so much.
johnnygamble's review against another edition
3.0
Didn't have the conflict the previous book had, and I didn't buy the motive, but overall it was satisfying.
ericwelch's review against another edition
3.0
Another classic Scudder novel. As I’ve noted in other Block reviews, I’ve listened to Block read his own work and there’s a definite cadence to his writing, as unique as Robert Parker’s Spenser novels (but much less intrusive.) So now when I read any of Block’s work, it’s almost as if I’m hearing his voice in my head. Pleasant but sometimes disconcerting.
Scudder investigates the killing, burglary and rape of the Hollanders. He’s approached initially by Byrne Hollander’s niece who has suspicions that their daughter, Kristin, was somehow involved. Nothing seems to point in that direction but the discovery of the bodies of the two burglars, dead from an apparent murder/suicide seems a bit too coincidental for Scudder. Good investigation despite the rather thin motivation for the complicated killings.
Something I found a bit discomfitting was the italicized thoughts of the killer, outlining and discussing his actions. I may be wrong, but I don’t remember that kind of interposition in the other Scudder books I’ve read. 3.5645 stars.
Scudder investigates the killing, burglary and rape of the Hollanders. He’s approached initially by Byrne Hollander’s niece who has suspicions that their daughter, Kristin, was somehow involved. Nothing seems to point in that direction but the discovery of the bodies of the two burglars, dead from an apparent murder/suicide seems a bit too coincidental for Scudder. Good investigation despite the rather thin motivation for the complicated killings.
Something I found a bit discomfitting was the italicized thoughts of the killer, outlining and discussing his actions. I may be wrong, but I don’t remember that kind of interposition in the other Scudder books I’ve read. 3.5645 stars.
carol26388's review
3.0
"I didn't have anything to say to that. And the anger I'd felt before was gone now, stuffed wherever that sort of thing gets stuffed. If I felt anything it was an almighty weariness. I wanted this little talk to be over and I knew it was going to go on forever."
And that, in a nutshell, is the emotional tone of Hope to Die. A book filled with sober melancholy; Matt's ex's death and seeing his sons for the first time in four years brings a miasma of discontent to the story. Though Block tries to hook us in during the first chapter with Matt's imagining the viewpoint of a couple in a double-homicide and robbery, his fabrication is not enough to build a great deal of interest in the crime. Once the killers are found in a locked apartment, supposedly victims of a murder-suicide, the city forgets about it. However, it isn't long before TJ and a friend rope Matt into investigating the double-homicide. It isn't so much that he thinks the case is worthy; he wants to a distraction to pull him out of the emotional fog. (Once an alcoholic, always an alcoholic: Matt's clearly avoiding dealing with the emotions his estranged family rouses in him).
Pacing was enjoyable once the actual investigation gets underway. As always, the relationship between Scudder and TJ is deceptively pleasant and easy, and it becomes clear that TJ is a second chance for Scudder to positively influence a 'son.' In keeping with the mournful tone, there wasn't quite as much as Block's usual humorous asides, and the city-scape seemed a little drab, except, perhaps, the house undergoing renovation and paying off an 'inspector.'
One potential spoilery note on point of view: I take exception to Block's effort to include the killer's viewpoint, however. It seems like standard boilerplate, takes away from Block's normal subtle building of the cityscape and its characters, and does little in its attempts to ratchet up tension. I find narration by the antagonist generally uninteresting, and feel it usually represents a weak attempt to invest tension into a story. A story about "deconditioning" an allergy to a pet is horrifying and somewhat useless, especially in parallel to the current case. Combining it with an internet chat forum devoted to serial killers was just annoying and pandering to sensationalism. Block uses it less ineptly than most, but I can't help but feel it represents an attempt to up the juice when, just perhaps, he may be getting the slightest bit bored with Scudder. We'll see--not many more books in the series left.
While there was some effort to bring in the depth and reflection found in early Scudder books, both Matt and Block feel half-hearted in their sincerity. The ploy of Elaine and Matt attending the donor's dinner at Lincoln Center seems forced, when I can't remember Matt referencing classical music before. Block making a point of Matt's appreciation for jazz and classical music, then dropping a bunch of classical composer names and performances seems incongruous. I think back to prior books, and remember a passion for Chinese food one book, diner food another, evenings out at Mick's, and attending an S&M club, and I wonder if actually, instead of Block showing us previously unknown sides of Matt's personality, he's just giving him whatever interest that book needs, or whatever New York scene we haven't delved into before. Block also has become more overt in describing Scudder's emotional issues. Unfortunately, that became kind of a sticking point for me in a series that originally stood on it's subtle and complex characterizations.
Overall, the mystery was moderately interesting, with a couple of false leads, one or two more obvious than I prefer. I love TJ's dynamic role. I like that Matt got drawn in by emotions and grief of the victim's daughter, Kristin. Her character was wonderfully developed, along with the characters of the various investigating detectives. It was particularly nice to not blame the prematurely-closed case on incompetent police work. The bit character of the antiques dealer that lives on the ground floor was vintage New York.However, I take issue with the plot device of "revealing-the-wrong-person-as-killer;" I feel like Matt's too sophisticated and aware of justice issues to make this mistake. He's hardly been the law-abiding type.
I'd recommend it for Scudder fans, but it sits at about a solid three stars for me in the Scudder continuum.
And that, in a nutshell, is the emotional tone of Hope to Die. A book filled with sober melancholy; Matt's ex's death and seeing his sons for the first time in four years brings a miasma of discontent to the story. Though Block tries to hook us in during the first chapter with Matt's imagining the viewpoint of a couple in a double-homicide and robbery, his fabrication is not enough to build a great deal of interest in the crime. Once the killers are found in a locked apartment, supposedly victims of a murder-suicide, the city forgets about it. However, it isn't long before TJ and a friend rope Matt into investigating the double-homicide. It isn't so much that he thinks the case is worthy; he wants to a distraction to pull him out of the emotional fog. (Once an alcoholic, always an alcoholic: Matt's clearly avoiding dealing with the emotions his estranged family rouses in him).
Pacing was enjoyable once the actual investigation gets underway. As always, the relationship between Scudder and TJ is deceptively pleasant and easy, and it becomes clear that TJ is a second chance for Scudder to positively influence a 'son.' In keeping with the mournful tone, there wasn't quite as much as Block's usual humorous asides, and the city-scape seemed a little drab, except, perhaps, the house undergoing renovation and paying off an 'inspector.'
One potential spoilery note on point of view:
While there was some effort to bring in the depth and reflection found in early Scudder books, both Matt and Block feel half-hearted in their sincerity. The ploy of Elaine and Matt attending the donor's dinner at Lincoln Center seems forced, when I can't remember Matt referencing classical music before. Block making a point of Matt's appreciation for jazz and classical music, then dropping a bunch of classical composer names and performances seems incongruous. I think back to prior books, and remember a passion for Chinese food one book, diner food another, evenings out at Mick's, and attending an S&M club, and I wonder if actually, instead of Block showing us previously unknown sides of Matt's personality, he's just giving him whatever interest that book needs, or whatever New York scene we haven't delved into before. Block also has become more overt in describing Scudder's emotional issues. Unfortunately, that became kind of a sticking point for me in a series that originally stood on it's subtle and complex characterizations.
Overall, the mystery was moderately interesting, with a couple of false leads, one or two more obvious than I prefer. I love TJ's dynamic role. I like that Matt got drawn in by emotions and grief of the victim's daughter, Kristin. Her character was wonderfully developed, along with the characters of the various investigating detectives. It was particularly nice to not blame the prematurely-closed case on incompetent police work. The bit character of the antiques dealer that lives on the ground floor was vintage New York.
I'd recommend it for Scudder fans, but it sits at about a solid three stars for me in the Scudder continuum.
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