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A review by mandalor3960
A Dance at the Slaughterhouse by Lawrence Block
2.0
Definitely has a better storyline than most of the previous books; a video cassette with a murder involving unusual sexual content and Scudder taking matters into his own hands (especially prevalent in the previous book 'A Ticket to the Boneyard'). The plotline dead have some funny spots that felt too coincidental but Mike's role in this story is larger than in previous books and it's neither satisfying nor dissatisfying. The final shootout and scene wasn't as dramatic but the original telling of the cassette was chilling.
Rating Update 3/13/2019 - 3 to 2 stars. It took me 3 months to read the book. I definitely did not enjoy the book, save for certain parts.
Update 10 June 2019
With the adoption of my new rating system, a two star rating is befitting. The original review's tone indicates a two star rating since I found the majority of the book to be mediocre, characteristic of two star rated books, with few three star rated sections that are not enough to raise the rating to three stars. The rating update from March 3, 2019, is helpful in supporting a two star rating since I took three months to read the novel, another characteristic of a two star rated novel.
August 20, 2019
Update
Adding to the previous update, I do not recall most of this book and have not found a synopsis online. A two star rating is a safe choice from all the information gathered in the original review and subsequent updates.
December 29, 2019
Update
The "Matt Scudder List" document ranks A Dance at the Slaughterhouse above In the Midst of Death and A Stab in the Dark. These latter books were classified as 2O ratings but A Dance at the Slaughterhouse receives a 2OO rating, means I was fine with the buildup in the mystery genre at the time of reading this book and that I also enjoyed more parts in the book. I may currently find the buildup actually OK because these novels are decent and OK (largely because of the good content).
Rating Update 3/13/2019 - 3 to 2 stars. It took me 3 months to read the book. I definitely did not enjoy the book, save for certain parts.
Update 10 June 2019
With the adoption of my new rating system, a two star rating is befitting. The original review's tone indicates a two star rating since I found the majority of the book to be mediocre, characteristic of two star rated books, with few three star rated sections that are not enough to raise the rating to three stars. The rating update from March 3, 2019, is helpful in supporting a two star rating since I took three months to read the novel, another characteristic of a two star rated novel.
August 20, 2019
Update
Adding to the previous update, I do not recall most of this book and have not found a synopsis online. A two star rating is a safe choice from all the information gathered in the original review and subsequent updates.
December 29, 2019
Update
The "Matt Scudder List" document ranks A Dance at the Slaughterhouse above In the Midst of Death and A Stab in the Dark. These latter books were classified as 2O ratings but A Dance at the Slaughterhouse receives a 2OO rating, means I was fine with the buildup in the mystery genre at the time of reading this book and that I also enjoyed more parts in the book. I may currently find the buildup actually OK because these novels are decent and OK (largely because of the good content).