Matt recounts an old case to Mick Ballou, about a childhood friend, Jack "High-Low" Ellery, who turned to crime.
You can certainly tell the difference between an excellent writer and an average writer, although I don't know how to describe it. Block is an excellent writer.
Words I Had To Look Up:
the house's standard lagniappe (pg. 107) -- A small gift given with a purchase to a customer. terpin hydrate fog (pg. 135) -- An expectorant, commonly used to loosen mucus in the setting of acute or chronic bronchitis, and related conditions.
Published in 1958 under a pseudonym, this little piece of soft-core porn has some good stuff, but I really don't like the main characters. I closed my eyes during the dirty parts.
Matthew Scudder and "Mick" Ballou are the targets of someone. Seems like everybody around them is getting murdered!
QUOTE:
Years ago an old cop name Vince Mahaffey tol me what to do when someone gives me money. "Take it," he said. "and put it away and say thank you. You could even touch your cap if you're wearing one."
QUOTE:
"So that he grew up hating me. Well, don't they grow up in Belfast hating the English? And don't the Proddy kids grow up hating the Holy Father? 'F[***] the Queen!' 'Nah, nah, f[***] the Pope!' F[***] 'em both, I say, or let 'em f[***] each other." He drew out his pocket flask and sweetended his coffee. "They grow into good haters if you teach them early enough."
Various people in New York interact in various ways, including murder. I felt a lot of pity for the murderer. Takes place after 9/11. Some rather pornographic sex scenes.
Bernie Rhodenbarr goes to an English-style country inn in New England to steal a book.
QUOTE:
"And she's a Cobbett, which means there's probably not a whole lot she hasn't done. The only thing that makes me exotic is that I'm not a blood relative."
BONUS QUOTE:
Don't ask me what kind of gun it was. Guns make me nervous-- people keep them in drawers so that they can shoot burglars with them, and I'm opposed to that--...