Decent story about an ex-cop as he is hired by the father of a serial killer's victim to find out the truth about who killed her

Louis Pinel el recién detenido ¨Merodeador del Piolet¨, admite abiertamente haber matado a siete mujeres jóvenes hace siete años, pero jura que fue un imitador quien mato a Barbara Ettinge, Matthew Scudder le cree. Pero descubrir la verdad del asesinato de Ettinge es retorcido, oscuro y peligroso e incluso más frío que el cadáver de casi diez años de edad, pero el investigador esta dispuesto a vengarlo.

Much better than the other Lawrence Block I read this year (The Specialist). Matthew Scudder is a long running series. The classic book in the series is the 5th, Six Million Ways To Die where Scudder comes to grips with his growing alcoholism. Six Million Ways To Die was made into a horrible movie starring Jeff Bridges. Don't watch it. A Stab in the Dark is the 4th book. Scudder is investigating the 9-year old murder of a young woman. This murder was one of a string perpetrated by the so-called ice-pick prowler who had never been captured. Now the murderer has been caught and has admitted to all the killings except for this one. Scudder takes on the investigation at the bequest of the girl's father. An undercurrent to the story is Scudder's near constant drinking and his weaker and weaker defense to himself that he can handle it. ( )

Digital audiobook read by William Roberts


Matthew Scudder series, number four. Scudder is a former NYPD detective who now free-lances as a detective on seemingly impossible cases. He doesn’t have an office, or business cards, and takes only those cases that interest him and that he feels he may be able to help. Definitely unconventional

This time out he’s approached by a man who wants answers on his daughter’s murder some nine years previous. Her killing was attributed to the Ice Pick Killer, a serial killer who recently confessed to a series of murders. But he could not possibly have murdered Barbara Ettinger; he was hospitalized at the time of her death. So who did it?

Block writes a tight, fast-moving, noir police-procedural. Scudder is something of a mystery himself. Oh, we know why he left the force and we’re privy to his demons, but he plays his cards close to the vest. Watching him ferret out the truth is engaging and fascinating.

William Roberts does a fine job of narrating the audiobook. He sets a good pace and brings Scudder (and the other characters) to life. ( )

who killed the woman if not a psycho