Lawrence Block – Mystery Writer’s Grand Master – Born June 24, 1938
A few weeks ago when we were visiting with Peter, Missy and Zoe, Missy’s mom was looking for a movie to watch. She said to Peter we don’t want A Walk Among the Tombstones because it wasn’t very good. I commented that the books was really good! She looked at me quizzically and said “there’s book” Yeah, I said by the great Lawrence Block. I bring this up today because today is Lawrence Block’s birthday. Block was born in Buffalo, New York on June 24th in 1938.
A Walk Among the Tombstones features one of the mystery genres best characters, Matt Scudder. From Wikipedia
….Block’s most famous creation, the ever-evolving Matthew Scudder, was introduced in 1976’s The Sins of the Fathers as an alcoholic ex-cop working as an unlicensed private investigator in Hell’s Kitchen. Originally published as paperbacks, the early novels are interchangeable; the second and third entries—In the Midst of Death (1976) and Time to Murder and Create (1977)—were written in the opposite order. 1982’s 8 Million Ways to Die (filmed in 1986 by Hal Ashby, with unpopular results) breaks from that trend, concluding with Scudder introducing himself at an Alcoholics Anonymous meeting.
During the 80s and the early 90s I read many of the Matt Scudder books. Looking at the list of Matt Scudder books I think that A Walk Among the Tombstones was the last one I read!! Hope to Die the 15th Matt Scudder book released in 2001 is on my TBR shelf. Maybe it’s time to get back into the series!! Oh, by the way A Walk among the Tombstones was book 10 in the series.
In addition to the Matt Scudder novels, Lawrence Block wrote several other series. My favorite was The Burglar series that feature the lovable Bernie Rhodenbarr There are eleven books in that series and I have again read many of them. The first book Burglars Can’t Be Choosers is also on my TBR pile! Maybe I’ll flip a coin??
His other series feature Evan Tanner, Chip Harrson and Keller. I think one of the Keller books is buried somewhere among my books! LOL!! Block has also written books using nine different pen names!!
Here is a list of the Edgar Awards that Lawrence Block has won.in addition, Block was named a Grand Master by the Mystery Writers of America in 1994.
Edgar Awards
1978, Best Paperback Original, Time to Murder and Create[5]
1983, Best Novel, Eight Million Ways to Die
1985, Best Short Story, “By Dawn’s Early Light”
1991, Best Short Story, “Answers to Soldier”
1992, Best Novel, A Dance at the Slaughterhouse
Best Short Story, “A Blow For Freedom”
1994, Grand Master Award
Best Short Story, “Keller’s Therapy”
1995, Best Novel, A Long Line of Dead Men
1998, Best Short Story, “Keller On the Spot”
1999, Best Short Story, “Looking for David”[6][7][8]
Shamus Awards[edit]
1982, Best Novel, A Stab in the Dark
1983, Best Novel, Eight Million Ways to Die
1985, Best Short Story, “By the Dawn’s Early Light”
1987, Best Novel, When the Sacred Ginmill Closes
1990, Best Novel, Out on the Cutting Edge
1991, Best Novel, A Ticket to the Boneyard
1992, Best Novel, Dance at the Slaughterhouse
1994, Best Novel, The Devil Knows You’re Dead
Best Short Story, “The Merciful Angel of Death”
1995, Best Novel, A Long Line of Dead Men
2002, Lifetime Achievement Award (“The Eye”)
2009, Best Character Award (“The Hammer”) for Matt Scudder
So if you’ve never read any Lawrence Block you should. Here are some……