The best description I can make of this book is it resembles a subplot carved out of a good Matt Scudder mystery. It's too insubstantial to carry a novel, even one as short as this. The plot that is here is cookie-cutter, with only a few places that demonstrate the depth of the characters.

I recommend this only for die-hard Matt Scudder fans, who would be willing to watch him do anything, and who are anxious for news about the secondary characters in the series. As a stand-alone book, it doesn't work, and to anyone not already steeped in the Scudder universe, it won't make much sense.

Lawrence Block has been one of my favorite writers since the 1980s, and I am glad to see that he is still writing. I can see how he is trying to update the stories, but this novella was not one of his tales. I couldn't get into the plot, it wasn't as engaging as his other books. But I guess that is the problem with being a great writer, people expect you to always write to that level.

Matthew Scudder is back more than a decade since his last appearance in A Time to Scatter Stones.

The Scudder series began in the 1980s. Now decades later, Scudder has continued to age and is now well past retirement age. However, he is still tilting at windmills. In this novella, he is helping a former call girl escape an abusive client who can’t forget her former career.

Within A Time to Scatter Stones, Scudder’s advancing age is almost another character. There is an exploration of how former bad a$$es deal with the slowing down of their skills. Compared to earlier entries in the series, there is not much happening here.

I’m not sure I like the fact that Scudder’s aging reminds me of my own. I read to escape realities like that. However, I admit it was also rather strange that Sue Grafton’s alphabet series left Kinsey and all her other characters stuck in the 1980s for almost 40 years. Obviously, I am never satisfied.

This novella is best for fans already familiar with the Scudder series. For those readers, 4 stars!

Thanks to Subterranean Press and NetGalley for a copy in exchange for an honest review.

Published by Subterranean on January 31, 2019

Lawrence Block has concocted some interesting plots in his many decades as a writer of crime fiction, some of them in his popular Matthew Scudder series. A Time to Scatter Stones is a novella-length Scudder story that has more dialog than plot. The dialog is often entertaining, and it is to Block’s credit that he didn’t pad a story in which very little happens.

Scudder met Elaine when Scudder was married and still an NYPD detective. He met her again years later, when he was divorced and sober. They’ve been together for years, but when they first met, Elaine was a working girl. Scudder still goes to AA meetings but Elaine only recently joined a support group for former prostitutes called Tarts.

Elaine has a friend from Tarts named Ellen. Much of the novel consists of Elaine and Ellen discussing the kinky (or not) desires of Johns who engage the services of prostitutes. Scudder happily joins those conversations and even more happily fantasizes about doing a three-way with Elaine and Ellen. Elaine doesn’t mind the fantasy, so all is well and good.

Ah, but the plot? Well, a former client of Ellen’s won’t accept that she’s left the business. He wants to keep her on the payroll and is threatening to rape her if she won’t give him what he wants, including things were never on Ellen’s menu. Scudder tracks him down and teaches him some manners. That diversion takes little of Scudder’s time, allowing him to get back to what he enjoys, which (since he no longer drinks) seems to consist of talking about and having sex.

The story is littered with amusing musings and bad jokes and discussions of various combinations of sex partners who the two retired prostitutes have encountered. If you’re looking for a narrative version of Red Shoe Diaries with a beat-down thrown in, this is the novella for you. If you’re a fan of the Scudder series and wonder what Scudder is doing in his senior years, the novella will answer your question. If you’re looking for a thrilling crime story, you might want to look elsewhere. I enjoyed it as a voyeuristic and not particularly realistic look at the lives of prostitutes, but I wouldn’t recommend it as a crime story.

RECOMMENDED WITH RESERVATIONS

A TIME TO SCATTER STONES (Novelette-Matt Scudder-NYC-Contemp) – Ex
Block, Lawrence – A Matt Scudder Novelette
Subterranean; Deluxe Hardcover edition - Jan, 2019
First Sentence: The four of us—Kristin and Mick, Elaine and I—stood on the stoop of their brownstone for the ritual round of hugs.
Matt Scudder is now retired, 25-years sober, and still attending AA meetings. His wife, Elaine, informs him of a group called TARTS that she helped start for sex workers who want to stay out of the life. However, when one young woman informs Elaine of an abusive client who won't let her quit, Elaine suggests Scudder might help.
It is hard to describe how wonderful it is to read Lawrence Block—"You get old and things hurt and then they don't and then they do again." Even if you've not previously read Block, he brings readers up to speed on the characters within a very short time. There's no more backstory than one needs, yet just enough to know the characters.
Prostitution isn't something about which most people even, let alone about the women involved, and not at all about a support group for those who want to leave the life. It is remarkable the way Block creates a sense of danger through a conversation. It causes one to realize just how vulnerable and at risk any woman can be.
Block's dialogue is so natural. It wanders, as real conversations do, from topic to topic within a single conversation—"God, I hate when that happens. Something you said triggered a thought, and then the conversation when on, and the thought got lost. Where were we saying?" There are wonderful kernels of truth sprinkled along the story's path. "There three stages of a man's life," I said, "Youth, middle age, and 'You look wonderful?"
"A Time to Scatter Stones" is perfectly written. It does have violence and sex, but always offstage. While this is a nostalgic read for those who have loved this series, it could also be an excellent impetuses for new readers to go back and explore this fine author.

After reading "A Drop of the Hard Stuff" some years back, I went out and bought a bottle of Maker's Mark - - although perhaps not in keeping with Scudder's AA world -- and got ahold of he previous sixteen books in the series. Yes, I want to read them all again. Block has now released not another novel in the series, but an all-too-short novella that, for many of us, is a trip down memory lane revisiting familiar characters and familiar themes. For those who haven't had the whole Matthew Scudder experience, this might not be enough of a story, not enough red meat. Too bad for you.

It's a story about a call girl who tries to leave the Life, but one client doesn't get with the program and turns into stalker number one. But, it's really about Scudder, his thoughts, his musings.

I’ve read several interviews with Lawrence Block where he’s talked about how there were multiple times in his career when he thought he would never do another story about private detective Matt Scudder, but then something would happen that would make Block bring him back. So I guess fans shouldn’t be surprised that Block had one more story to tell years after we thought Scudder was done.

Matt has long retired and living happily with his wife Elaine. Even though Elaine retired from prostitution many years ago she joins a support group of women who have quit the life, and she’s become a kind of sponsor to a young lady who has a problem with a client that flatly refuses to accept that she’s no longer in business and begins aggressively stalking her. The problem is that he used a fake name so she has no clue who he is. Matt agrees to help, but even if he can find the guy the law isn’t very good about protecting women from obsessive men so stopping him is another problem.

Like many crime/mystery readers I’m a huge fan of Lawrence Block and consider him one of the legends of the genre, and Matt Scudder is the bar by which I judge all other detective fiction with very few being close to the same level. So I was beyond excited to get the news about this new novelette being published. However, I was just a touch disappointed in this.

It’s still Block writing Scudder and much of what I love about the series is here. There’s some solid detective work to be done, and then Matt has to come up with a creative solution to a problem when he knows that there’s no way that the system will help this young lady. The core story and how it’s solved is Block doing what he does best without missing a beat.

Part of the appeal is Matt roaming around New York and getting into fun conversations with various folks that often have nothing at all to do with the case he’s working on. That’s here once again although with a bum knee now Matt doesn’t walk quite as much as he used to, many of his old haunts are gone now, and most of the people he knew in those stories are retired or dead.

That’s been a factor creeping into the last Scudder stories much like how life itself creeps up on all of us, and Matt’s aging in real time as New York has changed around him over the years is one of the points I enjoy about the series. However, a chunk of this book is reminding us of the people Matt used to know, and it’s kind of a bummer at this point. I was especially sad when conversation between Matt and Elaine reveals that they’ve fallen out of touch with TJ, the street kid who became a kind of surrogate son for them at one point in the series. And yeah, that’s life, but I always liked to think it was going to be TJ helping them out in their old age so it kind of hurts that he’s just drifted away from them apparently.

I also wasn’t thrilled with the ending to this after the central problem has been resolved. Back in 2011 Block released a new Scudder novel A Drop of the Hard Stuff as well as short story collection The Night & the Music that felt like the perfect goodbye. The story written just for that collection One Last Night at Grogan’s was especially fitting as Matt's swan song. Frankly, I found the conclusion here odd and off-putting, and it kinda spoiled that classy ending for me.

Still, it’s a new Matt Scudder story when I never thought I’d get another, and I am grateful to Lawrence Block for having him work one more case for us. I think in future rereads I’ll shift this around to still read One Last Night at Grogan’s as the last word from Matt.

Note: This review ran online in Mountain Times (Boone, NC) on Jan. 10 and in print Jan. 31.

Hede: From private to public eye: MWA Grandmaster Lawrence Block resurrects Matthew Scudder in "A Time to Scatter Stones"

After 40 years and 18 novels, Lawrence Block’s unlicensed New York City investigator Matthew Scudder has been absent for most of the past decade — in fact, since 2011's "A Drop of the Hard Stuff."

Because Block has chosen to age his seminal PI in real time, Scudder’s legion of fans could not be faulted for thinking he’s slipped quietly into retirement.

Which he largely had. Until now.

In “A Time to Scatter Stones” (Subterranean Press), Scudder isn’t exactly out of the game, but he’s definitely into semi-retirement — not actively searching for work, but not willing to avoid a job if one comes along for the right reason.

The former private investigator has been taking one day at a time, a philosophy that keeps him out of trouble and away from the bottle, when his live-in lover and former escort, Elaine, introduces him to Ellen, a friend from her own 12-step program — a group of former working professionals known as the Tarts who meet once a week for mutual support.

Ellen, in this novel, is what's known as the right reason.

Actively trying to disengage herself from her erstwhile profession, Ellen has been successful — except for a man she knows only as Paul, an obsessive and abusive former client who forces her into hiding.

Ellen’s one hope for escape lies in Scudder, who, with nothing but a cell phone number, agrees to try to find Paul in a city of millions. Once found, it'll be Scudder's job to convince Paul that he’d be better off — and much healthier — if he were to forget Ellen ever existed.

As a well-developed novella, “A Time to Scatter Stones” is a fitting capstone to a long and successful career — if that’s what it is. Like his hero, Block never fails to surprise. The veteran author is gifted enough to leave the door cracked, and because of that, this book both feels and doesn’t feel like the end.

That’s no easy thing for a writer to pull off, but if all we had were this conclusion to Scudder’s story — replete with Block’s Craver-esque ear for dialogue and enough nostalgia from novels 1-18 to bestow authenticity — it would be a satisfying end.

Yet here’s hoping there's more to come, even while knowing that if Block’s recovering alcoholic underworld investigator has yet another surprise for us, it’ll still be one too few.

Full disclosure: I am a Scudder/Block fan from way back.

I first met Matthew Scudder about 35 years ago in the novel Eight Million Ways to Die. From the day I picked up that first book (actually the 5th in the series) I have been a huge fan of Scudder and Block. I can honestly say that I cannot recall the last time, if ever, that I have felt such anticipation for a new novel.

Matthew Scudder has never been a character who was suspended in time. He has aged, more or less, in real time along with his creator, author Lawrence Block. So this latest entry finds him as a much older man at a time in life where it's more about memories of things that used to be - people, places, things - than it is about pounding the pavement for clues and kicking ass.

But he's still Matthew Scudder and trouble of one sort or another always seems to enlist (if not insist on) his participation. So it is that he sets out to help his wife's friend divest herself of an unwanted admirer. During the course of things he recalls some of the different characters and events we know from previous books in the series. Something along the lines of "back in the day I would have spoken to so-and-so but since he's now doing such-and-such that won't cut it."

A Time to Scatter Stones takes its time getting to where it's going. One of my favorite parts in the book is when Scudder mentally admonishes himself for taking so much time relating his progress on the case - "An old man's like an old river, tending to meander, given to lingering in the interesting bends and curves it cuts into the earth".

I hesitate to recommend this book as a standalone, the reality is that it you aren't at least a little bit familiar with the series it will likely leave you shaking your head and muttering, "What's all the fuss about?" And if you are a longtime fan of the series we both know that nothing I say will keep you from this book... But for the record I recommend it.

I don't know if there will be any more books in this series. There have been many times over the years when Lawrence Block has thought he was finished with Matthew Scudder, that he had said all he had to say and done all he could with the character... but then Scudder would come a' knocking and another book or two would be added to the series. These days Mr. Block, like the character he created all those years ago, is getting along in years and a man can only do so much.

While I can't say that I have loved every book in the series (most but not all) I will say that Lawrence Block has never phoned one in or given less than full measure. If this ends up being the final entry in the Matthew Scudder series then Lawrence Block will have taken him out on a high note. It's not the best in the series but it's still pretty darn good!

NOTE: There is adult language, sexual situations, and mild violence.

There's a little too much sexual content for my personal taste but it's not what I would consider rude, vulgar, or even particularly gratuitous.

***Very special thanks to NetGalley, the publisher, and the author for providing me with a free digital copy of this novel in exchange for an honest review

One of my favorite writers brings back one of my favorite characters in a novella that demonstrates why Matt Scudder, like his creator Lawrence Block, gets better with age. The semi-retired PI is intrigued by the new friend his wife Elaine beings home from a meeting of her unlikely support group - a coterie of prostitutes who, like her, are out of the game now but find friendship with others who've walked many of the same streets - and not just metaphorically . The new friend wants out of it too, but an obsessive former client isn't taking no for an answer - which is where Matt comes in.
Nothing here comes as much of a surprise except the pleasure of being in the company of a gifted storyteller whose characters, by now, have become like old friends

Lawrence Block has been writing Mathew Scudder mysteries for 40 years, and I hope he continues for another 40. Matt has been on a continuous journey through this series, and it is one worth traveling along with him. While this novella can stand on its own, it is much richer if you know Matt’s history.

In A Time to Scatter Stones, Matt is a senior citizen who is mostly retired but still willing to do favors for friends. In this case, the favor is for an acquaintance of his wife. The women met at a Tarts meeting, an AA type of group for former female sex workers. The woman has a former customer who is fixated on her and not willing to let go.

Lawrence Block is literally a Grand Master and it shows. Words flow beautifully and characters are fully realized in both the description of their actions as well as the dialogue. It is always a pleasure to read a Lawrence Block novel, short story or, in this case, novella. If you have not read any of his books, you have fabulous reading ahead. If you are a fan, this is a gift.

Fans of Lawrence Block and his Matthew Scudder series will enjoy this nostalgic novella. The character of Matthew Scudder, along with the city of New York City, has grown and changed over time since the first Scudder novel published in 1976.. If you have never read the series, I suggest you start at the beginning and then you will get full enjoyment of this last case. Personally, my dad introduced me to this author and we read him together since the 80's. My dad passed away this year so this novella was a bittersweet read for me.

Thanks to Netgalley, Subterranean Press, and the indomitable author Lawrence Block for this advanced review copy. I will be buying my own copy in January when it is published.

Did you ever go to visit a long time friend or relative; just drop in one day on your way through to somewhere else? That is what this reader experienced while reading A Time To Scatter Stones by Lawrence Block. This is a Matthew Scudder novella. Scudder the once NY City cop, then private investigator is now more the latter, though extremely retired with his Elaine.

The plot surrounds a friend of Elaine's from a support group, who like her is a former hooker. The woman is stalked by a former John and asks Elaine, and Matthew for help. During this story, Scudder reflects on old cases, how his relationship with his girlfriend developed, all the while bringing the current case and relationship to satisfying conclusions.

The author does a wonderful job of weaving in mentions from the past into the present without appearing like an infomercial for former works. The reading, the plot, and the characters all made this one a very satisfying read. This book will be enjoyed by fans of the author, and Matthew Scudder. Even people new to the character will receive enough insight to the character and no doubt want more!

Thanks to Subterranean Press and Netgalley for providing me a copy of this book in exchange for this honest review.

Lawrence Block keeps threatening to retire so it’s always great to see something new; really anything new is a great treat (even if an old pseudonymous book). It’s even better when it’s something that’s about Matthew Scudder, my and many fans favorite Lawrence Block character. This novella is another excellent and enjoyable contribution to the series.

Scudder is enjoying his retirement when his wife Elaine returns from her latest Tarts meeting with something that she thinks needs Scudder’s help. (Elaine is a former prostitute and Tarts is a sort of Alcoholic Anonymous for prostitutes.) Ellen, a young prostitute, is trying to get out of the business but she’s having difficulty making one of her customers give her up. He’s become more possessive and views himself now as her only customer. This man, only known to her as Paul, makes her nervous with his recent threats and she’s forced to give in to her old life to avoid possible physical abuse. She’s hoping Scudder will find a way to convince this man to stop bothering her. Scudder enlists the help of his old friend Ray Galindez to sketch a picture of Paul from Ellen’s memory. Scudder’s hoping the picture will allow him to find out who Paul really is and to find out more about the man to convince him to stay away from Ellen.

This novella has the typical excellent writing of Block, although the story meanders into reminiscing at times somewhat like an older person that Scudder now is. I certainly enjoyed these look backs as would any long-time fan but someone new to the series (and why would you start here), may not enjoy it as much. Reading this novella, makes me reminisce myself into maybe going back to read some of the excellent books in this series.

I thoroughly enjoyed the plot, atmosphere, and characters. I would recommend the book to friends and family for their reading pleasure.