When the Sacred Ginmill Closes

Former NYPD cop Matthew Scudder navigates three interconnected criminal cases in 1970s New York City. Working as an unlicensed private investigator, he takes on investigations involving a bar robbery, a murdered woman, and missing money from a union office. Scudder spends his days moving between bars in Hell's Kitchen and Times Square, gathering information from bartenders and regulars. His heavy drinking both helps and hinders his investigations as he forms connections with various characters in New York's darker corners. The narrative follows Scudder as he methodically works through each case, revealing how the investigations overlap and intersect. His unique position as both an insider and outsider in New York's criminal underworld allows him to move between different social worlds and gather crucial information. The story explores themes of addiction, loyalty, and moral compromise in urban America. Through Scudder's experiences, the novel examines how people cope with loss and navigate ethical boundaries in a complex world.

Readers call this one of the darker entries in the Matthew Scudder series, with a strong noir atmosphere that depicts 1970s New York's gritty bar scene. Many highlight Block's descriptions of alcoholism and its impact on relationships and daily life. Readers praised: - The complexity of interweaving multiple cases - Rich character development of the supporting cast - Authentic portrayal of recovering alcoholics - Vivid depiction of NYC bar culture Common criticisms: - Slower pacing than other Scudder books - Less action, more introspection - Some find the multiple plot threads confusing Ratings across platforms: Goodreads: 4.2/5 (7,800+ ratings) Amazon: 4.6/5 (450+ ratings) One frequent reader comment notes how Block captures "the loneliness of late-night drinking and the camaraderie of bar regulars." Several reviews mention the book's impact on their understanding of addiction.

Devil in a Blue Dress by Walter Mosley A Black private investigator in 1940s Los Angeles navigates racial tensions and criminal networks while searching for a missing woman through the city's bars and back alleys.

The Black Dahlia by James Ellroy A police detective in post-war Los Angeles becomes consumed by the investigation of a brutal murder while dealing with his personal demons and corruption in the department.

Darkness, Take My Hand by Dennis Lehane Private investigators Patrick Kenzie and Angela Gennaro work Boston's criminal underworld to solve interconnected cases while confronting their neighborhood's violent past.

The Last Good Kiss by James Crumley A hard-drinking private detective searches for a missing author through dive bars across the American West, uncovering layers of deception and violence.

Eight Million Ways to Die by Lawrence Block Matthew Scudder investigates a prostitute's murder while struggling with alcoholism and exploring New York City's underbelly in the early 1980s.

🔍 The book's title comes from a Dave Van Ronk folk song, reflecting Block's connection to Greenwich Village's music scene. 🗽 Many of the bars mentioned in the novel were real establishments in 1970s New York, including Jimmy Armstrong's and Polly's Cage. 📚 Block wrote this novel after achieving his own sobriety, drawing from personal experience to craft Scudder's struggles with alcoholism. 🏆 The Matthew Scudder series spans 17 novels, with this book (#6) considered by many critics as the turning point where the series reached new literary heights. 🎬 While several Scudder novels have been adapted for screen, including "A Walk Among the Tombstones" starring Liam Neeson, this particular book hasn't been filmed despite its critical acclaim.