By Lawrence Block
William Morrow & Co.
Hardcover, Paperback, Audio Cassette (Abridged) and Large Print Editions

Byrne and Susan Hollander are brutally murdered after returning home from an event at Lincoln Center. People are shocked at the deaths and can't believe it happened to such a powerful, wealthy couple in their own home.

Just a few days later, the case is closed after the two killers are found shot to death across town. One shooting his partner and then turning the gun on himself.

Hope to Die Excerpt The gal on New York One reported that the victims had attended a concert at Lincoln Center that evening, so we knew we'd been there listening to the same music with them; what we didn't know then was that they'd been at the patrons' reception and dinner as well. It was unsettling to think we'd been in the same concert hall with them, along with several thousand other people; it would be more unsettling later to realize that we'd all been part of a considerably more intimate gathering. ©2001 Lawrence Block Published with permission from William, Morrow & Co.

But Matt Scudder has his own ideas about what really happened. He suspects a third person is involved, making very calculated moves to cover his or her tracks.

Although Scudder's an unlicensed private investigator, he works through the circumstances surrounding the murder. Just why did it happen? What was the real motivation? Scudder explores all of the possibilities, working them out in a logical fashion right before the reader's eyes.

Byrne and Susan's niece halfway expects her cousin Kristin, the daughter of the victims, was motivated by money. Or could it be Kristin's ex-boyfriend? Scudder talks with family and friends of the Hollanders but can't quite connect the dots to trace the real killer.

As he tries to solve the case, a murderer hides in the shadows. Watching. Waiting. And killing those who could expose the true identity and reasons behind the murders.

Bookworm's Briefing
Hope to Die is Lawrence Block's 15th Matthew Scudder novel. Even newcomers to the series won't have any trouble following this story. Block does an excellent job of catching longtime fans up to their favorite characters while introducing new fans to these same characters at the same time.