The first of Lawrence Block’s books featuring gumshoe Matthew Scudder I reviewed was Eight Million Ways to Die, which was published in 1982. At the end of that book, Scudder introduces himself as an alcoholic in an AA meeting. So, I assumed that sobriety and recovery would be featured in the next book in the series, When the Sacred Ginmill Closes (1986). Not so. By the time I got halfway through, I gave up and acknowledged that the book was a prequel. Scudder was back to being a hardcore drunk and there is little to no mention of sobriety or recovery.
What to do? I jumped ahead in the series to 2011’s A Drop of the Hard Stuff. Jackpot! In this book, Scudder is approaching his one-year sober anniversary and working the steps with his sponsor. He is also working on solving the murder of his childhood friend, a lifelong drunk and criminal who was sober and working the steps when he was killed. In fact, it looks like he might have been killed because he was working on step nine. Someone put a bullet in his mouth. Was it someone on his amends list?
Rounding out the cast of sober characters, Block brings back Scudder’s sober girlfriend, Jan Keene, and his hilarious old-school AA sponsor, Jim Faber.
New York City itself has transformed since 1982. It is not the steaming cauldron of seediness that I enjoyed so much in Eight Million Ways to Die. It’s still dangerous, but it’s cleaning up and trending in the right direction…like Scudder.
Block brings the reader into at least one AA meeting per day, and much of Scudder’s internal dialogue is spoken in AA language. He is deep in the program and I found that his commitment to sobriety added substantially to the drama and suspense. His anniversary looms. Several people tell him that weird things happen around anniversaries—especially your first. I would imagine this is especially true when you’re investigating murders in and around the bar scene of NYC. Even more so when the people around you keep dying and your relationship with your girlfriend is on the rocks. Will Scudder slip? He spends the better part of one night looking out the window of his hotel room at the illuminated sign of a liquor store. He makes a couple of emergency phone calls to Jim and, as he passes his anniversary, he seems to be hanging on by a thread.
The Sobees Addiction Fiction Rating by Will Thatcher: 4 out of 5
This book represents the apex of noir crime thriller + addiction fiction. Lovers of either will enjoy the book. Connoisseurs of both will love it. I’m giving it four stars instead of five so that I can reserve the perfect score for literary fiction.
ADDICTION FICTION BY WILL THATCHER: Addiction fiction is a newer genre of literature that explores the theme of addiction and recovery. These works of fiction often revolve around characters struggling with substance abuse and the emotional, physical, and psychological toll it takes on their lives. They may also delve into the complex dynamics of addiction within relationships and families. Addiction fiction typically focuses on themes of redemption, personal growth, and the journey toward recovery. By exploring these themes, addiction fiction can provide a powerful and relatable message.
ABOUT WILL THATCHER:
Will Thatcher is a sober man. He is also a proud dad, a sometimes-successful entrepreneur, and he is doing his best as a husband. After he finishes with AA, family stuff, work, the gym, surfing, and mountain biking he writes addiction fiction thrillers that feature clean and sober characters. Addiction recovery themes provide endless opportunities for dramatic conflict and resolution.
Will’s stories are exciting, intense, character-driven explorations of these themes. Will is also an Addiction Fiction enthusiast. While working on his own books, he steadily consumes and reviews the work of notable authors in the space. His reviews can be found on The Sober Curator, his social media accounts and on Goodreads.
Debut Novel: Killing Hurt
Coming Soon: The Sponsor
A Disco Ball is Hundreds of Pieces of Broken Glass, Put Together to Make a Magical Ball of Light. You are NOT Broken, Friend. You are a DISCO BALL!
Resources Are Available
If you or someone you know is experiencing difficulties surrounding alcoholism, addiction, or mental illness, please reach out and ask for help. People everywhere can and want to help; you just have to know where to look. And continue to look until you find what works for you. Click here for a list of regional and national resources.
