All The Flowers Are Dying [Hardcover]

"The return of one of my favourite fictional PIs.. when I finished the book, I put it down, poured a scotch and toasted Lawrence Block's talent." (Ali Karim Deadly Pleasures and Shots! magazines )

"Block never fails to deliver a compelling story." (www.tangledweb.co.uk )

"Block's refusal to prettify crime is a brave choice, and of a piece with the emotional honesty that pervades this witty novel." (DAILY TELEGRAPH, 18 June )

"A writer you can depend on to provide a literate and entertaining read. Block tightens the tension... there are a number of mind-numbing shocks along the way." (Vincent Banville IRISH TIMES, 9 July )

"The prolific Block couldn't write a bad book if his life depended on it -- and the Scudder novels are his best." (THE HERALD (Glasgow), 23 July )

"Block never fails to deliver a compelling story

"The return of one of my favourite fictional PIs.. when I finished the book, I put it down, poured a scotch and toasted Lawrence Block's talent."

"Block's refusal to prettify crime is a brave choice, and of a piece with the emotional honesty that pervades this witty novel."

"A writer you can depend on to provide a literate and entertaining read. Block tightens the tension... there are a number of mind-numbing shocks along the way."

"The prolific Block couldn't write a bad book if his life depended on it -- and the Scudder novels are his best."

Matt Scudder - former cop and alcoholic - has had enough. He plans to wind up his investigations and concentrate on his AA meetings and his lovely wife, Elaine. But he agrees to take one last case. Louise, a single woman, has finally met a man she likes - but she fears he's keeping something from her. She hires Matt to check him out. Meanwhile, Elaine's best friend, Monica, also has a secret lover. But Monica is more street-wise than Louise; to her it's just a game, one she's sure she can win. But before Matt can track down the identity of Louise's lover, Monica is found murdered in her apartment. She was tortured to death by a man who left just one piece of forensic evidence behind - an antique letter opener that he'd bought at Elaine's shop. Suddenly Monica's death doesn't feel so random any more. Matt is convinced that the killer is stalking Elaine and he is determined to protect her. It soon emerges that Monica's murderer is a highly practised serial killer. He is also an old foe of Matt Scudder's. Years earlier this man terrorised and murdered his way through New York. Matt was the only man to stand in his way. Deep down, Matt always knew he would return, keen to exact revenge. Matt must get to the killer before the killer gets to him. The story builds to an explosive and dramatic finish that sees Matt and Elaine pitched against a madman who is determined to destroy them both.

Lawrence Block lives and works in New York City. He is the author of many novels and short stories and has won over fourteen major awards for his mystery writing.