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A Drop of the Hard Stuff: A Matthew Scudder Novel Audiobook
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(3.01) - 1,346 listener ratings
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Publisher Description
Edgar Award-winning author Lawrence Block has been named a Mystery Writers of America Grand Master. A Drop of the Hard Stuff continues Block's popular series starring New York private detective and recovering alcoholic Matthew Scudder. Scudder is already struggling with his sobriety when his friend and fellow AA member Jack Ellery is found murdered. Now the only thing keeping Scudder from the bottle is his obsession with finding the culprit.
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"Matthew Scudder is such a great character and it's always fun to go back to a seminal moment in a character's life to see where it all came from. That is what A DROP OF THE HARD STUFF is. Set in the early 80's, right after Scudder became sober, he is on the hunt for the killer of a long-lost friend who Scudder suspects was killed because he was following the rules of AA to the letter. What's also fun about this story is its setting--no cell phones, no computers, no Metro Cards--I felt nostalgic but also glad that my pockets aren't laden down with quarters and tokens. Block is a great writer and this is really a stellar piece of his work. Highly recommended."
— Miriam (5 out of 5 stars)
Quotes
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“A Drop of the Hard Stuff is a wise and fascinating addition to the Matthew Scudder canon. It could not be more welcome, nor could it have been written with more understated craftsmanship. The dialogue sounds exactly like things people say to each other, but it isn’t. It’s better, quicker, smarter. Read this book attentively. It’s much more fun than taking lessons.”
— Thomas Perry, New York Times bestselling author -
“Mesmerizing…A lament for all the old familiar things that are now almost lost, almost forgotten.”
— New York Times Book Review -
“Totally gripping…A great American crime novel.”
— Time -
“Block has so perfected a pared-down, hard-boiled style that this story—about good intentions that backfire, fatally—seems to tell itself.”
— Washington Post -
“Right up there with Mr. Block’s best…A Drop of the Hard Stuff keeps us guessing.”
— Wall Street Journal
Awards
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A 2011 Washington Post Notable Book for Fiction
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A New York Times bestseller
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A Kirkus Reviews “New and Notable Title”, May 2011
A Drop of the Hard Stuff Listener Reviews
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" it was a good ending.. very AA based.. and made me want coffee real bad "
— Tyler, 2/17/2014 -
" A melancholy but moving mystery, a tale full of loss and sadness and aching, empty hearts. Masterfully told. "
— John, 2/15/2014 -
" Lawrence Block is such an excellent writer! I enjoyed this Matthew Scudder story very much. His books are among the first I listed in my Books Read list, way back in 1998. "
— Squeaky, 1/30/2014 -
" Good, noir-ish mystery, set in NYC, in and around the world of AA. Well written and carried me along. "
— Gillian, 1/28/2014 -
" Fast paced, good story. "
— Meg, 1/24/2014 -
" Enjoyable read, and a good look into the AA steps. "
— Barrie, 1/17/2014 -
" It was okay. Not sure what I was expecting but just wasn't that great. Typical mystery novel but not very engaging and formulaic writing. I won't be reading any others by this guy. "
— Julie, 1/10/2014 -
" Want to find its English copy to read... "
— BaiLing, 12/26/2013 -
" A good read overall. I thought it dragged a bit at the end. "
— Sara, 11/24/2013 -
" Great characters, interesting story, not very satisfying ending. Still well worth the effort though it might make you want to take a drink. "
— Russ, 11/20/2013 -
" I don't really like these types of books to begin with----police detective crime novels, but this one was the worst. Basically it read like an oversized AA pamphlet. I have never wanted a drink more. "
— Juliet, 11/19/2013 -
" Very good book Matt Scudder is so fully developed that you feel like you're walking down the street with him, sitting with him in AA meetings and sharing his daily struggle to stay sober. The dialogue is right on and the end is impossible to see coming, though it makes perfect sense. "
— Dennis, 10/24/2013 -
" I gave this book 5 stars. I really enjoyed it and I can't believe this was my first Lawrence Block novel. There will be many more. "
— Temple, 9/20/2013 -
" Very best way to sum up this novel is depressing in spite of the fact the main character manages to stay sober for a year. Congrats on that, but the rest of the novel takes a bender. "
— Tim, 9/20/2013 -
" First time I've read Lawrence Block. I doubt I'll read another of his. A lot about alcoholics and AA. "
— Monica, 7/11/2013 -
" My first Matthew Scudder/Lawrence Block mystery. Very New York. Very Alcoholics Anonymous. The murders are solved by the book's end but I leave it to other readers to decide if justice was served. "
— Norma, 7/8/2013 -
" I'm not familiar with the Matthew Scudder novels, but I thought it a good, solid detective story. What sets this book apart is its detailed descriptions of AA and what it's like to be a recovering alcoholic. "
— Sluggish, 6/21/2013 -
" Given the fact that this is not normally my genre of choice I found that I very much enjoyed this author... may even read more of the Matthew Scudder series. Well written & dare I say, inspirational? Give this guy a shot. "
— Emilie, 5/20/2013 -
" Easy read. Finished it in a day. Interesting peek into the world of AA. "
— Sonia, 2/26/2013 -
" A leisurely paced whodunit. The backdrop of AA recovery is an interesting setting. "
— Jimmer, 12/28/2011 -
" okay. this is written just for me. Crime story plus recovery story. Double win. "
— Adam, 11/15/2011 -
" Vintage Matt Scudder. Set during the early eighties when Matt was still trying to make it through his first year of sobriety the plot, setting, and characterizations were all up to the standards of the best books in the series. "
— Sandi, 10/25/2011 -
" If you like Matthew Scudder novels, this one is excellent. It is really good if you have never read Lawrence Block, either. "
— Marianne, 6/18/2011 -
" I am always a sucker for a good murder mystery, but what I enjoyed about this book is that the story is more about the struggle with alcoholism, rather than the murder. Sure, the stories are interwoven, but the predominant theme is overcoming the struggle, one day at a time. "
— Kelsey, 6/16/2011 -
" One of Lawrence Block's better Matthew Scudder books. "
— Diane, 6/10/2011 -
" Enjoyable read, and a good look into the AA steps. "
— Barrie, 6/8/2011 -
" Very good New York P.I. Novel <br/>Main character in the final days of his first year sober/attending AA. Written with great empathy for all, perps, victims, cops alike. "
— Laura, 6/7/2011 -
" he's a dependable guy-when in doubt, i can always grab a "block" and be entertained! "
— Lori, 6/3/2011 -
" Great book. My only criticism is it is a flashback, so the characters that I have grown attached too, don't appear in this one. So, a word of warning to those that like to follow a series, this would better serve as number 0 in the Matt Scudder series. "
— Lee, 6/1/2011 -
" Block rarely disappoints. He is another of my favorite authors. "
— Barbara, 5/31/2011
About Lawrence Block
Lawrence Block is the recipient of a Grand Master Award from the Mystery Writers of America and a New York Times bestselling author. His prolific career spans over one hundred books, including four bestselling series and dozens of short stories and articles. He has won multiple Edgar, and Shamus awards, two Falcon Awards from the Maltese Falcon Society of Japan, the Nero and Philip Marlowe Awards, the Cartier Diamond Dagger from the Crime Writers Association of America, and many others. Aside from being a mystery writer, he has also written a number of episodes for television, including two episodes of the ESPN series Tilt; he also cowrote the screenplay for the film My Blueberry Nights, starring Norah Jones. Block currently lives in New York City with his wife, Lynne.
About Tom Stechschulte
Tom Stechschulte (1948–2021) was an acclaimed narrator and winner of the prestigious Audie Award for Best Narration. He had been a college athlete and business major when a friend dared him to audition for a play. He got the part and traded the locker room for the dressing room, eventually taking him to New York City and to recording audiobooks.