All the Flowers are Dying

By: Lawrence Block

Narrated by: Lawrence Block

Length: 5 hrs and 11 mins

Publisher's summary

In his 16th Matthew Scudder novel, All the Flowers Are Dying, New York Times best-selling author Lawrence Block takes the series to a new level of suspense and a new depth of characterization. Block puts Scudder, and the listener, at the very edge of the abyss.

A man in a Virginia prison awaits execution for three hideous murders he swears, in the face of irrefutable evidence, he did not commit. A psychologist who claims to believe the convict spends hours with the man in his death row cell, and ultimately watches in the gallery as the lethal injection is administered. His work completed, the psychologist heads back to New York City to attend to unfinished business.

Meanwhile, Scudder agrees to investigate the suspicious online lover of an acquaintance. It seems simple enough. At first. But when people start dying and the victims are increasingly closer to home, it becomes clear that a vicious killer is at work. And the final targets may be Matt and Elaine Scudder.

©2005 Lawrence Block (P)2005 HarperCollins Publishers, Inc.

Critic reviews

"The heart of this book is in New York City. Mr. Block writes about it with great affection and involving, believable detail." (The New York Times)

Lawrence Block

Lawrence is a good writer. Books have been very interesting. But, he should leave the Narration to professionals.

Good story but lousy narration

If you are a fan of Scudder, this story will work fine for you.
What kept getting in my way was Block's narration. Can't believe
the author would narrate this with such little enthusiasm. Sounds
like he was standing and reading it out of his book. Very flat voice.

Love his writing - not so much his voicing.

great story terrible narration

really enjoyed this one and the last one. I wish Lawrence block would not narrate his own books. excellent writer terrible narrator. This Book Sports one of the best endings of any of the Matt Scudder series.

Not the best

I really love Matt Scudder and his escapades but this one was over the top in terror and not very enjoyable. I kept going back to it.....listening in small doses. (Usually I am glued to the story and can't put it down) I got through it but not sure why I felt the need to hear the end. Anyway you might like it....I did not.

I love the Matt Scudder series but this narration

Would you try another book from Lawrence Block and/or Lawrence Block?

Yes.

Who was your favorite character and why?

Matt.

What didn’t you like about Lawrence Block’s performance?

Maybe it was an experiment that humored Lawrence Block but I found the narration abrasive and distracting. I still listened, after I listened to everything else I had in my library and it was great, typical Matt Scudder.

Poor Narration, Interesting Story

Terrible narrator. Almost impossible to tell who is speaking when Scudder speaks to another person. Also, what is with the random and loud music between some of the chapters? It has never happened in any previous novel, so why start now?

Poor reader, sexually vulgar

Had to force myself to listen to the reader. Story would have been better if not so sexually explicit in the murder scenes

Very gritty, not for the squeamish.

I was into the mystery at first, into it as a psychological thriller, but as the details of rape and torture become more explicit I just couldn’t listen anymore. It was just too horrible too contemplate. I know this happens and happens exactly as described, but I just don’t want those vivid images in my mind.
In contrast what makes the Keller series by the same author great is that he leaves the gory details out and concentrates more on the humanity of the hit man in his everyday life. This book was just awful.

dude leave it to the pros

narrating you're own novel, is not only selfish, but you are also negative towards the actors that have spent a lifetime learning the trade, keep writing LB, you and SK need to learn to leave narration to the professionals. i know you're stuff is awesome, that's why i listen. but have an actor do you're novels, we'd all enjoy it much more.