A Walk Among the Tombstones

The kidnapped wife of New York drug dealer Kenan Khoury is brutally murdered, despite payment of ransom. Khoury hires former NYPD detective Matt Scudder to find those responsible. Using well-honed detective skills, street smarts, and connections within the NYPD, Scudder uncovers the awful truth. The killers, who first acted out of blood lust, turned to extortion and now target the families of the city's drug underworld. They have captured the daughter of a Russian gangster, and Scudder races against time to save the girl. Longtime fans of the series will recognize many of the characters appearing here, including cops, shady streetwise types, alcoholics, and junkies, though Block provides enough background to inform newcomers. Scudder's own battle against alcoholism winds throughout the story, along with his ongoing relationship with a call girl. Narrator Mark Hammer does an excellent job presenting the story.