ALTHOUGH THIS IS MY FIRST MATTHEW SCUDDER BOOK, I FEEL LIKE I KNOW HIM ALREADY. ALTHOUGH YOU PRETTY MUCH KNOW WHO THE KILLER IS FROM THE BEGINNING, IT'S STILL A GREAT PIECE OF MYSTERY FICTION. SHOWS HOW YOU CAN MAKE A GREAT CRIME BOOK FULL OF GREAT CHARACTERS WITHOUT HAVING AN AMAZING AMOUNT OF VIOLENCE, GORE, AND ACTION.