All Pigs Are Beautiful

The 5th installment of Block's Scudder series and the best so far. There's a lot to like: evocative scenes of gritty NYC, a decent story with a violent 90's hipster edge and Scudder finally facing off against his drinking. I read this in two sittings without meaning to just dump everything and see it to the end. It was transporting in a way that these crime noir books rarely are and really stands out in spite of the corny title. Up until now I had regarded Westlake as an OK writer and I slotted Block below him but now, with #5, I raise Block several notches above Westlake. I am not starting #6 until I get some other shit done!