The sins of the fathers

I wondered whether it was worse for men to do the wrong things for the right reason or the right things for the wrong reason. It wasn't the first time I wondered, or the last.

[4.7] what an intro to Matthew Scudder: unlicensed PI who conducts the odd [insert quotes as needed] favor for friends in exchange for gifts, 10% of which he never fails to donate to church alms boxes, and lights candles for the dead. a far-cry from the stock hardboiled detective who carries an air of macho superiority and strong arms the world for answers. he has both bark and bite, still greases palms and entertains the games that have to be played, but his actions, the way he carries himself, they're filtered through the light of a man who tries to do good as he drinks his bourbon-spiked coffee, metes out his own crafty justice, and battles with his own guilt.

it only took one book to make him a standout character in my mind.

the only qualm i have is with a particularly salient point of the case extrapolated with little to no buttressing that we're told to accept out of thin air. i have a feeling readers will immediately know what i'm referring to: the Freudian rationale was a mighty stretch for the actions taken upon seeing the dead body.

but everything else? i'm jonesing for my next Scudder book.