<p><em>More than 40 years after his debut and nearly a decade since his last appearance, one of the most renowned characters in all of crime fiction is back on the case.</em></p><p>Well past retirement age and feeling his years&mdash;but still staying sober one day at a time&mdash;Matthew Scudder learns that alcoholics aren&rsquo;t the only ones who count the days since their last slip. Matt&rsquo;s longtime partner, Elaine, tells him of a group of former sex workers who do something similar, helping each other stay out of the life. But when one young woman describes an abusive client who&rsquo;s refusing to let her quit, Elaine encourages her to get help of a different sort. The sort only Scudder can deliver.</p><p><em>A Time to Scatter Stones</em>&nbsp;offers not just a gripping crime story but also a richly drawn portrait of Block&rsquo;s most famous character as he grapples with his own mortality while proving to the younger generation that he&rsquo;s still got what it takes. For Scudder&rsquo;s millions of fans around the world (including the many who met the character through Liam Neeson&rsquo;s portrayal in the film version&nbsp;<em>of A Walk Among the Tombstones</em>),&nbsp;<em>A Time to Scatter Stones</em>&nbsp;is an unexpected gift&mdash;a valedictory appearance that will remind readers why Scudder is simply the best there is.</p>