• A Candle for the Bag Lady

  • A Matthew Scudder Story, Book 2
  • By: Lawrence Block
  • Narrated by: Lawrence Block
  • Length: 1 hr and 8 mins
  • 4.2 out of 5 stars (230 ratings)

Access a growing selection of included Audible Originals, audiobooks, and podcasts.
You will get an email reminder before your trial ends.
Audible Plus auto-renews for $7.95/mo after 30 days. Upgrade or cancel anytime.
A Candle for the Bag Lady  By  cover art

A Candle for the Bag Lady

By: Lawrence Block
Narrated by: Lawrence Block
Try for $0.00

$7.95 a month after 30 days. Cancel anytime.

Buy for $5.42

Buy for $5.42

Pay using card ending in
By confirming your purchase, you agree to Audible's Conditions of Use and Amazon's Privacy Notice. Taxes where applicable.

Publisher's summary

Matthew Scudder investigates the brutal murder of a woman known as the “bag lady.” A seemingly homeless woman, she turns out to have distributed her substantial wealth in a complex will naming random strangers. Where did the money come from? Why was she living in such reduced circumstances? And why in the world did she choose these beneficiaries—the owner of a local newspaper stand, a neighbor she rarely spoke to, the detective himself—when her real friends and acquaintances got nothing at all? And how is all this linked to her murder?

©2011 Lawrence Block (P)2012 AudioGO

What listeners say about A Candle for the Bag Lady

Average customer ratings
Overall
  • 4 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    123
  • 4 Stars
    54
  • 3 Stars
    40
  • 2 Stars
    9
  • 1 Stars
    4
Performance
  • 4 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    112
  • 4 Stars
    43
  • 3 Stars
    27
  • 2 Stars
    10
  • 1 Stars
    8
Story
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    109
  • 4 Stars
    54
  • 3 Stars
    22
  • 2 Stars
    8
  • 1 Stars
    4

Reviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.

Sort by:
Filter by:
  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Block is one of the all time greats

As always, Block delivers. This is not a true whodunit, and it leaves some of the most vexing parts of the mystery unsolved in the end. Still, it is highly satisfying, primarily because the writing is just so damn good. I had listened to about ten chapters of a recent action mystery novel before switching to A Candle for the Bag Lady. The former was like trying to get comfortable on a stone bench. Block was like stretching out on your favorite couch. He's never predictable, but everything is just right.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars
  • M
  • 02-25-23

Light and easy going

The story was light and easy going. The narrator had a clear and soothing voice. All characters blended nicely. Story had a gentle satisfying ending.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Great short story

Perfect short story mystery. Great characters, storyline and kept my attention. Very well read. Will look forward to reading more of these.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

A Candle For The Bag Lady

An interesting, but dry story. The narration was kind of monotone, yet that style fit this story.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    2 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    3 out of 5 stars

Short and rushed

What did you like best about A Candle for the Bag Lady? What did you like least?

Love the characters but always feel like the endings are rushed.

What didn’t you like about Lawrence Block’s performance?

His voice is very monotone and he speaks to quickly. Needs to slow down and punctuate certain sentences. Also needs to change the pitch of different characters.

If this book were a movie would you go see it?

No too short

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Never Get Tired of Lawrence Block

I have always loved his writing style and characters. I have never been to New York, but I have been there many times with Matthew Scudder. Block is a great writer who shoud be included among all of the great mystery writers.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    3 out of 5 stars

i liked this short story but oh my head

I am just now discovering and becoming a fan of Lawrence Block (i know, right) and although his stories are always excellent, i need to say that this Audible recording gives me a headache.
Maybe that's because Block's reading voice makes his character sounds like he has a perennial headache. Hey, maybe police just sound like that; for all I know, Joe Friday sounded that way too. At any rate, I would recommend this title. Just take an aspirin, and enjoy Block's craftsmanship.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Inheritance

A super short about a bag lady that leaves Scudder,and others, money in her will. He didn't know her but feels compelled to find her killer.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Everyone matters

An interesting story with a hidden message. The world full of throwaway people but in the end everybody is somebody, and they all deserve a candle.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    1 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Narration!!

Block definitely Should stick to the writing and leave the narrating to the experts. It amazes me how someone could write a story and then read it was such lackluster. Not to take away from the story however. Clever

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!