The Second Deadly Sin

by Lawrence Sanders

Book Overview

Commemorating their 25th anniversary, the "Deadly Sins" novels have been repackaged with a new slick look. "The 2nd Deadly Sin" marks the return of Edward X. Delaney in a spellbinding tale of greed, deception, and murder. It is the powerful story of the brutal killing that shocked New York City's "unshockable" art underworld.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0399120238
• ISBN13: 9780399120237
• Release Date: September 1977
• Publisher: Putnam Adult
• Length: 412 Pages
• Weight: 1.24 lbs.

Customer Reviews

"The Second Deadly Sin"

I have not quite finished the book, but just a few pages left. I am enjoying it as much as "The First, etc. It's hard to put down, even though I find it very detailed, and perhaps a bit too long. I still recommend reading it.

Pretty dern good

Book 2 in the "Heather reads crime novels" series! And this was a much better experience than my first Patricia Cornwell book. While Patricia Cornwell does forensic mysteries, this one is an old-school whodunit. The characters were well written, and the plot believable. Best of all, unlike Cornwell, I didn't figure out the culprit before the Edward X. Delaney did. And that, my friends, is the mark of a good crime novel. So a famous New York artist is murdered, and everybody has a motive, opportunity, and will. There is not too much action, it is basically just a story of a detective on the hunt. But it was hard for me to put down, all the same.One amusing sidenote. This book was obviously written pre-women's lib. The only women are dutiful wives who relish their role. When Delaney makes a comment about how his alcoholic partner goes home to leftovers, his wife immediately sets up a blinddate with her friend...every man needs a warm meal from a sacrificing woman, even alcoholics! Anyway, this was not annoying, just funny. I doubt Sanders would attract too much of a female audience with characters like that these days. Good read.

"A GOOD READ"

Lawrence Sanders may not be having many loyal fans but somehow i dont mind his books. They are well written and interesting. I read this book and found it quite well. I mean the suspense and all was very good(though one can guess it!)but the description of the characters was what i liked a lot. A lot of time taken on characterisation, which is the soul of any book. Also even though this book was a murder mystery.... it made a very good copy because of its characterisations. Anyways good read but only if you are a Lawrence fan.

Thoughts of The Second Deadly Sin

In the book, The Second Deadly Sin, Lawrence Sanders writes a great book using the literary device of imagery. Sanders uses imagery really well when he describes people, events, and the surroundings of the situation. One of the reasons he uses such precise descriptions is because the book is a mystery and is dealing with a murder where you need all the descriptions you can have in order to help keep the reader involved in trying to solve the murder mystery. Another reason to have imagery in a book where there is a crime is to allow the reader to create a visual picture of the circumstances in the book.The first way Sanders shows that he uses a lot of imagery is in his descriptions of the people. He shows this when describing what Edward X. Delaney and Abner Boone first see when they walk in the room where Belle Sarazen is. Sanders says: "She wore a skin-tight white leotard, cut high to hipbones, tight over crotch. A soft mound there. The garment was sleeveless, strapped-a tanktop. The body was that of a dancer, long-legged, hard, with flat rump, muscled thighs, sinewy arms, small breasts (nipples poking), and definite break between ribcage and waste."(Sanders 91). This quote is good in letting the reader draw a visual picture of what the lady looks like. He also shows his use of describing people when he describes what Delaney remembered when he looked at Abner boone. He says: "Chief Delaney's memory had been accurate: Detective sergeant Abner Boone was a tall, thin, shambling man, with floppy gestures, and a way of tilting his head to one side when he spoke. His hair was more gingery than sandy. His skin was pale and freckled. He was Delaney guessed, somewhere between thirty and thirty-five; it was difficult to judge."(Sanders 35). This quote gives the reader another opportunity to make a visual picture of what the character looks like. The next topic Sanders describes are the events in the book. One of and probably the main example of Sanders using his descriptions in events is when Victor Maitland is murdered. Sanders says: "The first knife thrust went into his back. High up. Alongside the spine. The blow was strong enough to drive him forward, face breaking, hands thrown up in a comical gesture of dismay. But he did not go down. The blade was withdrawn and stuck again. And again. And again. Even after Victor Maitland was face down on the wide floor boards, life leaking, the blade was plunged. Fingers scrabbled weakly. Then were still."(Sanders 4). This quote is well written in giving the reader a sense of being in the room and watching Maitland die.The final topic that Sanders describes with precise words is the surroundings of the situation. The first example that shows that he uses description is in Maitland's apartment. He says: "Sunshine was flooding through the overhead skylight. One of the panes of glass was broken and had been stuffed with a blue rag. There was a wire mesh over the skylight. But n

A MUST-READ in Modern Literature!

The 1st and the 2nd were the best! Read it, folk