Second Deadly Sin [Paperback]

Lawrence Sanders (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: August 15, 1983

Edward X. Delaney returns in this spellbinding tale of greed, deception, and the brutal killing that shocked New York's art underworld.

--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Editorial Reviews

Review

His fiction is hard to equal. -- Associated Press --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

About the Author

Lawrence Sanders, one of America's most popular novelists, was the author of more than twenty-two bestsellers. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

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Product Details

• Paperback
• Publisher: Berkley (August 15, 1983)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0425063003
• ISBN-13: 978-0425063002
• Product Dimensions: 6.8 x 4 x 1.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8.8 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 3.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (10 customer reviews)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

8 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Another Great Sanders, April 14, 2001

By 

John Whalen "John W" (Niantic, CT USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Second Deadly Sin (Paperback)

I've read all of the McNally series books and have started the Deadly Sin series and really have grown to appreciate Sanders. In this book, Delaney is faced with another murder mystery and I'm finding it a very difficult book to put down. I like Delaney's way of sticking to his routine as he tries to thread his way through all of the possibilities. I highly recommend this book!

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars "A GOOD READ", May 3, 2003

By 

sanjeev sood (MUMBAI (INDIA)) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Second Deadly Sin (Paperback)

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.

4 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Thoughts of The Second Deadly Sin, November 3, 2002

By 

Jake Webb (Littleton, CO USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Second Deadly Sin (Paperback)

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 no ventilator. The room smelled musty, spoiled...Chief Delaney inspected the still life a top the rough crate: sketch pad, propped on a can of turpentine, half a charcoal stick, bottle of whiskey."(Sanders 45-48). This quote gives such description that the reader can feel like he/she is in the room with the investigators. The second example that shows his use of description is in Saul Geltman's office when Delaney and Boone went into his office. Sanders says: "The furnishings were all white and black leather and vinyl on chrome and stainless-steel frames. The desk appeared to be pewter (over wood?) supported on a cast-iron base. The desk fittings-rocker blotter, pen set, letter opener, etc.-were antique mother-of-pearl. In one corner of the room was an ancient safe, at least a hundred years old, on big casters. It was painted black, delicately striped, the front decorated with an ornate American eagle, wings outspread. There were two tumblers and polished brass handles."(Sanders 71). This quote is well described because it tells the reader where everything is and allows him/her to draw a visual picture of what the room looks like.

In conclusion, the way Sanders uses the literary term of imagery makes the book better and more fun to read. It gives the reader a sense of being there as if they were one of the characters in the story. It also gives the reader a visual picture so they can see what the character sees.