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The Commandment #1
The Sixth Commandment
paperback
358 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published January 1, 1978
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544 people want to read
About the author
Lawrence Sanders
161 books368 followersThere is more than one author with this name
Lawrence Sanders was the New York Times bestselling author of more than forty mystery and suspense novels. The Anderson Tapes, completed when he was fifty years old, received an Edgar Award from the Mystery Writers of America for best first novel. His prodigious oeuvre encompasses the Edward X. Delaney, Archy McNally, and Timothy Cone series, along with his acclaimed Commandment books. Stand-alone novels include Sullivan's Sting and Caper. Sanders remains one of America’s most popular novelists, with more than fifty million copies of his books in print. Also published as Mark Upton.
Lawrence Sanders was the New York Times bestselling author of more than forty mystery and suspense novels. The Anderson Tapes, completed when he was fifty years old, received an Edgar Award from the Mystery Writers of America for best first novel. His prodigious oeuvre encompasses the Edward X. Delaney, Archy McNally, and Timothy Cone series, along with his acclaimed Commandment books. Stand-alone novels include Sullivan's Sting and Caper. Sanders remains one of America’s most popular novelists, with more than fifty million copies of his books in print. Also published as Mark Upton.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 77 reviews
June 19, 2024
4th read - Thorndecker applies for a grant from Todd's employer and the foundation sends Samuel to investigate. The scientist is a genius and is looking for the fountain of youth. Small town intrigue commences.
3rd reading - Another timeless read for me, similar to "The Stand". There are scenes that still resonate, like the small church our protagonist, Todd, goes to - a copy of a church in Asbury, MO. And the scene where our hero enters the newspaper and talks to the editor - or the roadhouse and the owner.
2nd reading - My first Sanders and Commandment book and I was hooked. Read it in '82 and re-read in 2011 and still enjoyable, if dated. It's like a cross between small town "Peyton Place" and "Frankenstein" with some great character development.
3rd reading - Another timeless read for me, similar to "The Stand". There are scenes that still resonate, like the small church our protagonist, Todd, goes to - a copy of a church in Asbury, MO. And the scene where our hero enters the newspaper and talks to the editor - or the roadhouse and the owner.
2nd reading - My first Sanders and Commandment book and I was hooked. Read it in '82 and re-read in 2011 and still enjoyable, if dated. It's like a cross between small town "Peyton Place" and "Frankenstein" with some great character development.
September 4, 2016
Suspenseful.
This book was written in late 1970's, phone booths, typewriters and smoking. It was slow reading, there was many words I really didn't know the meaning. Keep going to dictionary and writing down the meaning of the words. Investigator Samual Todd is in small town in New York investigating Grant applicant. Characters are real, sometimes scary and sarcastic. But you'll be laughing out loud too.
This book was written in late 1970's, phone booths, typewriters and smoking. It was slow reading, there was many words I really didn't know the meaning. Keep going to dictionary and writing down the meaning of the words. Investigator Samual Todd is in small town in New York investigating Grant applicant. Characters are real, sometimes scary and sarcastic. But you'll be laughing out loud too.
February 11, 2014
On the heel's of yesterday's post, where I lambasted Big Red's Daughter for being a pointless, waste of time to read, comes this post.
For years I would answer people who ask that my favorite writer is Dick Francis. I loved that he wrote about horse racing, but every main character wasn't necessarily a jockey. Instead he took bites from around the periphery of racing which made it so much more interesting. I loved that his writing was just flowery enough, to the point and quick but with enough color to make it fun. I loved that although he had a series, every main character was a new one. Each book was fresh and new but at the same time a reader and fan knew basically what they were going to get.
I won't be able to answer so easily anymore for I think that Lawrence Sanders might be my new favorite.
I fell in love with Lawrence Sanders' books late in his career. I've written in this blog about how much I enjoy his writing (http://puborperish.blogspot.com/2010/...). That seems appropriate if only cause Sanders started writing late in his life. Still, I loved the McNally books. They were vibrant and fun and the fact that Archy could list the ingredients of his gourmet lunch so succinctly, or run by the Pelican Club for a vodka gimlet at nine in the morning or wear his puce beret with such aplomb. What did I dislike? They were a tad too frolicsome. They lacked gravitas.
I found the gravitas that was lacking in The Sixth Commandment. I can't wait to read all of Sanders' earlier works now that I know what to expect. It was as if I was reading a Robin Cook mystery (I generally find the writing too trite) and an Archy McNally novel. It was a terrific blend of serious mystery and fun loving life liver. There were still the early morning gimlets, the alcholism, the spectacular vocabulary and too in depth descriptions of wardrobe, but in The Sixth Commandment there is a reason for it.
The final passage, which loses something by not reading the entire chapter, is:
About 9: 30 P.M., on my third highball, I gave up, and sat down near the phone, trying to plan how to handle it. I brought over several sheets of paper and the sharpened pencils. I started making notes.
“Hello?” she would say.
“Powell,” I’d say, “please don’t hang up. This is Samuel Todd. I want to apologize to you for the way I acted. There is nothing you can call me as bad as what I’ve called myself. I’m phoning now to ask if there is any way we can get together again. To beg you. I will accept any conditions, endure any restraints, suffer any ignominy, do anything you demand, if you’ll only let me see you again.”
It went on and on like that. Abject surrender. I made copious notes. I imagined objections she might have, and I jotted down what my answer should be. I covered three pages with humility, crawling, total submission. I thought sure that, if she didn’t hang up immediately, I could weasel my way back into her favor, or at least persuade her to give me a chance to prove how much I loved her and needed her.
And if she brought up the difference in our ages again, I prepared a special speech on that:
“Powell, the past week has taught me what a lot of bullshit the whole business of age can be. What’s important is enjoying each other’s company, having interests in common, loving, and keeping sympathy and understanding on the front burner, warm and ready when needed.”
I read over everything I had written. I thought I had a real lawyer’s brief , ready for any eventuality. I couldn’t think of a single way she might react, from hot curses to cold silence, that I wasn’t prepared to answer.
I mixed a fresh drink, drained half of it, picked up the phone. I arranged my speeches in front of me. I took a deep breath. I dialed her number.
She picked it up on the third ring.
“Hello?” she said.
“Powell,” I said, “please don’t hang—”
“Todd?” she said. “Get your ass over here.”
I ran.
Sanders, Lawrence - The Sixth Commandment
I can't wait to read more.
For years I would answer people who ask that my favorite writer is Dick Francis. I loved that he wrote about horse racing, but every main character wasn't necessarily a jockey. Instead he took bites from around the periphery of racing which made it so much more interesting. I loved that his writing was just flowery enough, to the point and quick but with enough color to make it fun. I loved that although he had a series, every main character was a new one. Each book was fresh and new but at the same time a reader and fan knew basically what they were going to get.
I won't be able to answer so easily anymore for I think that Lawrence Sanders might be my new favorite.
I fell in love with Lawrence Sanders' books late in his career. I've written in this blog about how much I enjoy his writing (http://puborperish.blogspot.com/2010/...). That seems appropriate if only cause Sanders started writing late in his life. Still, I loved the McNally books. They were vibrant and fun and the fact that Archy could list the ingredients of his gourmet lunch so succinctly, or run by the Pelican Club for a vodka gimlet at nine in the morning or wear his puce beret with such aplomb. What did I dislike? They were a tad too frolicsome. They lacked gravitas.
I found the gravitas that was lacking in The Sixth Commandment. I can't wait to read all of Sanders' earlier works now that I know what to expect. It was as if I was reading a Robin Cook mystery (I generally find the writing too trite) and an Archy McNally novel. It was a terrific blend of serious mystery and fun loving life liver. There were still the early morning gimlets, the alcholism, the spectacular vocabulary and too in depth descriptions of wardrobe, but in The Sixth Commandment there is a reason for it.
The final passage, which loses something by not reading the entire chapter, is:
About 9: 30 P.M., on my third highball, I gave up, and sat down near the phone, trying to plan how to handle it. I brought over several sheets of paper and the sharpened pencils. I started making notes.
“Hello?” she would say.
“Powell,” I’d say, “please don’t hang up. This is Samuel Todd. I want to apologize to you for the way I acted. There is nothing you can call me as bad as what I’ve called myself. I’m phoning now to ask if there is any way we can get together again. To beg you. I will accept any conditions, endure any restraints, suffer any ignominy, do anything you demand, if you’ll only let me see you again.”
It went on and on like that. Abject surrender. I made copious notes. I imagined objections she might have, and I jotted down what my answer should be. I covered three pages with humility, crawling, total submission. I thought sure that, if she didn’t hang up immediately, I could weasel my way back into her favor, or at least persuade her to give me a chance to prove how much I loved her and needed her.
And if she brought up the difference in our ages again, I prepared a special speech on that:
“Powell, the past week has taught me what a lot of bullshit the whole business of age can be. What’s important is enjoying each other’s company, having interests in common, loving, and keeping sympathy and understanding on the front burner, warm and ready when needed.”
I read over everything I had written. I thought I had a real lawyer’s brief , ready for any eventuality. I couldn’t think of a single way she might react, from hot curses to cold silence, that I wasn’t prepared to answer.
I mixed a fresh drink, drained half of it, picked up the phone. I arranged my speeches in front of me. I took a deep breath. I dialed her number.
She picked it up on the third ring.
“Hello?” she said.
“Powell,” I said, “please don’t hang—”
“Todd?” she said. “Get your ass over here.”
I ran.
Sanders, Lawrence - The Sixth Commandment
I can't wait to read more.
January 27, 2015
The Bingham Foundation is a corporation that assesses the grant applications of scientific researchers. Samuel Todd is the corporation's field investigator, tasked with finding out all he can about Gordon Telford Thorndecker, Nobel Prize-winning doctor and resident darling of Coburn, New York. The good doctor Thorndecker is the head of a combined research facility and rest home for the elderly, affluent, and infirm in Coburn, and has recently applied for a million-dollar research grant.
Dr. Thorndecker has impeccable scientific credentials; his project - to investigate the "cellular clock" that controls the normal life span of human beings - seems entirely credible and worthy of support; and despite the rumors and occasional rabid gossip-monger - the whole town of Coburn is rooting for its most famous resident.
Samuel Todd's mission is basically to get background information about the eminent Dr. Thorndecker. Deep background information: Samuel has to "assess the intangibles, things known only to the applicant's priest, psychiatrist and/or mistress. As a suspicious romantic, Samuel is too young to have seen it all, but too old to expect the best of this world.
But is it possible that his suspicions are getting the better of him? It's perhaps in the way the residents of Coburn stare past his shoulder while praising Dr. Thorndecker to the skies; or what he learns about the doctor's seductive young wife, Julie, and her not-so-secretive activities; or perhaps when he discovers that a patient at the rest home was buried rather suddenly in the dead of night, deceased, according to the death certificate, of simple heart failure. Whatever the cause, Samuel Todd is already mightily suspicious of this case, and his feelings only grow worse after he arrives at his hotel on a stormy night, and discovers a typed two-lined message waiting for him at the desk. The note is short, cryptic, and straight to the point: "Thorndecker Kills."
I really enjoyed this book and must say that I found it to be very indicative of Lawrence Sanders' work - incredibly suspenseful and quite dramatic. Mr. Sanders is perhaps one of my many favorite authors, and I have read quite a few of his books, although the first book from the Commandment Series that I've read. I would certainly give The Sixth Commandment by Lawrence Sanders a very strong A!
Dr. Thorndecker has impeccable scientific credentials; his project - to investigate the "cellular clock" that controls the normal life span of human beings - seems entirely credible and worthy of support; and despite the rumors and occasional rabid gossip-monger - the whole town of Coburn is rooting for its most famous resident.
Samuel Todd's mission is basically to get background information about the eminent Dr. Thorndecker. Deep background information: Samuel has to "assess the intangibles, things known only to the applicant's priest, psychiatrist and/or mistress. As a suspicious romantic, Samuel is too young to have seen it all, but too old to expect the best of this world.
But is it possible that his suspicions are getting the better of him? It's perhaps in the way the residents of Coburn stare past his shoulder while praising Dr. Thorndecker to the skies; or what he learns about the doctor's seductive young wife, Julie, and her not-so-secretive activities; or perhaps when he discovers that a patient at the rest home was buried rather suddenly in the dead of night, deceased, according to the death certificate, of simple heart failure. Whatever the cause, Samuel Todd is already mightily suspicious of this case, and his feelings only grow worse after he arrives at his hotel on a stormy night, and discovers a typed two-lined message waiting for him at the desk. The note is short, cryptic, and straight to the point: "Thorndecker Kills."
I really enjoyed this book and must say that I found it to be very indicative of Lawrence Sanders' work - incredibly suspenseful and quite dramatic. Mr. Sanders is perhaps one of my many favorite authors, and I have read quite a few of his books, although the first book from the Commandment Series that I've read. I would certainly give The Sixth Commandment by Lawrence Sanders a very strong A!
November 14, 2009
Maybe, in the early years of Vietnam, Mr. Sanders found himself holding a gem, after weeks of banging on a Smith Corona, and attempted—but failed—to locate the correct combination of PCP-laced crank, which made that bestseller possible. Probably not. Instead, he penned bad sentence after worse and people bought the NEW YORK TIMES #1 BESTSELLING AUTHOR covers.
Having left him on shelves for decades, I forgot about the incessant adverbs ('His flaky eyelids rose slowly.'; '… she asked bluntly.'; and '...I said softly to him...') as well as his passive voice ('I had been right'; '....I'd fingered her as the author...’; and '...they had noticed me...'). Reading the late Mr. Sanders encourages using in-concise and grammatically incorrect sentences. Avoid him (and Vincent Lardo, who capitalizes on the dead author's name).
Having left him on shelves for decades, I forgot about the incessant adverbs ('His flaky eyelids rose slowly.'; '… she asked bluntly.'; and '...I said softly to him...') as well as his passive voice ('I had been right'; '....I'd fingered her as the author...’; and '...they had noticed me...'). Reading the late Mr. Sanders encourages using in-concise and grammatically incorrect sentences. Avoid him (and Vincent Lardo, who capitalizes on the dead author's name).
May 17, 2015
I enjoyed this book. It was an accidental read (I really did not plan on reading it and I'm nit planning on keeping the hand-me-down copy of the book either),
but it was a comfortable read. It is slow and pondering by today's standards, but it was readable and engaging. The hero was beautifully flawed ( no way he'll live long with all that damage inflicted on his liver and lungs), but at least his head was relatively clear ...
but it was a comfortable read. It is slow and pondering by today's standards, but it was readable and engaging. The hero was beautifully flawed ( no way he'll live long with all that damage inflicted on his liver and lungs), but at least his head was relatively clear ...
January 24, 2018
Very good suspenseful book. Protagonist is an investigator for a foundation that gives grants. He is assigned to evaluate the application of a Dr Thorndecker who owns a nursing home and research lab in a small town. His investigation draws him into the lives of the townspeople and the doctor’s family and he finds all kinds of warped things in this small town.
October 15, 2016
Later novels show growth
This definitely depicts his writing style, there is vivid characterization, intrigue, intensity. There is also a bit of humor, that creates a chuckle or two for reader.
This definitely depicts his writing style, there is vivid characterization, intrigue, intensity. There is also a bit of humor, that creates a chuckle or two for reader.
June 2, 2017
Page turner
I couldn't put it down. GREAT READ. HOLDS YOUR ATTENTION. Sanders is a great sytoryteller. I've read all his books
I couldn't put it down. GREAT READ. HOLDS YOUR ATTENTION. Sanders is a great sytoryteller. I've read all his books
January 5, 2022
This is Sanders’ only “horrorbook”. It is relatively contemporaneous to our experience. Yes. But it is a pure “....who killed Cock Robin?” Nell which goes round and round and reveals nothing and which shows the hero is a fool (solving murders was not his jurisdiction, still...) or some sort of otherwise incompetent or addict or easily led individual... But it is able to outline the degree to which the field-agent hero’s circumstances are fraught. Pollution, radiation, backbiting. “I guess it was that hot pants wife of his” when in the sentence leading up to this one the hero’s informant mentioned two men who had wives that met this description. A power outage takes an unknown calamitous toll on a system already at the breaking point. We never do find out who the killer(s) was/were? (not really a spoiler because the author does delineate a culprit but the evidence still points many ways). Lots of pointing fingers though. And it is hard to pin point the point of the work. This is more of a horror story than The Tomorrow File because here a non complex system fails. Coburn barely has any visible means of system support and yet it is genocidal. Something carries us however. Something cradles us while we read this. Sanders.
November 30, 2018
"You are as old as you feel? Bullshit. You're as old as you look. And you can't fake youth, not really. The pain is in seeing it go, grabbing, trying to hold it back. No way. Therefore, do not send to ask for whom the ass sinks; it sinks for thee."
With Lawrence Sanders one gets some winners, like the wonderful McNally series, for instance, McNally's Risk , and some stinkers, like the unbelievably bad Private Pleasures . The Sixth Commandment (1979) comes somewhere in between, fortunately a bit closer to the better side of Mr. Sanders (or whoever wrote his books; I really do suspect that he used to hire ghostwriters to produce the stinkers).
Samuel Todd works as a field investigator for the Bingham Foundation that gives away about 10 million dollars a year for scientific research. Mr. Todd is tasked to investigate Dr. Thorndecker, a Nobel Prize winner and an expert in the biology of aging, who has requested a substantial grant to study the effects of electromagnetic waves on human embryo cells in vitro. It is clear from the beginning that the case is anything but straightforward: as soon as Todd arrives in the town where the scientist lives, he receives a note that says "Thorndecker kills." Not only is the good Doctor the owner of a research lab but also he owns a nursing home that caters to rich patients. Todd suspects that the connections between the two institutions have been understated in the grant application.
From the beginning of the investigation the author is trying to convey to us Todd's sense of dread about what might be going on. "It's worse than you think!" says one of the characters. Yet Mr. Sanders is more successful in producing some nice prose (evident in his later, McNally novels). Here's a cool passage that refers to John Donne's famous poem:
Far below the level of McNally series yet a readable, moderately interesting story, with a rather predictable ending.
Two-and-three-quarter stars.
With Lawrence Sanders one gets some winners, like the wonderful McNally series, for instance, McNally's Risk , and some stinkers, like the unbelievably bad Private Pleasures . The Sixth Commandment (1979) comes somewhere in between, fortunately a bit closer to the better side of Mr. Sanders (or whoever wrote his books; I really do suspect that he used to hire ghostwriters to produce the stinkers).
Samuel Todd works as a field investigator for the Bingham Foundation that gives away about 10 million dollars a year for scientific research. Mr. Todd is tasked to investigate Dr. Thorndecker, a Nobel Prize winner and an expert in the biology of aging, who has requested a substantial grant to study the effects of electromagnetic waves on human embryo cells in vitro. It is clear from the beginning that the case is anything but straightforward: as soon as Todd arrives in the town where the scientist lives, he receives a note that says "Thorndecker kills." Not only is the good Doctor the owner of a research lab but also he owns a nursing home that caters to rich patients. Todd suspects that the connections between the two institutions have been understated in the grant application.
From the beginning of the investigation the author is trying to convey to us Todd's sense of dread about what might be going on. "It's worse than you think!" says one of the characters. Yet Mr. Sanders is more successful in producing some nice prose (evident in his later, McNally novels). Here's a cool passage that refers to John Donne's famous poem:
"So I knew that if I did not do something, Europe would be the less."He also manages to evoke some lyricism in his prose:
"It was a metallic mesh, wrapped around the physical world. [...] Beyond, even dimmer, the bare trunks of trees appeared, disappeared, appeared again, wavery in the hazy light."There is even a smattering of social observations to accompany the plot: Dr. Thorndecker's little town, deserted by most young people, is "a village that was a necropolis of fractured dreams."
Far below the level of McNally series yet a readable, moderately interesting story, with a rather predictable ending.
Two-and-three-quarter stars.
July 29, 2014
It is an incredible book. It was beyond my expectations. I'm not a fan of mystery books, but this one made me reconsider. It has everything, a dust of romance, funny parts and of course, the mystery. I'd never had a clue of what could happen. Amazing, for real.
Es un libro increíble. Fue más allá de mis expectativas. No soy un fan de los libros de misterio, pero éste me hizo reconsiderar. Lo tiene todo, un polvo de romance, partes divertidas y, por supuesto, el misterio. Nunca había tenido la menor idea de lo que podría suceder. Increíble, de verdad.
Es un libro increíble. Fue más allá de mis expectativas. No soy un fan de los libros de misterio, pero éste me hizo reconsiderar. Lo tiene todo, un polvo de romance, partes divertidas y, por supuesto, el misterio. Nunca había tenido la menor idea de lo que podría suceder. Increíble, de verdad.
March 21, 2020
Disappointed
While I am a devoted Archie McNally fan, this book was awful. It was dark and depressing...like lifting a decayed log in the forest and finding disgusting creatures under it. I only finished it to verify what I thought the ending would be. The only redeeming part was Saunders’ use of the language. He can turn a phrase.
While I am a devoted Archie McNally fan, this book was awful. It was dark and depressing...like lifting a decayed log in the forest and finding disgusting creatures under it. I only finished it to verify what I thought the ending would be. The only redeeming part was Saunders’ use of the language. He can turn a phrase.
April 7, 2021
I read this book between reading two different Donna Leon Commissario Brunetti books About Face and Drawing Conclusions. I noticed some superficial similarities between these three books. They are all slow-moving; they all barely have a real plot; they aren't true crime/murder novels (although they certainly contain murders); in particular, there's a lot of talking with other characters without getting much done, nor making much progress; they are all written well. This book uses a fair number of words that are beyond the norm. Fortunately, I typical read these books on a Kindle app, and use the ability to look up a word in the Kindle's dictionary with great effect. In the case of the Dona Leon novels, I use that same ability to look up translations of Italian words, and often Wikipedia entries.
Where they differ is in the main character. Brunetti is a pretty cultured guy, who enjoys good food and wine, especially when the food is cooked by his very capable wife, and not to excess. This book's main character, Todd, is a lush and eats more for quantity than quality. He gets drunk a lot -- one wonders how he would keep his job at the rate he drinks. Brunetti is a guy you can respect, even though he's lost all hope that Italy will change its dysfunctional and corrupt ways. Todd is not somebody I could respect. He isn't a sympathetic figure; he talks about a relationship he had with a woman that sounded like it was something worthwhile, but he seems to have thrown that away (although at the end of the book, the author throws in some hope at reconciliation). The denouement at the end of this book was, in my opinion, an anti-climax, and not terribly satisfying.
Another difference is that, while the Brunetti books are written in the third person, this book is in the first person, in the voice of Todd. The vocabulary was at times challenging; I had to look up quite a few words, and I consider myself to have a pretty good vocabulary. Todd's perspective is pretty male-dominant.
If the other books in this series were to have Todd as the protagonist, I wouldn't want to read any more. But I think they are not, so I might give them a chance in the future.
Where they differ is in the main character. Brunetti is a pretty cultured guy, who enjoys good food and wine, especially when the food is cooked by his very capable wife, and not to excess. This book's main character, Todd, is a lush and eats more for quantity than quality. He gets drunk a lot -- one wonders how he would keep his job at the rate he drinks. Brunetti is a guy you can respect, even though he's lost all hope that Italy will change its dysfunctional and corrupt ways. Todd is not somebody I could respect. He isn't a sympathetic figure; he talks about a relationship he had with a woman that sounded like it was something worthwhile, but he seems to have thrown that away (although at the end of the book, the author throws in some hope at reconciliation). The denouement at the end of this book was, in my opinion, an anti-climax, and not terribly satisfying.
Another difference is that, while the Brunetti books are written in the third person, this book is in the first person, in the voice of Todd. The vocabulary was at times challenging; I had to look up quite a few words, and I consider myself to have a pretty good vocabulary. Todd's perspective is pretty male-dominant.
If the other books in this series were to have Todd as the protagonist, I wouldn't want to read any more. But I think they are not, so I might give them a chance in the future.
November 7, 2018
Sometimes you look for a book to read. Sometimes a book finds you. Such is the case with The Sixth Commandment by Lawrence Sanders. I went home, brought a book to read, and finished it. So I browsed at the books in our bookshelves at home, saw mostly romance books, probably my mother's or my sister's. Then I came upon The Sixth Commandment and I saw my father's signature inside the front cover. He read the book in December 20, 1981. That my father owned it plus the blurb about the book made me read it. My first Lawrence Sanders novel.
Reading the book was a travel back in time to the late 70s where there were telephone booths and typewriters, and mails have stamps and comes from the post office. It was also a travel back in time when my father was alive, holding and reading the book in our front porch, and underlining a sentence:
"The likelihood of dying doubles every seven years after the age of thirty."
Reading the book was a travel back in time to the late 70s where there were telephone booths and typewriters, and mails have stamps and comes from the post office. It was also a travel back in time when my father was alive, holding and reading the book in our front porch, and underlining a sentence:
"The likelihood of dying doubles every seven years after the age of thirty."
July 11, 2021
THE SIXTH COMMANDMENT BY LAWRENCE SANDERS AND NARRATED Y VICTOR BEVINE follows Samuel Todd investigator(snoop) for the Bingham Foundation. The foundation awards grants to scientist,but first, they investigate all aspects of the applicants lives. This is what Samuel Todd is doing. The scientist, Telford Gordon is not pure as the driven snow and Todd finds out. The townspeople are lying for him and killing for him and if Todd doesnt watch out he will be the next victim!
I have been a huge fan of Lawrence Sanders novels and I am very pleased to see audible has put the SIXTH COMMANDMENT on audiobooks. The narrator Victor Bevine does an excellent job reading and bringing the town of Colburn to life. This is a must listen to book for those that like the twisty turns of a mystery .
I have been a huge fan of Lawrence Sanders novels and I am very pleased to see audible has put the SIXTH COMMANDMENT on audiobooks. The narrator Victor Bevine does an excellent job reading and bringing the town of Colburn to life. This is a must listen to book for those that like the twisty turns of a mystery .
October 30, 2017
Disappointing
I have been a fan of Mr. Sanders for a long time but that has ended with this book. It didn’t seem like Mr. Sanders wrote the book. If his writing was always like this I wouldn’t have been a fan. I was thoroughly put off by the many witticisms and drinking. Seems like the entire book revolved around those 2 things. When he took Betty to bed, that was the final straw. I can understand a moderate amount of drinking but it was way too excessive. More time was spent on either drinking or being witty than on the story. I love mysteries and that might have been what he intended but he fell way too short.
I have been a fan of Mr. Sanders for a long time but that has ended with this book. It didn’t seem like Mr. Sanders wrote the book. If his writing was always like this I wouldn’t have been a fan. I was thoroughly put off by the many witticisms and drinking. Seems like the entire book revolved around those 2 things. When he took Betty to bed, that was the final straw. I can understand a moderate amount of drinking but it was way too excessive. More time was spent on either drinking or being witty than on the story. I love mysteries and that might have been what he intended but he fell way too short.
April 18, 2020
This Sanders novel was the first I've read but it was a disappointment. The plot dragged on throughout much of the book and only became a little exciting towards the end. I had trouble staying interested enough to get to the end. The character development was good and the hero was believable, although I thought his alcohol consumption was too much to be believed. Sam Todd consumed almost a fifth of hard liquor a day which is too much for many people to be able to have a decent sense of deductive reasoning.
July 4, 2020
Let me say first that I am a big fan of Lawrence Sanders book, but this book put me over the edge in that it was 365 pages and could have been condensed to 100 pages and not lose one thing.
He wrote two books call the Timothy Files, with each book of three novella's. This is what this book should have been; A novella.
The story line sucked and the ending was just as bad.
I don't say this often, But save your money on this book, unless it's a blue light special at .99
He wrote two books call the Timothy Files, with each book of three novella's. This is what this book should have been; A novella.
The story line sucked and the ending was just as bad.
I don't say this often, But save your money on this book, unless it's a blue light special at .99
April 6, 2022
I may have to reconsider Mr Sanders - I read at least one of his other series books, and didn't think much of it. This one on the other hand I found well written with an engaging tone, and pretty snappy and good dialogue. The story got a little weak at the end, sort of in the style of many soap operas that get a bit off the rails as some kind of conclusion is desperately reached. I'm actually starting another book of his to see how his novels are.
March 16, 2020
I really enjoyed this book, which was first published in 1980. Lawrence Sanders is good at creating suspense and mystery in his stories. The protaganist, Todd, is a cynical relentless detective, who follows all sorts of leads as he tries to find out what is going on with Thorndecker, the person he is investigating.
August 4, 2024
Ok read, that feels bloated and dated. I Probably will not continue this series. The author added couple of side stories that added nothing to the main plot line, but added page count. Ugh! One thing of note is the amount of liquor the protagonist drinks. He has to be an alcoholic and drunk most of the time. Yet he is depicted as sober…impossible.
April 15, 2025
Another Clever Classic from One of the Best Mystery Writers!
Lawrence Sanders' Sixth Commandment remains a fast-paced - and fun - crime thriller that takes you back to the days when you had to dial a phone, could smoke in a bar, and would drool over a fine fella in a Pontiac Grand Prix...particularly one driven by investigator Samuel Todd. Timeless.
Lawrence Sanders' Sixth Commandment remains a fast-paced - and fun - crime thriller that takes you back to the days when you had to dial a phone, could smoke in a bar, and would drool over a fine fella in a Pontiac Grand Prix...particularly one driven by investigator Samuel Todd. Timeless.
December 5, 2017
Ho provato a rileggere questo romanzo che senz’altro ho già letto da ragazza, ma non ce l’ho fatta a finirlo. La prosa di Lawrence è ineccepibile e la trama è fluida, ma proseguo annoiata fino a pagina 85 e poi mi arrendo. Per amanti del giallo.
August 20, 2018
A little long-winded but’s GIS read.
Sanders was a talented writer, but maybe a little to aware of that, I found myself skimming a bit, not a good sign. The story was intriguing but the foreshadowing was so heavy that suspense went out the window.
Sanders was a talented writer, but maybe a little to aware of that, I found myself skimming a bit, not a good sign. The story was intriguing but the foreshadowing was so heavy that suspense went out the window.
September 9, 2018
Good reading
I liked the storyline and the way the author took you through it. I was intrigued to find out more about what was happening and how the characters interacted. Very good book.
I liked the storyline and the way the author took you through it. I was intrigued to find out more about what was happening and how the characters interacted. Very good book.
March 11, 2020
As usual Sanders writes a rollicking story filled with twists and turns galore along with feasting, imbibery, and debauchery. I slowed down a bit about three quarters through because I had already figured out what was going on. I was right of course but Sanders still surprised at the end.
March 21, 2020
I wasn’t aware of the time frame the book was set in when I first started reading. I wish it had been made clearer either in the book’s description on Amazon or explained in the book. I felt like I was missing something
April 23, 2020
Mr. Sanders hit the mark again. I really enjoy his descriptions -- easy to picture and understand. I don't think I'd enjoy living in Coburn and the experiments done on humans was too real, I wonder how much of that is fiction and how much true, maybe I don't want the answer.
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