Formulaic as though it may be, “A Walk Among The Tombstones” is wildly entertaining: a whodunit thriller that keeps you on the edge of your seat…at least for a while. It’s also a great vehicle for Liam Neeson, who plays private detective Matt Scudder, a character originally created by mystery writer Lawrence Block in a series of novels. The plot is straightforward enough: The wife of a drug dealer (Dan Stevens) has been kidnapped and brutally murdered, and Scudder must find the killers before they can strike again. Looking for twists? Unfortunately you won’t find many here. You can practically picture writer/director Scott Frank plotting out his big finale every step of the way. Yet the finished product is surprisingly slick and enjoyable at every turn, and Liam Neeson hits all the right notes in the leading role, as a man with secrets of his own.The only thing that doesn’t work in “A Walk Among The Tombstones” is the climax. As curious as I was to watch the story unravel, and learn the answers to some of its puzzling questions, I felt disconnected towards the end. But when a film has entertained you and held you in its grip so long, you may be willing to forgive its shortcomings. And let’s face it: Liam Neeson may be worth the price of admission alone nowadays.

Rating: 2.5/4