The Ed McBain 87th Precinct Series
Mar 20, 2012
The 87th Precinct Series
Author: Ed McBain, aka Evan Hunter, real name Salvatore Lombino
Amazingly, since the 1950's there has been a very popular procedural police book series out that has produced approximately 55 books!
These are fun cop/crime books to read, almost like a cop show with words. There's always a crime or two being solved by two or more different cops (many times completely different cops than the book before.) The dialogue is a witty banter most of the time, with interesting characters walking in and out of the "scenes". It definitely is dated with the terminology used at times (the earlier books anyway - which are the two I reviewed), but it just helps put me in mind of Dragnet on paper as I read. It's a nice flashback cop series. I think I might grab a few more of these to read!
In addition to the 87th Precinct titles, Thomas & Mercer will publish 12 titles in McBain's Matthew Hope series starting in Spring 2012. These 12 books will be published in digital and audio format, with most of the 12 available in print format.
Below I have the publisher's descriptions of the two books I was sent to review and I recommend both! They are both books from early in the series.
Below I have the publisher's descriptions of the two books I was sent to review and I recommend both! They are both books from early in the series.
The Mugger:
This mugger is special. He preys on women, waiting in the darkness…then comes from behind, attacks them, and snatches their purses. He tells them not to scream and as they're on the ground, reeling with pain and fear, he bows and nonchalantly says, “Clifford thanks you, madam.” But when he puts one victim in the hospital and the next in the morgue, the detectives of the 87th Precinct are not amused and will stop at nothing to bring him to justice.
Dashing young patrolman Bert Kling is always there to help a friend. And when a friend's sister-in-law is the mugger's murder victim, Bert's personal reasons to find the maniacal killer soon become a burning obsession…and it could easily get him killed.
The second book in the 87th Precinct series, The Mugger is an Ed McBain classic, a nuanced portrayal of justice and vengeance hailed by the Daily Mirror as “a masterpiece of crime writing…and there's nobody who does it better.”
The Con Man
A con man is plying his trade on the streets of Isola: conning a domestic for pocket change, businessmen for thousands, and even ladies in exchange for a little bit of love. You can see the world, meet a lot of nice people, imbibe some unique drinks, and make a ton money…all by conning them for their cash.
The question is: How far is he willing to go?
When a young woman's body washes up in the Harb River, the answer to that question becomes tragically clear. Now Detective Steve Carella races against time to find him before another con turns deadly. The only clue he has to go on is the mysterious tattoo on the young woman’s hand—but it’s enough. Carella takes to the streets, searching its darkest corners for a man who cons his victims out of their money…and their lives.
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Reviewed by Idgie. If you would like to have the Dew review a book, please contact me at dewonthekudzu@gmail.com
