Ed McBain (1926–2005)

This later entry in the series from McBain is one of the best of his now legendary 87th Precinct novels. Though it's cold outside for the boys of the 87th, Ice turns out to be something different from what you think.

There are some very true-to-life moments in this entry, and many of them are between Carella and the detectives of the 87th Precinct as they try to connect a murder outside their precinct with another which happened on their turf. When no connection other than the weapon presents show more itself, the possibility that it might be random is even scarier.

For those who followed the series and are going through them again, or those who have just discovered Ed McBain, there is a lot going on here besides the cases. Kling is still reeling from a personal tragedy, which is explored in both his loneliness, and his budding relationship with the sweet yet tough undercover police woman, Eileen. Never one to shy away from grit and truth, no matter how politically incorrect it may have become by modern snowflake standards, Ice is the notorious entry where Eileen reveals to Kling her sexual fantasy, which is, on the surface, very much in conflict to her undercover work.

The police procedural part of the story is very good in Ice, and this entry is held in high regard by critics. As a reader, however, it is more than likely the dynamic between Eileen and Kling in this one you’ll remember most if you follow the series. Another excellent one in the long-running series of which we’ll sadly get no more, now that Ed McBain has passed. Most were solid reads, a few entries just mediocre, but Ice and some others I've reviewed are the cream of this series. show less

Heat is a taut and absorbing installment in Ed McBain’s long-running 87th Precinct series. McBain captures the sweltering intensity of a city under pressure—both from the blistering summer temperatures and from a killer on the loose. His trademark blend of gritty realism, sharp banter, and well-paced investigative detail is on full display.

The detectives feel fully human, juggling exhaustion, frustration, and determination as they work the case, and the interplay among the squad members show more remains one of the series’ great strengths. The puzzle is cleverly structured, the narrative never drags, and McBain’s ability to sketch vivid scenes with just a few lines keeps the story moving with remarkable energy.

Whether you’re familiar with the 87th Precinct or stepping into it for the first time, Heat stands out as an engaging, atmospheric police procedural that reflects both the intensity of the crime and the relentless dedication of those solving it. show less

Wealthy industrialist Douglas King is about to close the deal of a lifetime—and then his chauffeur’s son is kidnapped, on the mistaken assumption that the boy is King’s own son. Does King pay the ransom and let the boy live, or does he stick to his business guns and sacrifice the boy, who isn’t even his own kid?

The strength of this installment in the 87th Precinct series is, as always, the interaction among and the varying personalities of the members of the squad. The scenes set in show more the precinct and the conversations between various coppers ring true, and I like McBain’s inclusion of appropriately formatted lab reports and diagrams to help bring the story to life. I also liked Cotton Hawes’ moment of self-awareness in which he apologizes to someone for bad behaviour on his part (would we could all be so gracious), and Carella’s “the reason you suck” speech to Douglas King in which Carella knocks down King’s misguided view of the police force and their perceived ability to solve the case.

I was less enthralled with the role played by Kathy, the wife of one of the kidnappers, and even less so with Diane, Douglas’s wife, and her friend Liz. Female characters were not particularly strong in this one—or they very nearly did have the strength to effect change but ended up being unable to for whatever reason. Granted, this book was first published in 1959, so it may have been shockingly progressive for the time, but nowadays it prompts a bit of eye rolling. show less

Jimmy Harris is a Vietnam vet, having been blinded in action. His untimely demise at the hands of an unknown assailant, followed shortly thereafter by his wife, who is also blind, horrifies the members of the Eight-Seven. What lurks in Jimmy's past to make him such a target? Or is there a serial killer on the loose targeting those who cannot see?

Despite existing for only one chapter, Jimmy quickly becomes a likeable character, making you read on to see whether justice will be done. The story show more makes some unusual twists and turns, and the final reveal of the solution was artful indeed. I nearly exclaimed aloud on the plane when Carella finally figured it out. The other hallmarks of a good 87th Precinct mystery are also present: facsimiles of arrest reports and notes between the squad members, overlapping and frequently chuckle-worthy dialogue, and running gags throughout the book (Genero is the butt of a couple of these), not to mention a couple of brief appearances by Teddy, Carella's wife, who might be my favourite character. The pace is consistent, not overly fast but not unnecessarily slow either: the whole story takes place over the space of about four days. This makes it a very good book to read on a plane or in a mildly distracting environment: it's absorbing but can also be put down. Just try to get one with fairly big print, because one of the arrest sheets was rather hard to read with uncorrected vision.

Verdict: definitely recommended for fans of the series. show less