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Audiobooks > Mystery & Detective >  Police Procedural > Fat Ollie’s Book: A Novel of the 87th Precinct

Download Fat Ollie’s Book: A Novel of the 87th Precinct Audiobook

Extended Audio Sample Fat Ollie’s Book: A Novel of the 87th Precinct Audiobook, by Ed McBain Click for printable size audiobook cover
3 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 5 3.00 (546 ratings) (rate this audio book) Author: Ed McBain Narrator: Ron McLarty Publisher: Simon & Schuster Audio Format: Abridged Audiobook Delivery: Instant Download Audio Length: Series: The 87th Precinct Series Release Date: January 2003 ISBN: 9780743547000
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Murders happen every day in the big bad city. They're not such a big deal, you know. Even when the victim is a city councilman as well-known as Lester Henderson.

But this is the first time Fat Ollie Weeks of the 88th Precinct has written a novel, ah yes. Called Report to the Commissioner, it follows a cunning detective named Olivia Wesley Watts, who, apart from being female and slim, is rather like Fat Ollie himself. While Ollie's responding to the squeal about the dead councilman, his leather dispatch case is stolen from the back of his car -- and in it, the only copy of his precious manuscript.

Joined by Carella and Kling from the neighboring 87th Precinct, Ollie investigates the homicide with all the exquisite crudeness, insensitivity, and determination for which he is famous. But the theft of his first novel fills Ollie with a renewed passion for old-fashioned detective work.

Following the exploits of one of Ed McBain's most beloved detectives, this lively and complicated tale -- the fifty-second in the award-winning 87th Precinct series -- is McBain at his best.

Download and start listening now!

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Quotes & Awards

  • “This is a fast, funny read from the master.” 

    Amazon.com, editorial review

  • “McBain creates wonderfully strange characters, like the transvestite hooker who latches on to Ollie’s book, and crimes that are somehow ingenious, stupid and utterly convincing.” 

    Publishers Weekly

  • “The excerpts from Ollie’s novel will bring tears of laughter to readers’ eyes as McBain skewers the inherent conceits of the procedural genre as well as bad writers everywhere. Wonderful entertainment.” 

    Booklist

Listener Opinions

  • 3 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 5 Cathy Spicer | 2/14/2014

    " C; just okay. Listened during a road trip with Eddie "

  • 4 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 5 Sandi | 1/22/2014

    " bon bon, McBain pokes a little fun at himself here, talking about fictional police book series. "

  • 3 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 5 Sheldon Lehman | 1/18/2014

    " The author was running out of steam on this series. The books all start great, but climax a little too soon and then just fall apart at the end. "

  • 4 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 5 columbialion | 1/6/2014

    " Not one of McBain's better efforts "

  • 4 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 5 Keith Davis | 1/4/2014

    " Ed McBain was the father of the police procedural Mystery and in Fat Ollie's Book he has his most offensive slob of a character write the worst police procedural novel imaginable. it is about as close to meta-fiction as you will find in a crime novel. Also a city councilman gets shot. "

  • 3 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 5 Gay | 12/12/2013

    " I like Ed McBain. This is good. Not one of my favorites. "

  • 2 out of 52 out of 52 out of 52 out of 52 out of 5 Grey853 | 11/23/2013

    " As much as I like the 87th Precinct series and Steve Carella, I don't like a book that centered around Fat Ollie. He's a bigot and not a very good detective. It's difficult to have any sympathy for a guy like that. "

  • 1 out of 51 out of 51 out of 51 out of 51 out of 5 Sbugsy | 11/16/2013

    " Well..I had to stop listening after the 1st disc. they could have gotten through that in 10 words versus 1 disc. "

  • 5 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 5 Kim | 10/11/2013

    " Fat Ollie Weeks is one of those characters that makes you cringe even though he is only in a book. He has little redeeming value at all but life wouldn't be as interesting without him...right? "

  • 4 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 5 Ellen | 8/11/2013

    " Inept cop writes a novel, leaves manuscript on the back seat of the car and it's stolen. Carella helps solve the real crime and lets Fat Ollie take credit. Lots of fun farce in this book "

  • 3 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 5 Meredith | 7/20/2013

    " A little variation from the usual Ed McBain police procedural - a novel within a novel. I skipped Fat Ollie's novel, but enjoyed, as usual, the good characterizations in the 87th Precinct series. "

  • 2 out of 52 out of 52 out of 52 out of 52 out of 5 Cindy DeMoville | 4/18/2013

    " 1st book read by this author.. not that good ...he jumped around a lot..kinda hard to follow.. Borrowed from Janice - she says good author...... "

  • 4 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 5 Randy | 3/3/2013

    " Fat Ollie fancies himself a writer along the lines of Joseph Wambaugh. When hiss "book" is stolen, he turns the city upside down looking for it. "

  • 2 out of 52 out of 52 out of 52 out of 52 out of 5 Hapzydeco | 12/27/2012

    " Not McBain's best work. Story within a story - lame. "

  • 4 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 5 Milly Dunaway | 3/21/2012

    " This book is part of Ed McBain's popular 87th Precinct series. This particular book focuses on one of his characaters Ollie Weeks a disreputable, bigoted, dirty-mouthed cop. "

  • 5 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 5 Pete | 2/13/2012

    " So clever and funny, the situations and thoughts of characters... "

  • 1 out of 51 out of 51 out of 51 out of 51 out of 5 Barbara | 8/14/2011

    " Way too politically incorrect for me to consider it funny. "

  • 2 out of 52 out of 52 out of 52 out of 52 out of 5 Alan | 7/19/2011

    " Put this in "tried to read". It was mentioned in a book on detective fiction some borrowed a copy. Not for me. I've never finished an 87th precinct book. Something about the characters, language. "

  • 3 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 5 Ginny | 7/8/2011

    " Not my favorite, but my husband liked it. Features Fat Ollie, a detective from an adjoining precinct of the 87th. Ollie is about as politically incorrect as a person can get and still preform his duties and not get sued. This book develops his character. "

  • 3 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 5 Sheldon | 3/11/2011

    " The author was running out of steam on this series. The books all start great, but climax a little too soon and then just fall apart at the end. "

  • 1 out of 51 out of 51 out of 51 out of 51 out of 5 Sbugsy | 7/14/2010

    " Well..I had to stop listening after the 1st disc. they could have gotten through that in 10 words versus 1 disc. "

  • 4 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 5 columbialion | 7/13/2010

    " Not one of McBain's better efforts "

  • 4 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 5 Ellen | 6/23/2010

    " Inept cop writes a novel, leaves manuscript on the back seat of the car and it's stolen. Carella helps solve the real crime and lets Fat Ollie take credit. Lots of fun farce in this book "

  • 2 out of 52 out of 52 out of 52 out of 52 out of 5 Hapzydeco | 4/27/2010

    " Not McBain's best work. Story within a story - lame. "

  • 2 out of 52 out of 52 out of 52 out of 52 out of 5 Cindy | 3/17/2010

    " 1st book read by this author.. not that good ...he jumped around a lot..kinda hard to follow.. Borrowed from Janice - she says good author...... "

  • 3 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 5 Meredith | 3/6/2010

    " A little variation from the usual Ed McBain police procedural - a novel within a novel. I skipped Fat Ollie's novel, but enjoyed, as usual, the good characterizations in the 87th Precinct series. "

  • 5 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 5 Kim | 8/9/2009

    " Fat Ollie Weeks is one of those characters that makes you cringe even though he is only in a book. He has little redeeming value at all but life wouldn't be as interesting without him...right? "

  • 4 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 5 Randy | 7/23/2009

    " Fat Ollie fancies himself a writer along the lines of Joseph Wambaugh. When hiss "book" is stolen, he turns the city upside down looking for it. "

  • 3 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 5 Cathy | 2/17/2009

    " C; just okay. Listened during a road trip with Eddie "

  • 3 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 5 Gay | 9/5/2008

    " I like Ed McBain. This is good. Not one of my favorites. "

  • 3 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 5 Ginny | 7/7/2008

    " Not my favorite, but my husband liked it. Features Fat Ollie, a detective from an adjoining precinct of the 87th. Ollie is about as politically incorrect as a person can get and still preform his duties and not get sued. This book develops his character. "

  • 5 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 5 Pete | 5/31/2008

    " So clever and funny, the situations and thoughts of characters... "

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About the Author
Author Ed McBain

Ed McBain is the most well known pseudonym of Evan Hunter (1926–2005), the author of over eighty novels and several famous screenplays. He is a recipient of the Mystery Writers of America’s Grand Master Award and the Diamond Dagger Award from the British Crime Writers Association. His books have sold more than one hundred million copies, ranging from the more than fifty titles in the 87th Precinct series to the bestselling novels written under his own name. McBain also wrote the screenplay for Alfred Hitchcock’s The Birds.

About the Narrator

Ron McLarty is a veteran actor of television, film, and stage as well as an award-winning audiobook narrator. He has more than 100 television appearances to his credit, including as a series regular on Spencer for Hire and Law & Order. His film career began in 1977 with a performance in The Sentinel and continued with such films as The Postman, Flamingo Kid, and, most recently, How Do You Know? His stage credits include Broadway and other productions. He has narrated more than 100 audiobooks, earning nine Earphones Awards and recognition by AudioFile magazine as a Best Voice in Mystery & Suspense in 2009 and 2010. He has twice been a finalist for the prestigious Audie Awards and then won the award in 2001 for Best Mystery Narration. He is also an accomplished playwright and an acclaimed novelist.

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