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The Last Dance (Abridged): A Novel of the 87th Precinct Audiobook
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(3.03) - 453 listener ratings
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Publisher Description
The fiftieth novel in the 87th Precinct series, Ed McBain returns to Isola, where detectives Meyer Meyer and Steve Carella investigate a murder which leads them to the seedy strip clubs and bright lights of the theater district.
In this city, you can get anything done for a price. If you want someone's eyeglasses smashed, it’ll cost you a subway token. You want his fingernails pulled out? His legs broken? You want him more seriously injured? You want him hurt so he’s an invalid his whole life? You want him skinned, you want him burned, you want him—don’t even mention it in a whisper—killed? It can be done. Let me talk to someone. It can be done.
The hanging death of a nondescript old man in a shabby little apartment in a meager section of the 87th Precinct was nothing much in this city, especially to detectives Carella and Meyer. But everyone has a story, and this old man’s story stood to make some people a lot of money. His story takes Carella, Meyer, Brown, and Weeks on a search through Isola’s seedy strip clubs and to the bright lights of the theater district. There they discover an upcoming musical with ties to a mysterious drug and a killer who stays until the last dance.
The Last Dance is Ed McBain's fiftieth novel of the 87th Precinct and certainly one of his best. The series began in 1956 with Cop Hater and proves him to be the man who has been called “so good he should be arrested.”
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"As I read this book, I found myself smiling and realizing, "This is how it's done." McBain's dialogue is an art form in itself, at once natural and funny. The plot is simple and direct with enough of a twist to keep the reader turning pages. This is a great read by a master of the art."
— Bernard (5 out of 5 stars)
Quotes
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“Ed McBain is, by far, the best at what he does. Case closed.”
— People -
Ed McBain is, by far, the be st at what he does. Case closed.
— People -
“McBain remains simply at the top of his game…The Last Dance [is] a great piece of writing.”
— USA Today -
“Penzler Pick: When it comes to the novels of big-city cop life revolving around a single station house’s daily dramas, Ed McBain wrote the book—fifty of them, in fact. And whatever one thinks of the virtues of NYPD Blue, Hill Street Blues, or even Law and Order, there’s the undeniable truth that McBain was there first, with his wonderfully reimagined New York. (Fans know that Isola is the stand-in for the borough of Manhattan, Riverhead for the Bronx, Majesta for Queens, Calm’s Point for Brooklyn, and Bethtown for Staten Island.)…Celebrating the publication of the fiftieth novel in a series that stays amazingly fresh and incredibly readable is no small thing. This much-loved and seminal writer is a national treasure. If you’re a mystery reader, you’ve undoubtedly read Ed McBain. If you haven't read one for a while, try this one. It’s so good it will immediately send you scurrying back for the ones you missed.”
— Amazon.com, editorial review -
“The 50th novel of the 87th Precinct is one of the best, a melancholy, acerbic paean to life—and death—in the fictional big city of Isola…This is McBain in classic form, displaying the writing wisdom gained over more than 40 years of 87th Precinct novels (the first appeared in 1956) to deliver a cop story that's as strong and soulful as the urban heart of America he celebrates so well.”
— Publishers Weekly -
“McBain is still the grandmaster of the police procedural. As always, he has created a first-rate mystery for the police of Isola (a.k.a. NYC).”
— Library Journal -
“The fiftieth 87th Precinct novel—though Carella has just turned 40—is the typically accomplished mix of police procedure, characterization, social commentary, and tight plotting that has long distinguished this landmark series.”
— Booklist -
“McBain plots masterfully, each new encounter winding the skein tighter.”
— Kirkus Reviews
The Last Dance Listener Reviews
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" 2 1/2 out of 4 stars "
— Cynthia, 1/7/2014 -
" I haven't read 87th Precinct series for a long time. But I enjoyed reading the story and seeing my favorite detectives again. "
— Kaoru, 1/1/2014 -
" This was a good read. I was mystified as the detectives as to who was murdering people who had seemingly nothing in common. Was it a serial killer or just coincidence? "
— Susan, 12/13/2013 -
" It was a classic example of Law and Order. "
— Joshua, 12/9/2013 -
" boring............... "
— Vela, 12/2/2013 -
" ehh... a bit scatter brained "
— Lindsay, 6/12/2013 -
" This is far from the best of McBain, but is well plotted and explores recurring character Fat Ollie Weeks to good effect. Despite being a relatively recent entry to the 87th Precinct series, this reads as somewhat dated and anachronistic. Good for a fan but not where I would introduce a new reader. "
— Bryn, 4/9/2013 -
" Not the best book in the series, but still a good solid entry that also tackles issues of race and police brutality without getting preachy. Nicely done. "
— Doreen, 10/31/2012 -
" predictable but entertining "
— Mike, 8/19/2012 -
" When an old man is hanged, Detectives Steve Carella and Meyer Meyer unfold his life's story to determine who killed him for his money. This is part of the 87th Precinct sees that explores the dark side of the city. "
— Fredrick, 5/18/2012 -
" It's good. Certainly a page-turner. Although, it really is not for all ages. Some words are hard to understand. And the flow of events seem a little bit confusing. But I liked it! All in all, it's good! ;) "
— Marionette, 4/3/2012 -
" Wally a security guard recommended this author because the details are the same when he worked there years ago easy to listen during our trip "
— shawn, 10/12/2011 -
" Another good 87th precinct book. Three seemingly unrelated murders come together at the end. One major disappointment - a minor recurring character in the series is killed. I was crushed by that - I liked him a lot! Oh well, at least it wasn't my main man Steve! Good book, as usual. "
— Cathy, 8/8/2011 -
" This another Ed McBain 87th precinct novel, but it also involves Fat Ollie who uses his W. C. Fields accent. This was narrated by the author. "
— Lynette, 8/3/2011 -
" Classic enjoyable McBain. "
— Alessandro, 7/13/2011 -
" procedural novel. well done as always "
— Randy, 5/21/2011 -
" It's good. Certainly a page-turner. Although, it really is not for all ages. Some words are hard to understand. And the flow of events seem a little bit confusing. But I liked it! All in all, it's good! ;) "
— Marionette, 2/5/2011 -
" This was a good read. I was mystified as the detectives as to who was murdering people who had seemingly nothing in common. Was it a serial killer or just coincidence? "
— Susan, 12/11/2010 -
" Not the best book in the series, but still a good solid entry that also tackles issues of race and police brutality without getting preachy. Nicely done. "
— Doreen, 9/4/2009 -
" procedural novel. well done as always "
— Randy, 7/23/2009 -
" 2 1/2 out of 4 stars "
— Cynthia, 3/7/2008 -
" Wally a security guard recommended this author because the details are the same when he worked there years ago easy to listen during our trip "
— Shawn, 3/26/2007
About 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.