A beat cop winds up on the trail of a deadly mugger, but when it suddenly gets personal, his own life might be the next thing to be snatched….
“The 87th Precinct [is] one of the great literary accomplishments of the last half-century.” —Pete Hamill, Newsday
“McBain has the ability to make every character believable—which few writers these days can do.” —Associated Press
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"I enjoyed the 2nd 87th precinct book more than the first. It was a little dated but a great slice of 1950 police life. This was a series I had always planned to read but got a little nervous after the first one. Glad I stuck with it. Looking forward to the next book."
— C.S. (4 out of 5 stars)
" I really enjoyed this 1950's American mystery. It had just the right combo of mystery and character development of the cops who solve the mysteries. It was part of a 3 volume set and I'd like to read more. "
— Allison, 2/17/2014" The mugger was special. He preyed only on women. He waited in the darkness, coming from behind to snatch their bags. Then he punched his victims and told them not to scream. As the women reeled with pain and fear, he bowed, and said, 'Clifford thanks you, madam.' The cops in the 87th Precinct are not amused. They want the mugger and they want him bad. Especially after he puts one victim in hospital ... and the next one in the morgue. The dead girl was pretty and only seventeen. And patrolman Bert Kling has a personal reason to go after her murderer... a reason that becomes a burning obsession and an easy way for a cop to get killed. "
— Eddy, 2/16/2014" Quick, easy, read likea but like an episode of Law and Order. I would say this was a bit more mysterious than your usual Law and Order episode, but this is only my first 87th Precinct novel. Looking forward to the next one. "
— Will, 2/14/2014" The second in the 87th precinct novels. We get to know Bert Kling well in this one, and meet Claire Townend and Eileen Burke for the first time. "
— Frank, 1/26/2014" I bought a bunch of 87th Precinct novels when Amazon had a 99-cent sale. Looks like that was a good investment. Fun period detail and great dialogue. "
— David, 1/22/2014" An improvement on the first book. It is less self-conscientiously arty, which is a mixed blessing. He does not make the same plotting mistakes, but there is an impossible love story stuck into the book about 3/4 of the way through. I would have given the book 3 stars if not for that. I keep hearing that McBain (Evan Hunter) is good, but you can't prove it by me. "
— Mike, 1/22/2014" Quick, gritty police procedural. All the clues are there in the words and the reader has but to figure it out, which I almost did. I enjoy these books because they deliver exactly what's promised - a tight cop story without frills. No great literature here, but a fine way to pass some time. "
— Cv, 12/24/2013" You can sure see the influence of this series of books in the police dramas of today. Dragnet, Homicide, Hill Street Blues, Adam 12, etc. It's so interesting to read a book about police investigations written prior to all the forensic technology available today. I can't wait to get to the next one. "
— Debbie, 12/21/2013" I was intrigued for a moment but suddenly during my reading I felt the book started rushing to the end and left me wondering why the rush. "
— Yajaira, 12/13/2013" This book was not bad. It was my first read from this author that I learned about through anAmazon promotion. I will probably read another in the series even though the detective work was a little dated. "
— Jeff, 12/4/2013" Nice style, subtle humor, interesting characters, detective story with little twists and turns. "
— Rendier, 11/22/2013Ed 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.
Dick Hill was one of the most awarded narrators in the business. We was named by AudioFile magazine as a Golden Voice and also as a Voice of the Century. He earned several of the prestigious annua Audie Awards for Best Narration and thirty-four AudioFile Earphones Awards. In addition to narrating, he both acted in and wrote for the theater. He passed away in 2022.