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3.68 AVERAGE
3.68 AVERAGE
A woman is murdered and her husband is glad, and glad to tell the police that he didn't do it, even though he discovered the body.
A good read, although I think I'm just always going to find McBain plots unfocused--so many characters rotating through plots and subplots that never quite connect, more about the life and times of the precinct than anything else.
A good read, although I think I'm just always going to find McBain plots unfocused--so many characters rotating through plots and subplots that never quite connect, more about the life and times of the precinct than anything else.
This was a particularity bleak entry into the annals of the 87. an engrossing read and again (as always) a great time capsule into NYC of any particular year (in this case 1973). It's not a mystery by any stretch, but its a cracking good police procedural.
You may remember me giving up on the 87th Precinct books because they were predictable and ALWAYS had an element of the case that involved a friend or relative of the detectives investigating, sadly this one was no different. So why did I read another one? I had a good enough reasons.
1) [a:H.R.F. Keating|52651|H.R.F. Keating|http://d.gr-assets.com/authors/1283603032p2/52651.jpg] picked it as his favourite of all the 87th Precinct books in his [b:Crime and Mystery: The 100 Best Books|656168|Crime and Mystery The 100 Best Books|H.R.F. Keating|http://d.gr-assets.com/books/1348036164s/656168.jpg|642262].
2) Of all the Ed McBain novels I sold recently this was the one they wouldn't take because the glue had come loose causing the pages to fall out.
I took the second fact as fate and determined to read one last Ed McBain novel.
And I'm glad I did, this one was marginally more enjoyable than the previous two episodes I've read through. McBain's strength is in his attention to details, the way you are walked through the procedures cops take (its not called a police procedural for nothing,) and the everyday behaviour of cops and criminals, their meaningless conversations only serve to heighten the interest (and tension at times) in the more important matters.
Yes the plot was predictable, but then again Steve Carella tells you what's going to happen in the opening chapter so who can complain about it? And yes once more Bert Kling gets involved with a girl/criminals tangentially involved with the case; happily it's not as eye-rollingly awful as it could be and provides a few nice moments alongside the entrapment of a murderer.
This is officially enough of the 87th Precinct for me now, they're not bad and are actually quite enjoyable but I need to aim higher, to find more pleasure in my reading and it seems Ed McBain found his plateau early on and coasted for another 50 or so books.
1) [a:H.R.F. Keating|52651|H.R.F. Keating|http://d.gr-assets.com/authors/1283603032p2/52651.jpg] picked it as his favourite of all the 87th Precinct books in his [b:Crime and Mystery: The 100 Best Books|656168|Crime and Mystery The 100 Best Books|H.R.F. Keating|http://d.gr-assets.com/books/1348036164s/656168.jpg|642262].
2) Of all the Ed McBain novels I sold recently this was the one they wouldn't take because the glue had come loose causing the pages to fall out.
I took the second fact as fate and determined to read one last Ed McBain novel.
And I'm glad I did, this one was marginally more enjoyable than the previous two episodes I've read through. McBain's strength is in his attention to details, the way you are walked through the procedures cops take (its not called a police procedural for nothing,) and the everyday behaviour of cops and criminals, their meaningless conversations only serve to heighten the interest (and tension at times) in the more important matters.
Yes the plot was predictable, but then again Steve Carella tells you what's going to happen in the opening chapter so who can complain about it? And yes once more Bert Kling gets involved with a girl/criminals tangentially involved with the case; happily it's not as eye-rollingly awful as it could be and provides a few nice moments alongside the entrapment of a murderer.
This is officially enough of the 87th Precinct for me now, they're not bad and are actually quite enjoyable but I need to aim higher, to find more pleasure in my reading and it seems Ed McBain found his plateau early on and coasted for another 50 or so books.
The third Ed McBain 87th Precinct novel that I've read, Sadie When She Died (I've previously read #28 and #10, in that order), is a thoroughly entertaining read with an interesting mystery that follows what should be an open and shut case quickly escalate. One of the problems that I have with this series is that even after having only read three books I can quickly tell they're like the crime procedural TV show for fiction, and there's only so many episodes and mysteries you can do before the series start to feel repetitive. That looks to be the case for these novels and it's only a matter of time before I'll reach that point especially as there are over fifty novels in this series from one of the world's most prolific crime writers.
The mystery and procedural stuff is compelling and interesting and the book moves along really quickly. It's showing its age but that's understandable, it was written in 1972 after all. Whilst King's Ransom is probably my favourite out of the three I've read so far, I'd have to put Sadie When She Died down next, as it explores its themes well and delivers a powerful ending, but at the same time, feels so short it could have almost been a novella...
The mystery and procedural stuff is compelling and interesting and the book moves along really quickly. It's showing its age but that's understandable, it was written in 1972 after all. Whilst King's Ransom is probably my favourite out of the three I've read so far, I'd have to put Sadie When She Died down next, as it explores its themes well and delivers a powerful ending, but at the same time, feels so short it could have almost been a novella...
Sadie When She Died - don't you just love that title! was my 5th 87th Precinct book. I have jumped all over the order in my reads and all that I've read have been excellent reads, including Sadie. This one revolves around a man's wife who is murdered. He's happy she's dead and moreover that somebody did the job for him (or did they?). Sadie.. is a very quick and interesting book. You get wrapped into the characters and McBain's prose. The end comes quick with the revelations. I had to go back and read the last few pages to make sure I captured it all. I like quick reads but I feel like this one could have used 10-15 more pages.
Great dialogue, flawless plotting , making the difficult appear easy; a wonderful example of great skill and humor: that is just what you expect from Ed McBain. A Christmas-winter theme provides the atmosphere that limns each of his novels.
Sadie When She Died (1972) by Ed McBain is one of the better 87th Precinct mysteries IMHO. A nasty murder of an attorney's wife...was it the thief, or, the husband? Many satisfying sub-plots along with the Christmas setting in the Big City. If you're an 87th fan and haven't read Sadie put it on you're list...4.0 outta 5.0....
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
This is the first of the 87th precinct books I have read. That being said, it won't be my last. The characters had surprising depth for such a short "cop drama" style novel. While elements of the story were predictable, including the culprit in the main case, the story itself was still very worthwhile. Lastly, the action sequences in the book was realistic and appropriate for the situations (a lesson which many current crime writers could learn from).
Steve Carella and Bert Kling catch a murder case that seems cut and dried during the run up to Christmas. An enjoyable quick read.