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sandin954's review against another edition
3.0
The bulls of the 87th Precinct are called in to investigate a mass shooting at a bookstore. Published in 1961, this was a very readable entry in this classic police procedural series.
csdaley's review against another edition
4.0
This was a good book and I love how much better the books are when you read them in order (I read many of them in high school out of order). This was some serious world building here. Can’t wait to see the years tick by.
bundy23's review against another edition
5.0
After a few just okay efforts the series turns much darker here. I like the darkness.
dgrachel's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Detective Bert Kling's girlfriend is gunned down in a bookstore, along with three other victims, which makes this case personal for the detectives of the 87th Precinct. This was an unusually twisty mystery in this series. McBain did an excellent job of misdirection, giving the reader the same tunnel vision which the detectives suffered. CW, though, for rape and abortion, in a time when abortion was illegal in all cases except imminent death of the mother.
Content Warnings
Minor: Rape and Abortion
margaritaville's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
fast-paced
4.5
Content Warnings
Minor: Abortion and Antisemitism
whatmeworry's review against another edition
5.0
Clearly, I'm a sucker for the 87th Precinct books, but this one was particularly good. When the loved one of one of the bulls is one of four victims in a shooting, the Precinct goes into overdrive to solve the case. As is often the case with McBain, the mystery turns on a linguistic quirk (I actually laughed out loud with pleasure at this one), but along the way McBain manages to weave in some subtle social commentary that still resonates 50 years later. A great mystery and an excellent popular novel.
guiltyfeat's review
4.0
Harsh when a character gets killed off. Shame. There's a lovely scene where a bereaved detective visits a shiva to talk to the wife of another victim. It's sensitive and movingly written right up until the detective leaves and notes that it was a bright Saturday morning. Guess McBain never knew you don't sit shiva on Shabbat.
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