Rating: 
Summary: If you don't want to get hooked, don't read this book
Review: "The Big Bad City" was the first Ed McBain novel I ever read, and now I am hooked. The plot that McBain spins leaves you at the edge of your seat wanting to find out who did it and why. This one had a slight different take, in that Steve Carella had to deal with the death of his father over again, with Sonny Cole out to get him, plus his sister Angela dating the man responsible for his acquittal. This was a good book to start with.
Rating:
Summary: the 49th novel in the 87th precinct ranks as a number 1
Review: Police detectives Carella and Brown investigate the murder of Sister Mary Vincent, whose strangulated corpse was found in nearby Grove Park. They soon learn that there is more to the nun than just her pious avocation. At the same time, the media glamorizes the Cookie Boy, a thief who leaves a dozen chocolate cookies behind as his calling card. Detectives Meyer and Kling try to capture the felon before someone is hurt. However, as Carella and Brown begin their sleuthing, unbeknownst to the duo, an assailant is stalking them. He fears that Carella will eventually avenge his killing of Carella's father and plans to take action before the cop does. Meanwhile, the fears of Meyer and Kling erupt when two homicides are found at the latest scene of the latest Cookie Boy crime. Over a five day period, life remains violently the same in the 87th precinct. The forty-ninth (incredible) 87th precinct novel retains the freshness of the first tale released in 1956. THE BIG BAD CITY is clearly a testimony as to how good Ed McBain is. The three prime subplots come together to make an intriguing story line that never slows down for even a page. The return of characters is like visiting old buddies as all the prime time players show up in a lively, humanistic manner. Any novel by Mr. McBain (see the Matthew Hope series) is going to be entertaining, but the 87th precinct series is one of the best police procedurals even after four decades of crime. Harriet Klausner
Rating:
Summary: The Cookie Boy was delicious
Review: I enjoyed the story, especially since the bad guy got away...I won't say which one.
Carella's personal story was interwoven very well in the storyline. I enjoyed it.
The storyline was tight and interesting. It held my attention and I read the book in one sitting...after a slow beginning. I attempted to read it at work and it was a bit slow for lunch time reading. But for recliner reading it moves at a good pace.
Rating: 
Summary: more of the same from the 87th precinct
Review: If you have read McBain before, you will find more of the same in this novel. As usual in his 87th precinct works that I have read, McBain (pen name of the author) sets out what are basically three short stories that interlink and form into a short novel. All three of these stories are slick no nonsense to the point Dragnet style pieces. They are very readable and enjoyable. If you are a fan as I am and are looking for more of the same from McBain this book will not let you down. If you have not read McBain before, I would suggest that you start towards the beginning of his series even though you could jump in here and it would not effect the enjoyment this work offers in any way. That aside, I am only rating this work as a three star read because it is so formulaic. I can't bring myself to rate it any higher because I feel that the author is just churning this out without much thought (even though he does this quite well). This book is not high literature. It is just something, as are all of the books in this series, to pick up and enjoy for what it is, a mass produced work by a master in familiar surroundings.
Rating: 
Summary: This is a smart, witty and fast-moving book.
Review: McBain has a unique ability to combine sassy dialogue, lively characters and political incorrectness into fast-paced police procedurals. His 87th precinct novels are humorous and involving. "The Big Bad City" will not disappoint McBain's fans. In this novel, McBain juggles three different plot lines skillfully and he keeps the reader guessing until the end. This is not great literature but is is an enjoyable read.
Rating:
Summary: A fine tale, but...
Review: McBain is the undisputed master of the procedural; in my own reading experience only John Creasey's "Gideon of Scotland Yard" and Sjowall and Wahloo's "Martin Beck" novels come near. Even poor McBain is better than most other authors' best, and this book is by no means poor or bad; just average -- but being "average" in as high-quality a series as this puts it above many other books that would rank tops for thier writers/in their own series... By this point, McBain is writing psychological studies as much he is mysteries; whodunnit and even howdunnit is generally less the point than *why*dunnit. McBain characterises through dialog better than almost any other writer of popular fiction i can think of, and his work exudes a solid sense of *place* -- of location -- that adds weight and dimension to it. Isola may be fictitious, but by now, fifty books along, i could walk its streets with less chance of getting lost than i would if in Chicago, where i was born fifty years ago. The plot this issue is, indeed, razor thin, more an excuse to string together a series of events and encounters and to show us our old friends Carella, Kling, Fat Ollie Weeks and the rest doing what cops do. There are some Important Events -- one long-running character finally comes to the end of his run, and there is at least one unresolved thread that may well be central to the next volume in the series. And i am sure there *will* be another -- though he has wound up his other series (the "fairytale" books about Matthew Hope, Florida lawyer), i do not believe that Ed McBain will be able to stop writing until they pry his cold dead fingers off his keyboard... A "must-read" if you're already a fan; if not, go back to "Lady Lady I Did It" or "Fuzz" or "Sadie When She Died" or "King's Ransom" or almost any mid-period 87th novel, and begin. ((By the way -- "King's Ransome" was brilliantly adapted into a film set in contemporary Japan by Akira Kurosawa, under the title "High & Low". The plot translated perfectly.)) If you're a mystery fan who has so far managed to miss the 87th books, you won't regret discovering them.
Rating:
Summary: A New Classic From the Master
Review: One can't pick up an 87th Precinct novel without reflecting that it's been written by the man who is generally considered the master of the police procedural. Yes, there's the nun murder and the "cookie boy" burglar, but the heart of this novel is a small time hood's stalking of Steve Carella. The only reason the punk gives is that Carella may some day come looking for him and Carella's death will take care of that. In the meanwhile, we get Carella reflecting on aging and recalling great moments in 87th Precinct history (at one point, the reverie goes back to 'Cop Hater', the 1st 87th novel). While reliving these moments, I realized that I was again at the feet of the Master. Loved this book and I hope to see a bangup 50th novel for the boys at the 87th.
Rating:
Summary: A Very Entertaining Mystery/Dark Comedy
Review: The Big Bad City is the 49th Novel of the 87th Precinct, and those that are familiar with Ed McBain's previous works won't dispute the fact that he's a great mystery writer, but the thing that I enjoy most is his sense of humor. While it's never over-the-top and won't get you laughing out loud, you are guaranteed to have a grin on your face as you read this book. In this particular novel, Detectives Brown and Carella are investigating a homicide in which the victim is a young nun with breast implants. There are also several subplots, one involving a burglar called the Cookie Boy who leaves home made chocolate chip cookies at the homes that he burglarizes. Also, Detective Carella is being stalked by the man who killed is father. While the details of the story's plot may slip from the reader's memory soon after the book is completed, the nonsensically comical banter between the two detectives is quite memorable. I especially liked the nun jokes that they crack throughout the story. The only pitfall that I can find in this story is in Ed McBain's writing style. He uses small words and short sentences, and while the story is easy to follow, it's also very dry at times. Though the book was written just a few years ago, it reads like a detective novel written in the 1950s. However, if you like detective novels, and if you like movies like "L.A. Confidential", you're going to like this book.
Rating:
Summary: Ed McBain is a masterful suspense writer
Review: This book was the first book I read by Mr. McBain. And after Icompleted this novel, it was not my last. This book was fabulous,decriptive, well written prose, engaging, humane protagonists, fast moving and gripping plots--a myriad of plots! I could not put this book down. This is one of my favorite books ever. I really came to know and like many of McBain's characters... so much so, after I completed the novel--in record breaking time--I immediately went out and purchased McBain's other novels of the 87th precinct. Read this and then rush out to read his others--you will not be disappointed.
Rating:
Summary: One of his best!
Review: This is one of the very best of the 87th Precinct novels, and I've read over 30 of them. The dialogue is so superbly done that you'll easily see why reviewers say he has the best ear in the business. This novel also takes on themes besides murder, violence, the seamy side of life, etc. Chapter 3 explores areas that he usually saves for his "literary" novels, and it will remind you of his brilliant novel "Streets of Gold" in many ways. There's one blunder in the novel about the origin of a bottle of scotch. This is unfortunate as it creates a unintentional red herring that might confuse the reader. Aside from that, it's perfect. Superb read!
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