Sadie When She Died (An 87th Precinct Mystery)

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Summary: The 87th at work again...
Review: I loved this story, the twists and turns and the final conclusion. A real page turner.

Rating:
Summary: The 87th at work again...
Review: I loved this story, the twists and turns and the final conclusion. A real page turner.

Rating:
Summary: The 8-7 Scores a Perfect 1o
Review: I've read most of the 87th Precinct series, and while the worst ones are always at least above-average, the best ones are a rare excursion into perfection (esepcially for the crime/mystery genre, which, although I love it, is vulnerable to substandard, schlocky stuff). "Sadie" is the best of the best, McBain's most taut, surprising, and intricate little gem. Read it, if only to understand its cryptic title.

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Summary: McBain Satisfies, As Always!
Review: This is early McBain, from 1972, and all the boys from the 87th precinct are here in top form! (Why can't I meet a guy like Steve Carella?!) Like all of his police procedurals, it's a very entertaining and breezy read. Suspense, humor, and crackling dialogue are all served up in equal doses. The book's jacket says, "What could be easier? He had a confessed killer, clear fingerprints, and a witness. Everything was sewed-up tight. Or was it?" Bad vibes and his keen cop's instinct sends Detective Carella on a mission to prove promiscuous Sadie wasn't killed by the number one suspect, but by somebody very close to her. YOU CAN'T GO WRONG WITH MCBAIN! I've loved him for years -- and his books written under his real name -- Evan Hunter -- are also wonderful.

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Summary: The 87th Shows its Age
Review: This reprint of the 1972 original features most of the main characters from the 87th Precint. Makes you wonder what age these guys are today if they were mid-30s back then.

Some unintentional technological humour from McBain, especially his detailed description of bugging and tracking, but the characters - Kling and Carella in particular - are beginning to take shape. The plot is fairly rudimentary and by employing a simple-to-crack code as one of the keys of the case, much of the suspense is missing from a pretty predictable ending.

A quick read, and certainly not a boring one for McBain fanatics - and should be enjoyed for its description of a 1972 lesbian bar as much as anything.

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Summary: SADIE WHO????????
Review: Who was Sadie? Gerald Fletcher calls police and reports he came home and found his wife, Sarah, dead from a knife stabbing. There is even a confesed killer, Ralph Corwin. Carella does not think Corwin was the killer and sets out to prove it. There are many twist and turns. Kling is beaten up by some men. He does not know why or who. Is this connected to the murder? It is a good case of police work and running tips down. McBain writes so you can feel like you are there and can see the action. Who was the killer? Will Kling find out who beat him up? The ending has a surprise twist to it, at least to me. If you like a good mystery with lots going on you will like this one.