The Heckler: An 87th Precinct Mystery

Rating:
Summary: Getting a little repetitious
Review: 87th Precinct mystery. Steve Carella gets shot again, this time by the "Deaf Man." This is getting a little old, this constant use of Carella as a punching bag or the character around which the "mystery" is structured (like his sister's wedding in an earlier novel). McBain has several interesting characters in the 87th, and he's done Carella to death (literally, almost). What was "fun" here? The scene in which the break goes against the Deaf Man, who has carefully calculated and elongated the odds in his favor for getting away with his burglary. There's still some horrendous overwriting here, although nothing as purple as the last novel. It's amazing, to me, that these novels were bought and published. I know why I read them now, that is, because I've read the 1980s 87th Precinct, and know how good McBain gets, but how ever did he survive long enough with work of this poor caliber? Is there a Young McBain even now creating a series that we will look back at 20+ years hence publishing today? I doubt it. I think the publishing conditions and conventions were much different in the late 50s and early 60s. Today's writer has to be much better with that first novel, and each subsequent one.

Rating:
Summary: Let's hear it for the deaf man!
Review: Every hero needs a worthy adversary: Sherlock Holmes matched wits with Professor Moriarity; James Bond battled Goldfinger; and in Ed McBain's 87th Precinct, Steve Carella and the boys take on the wily Deaf Man.
In the twelfth number, Meyer Meyer investigates a series of complaints about a caller threatening businessmen. Carella grapples with a homicide, a naked man wearing US Navy shoes. Eventually, via the newspapers, a caller identifies the corpse as John Smith.
Meanwhile, the Deaf Man is hard at work on a caper that will net him two and half million dollars. He's creating diversions based on the Sherlock Holmes story, "The Red-headed League." The businesses being threatened are near banks and jewelry stores, and the men of the 87th are spread awfully thin trying to cover every eventuality.
McBain is a clever stylist who works on the reader subliminally. Carella's nemesis is deaf; his other senses are heightened because of it. Carella's wife, Teddy is also deaf. I'd be interested to know if there is some deafness in Evan Hunter's background. Also, when the situation fits, McBain takes a dig at the politically correct. If you don't believe me, get a load of Ollie Weeks (He's not in this one). McBain (Hunter) is also not afraid to combine humor and dramatic action. There's a fantastic twist toward the ending that made me laugh out loud, and I was alone. He's also not afraid to break convention; Carella and the 87th fail as often as they succeed, especially when they're up against the Deaf Man. Also, it's a convention in most mysteries that the hero be involved in the capture of the villain. Carella is in a coma when the Deaf Man is foiled (by a beat cop).
I started reading the 87th Precinct novels way down the line with LULLABY. As a result, I stumbled across the Deaf Man when I happened to pick up LET'S HEAR IT FOR THE DEAF MAN. I've been trying to find the rest ever since. There are five of them: THE HECKLER, FUZZ, LET'S HEAR IT FOR THE DEAF MAN, EIGHT BLACK HORSES, AND MISCHIEF. I can't remember if they finally got him in MISCHIEF, but if not, isn't it about time for another, Ed?

Rating:
Summary: THE HECKLER IS A HECK OF A BOOK!!!!
Review: McBain has written another good one in "The Heckler". I have read the first twelve and think I gave them all a five. Someone is calling shop owners and telling them to move by a certain date or die. Who could be doing this? Their only clue is the caller states he is a little deaf. Myer Myer is in charge of this investigation. Meanwhile, Steve Carella is in charge of another one involving a dead man. Are the two connected? Myer and Carella sit in the same squad room but they think each are working on two different things???????? What is the deaf man planing to do? Caerlla and gang of the the 87th are trying to find out. But, will they do it in time? These books will hold your attention. They go a little deeper into police procedure than many mystery books do. I really enjoy them and I hope you will too. If you read very many you will come to think you know the whole bunch. You will also worry about their wives and children. McBain does a good job.