Ed McBain 81st Precinct

jhempel24 · 01-08-2013, 01:36 AM

Okay, so before I jump into a massive series, because I'm a completest, anyone read these and find them good? I've heard this was kind of the basis for the Law and Order TV Show, and if it's like those, then heck, I'm all for it!

EDIT: I should say 87th Precinct

rhadin · 01-08-2013, 06:01 AM

I have read many of them and have found them to be excellent police procedurals. The characters, I think, are interesting. The stories are not complex; the emphasis is on the characters rather than on the crime.

jhempel24 · 01-08-2013, 06:34 AM

Fantastic, thank you very much! I think I may delve into this world with Cop Hater only being $3

Mike L · 01-08-2013, 07:55 AM

I've read many of them, and have greatly enjoyed them.

Although each novel is self-contained, the background story develops over time, with characters coming and going, forming relationships, and so on. For that reason, it might be better to read them in roughly the order they were written, but this is not essential.

Mike

Jozawun · 01-08-2013, 06:03 PM

It's 87th, of course.
I've read them all years ago, and re-read them all again recently.
Excellent books.
And, of course, it had its own TV series back in the dim dark dawn of time, with Robert Lansing playing Carella.

Dr. Drib · 01-09-2013, 08:09 AM

There's another thread on this series, when Amazon offered about 35 of them for 99 cents each.

Don

AnemicOak · 01-09-2013, 09:32 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dr. Drib

There's another thread on this series, when Amazon offered about 35 of them for 99 cents each.

Don

http://www.mobileread.com/forums/sho...d.php?t=165091

jhempel24 · 01-09-2013, 11:54 AM

damn wish I saw that last year!

Pookeysgirl · 01-09-2013, 11:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jhempel24

damn wish I saw that last year!

Me too

NightBird · 01-09-2013, 05:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jhempel24

damn wish I saw that last year!

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pookeysgirl

Me too

Yeah, you better start paying more attention to the Bargain forum.

You didn't miss Cop Hater, though, because that wasn't in the sale as it just came out in May.

jgaiser · 01-09-2013, 06:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by NightBird

Yeah, you better start paying more attention to the Bargain forum.

You didn't miss Cop Hater, though, because that wasn't in the sale as it just came out in May.

There were a number of missing books during the sale. Haven't finished with what I purchased, but enjoyed what I've read.

NightBird · 01-09-2013, 07:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jgaiser

There were a number of missing books during the sale. Haven't finished with what I purchased, but enjoyed what I've read.

I know -- I just mentioned that one because it is the first in the series.

Dr. Drib · 01-09-2013, 07:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AnemicOak

http://www.mobileread.com/forums/sho...d.php?t=165091

Thank you!

I was in a big hurry this morning and had no time to track it down.

Don

KentE · 01-24-2013, 12:02 AM

As far as I'm aware, McBain essentially invented the "ensemble" police procedural. Plenty of TV series have utilized the concept, with perhaps the best example (in my experience) being "Hill Street Blues".
Law and Order may have been loosely based on the series, but to me it seems more focused on the progress of the case through multiple groups (police, prosecutor), and less focused on the backstories of the characters than the 87th series. Other TV shows follow the format, in a different environment (LA Law was basically 87th precinct in a legal office, St. Elsewhere was 87th Precinct in a hospital, etc.)
I started somewhere in the middle of the series, read all the later ones in order as they came out, but filled the gaps between releases by digging out earlier ones from used bookstores. Very readable in any order.
KentE

melmac · 01-27-2013, 08:09 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jhempel24

damn wish I saw that last year!

Just a heads up there are 5 87th Precient novels available for $1 each in a current Amazon Local Deal unfortunatly it's only one voucher per customer

but one is better than none

Basically go here http://local.amazon.com/national/B00B4FZX66 get the free voucher follow the link to the Amazon page and apply your coupon which will allow you to pick 1 book from a choice of 25 for $1 there are 5 McBain books in the 25 on offer.

01-08-2013, 01:36 AM	#1
jhempel24 Wizard Posts: 1,996 Karma: 6955269 Join Date: Dec 2007 Device: Amazon Kindle Paperwhite, B&N Nook Colro	Ed McBain 81st Precinct Okay, so before I jump into a massive series, because I'm a completest, anyone read these and find them good? I've heard this was kind of the basis for the Law and Order TV Show, and if it's like those, then heck, I'm all for it! EDIT: I should say 87th Precinct __________________ Top of the Heap Book Reviews \| Top of the Heap Facebook Page \| Dropbox Referal Link (use this to get more space)

01-08-2013, 06:01 AM	#2
rhadin Literacy = Understanding Posts: 2,969 Karma: 11090339 Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: The World of Books Device: Sony PRS-950, Nook Tablet	I have read many of them and have found them to be excellent police procedurals. The characters, I think, are interesting. The stories are not complex; the emphasis is on the characters rather than on the crime. __________________ Richard H. Adin www.freelance-editorial-services.com when only the best will do www.americaneditor.wordpress.com musings about books and editing

01-08-2013, 06:34 AM	#3
jhempel24 Wizard Posts: 1,996 Karma: 6955269 Join Date: Dec 2007 Device: Amazon Kindle Paperwhite, B&N Nook Colro	Fantastic, thank you very much! I think I may delve into this world with Cop Hater only being $3 __________________ Top of the Heap Book Reviews \| Top of the Heap Facebook Page \| Dropbox Referal Link (use this to get more space)

01-08-2013, 07:55 AM	#4
Mike L Wizard Posts: 1,175 Karma: 2962988 Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Edinburgh, Scotland Device: Kindle 3	I've read many of them, and have greatly enjoyed them. Although each novel is self-contained, the background story develops over time, with characters coming and going, forming relationships, and so on. For that reason, it might be better to read them in roughly the order they were written, but this is not essential. Mike __________________ Currently reading: Why Was Queen Victoria Such a Prude? (David Haviland); Payment Deferred (C.S. Forester)

01-08-2013, 06:03 PM	#5
Jozawun Evangelist Posts: 471 Karma: 1578374 Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Australia Device: Cybook Gen 3, Pocketbook 902, Sony 650	It's 87th, of course. I've read them all years ago, and re-read them all again recently. Excellent books. And, of course, it had its own TV series back in the dim dark dawn of time, with Robert Lansing playing Carella. __________________ Then he waited, marshaling his thoughts and brooding over his still untested powers. For though he was master of the world, he was not quite sure what to do next. But he would think of something.

01-09-2013, 08:09 AM	#6
Dr. Drib Grand Sorcerer Posts: 21,658 Karma: 7299295 Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: San Borja (Lima), Peru Device: Pcktbk 360; Kindle Paperwhite (WiFi)/ Fire HD; nook STR & Col; KoboGlo	There's another thread on this series, when Amazon offered about 35 of them for 99 cents each. Don __________________ “How to Write the First 3 Paragraphs of YOUR Indie Novel” - by Max Waxwelp 1) Always write 3 sentences of exposition; 2) now create some dialogue, preferably no more than 2 sentences; and 3) make certain the dialogue is either inane or humorous. Example: “Bob, I did not know you wore yellow suspenders,” Sally remarked. “Gee, Sally, those are not suspenders. I am wearing yellow underwear today,” Bob revealed. The dialogue above will help produce at least 100 more pages of dialogue.

01-09-2013, 11:54 AM	#8
jhempel24 Wizard Posts: 1,996 Karma: 6955269 Join Date: Dec 2007 Device: Amazon Kindle Paperwhite, B&N Nook Colro	damn wish I saw that last year! __________________ Top of the Heap Book Reviews \| Top of the Heap Facebook Page \| Dropbox Referal Link (use this to get more space)

01-24-2013, 12:02 AM	#14
KentE ...still a Zealot Posts: 213 Karma: 248871 Join Date: Feb 2012 Location: Kansas City, Kansas, USA Device: Palm Pixi & PC	As far as I'm aware, McBain essentially invented the "ensemble" police procedural. Plenty of TV series have utilized the concept, with perhaps the best example (in my experience) being "Hill Street Blues". Law and Order may have been loosely based on the series, but to me it seems more focused on the progress of the case through multiple groups (police, prosecutor), and less focused on the backstories of the characters than the 87th series. Other TV shows follow the format, in a different environment (LA Law was basically 87th precinct in a legal office, St. Elsewhere was 87th Precinct in a hospital, etc.) I started somewhere in the middle of the series, read all the later ones in order as they came out, but filled the gaps between releases by digging out earlier ones from used bookstores. Very readable in any order. KentE

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