FFB Review: THE BIG BAD CITY (1999) by Ed McBain Reviewed by Barry Ergang

Barry Ergang is back on the blog today with an all new review for FFB. For the full list of reading suggestions, check out Todd Mason’s Sweet Freedom blog.

THE BIG BAD CITY (1999) by Ed McBain

Reviewed by Barry Ergang

The dead woman who “lay sprawled in front of a bench in Grover Park” in the 87^th Precinct “was wearing a white blouse and pale blue slacks, white socks and scuffed Reeboks.” The detectives assigned to the case are Steve Carella and Arthur Brown. Who the woman actually is and what the detectives uncover about her and her past takes them into the pasts of other suspects and events with some surprising revelations.

Meanwhile, the man who murdered Carella’s father has been persuaded that he needs to do the same to Carella lest he wind up in prison for life or dead at the hands of other inmates, and begins to stalk his next victim.

At the same time, detectives Meyer Meyer and Bert Kling pursue the burglar who has come to be known as The Cookie Boy because he leaves a batch of home-made chocolate chip cookies at the homes of his targets. A man who prides himself on his scrupulous and considerate approach to burglary, as well as on his love for baking, he finds himself on the run when events turn catastrophic during a particular foray.

A Mystery Writers of America Grand Master, Ed McBain is probably the most well-known of the many pseudonyms of the versatile novelist Evan Hunter. The 87^th Precinct series has long ranked as one of the greatest series—perhaps the greatest—of police procedural novels, notable for its three-dimensional characterizations via internal and external dialogue, impeccable pacing, drama, suspense, and humor.

Raw language and racial slurs occur as part of some characterizations, so readers easily offended should avoid this one. To those not offended, this is an easy recommendation.

© 2019 Barry Ergang

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