Tricks

87th Precinct, Book 40

By: Ed McBain

Narrated by: Dick Hill

Length: 8 hrs and 12 mins

Publisher's summary

Everyone in the 87th Precinct gets in on the act in Tricks. This audiobook from Ed McBain is a multicrime Halloween story full of murder, mayhem, and cops walking the line between decent society and the evil just beneath its surface.

©1987 Ed McBain (P)2012 Brilliance Audio, Inc.

Critic reviews

"McBain has the ability to make every character believable - which few writers these days can do." ( Associated Press)

"Imagine your favorite Law & Order cast solving fresh mysteries into infinity, with no reruns, and you have some sense of McBain’s grand,ongoing accomplishment." ( Entertainment Weekly)

Very different series but EdMcBain really was good

I actually remember my mom reading these books years and years ago before I was born. When I found them I decided to give them a shot as I'm from the law and order, criminal minds, criminal intent and other similar police procedural generation which I love. I started with book 1 and 2 and was very surprised and offended at how the different storylines and races were depicted during the series in the earlier years; yet I couldn't stop reading them. The writing is dated yet entertaining and the narration is sometimes a little outrageous but I've come to like Dick Hill. I've been on a marathon to read each book.

Some will be really offended by characters like fat Ollie and 2 really insensitive and crass homicide detectives. But I have to say even though the characters take us thru time, the introduction of miranda rights and other social inequalities, EdMcBain is a great writer to me and has held my interest. Not all of the books are on audible but this book has made its way to 1984 I believe and he keeps up with the current tv show references, and changes in the law over time. This is my first written review since I started listening to these books and Doll is the only one I missed to date. Some were better than others; some were more crass than others and you will be able to relate to the stories and how generations of individuals were negatively viewed and relate it to today's issues. In summary I hate some of the negative racial epitaphs but the writing and narration is very good at times. I skipped a few chapters in a few of the books as it was repetitive but I am enjoying the series. The previous book Poison was really good to me. And I find the Character Steve Carella to be one of the most warm, endearing, smart, honest, funny, loving and best cop on the 87th force. Without him I don't think I would make the investment I have. I can't rate 5's but a few of the stories have been close. I'm not stopping now. But if you're easily offended tread carefully with this series. It can be brutally honest a lot but I'm in it for the good triumphing evil. In other words, the good guys get the bad guys.

awful performance

Would you try another book from Ed McBain and/or Dick Hill?

not by Dick Hill.ever !!!!! McBain ....yes

What did you like best about this story?

typical 87th Precinct....strong characters

How could the performance have been better?

get a better narrator...he tries to do way too much

You didn’t love this book... but did it have any redeeming qualities?

book was creative...narrator just awful