Fat Ollie's Book

By: Ed McBain

Narrated by: Michael Arkin

Length: 8 hrs and 17 mins

Publisher's summary

Murders happen every day in the big bad city. They're not such a big deal, you know. Even when the victim is a city councilman as well-known as Lester Henderson.

But this is the first time Fat Ollie Weeks of the 88th Precinct has written a novel, ah yes. Called Report to the Commissioner, it follows a cunning detective named Olivia Wesley Watts, who, apart from being female and slim, is rather like Fat Ollie himself. While Ollie's responding to the squeal about the dead councilman, his leather dispatch case is stolen from the back of his car - and in it, the only copy of his precious manuscript.

Joined by Carella and Kling from the neighboring 87th Precinct, Ollie investigates the homicide with all the exquisite crudeness, insensitivity, and determination for which he is famous. But the theft of his first novel fills Ollie with a renewed passion for old-fashioned detective work.

Following the exploits of one of Ed McBain's most beloved detectives, this lively and complicated tale - the fifty-second in the award-winning 87th Precinct series - is McBain at his best.

©2003 Ed McBain (P)2011 Simon & Schuster Audio

Critic reviews

"Ed McBain is, by far, the best at what he does. Case closed." ( People)

"Wonderful entertainment." ( Booklist)

"McBain is so good he ought to be arrested." ( Publishers Weekly)

Great story plot

Never saw this ending coming. Great plot and story telling. I love novels about the 87th precent

Funny As Hell!

Would you listen to Fat Ollie's Book again? Why?

I might listen to sections of this book again, especially near the end. There are some moments there that made me laugh right out loud.

What was one of the most memorable moments of Fat Ollie's Book?

I think the best part is the unlikely romance between Ollie and another female cop from his precinct.

What does Michael Arkin bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

This narrator has a great way of delivering a punch-line.

Great Listen

Where does Fat Ollie's Book rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

On a scale of 1-10 of the audiobooks I've listened to so far (which aren't many as of yet), Fat Ollie ranks a 9.

What did you like best about this story?

Michael Arkin is a good reader and his pace is perfect -- not too fast or too slow. He has an excellent mastery of the accents he had to cover.

Which character – as performed by Michael Arkin – was your favorite?

My favorite character as performed by Michael Arkin would be the male Puerto Rican prostitute.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

Yes.

Any additional comments?

I only wished sometimes that Arkin wouldn't read every single sentence so dramatically. Occasionally, I felt like he was reading a children's book and that it needed toned down as the mood of certain scenes or dialogue varied.

Funny

I can't help it, even as dated as it is, the over dramatic narration and Fat Ollie, I loved it.

The Rehabilitation? of Fat Ollie

True to the original intent of the 87th being an ensemble performance, this time McBain takes us on the curious and uncertain rehabilitation of Fat Ollie's character. Which is quite a lark. It will probably remind you of someone - the universally disliked colleague whose newly-discovered redeeming features are just painful to acknowledge and reconcile!

McBain must take curious pleasure in dumping on us bucket-loads of previously unknown facts about Ollie. 1 redeeming feature.. 2? No, that's not McBain's style: we go over-the-top.

My only disappointment with this book is missing Dick Hill as narrator. Love him or hate him, he struck me as perfect for this series. In my mind, Dick Hill *is* the voice of the 87th - over-blown performances and all.

Worst book ever!

I normally love Ed McBain stories however this one was absolutely horrible. It seemed as if someone else other than Ed McBain wrote it. It was a bigoted piece of plain trash!