Like Love

An 87th Precinct Novel, Book 16

By: Ed McBain

Narrated by: Dick Hill

There’s a lot going on in the 87th Precinct this spring, and none of it is good. Jumpers on building ledges, a salesman torn apart by an explosion, and to cap it all off, they find the dead, half-naked bodies of Irene Thayer and Tommy Barlow in bed together. It has all the earmarks of a double suicide: a note, empty liquor bottles, closed windows, and the gas on the stove turned up. At least this one’s open and shut. Or is it?

Something doesn’t sit right with the detectives at the 87th Precinct, so Steve Carella and his partner, Cotton Hawes, decide to give the case a once-over. Routine checks can turn up interesting facts. Like Irene’s mother, who has an insurance policy on her daughter. Or Irene's grieving, cuckold husband who’s riding the ragged edge. Even Tommy’s brother. Problem is, in order to find a killer, you have to prove there was a murder….

A complex, captivating thriller that probes the deep recesses of the human heart, Like Love is a bittersweet addition to Ed McBain’s 87th Precinct series and a rare look inside the softer side of hardened detectives.

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

Critic reviews

"The 87th Precinct [is] one of the great literary accomplishments of the last half-century.” (Pete Hamill, Newsday)

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

Story OK, voice annoying

Would you recommend this book to a friend? Why or why not?

Over the years, I've read numerous McBain books and enjoyed them. After listening to this one, I've decided they are better read than heard. McBain's frequent lengthy dissertations on people or This City, etc., are easy to skim on the page but go on and on via the audio version.

I'd recommend reading McBain's works but not listening to them.

What didn’t you like about Dick Hill’s performance?

Hill's voice is raspy, loud and doesn't distinguish well among characters. They all sound a great deal alike when he portrays them.

Any additional comments?

Sorry I can't recommend McBain's books for audio, despite the fact that I do like to read them.

performance was outstanding.

I'm an Ed McBain listener. I've been listening to his books for many years.

I loved the story, but

Again personal preference, stories like this make me melancholy. As an audible book I am distracted by a reader that has too many voices that do not match my imagination. In a less pensive story it matters less as the focus is on the action, interaction and wordplay. In the case of a story as bittersweet as this, the narrator should be nothing more than that, inflection where it is indicated, no contrived voices and minimum dramatic imput.

Old school mediocre

This was my first taste of Ed McBain and it was a lot less impressive than I was expecting. The story is a B at best but the narration is very old school. Over the top Cary Grant Manhattan style accents, oy vey Jewish accents and just off the boat Italian accents. If you miss the 70s check it out. My advice is skip it.