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87th Precinct #27
Let's Hear It For The Deaf Man
“You’ll have to speak a little louder,” the voice said. “I’m a little hard of hearing.”
Between a highly successful cat burglar and a hippie crucifixion, the 87th Precinct definitely doesn’t need the Deaf Man showing up again—especially since his two previous appearances resulted in blackmail, murder, and general havoc. But at least they have him now...unless he had them first.
The Deaf Man can hardly contain his glee. Detective Steve Carella is about to inadvertently help him rob a bank. Each day, he mails Carella a picture to keep the game going. The first two are pictures of J. Edgar Hoover, while the next ones involve George Washington. All are clues, obviously. But how do they add up? And will the 87th Precinct find out before the Deaf Man has the last laugh?
A tough, taut, and hilarious mystery, Ed McBain’s classic novel will captivate a new generation of police procedural fans.
Between a highly successful cat burglar and a hippie crucifixion, the 87th Precinct definitely doesn’t need the Deaf Man showing up again—especially since his two previous appearances resulted in blackmail, murder, and general havoc. But at least they have him now...unless he had them first.
The Deaf Man can hardly contain his glee. Detective Steve Carella is about to inadvertently help him rob a bank. Each day, he mails Carella a picture to keep the game going. The first two are pictures of J. Edgar Hoover, while the next ones involve George Washington. All are clues, obviously. But how do they add up? And will the 87th Precinct find out before the Deaf Man has the last laugh?
A tough, taut, and hilarious mystery, Ed McBain’s classic novel will captivate a new generation of police procedural fans.
229 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 1972
114 people are currently reading
547 people want to read
About the author
Ed McBain
710 books669 followers"Ed McBain" is one of the pen names of American author and screenwriter Salvatore Albert Lombino (1926-2005), who legally adopted the name
Evan Hunter
in 1952.
While successful and well known as Evan Hunter, he was even better known as Ed McBain, a name he used for most of his crime fiction, beginning in 1956.
He also used the pen names John Abbott, Curt Cannon, Hunt Collins, Ezra Hannon, Dean Hudson, Evan Hunter, and Richard Marsten.
While successful and well known as Evan Hunter, he was even better known as Ed McBain, a name he used for most of his crime fiction, beginning in 1956.
He also used the pen names John Abbott, Curt Cannon, Hunt Collins, Ezra Hannon, Dean Hudson, Evan Hunter, and Richard Marsten.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 84 reviews
March 3, 2023
The Deaf Man's back with plans to rob the princely sum of $500,000 dollars (that's eary-70's money, folks) from an unnamed bank . . . with Carella's help. Gasp! The devious mastermind has been sending clues to the 87th precinct in the manner of photostats, expecting the boys to piece together where the deed will go down. (The gang lost major points in my eyes for their failure to recognize Martin Van Buren.) Meanwhile there's the grisly murder of a Christlike John Doe who was "crucified" to be solved, and Bert Kling, who's investigating a series of break-ins, meets yet another lovely young thing who will undoubtedly be the next woman to yank his heart out and stomp that sucker flat.
My rating dropped to a three when McBain launched into a somewhat bizarre interlude about how "everyone loves the city" that went on too long, and seemed like nothing more than filler, but bounced back up to four stars with the clever and exciting bank robbery that closed the book.
On to number 28 . . .
My rating dropped to a three when McBain launched into a somewhat bizarre interlude about how "everyone loves the city" that went on too long, and seemed like nothing more than filler, but bounced back up to four stars with the clever and exciting bank robbery that closed the book.
On to number 28 . . .
September 24, 2014
It's always fun when the Deaf Man returns to taunt the detectives of the 87th Precinct. The twenty-seventh book in the series marks his third appearance, and thus far he's managed to escape unscathed even though the detectives have thwarted his plans, at least to some extent.
The Deaf Man has an especial affinity with Detective Steve Carella, given that they've each shot the other and lived to tell the tale. The Deaf Man now ruins a perfectly good day at the 87th by announcing that he's going to rob a bank and that, like it or not, Carella will be assisting him in the job. The Deaf Man begins mailing clues regarding his intentions as a means of daring the detectives to stop him. One of the clues involves a picture of Martin Van Buren, but none of the detectives can figure out what in the hell the Deaf Man is up to.
Meanwhile, a cat burglar is also causing the detectives grief. The burglar is hitting apartments while their well-to-do owners are away on vacation. He's entering, but not breaking, and the detectives cannot figure out how he's managing that or how to stop him.
Finally, a particularly brutal murder in which a man has been left crucified rounds out the action in this book. As the three investigations continue, the clock is winding down to the Deaf Man's planned robbery and thus far, the detectives haven't been able to decipher the clues he is sending them. All in all, it's a lot of fun and adds up to one of the better books in the series.
The Deaf Man has an especial affinity with Detective Steve Carella, given that they've each shot the other and lived to tell the tale. The Deaf Man now ruins a perfectly good day at the 87th by announcing that he's going to rob a bank and that, like it or not, Carella will be assisting him in the job. The Deaf Man begins mailing clues regarding his intentions as a means of daring the detectives to stop him. One of the clues involves a picture of Martin Van Buren, but none of the detectives can figure out what in the hell the Deaf Man is up to.
Meanwhile, a cat burglar is also causing the detectives grief. The burglar is hitting apartments while their well-to-do owners are away on vacation. He's entering, but not breaking, and the detectives cannot figure out how he's managing that or how to stop him.
Finally, a particularly brutal murder in which a man has been left crucified rounds out the action in this book. As the three investigations continue, the clock is winding down to the Deaf Man's planned robbery and thus far, the detectives haven't been able to decipher the clues he is sending them. All in all, it's a lot of fun and adds up to one of the better books in the series.
June 14, 2025
★★★½
"Let's Hear It for the Deaf Man" is a decent entry in the 87th Precinct series. This marks the third appearance of the Deaf Man, and as with his previous outings, the story leans heavily on elaborate schemes and puzzle elements. While clever, these aren't my preferred type of cases in the series. I tend to enjoy the more grounded, character-driven investigations, and this one didn’t quite land on that front for me.
The book juggles three different crimes. Alongside the Deaf Man's latest plot, there’s a cat burglar on the loose and a particularly grim murder. As side stories, they were interesting enough on their own, though I'm not entirely convinced they worked together as a single book. That said, I do appreciate that it mirrors the reality of police work, where detectives often deal with several unrelated cases at once.
One consistent highlight is McBain’s writing about the city itself. His descriptions of Isola’s streets, weather and atmosphere give the setting a real sense of character, and those long, observational passages are something I always enjoy.
I also liked a small continuity detail in this one. It's mentioned that Carella hasn’t been inside a church since his sister’s wedding, more than ten years ago. That caught my attention, because that wedding took place in book nine, meaning over a decade has passed within the series between books nine and twenty-seven. These small acknowledgements of time passing within the precinct’s world always add something for long-time readers.
Overall, a decent instalment. Not one of the series’ standouts, but with enough to enjoy, and a good reminder of the everyday rhythms of police work in Isola.
"Let's Hear It for the Deaf Man" is a decent entry in the 87th Precinct series. This marks the third appearance of the Deaf Man, and as with his previous outings, the story leans heavily on elaborate schemes and puzzle elements. While clever, these aren't my preferred type of cases in the series. I tend to enjoy the more grounded, character-driven investigations, and this one didn’t quite land on that front for me.
The book juggles three different crimes. Alongside the Deaf Man's latest plot, there’s a cat burglar on the loose and a particularly grim murder. As side stories, they were interesting enough on their own, though I'm not entirely convinced they worked together as a single book. That said, I do appreciate that it mirrors the reality of police work, where detectives often deal with several unrelated cases at once.
One consistent highlight is McBain’s writing about the city itself. His descriptions of Isola’s streets, weather and atmosphere give the setting a real sense of character, and those long, observational passages are something I always enjoy.
I also liked a small continuity detail in this one. It's mentioned that Carella hasn’t been inside a church since his sister’s wedding, more than ten years ago. That caught my attention, because that wedding took place in book nine, meaning over a decade has passed within the series between books nine and twenty-seven. These small acknowledgements of time passing within the precinct’s world always add something for long-time readers.
Overall, a decent instalment. Not one of the series’ standouts, but with enough to enjoy, and a good reminder of the everyday rhythms of police work in Isola.
December 23, 2019
The 87th Precincts' only reoccurring criminal mastermind, the deaf man, makes his third appearance in this book. The main plot follow the detectives trying to figure out what the clues the deaf man sends them mean. He appears to be telling them the time and place of his next heist, but it obviously cannot be that simple. Adding into the mix a couple of other cases and you end up with one of the most complex and satisfying novel in the series.
Really enjoyed this one and it also marks me closing on the half way point of the series. I believe I have the next 18 books ready to go, so more 87th Precinct novels next year.
Really enjoyed this one and it also marks me closing on the half way point of the series. I believe I have the next 18 books ready to go, so more 87th Precinct novels next year.
March 5, 2019
Una volta ogni tanto un bel giallone metropolitano vecchi tempi fa proprio bene.
Di quelli semplici, diretti, senza troppi arzigogoli psicologici, fatti di poliziotti duri come il cemento e di cattivi che sono cattivi con la C maiuscola.
E cattivo di quelli proprio dei fumetti è il Sordo, l'astutissimo rapinatore supercriminale che Steve Carella e i suoi compagni dell' 87esimo distretto non riescono a catturare, mentre si destreggiano tra scassinatori, spacciatori, efferati omicidi in squallidi quartieri di periferia e quant'altro.
Scrittura semplice e piana, certo. Libro di puro intrattenimento, senza dubbio. Ma non si può non provare una istintiva simpatia per carella ed i suoi, così come alla fine nonostante tutto arribva un impressionante quadro delle metropoli americane di metà novecento. Città verticali, dove il cielo si vede solo a strisce, che non lasciano spazio a panorami di alcun genere, ma che alla fine, come si dice esplicitamente anche in questo "la voce del crimine", non si può non amare.
Nota positiva per l'interessante operazione editoriale di Einaudi Stile Libero che ripropone una selezione tra le centinaia di romanzi gialli pubblicat da E McBain, a cura di Maurizio de Giovanni che proprio dal grande scrittore newyorkese ha tratto ispiramento per i suoi bastardi di Pizzofalcone. Ho letto un romanzo di De Giovanni e non lo ho amato. Ma qui sta facendo davvero un buon lavoro.
Di quelli semplici, diretti, senza troppi arzigogoli psicologici, fatti di poliziotti duri come il cemento e di cattivi che sono cattivi con la C maiuscola.
E cattivo di quelli proprio dei fumetti è il Sordo, l'astutissimo rapinatore supercriminale che Steve Carella e i suoi compagni dell' 87esimo distretto non riescono a catturare, mentre si destreggiano tra scassinatori, spacciatori, efferati omicidi in squallidi quartieri di periferia e quant'altro.
Scrittura semplice e piana, certo. Libro di puro intrattenimento, senza dubbio. Ma non si può non provare una istintiva simpatia per carella ed i suoi, così come alla fine nonostante tutto arribva un impressionante quadro delle metropoli americane di metà novecento. Città verticali, dove il cielo si vede solo a strisce, che non lasciano spazio a panorami di alcun genere, ma che alla fine, come si dice esplicitamente anche in questo "la voce del crimine", non si può non amare.
Nota positiva per l'interessante operazione editoriale di Einaudi Stile Libero che ripropone una selezione tra le centinaia di romanzi gialli pubblicat da E McBain, a cura di Maurizio de Giovanni che proprio dal grande scrittore newyorkese ha tratto ispiramento per i suoi bastardi di Pizzofalcone. Ho letto un romanzo di De Giovanni e non lo ho amato. Ma qui sta facendo davvero un buon lavoro.
September 2, 2018
The Deaf Man is to Detective Carella and the 87th Precinct as Professor Moriarty is to Sherlock Holmes. Whenever the Deaf Man visits the 87th Precinct, you may rest assured that the story will be a cut above the already excellent series’ entries.
There are three concurrent crime plots in this issue, one involving a very efficient burglar who manages to gain entry into upscale apartments while the owners are on vacation without leaving any trace of forced entry. He does, however, leave a kitten behind as a sort of calling card. The bonus for fans of a little romance is that through the investigation of the burglaries, young Det. Burt Kling meets the most beautiful woman he’s ever seen— a model— and the attraction appears to be mutual.
The second plot involves a more serious crime: that of a brutal murder, which takes us on a rather unusual literary journey as McBain waxes philosophic about the city and all her qualities, good and bad. It’s a bit odd and seems a touch out of sync with the the rest of the book, but is nonetheless well written.
The third plot & main storyline is a bank robbery being orchestrated by the Deaf Man that he shares with Carella through a series of photostats that serve as code for his plans. He can’t just rob a bank, he needs to engage and embarrass the police while doing so. This is classic Deaf Man antics, and this one is among the better issues in the series.
Finding a better police procedural, much less a series of them, would be near impossible. Ed McBain handled this genre as few others. His ear for dialogue and abilities to write convincingly— whether he’s describing a crime scene or the sensuous curve of a woman’s leg— is extraordinary and reading his work is always a pleasure.
There are three concurrent crime plots in this issue, one involving a very efficient burglar who manages to gain entry into upscale apartments while the owners are on vacation without leaving any trace of forced entry. He does, however, leave a kitten behind as a sort of calling card. The bonus for fans of a little romance is that through the investigation of the burglaries, young Det. Burt Kling meets the most beautiful woman he’s ever seen— a model— and the attraction appears to be mutual.
The second plot involves a more serious crime: that of a brutal murder, which takes us on a rather unusual literary journey as McBain waxes philosophic about the city and all her qualities, good and bad. It’s a bit odd and seems a touch out of sync with the the rest of the book, but is nonetheless well written.
The third plot & main storyline is a bank robbery being orchestrated by the Deaf Man that he shares with Carella through a series of photostats that serve as code for his plans. He can’t just rob a bank, he needs to engage and embarrass the police while doing so. This is classic Deaf Man antics, and this one is among the better issues in the series.
Finding a better police procedural, much less a series of them, would be near impossible. Ed McBain handled this genre as few others. His ear for dialogue and abilities to write convincingly— whether he’s describing a crime scene or the sensuous curve of a woman’s leg— is extraordinary and reading his work is always a pleasure.
March 4, 2017
I find the recurring Deaf Man storyline a little out of place in this series. So much of what goes on in the 87th precinct is steeped in grimy realism, but the Deaf Man is a continually failing Moriarty wannabe. In this book there is a spat between a medical examiner, homicide detectives and paramedics as to who should be responsible for taking down the body of a crucified murder victim. It's a perfectly realized bit of jobsworth mundanity, set off by the grotesque. Meanwhile the Deaf Man is taunting Carella with clues to his crime, clues which end up defeating the whole caper. Silly. Still, I'd rather be reading about Bert Kling's attempts at finding love with a professional model than almost anything else in detective fiction.
March 21, 2017
finished this one this morning. good story. another one with the deaf man. (edit* too, this one makes use of palindromes...shakespeare, poetry, this that the other. puzzles if you will)
February 26, 2023
Non leggo abitualmente gialli, ma l’occasione di trovare su una bancarella un McBain è ghiotta: quanti suoi romanzi dell’87° distretto vedevo in edicola da ragazzino, negli anni 70/80!
Mi hanno spiegato che questo volume è solo uno delle decine dedicate da Salvatore Lombino, alias Ed McBain, all’87° Distretto (tra le tante serie a cui si è dedicato); e che tra questi è forse il terzo dove il principasle antagonista è il Sordo. Un volume quindi che non spicca, ma rappresentativo.
Ora, leggerlo è stato come ritrovarmi a casa. La New York degli anni 70/80 con quartieri popolari da dopobomba (il romanzo è nel ‘72), vista in tanti film dai Guerrieri della notte a Fuga da New York, che ai fantascientisti ricorderebbe “Il lamento dei cani battuti” di Harlan Ellison; il razzismo violento di ogni etnia contro tutte le altre (in quegli anni spiccavano i portoricani); gli Hell’s Angels che impazzano.
Al tempo stesso, una città che nella sua volgare vitalità non si riesce a non amare: l’intero capitolo 10 è una “Rapsodia a NY”, come quella che pochi anni dopo intonerà Woody Allen all’inizio di “Manhattan” (la città e i suoi quartieri hanno nomi di fantasia in questa serie, ma non è difficile riconoscerli: Isola è Manhattan, Bethtown Brooklyn, Calm’s Point Queens, River’s End Staten Island..).
Anche dal punto di vista narrativo, le tre trame che si alternano (non collegate tra loro) ricodano molto certi telefilm di polizia anni ’80: segno dell’influenza di questo autore. L’umanità dei suo poliziotti, pur in ambienti così degradati, è ancora abbastanza credibile; con Kling, bello e ingenuo, che sembra Alan Ford del Gruppo TNT.
Chiaro, è la sensibilità di 50 anni fa, e per esempio non prevede che una donna possa avere un ruolo: a parte quello della bella modella che seduce Kling; la violenza che a un certo punto si scopre subìta da una protagonista è liquidata in due righe; la donna arrestata all’inizio per aver sgozzato il compagno è vista con divertimento, ma perché l’ha fatto? Una prostituta che si è ribellata al suo sfruttatore? E la rapinatrice della banda del Sordo, sistematicamente derisa dal Sordo (con la simpatia dell’autore) per la sua scarsa attrattiva?
Nota linguistica: si usava già l’espressione “dry run” per una “prova generale”.
Mi hanno spiegato che questo volume è solo uno delle decine dedicate da Salvatore Lombino, alias Ed McBain, all’87° Distretto (tra le tante serie a cui si è dedicato); e che tra questi è forse il terzo dove il principasle antagonista è il Sordo. Un volume quindi che non spicca, ma rappresentativo.
Ora, leggerlo è stato come ritrovarmi a casa. La New York degli anni 70/80 con quartieri popolari da dopobomba (il romanzo è nel ‘72), vista in tanti film dai Guerrieri della notte a Fuga da New York, che ai fantascientisti ricorderebbe “Il lamento dei cani battuti” di Harlan Ellison; il razzismo violento di ogni etnia contro tutte le altre (in quegli anni spiccavano i portoricani); gli Hell’s Angels che impazzano.
Al tempo stesso, una città che nella sua volgare vitalità non si riesce a non amare: l’intero capitolo 10 è una “Rapsodia a NY”, come quella che pochi anni dopo intonerà Woody Allen all’inizio di “Manhattan” (la città e i suoi quartieri hanno nomi di fantasia in questa serie, ma non è difficile riconoscerli: Isola è Manhattan, Bethtown Brooklyn, Calm’s Point Queens, River’s End Staten Island..).
Anche dal punto di vista narrativo, le tre trame che si alternano (non collegate tra loro) ricodano molto certi telefilm di polizia anni ’80: segno dell’influenza di questo autore. L’umanità dei suo poliziotti, pur in ambienti così degradati, è ancora abbastanza credibile; con Kling, bello e ingenuo, che sembra Alan Ford del Gruppo TNT.
Chiaro, è la sensibilità di 50 anni fa, e per esempio non prevede che una donna possa avere un ruolo: a parte quello della bella modella che seduce Kling; la violenza che a un certo punto si scopre subìta da una protagonista è liquidata in due righe; la donna arrestata all’inizio per aver sgozzato il compagno è vista con divertimento, ma perché l’ha fatto? Una prostituta che si è ribellata al suo sfruttatore? E la rapinatrice della banda del Sordo, sistematicamente derisa dal Sordo (con la simpatia dell’autore) per la sua scarsa attrattiva?
Nota linguistica: si usava già l’espressione “dry run” per una “prova generale”.
December 21, 2015
Another good story
I liked this book. I liked how the deaf man played word games with his name and made the police crazy solving puzzles. I gotta admit McBain got me this time. I didn't figure it out. On to the next book...
I liked this book. I liked how the deaf man played word games with his name and made the police crazy solving puzzles. I gotta admit McBain got me this time. I didn't figure it out. On to the next book...
December 28, 2018
“I’m back,” the voice said. ... “I’m a little hard of hearing.” ...
Ahh... The Deaf Man is back - part 3!!!
And a cat burglar is in town too! One that leaves a kitten behind at the scene of his crimes!?!?
The Deaf Man is going to rob a bank, and he is challenging the men of the 87th, and especially Detective Steve Carella - who “... shot each other. And survived.”, to stop him! He sends the precinct 6 photostats as clues, and they are reproduced in this book, in full page coverage!
It's a really good story, and right in line with the previous two, both in style and execution! The rivalry between the Deaf Man and the 87th is pretty fun! And Chapter 10 is awesome! The description of the city Isola/New York City and all of the crimes as the city simmers and begins to boil on a Sunday in April as summer is coming. Marvelous writing! I'm amped up to read the next one!
Ahh... The Deaf Man is back - part 3!!!
And a cat burglar is in town too! One that leaves a kitten behind at the scene of his crimes!?!?
The Deaf Man is going to rob a bank, and he is challenging the men of the 87th, and especially Detective Steve Carella - who “... shot each other. And survived.”, to stop him! He sends the precinct 6 photostats as clues, and they are reproduced in this book, in full page coverage!
It's a really good story, and right in line with the previous two, both in style and execution! The rivalry between the Deaf Man and the 87th is pretty fun! And Chapter 10 is awesome! The description of the city Isola/New York City and all of the crimes as the city simmers and begins to boil on a Sunday in April as summer is coming. Marvelous writing! I'm amped up to read the next one!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 13, 2020
A man informs the police that he is going to commit a crime, and then he begins to mail them all the clues they’ll need to stop him. The only problem for the police is, preventing the crime is all part of his plan.
A solid police procedural with two shocking and very entertaining twists.
A solid police procedural with two shocking and very entertaining twists.
March 5, 2017
Three plots in one book, all well developed and well written. and Kling is the romantic lead again
November 4, 2015
“The juices were beginning to flow, and nowhere did they flow as exuberantly as in the 87th, where life and death sometimes got a little bit confused and where the flowing juices were all too often a bright red.”
The more books I read about the 87th Precinct, the more I find myself enjoying them.
This was my second Deaf Man story. The fact that I’m going in the wrong order makes not a bit of difference.
Let’s Hear It For The Deaf Man has a similar structure to Eight Black Horses. There’s the totally engaging plotting of the Deaf Man himself, a strand relating to a series of cat-burglaries that have taken place on the same block over a short space of time and there’s been the crucifixion of an unidentified man.
Each of the strands is compelling. They’re written in ways that build up elements of tension and heighten curiosity. They also allow further exploration into the lives of the main detectives and their partners. In this one, Detective Kling is totally bowled over by Augusta Blair (‘He had never seen a more beautiful woman in his life.’), one of the victims of a break-in to her apartment where the burglar has left a kitten by way of identifying himself.
This one covers lots of bases. It’s got something for the fan of the whodunit, for those who like their crime brutal, for anyone who enjoys dark humour, for readers who enjoy the perfectly formed quip and for people who appreciate well-rounded characters who give more than two dimensions.
Super stuff and I look forward to the next one.
The more books I read about the 87th Precinct, the more I find myself enjoying them.
This was my second Deaf Man story. The fact that I’m going in the wrong order makes not a bit of difference.
Let’s Hear It For The Deaf Man has a similar structure to Eight Black Horses. There’s the totally engaging plotting of the Deaf Man himself, a strand relating to a series of cat-burglaries that have taken place on the same block over a short space of time and there’s been the crucifixion of an unidentified man.
Each of the strands is compelling. They’re written in ways that build up elements of tension and heighten curiosity. They also allow further exploration into the lives of the main detectives and their partners. In this one, Detective Kling is totally bowled over by Augusta Blair (‘He had never seen a more beautiful woman in his life.’), one of the victims of a break-in to her apartment where the burglar has left a kitten by way of identifying himself.
This one covers lots of bases. It’s got something for the fan of the whodunit, for those who like their crime brutal, for anyone who enjoys dark humour, for readers who enjoy the perfectly formed quip and for people who appreciate well-rounded characters who give more than two dimensions.
Super stuff and I look forward to the next one.
December 13, 2012
Like most 87th Street Precinct novels, there are several stories going on simultaneously. This one has three very good ones. (1) A group of "cat" burglaries of apartments where tenants are on vacation with no visible signs of entry, and where the burglar leaves a kitten as his calling cardis left by the (cat) burglar (Bert Kling); (2) A murder, where the victim is crucified on a wall in an abandoned building. The only clue, a left sneaker size 12, and the remains of a fire (Steve Carella); and (3) The return of and taunting by the "Deaf Man," who promises that Carella will help him rob $500,000 on April 30th. The stories are well strung together, and once again the Deaf Man is thwarted, and narrowly avoids escape. Pleased to see Bert Kling find a beautiful, new girlfriend.
December 29, 2012
* * * * 1/2
This is my favourite 87th Precinct novel because of the plot and the title (I have a weakness for puns). In this book, the squad's nemesis, the Deaf Man, is planning a bank robbery and intends to carry it off with the assistance of the police. But he plays fair, in his mind -- he sends them clues in the form of photostats, telling them where and when the heist will occur. And meanwhile they have to deal with the usual cop shop stuff, like a string of cat burglaries and what appears to have been a crucifixion. McBain's usual snappy dialogue and a-character-in-its-own-right third-person narration combine with the action to make this a fun, breezy read with just enough bite.
This is my favourite 87th Precinct novel because of the plot and the title (I have a weakness for puns). In this book, the squad's nemesis, the Deaf Man, is planning a bank robbery and intends to carry it off with the assistance of the police. But he plays fair, in his mind -- he sends them clues in the form of photostats, telling them where and when the heist will occur. And meanwhile they have to deal with the usual cop shop stuff, like a string of cat burglaries and what appears to have been a crucifixion. McBain's usual snappy dialogue and a-character-in-its-own-right third-person narration combine with the action to make this a fun, breezy read with just enough bite.
June 10, 2020
This one felt a bit disjointed, 3 plots that don't really gel and the return of the Deaf Man was slightly underwhelming whilst still being fairly silly.
Still, lots to love. Dialogue and atmosphere crackle like usual and it's never not entertaining and absorbing.
Still, lots to love. Dialogue and atmosphere crackle like usual and it's never not entertaining and absorbing.
April 23, 2016
Humorous story.
Typewriters, walky talkies and only fingerprints. This was not long ago, they were trying to find the cat burglar, and figure out and stop the bank robbery.
Typewriters, walky talkies and only fingerprints. This was not long ago, they were trying to find the cat burglar, and figure out and stop the bank robbery.
March 21, 2024
Okay, well! There’s the only re-read of an 87th Precinct novel I have ever done. And it was a pleasure!
A few notes:
My 5 favourite books in the series are as follows:
Ice
Lady, Lady, I Did It!
Fuzz
See Them Die
Lightning
Let’s Hear It For The Deaf Man might very well be my sixth fave…and a re-read - which none of the others benefit from - has only solidified my opinion of the book as Top 10 material: I don’t think any other series entries featuring the recurring villain the Deaf Man would make my Top 10. Two is plenty.
In a dogfight, maybe Let’s Hear It For The Deaf Man is actually better than Fuzz, when it comes to which Deaf Man book is actually the cleverest. Let’s Hear It For The Deaf Man probably has the best Deaf Man caper in terms of entertainment value, shock value - unless you can figure out what the photos mean, and then really mean, that the Deaf Man is sending to Carella and the rest of the cops of the 87, as hints of what he’s planning to do. I did not make the mental leap necessary to deduce what this go-round of ‘fair play and hints’ was all about, so at the climax of the novel, all I could do was sit back and be amazed at how a master criminal can tell details of his plan and yet still be the ultimate trickster at the same time.
But if Fuzz tops Let’s Hear It For The Deaf Man, it’s the cutting back on the fun and games aspect, and making it all more harrowing, with the Deaf Man at his most evil. In Fuzz, the scheme to grab a shitload of money rests on murders, and the Deaf Man has no problem with this. By comparison, all the other Deaf Man books in the series seem a little…tame, a little bit comic-book, compared to the stakes and slaughter. Fuzz is perhaps also the most chaotic, the most bizarre in structure, especially when things go off the rails, either for the cops or the evil mastermind.
But enough about Fuzz. Let’s Hear It For The Deaf Man is, to my mind, the brilliant one. The brilliant crime. The brilliant plan to make off with a stolen fortune, and prove the cops incompetent at the same time. This was perhaps the third or fourth 87th Precinct novel I recall reading, and it was the first time I met the Deaf Man, even though two earlier novels did feature him (The Heckler; Fuzz). I know that I read Lady Killer around this time - not one of my favourites, and I will always think of it as sort of a “poor man’s Deaf Man-like” novel - with the villain taunting the cops about an upcoming murder - and the clues being rather obvious. I also find Eight Black Horses - a later Deaf Man novel - to be the weakest, perhaps being too simplistic and obvious, like Lady Killer with its bush league Deaf Man wannabe, to dazzle me.
The six appearances by the Deaf Man - in six novels spread wide throughout the series - sort of sit in their own corner of the reality McBain is peddling. Larger-than-Life, super-smart, recurring criminal masterminds are the stuff of comic books and less believable spy movies. Holmes and Moriarity, Nero Wolfe versus Arnold Zeck in the so-called Zeck trilogy (love those books!!). Bond and Blofeld. It’s all a bit…outside the normal parameters of reality. But it’s cooked up for fun.
Besides what I’ve already mentioned, Collin Wilcox’s police procedural series featuring Lt. Hastings gives us a Deaf-Man-worthy entry, with Doctor, Lawyer…; perhaps not surprisingly, Doctor, Lawyer…is my favourite from the Frank Hastings books (the series as a whole is a fond favourite from my younger years, but overall it cannot match the 87th Precinct level of quality). After that, a very eccentric police procedural series called the Yellowthread Street series, by William Marshall, has several books that might appeal to people who specifically like that Deaf Man vibe. No recurring villains in the Yellowthread Street realm…but William Marshall’s plots are, as a rule, deliberately zany, over-the-top and hyper-energized - so fans of Deaf Man villainy should seek out Sci-Fi, Roadshow, maybe even Perfect End, Frogmouth, and most especially Thin Air (which is, you guessed it, my favourite in the Yellowthread Street series!)
The Deaf Man and his ilk…tasting too much like fiction, for a normally gritty, realistic police procedural series? Oh, chill…let’s just go for it, every now and then!
A few notes:
My 5 favourite books in the series are as follows:
Ice
Lady, Lady, I Did It!
Fuzz
See Them Die
Lightning
Let’s Hear It For The Deaf Man might very well be my sixth fave…and a re-read - which none of the others benefit from - has only solidified my opinion of the book as Top 10 material: I don’t think any other series entries featuring the recurring villain the Deaf Man would make my Top 10. Two is plenty.
In a dogfight, maybe Let’s Hear It For The Deaf Man is actually better than Fuzz, when it comes to which Deaf Man book is actually the cleverest. Let’s Hear It For The Deaf Man probably has the best Deaf Man caper in terms of entertainment value, shock value - unless you can figure out what the photos mean, and then really mean, that the Deaf Man is sending to Carella and the rest of the cops of the 87, as hints of what he’s planning to do. I did not make the mental leap necessary to deduce what this go-round of ‘fair play and hints’ was all about, so at the climax of the novel, all I could do was sit back and be amazed at how a master criminal can tell details of his plan and yet still be the ultimate trickster at the same time.
But if Fuzz tops Let’s Hear It For The Deaf Man, it’s the cutting back on the fun and games aspect, and making it all more harrowing, with the Deaf Man at his most evil. In Fuzz, the scheme to grab a shitload of money rests on murders, and the Deaf Man has no problem with this. By comparison, all the other Deaf Man books in the series seem a little…tame, a little bit comic-book, compared to the stakes and slaughter. Fuzz is perhaps also the most chaotic, the most bizarre in structure, especially when things go off the rails, either for the cops or the evil mastermind.
But enough about Fuzz. Let’s Hear It For The Deaf Man is, to my mind, the brilliant one. The brilliant crime. The brilliant plan to make off with a stolen fortune, and prove the cops incompetent at the same time. This was perhaps the third or fourth 87th Precinct novel I recall reading, and it was the first time I met the Deaf Man, even though two earlier novels did feature him (The Heckler; Fuzz). I know that I read Lady Killer around this time - not one of my favourites, and I will always think of it as sort of a “poor man’s Deaf Man-like” novel - with the villain taunting the cops about an upcoming murder - and the clues being rather obvious. I also find Eight Black Horses - a later Deaf Man novel - to be the weakest, perhaps being too simplistic and obvious, like Lady Killer with its bush league Deaf Man wannabe, to dazzle me.
The six appearances by the Deaf Man - in six novels spread wide throughout the series - sort of sit in their own corner of the reality McBain is peddling. Larger-than-Life, super-smart, recurring criminal masterminds are the stuff of comic books and less believable spy movies. Holmes and Moriarity, Nero Wolfe versus Arnold Zeck in the so-called Zeck trilogy (love those books!!). Bond and Blofeld. It’s all a bit…outside the normal parameters of reality. But it’s cooked up for fun.
Besides what I’ve already mentioned, Collin Wilcox’s police procedural series featuring Lt. Hastings gives us a Deaf-Man-worthy entry, with Doctor, Lawyer…; perhaps not surprisingly, Doctor, Lawyer…is my favourite from the Frank Hastings books (the series as a whole is a fond favourite from my younger years, but overall it cannot match the 87th Precinct level of quality). After that, a very eccentric police procedural series called the Yellowthread Street series, by William Marshall, has several books that might appeal to people who specifically like that Deaf Man vibe. No recurring villains in the Yellowthread Street realm…but William Marshall’s plots are, as a rule, deliberately zany, over-the-top and hyper-energized - so fans of Deaf Man villainy should seek out Sci-Fi, Roadshow, maybe even Perfect End, Frogmouth, and most especially Thin Air (which is, you guessed it, my favourite in the Yellowthread Street series!)
The Deaf Man and his ilk…tasting too much like fiction, for a normally gritty, realistic police procedural series? Oh, chill…let’s just go for it, every now and then!
October 22, 2021
En este repaso de estos 52 libros lo hemos dicho antes, pero vamos de nuevo que el público se renueva. En la literatura policial uno comienza antes que nada por la lúdica, las famosas novelas problema de Agatha Christie o Arthur Conan Doyle, salta luego al policial negro de Hammett, Chandler y MacDonald, y descubre que después se diversificó en autores y estilos de lo más variados, cómo Chester Himes, Charles Williams, Patricia Highsmith, Jim Thompson, etc. Cuando se encuentra en este momento -o al menos así me ocurrió a mi- hay uno de estos autores “nuevos” (que desde este 2021, de nuevos no tienen nada) que sobresale por proponer algo muy distinto y ese no es otro más que Salvatore Lombino más conocido cómo Evan Hunter y todavía más conocido cómo Ed McBain. McBain propone -no es el inventor, pero acaso si su difusor más reconocido- el empleo en su narrativa policial del protagonismo colectivo (usualmente los muchos policías del Precinto 87 de la ficticia ciudad de Isolda) y para la resolución de sus casos o misterios el police procedural (o procedimiento policial), la recreación realista de una investigación y sus pasos formales, que la alejan por completo del ingenio de los detectivas amateurs del Siglo XIX pero también un poco de las narraciones duras y hard boiled de los que llegaron en la segunda o tercera década del XX. Otra rasgo ya fabuloso dentro de la prosa de McBain es la utilización del humor cómo marco -un humor absurdo por costumbrista- de sus historias, donde el día a día de estos policías -que apenas vamos conociendo entre novela y novela de las 55 que ocupan la serie del Precinto 87, con Steve Carella cómo el más reconocible entre ellos- camina peligrosamente entre lo ridículo, lo trágico y lo cotidiano. De todas sus novelas (o al menos de entre las muchas que he leído, que lejos están de ser las 55) es Ojo con el Sordo la que mejor me funcionó entre todas y me hizo enamorar perdidamente de este formato, de estos personajes y este autor. Es una novela por completo madura, con los personajes ya delineados y un McBain capaz de orquestar un brillante sainete que involucra al Sordo -lo más parecido a un antagonista fijo que tiene el Precinto- en una serie de robos que ponen a la ciudad de cabeza. Obviamente -cómo suele ocurrir en las mejores novelas de este autor- la del Sordo no es la única historia que compone el libro, ya que son varios los casos que ponen de cabeza a Carella y los suyos, todos entremezclados con una inteligencia y un nivel de complejidad exacto para hacer de Ojo con el Sordo una de las novelas más elaboradas y deslumbrantes de Ed McBain, pero también una de las más divertidas.
March 27, 2025
For a long time I've felt Detective Steve Carella was Ed McBain's alter ego. He's Italian, he's the father of twins, he's the husband of the adoring and beautiful Teddy Carella. He's the smartest staffer on the 87th Precinct and he's handsome, lithe and agile without even having to do any keep fit in his not very spare time.
But I suddenly realised while reading this, the third of the Deaf Man novels, that the Deaf Man is another alter ego. He's cleverer than Carella, but he's also Carella's dark side, McBain's dark side. So he's never ever going to get caught, is he? Also I don't even want him to, because McBain has built in a kind of reader sympathy for him by allowing us into the workings of his ingenious brain. That way the reader gets to feel clever too.
As for "the bumbleheads who worked in the 87th Precinct", he "looked upon them almost fondly, like cretinous children who needed to be taken to the circus every now and then". I think the Deaf Man's character has changed a little, even softened, since his first appearance when he was particularly nasty, I seem to remember, to the young woman who he took to bed for some sadistic fun.
In this novel, the Deaf Man is responsible for several people being killed, but it was their own fault for being stupid, and the Deaf Man himself didn't do anything violent whatsoever. He left the bank at a barely hurried pace, in the process making Carella look (and feel) like a pillock.
There are three plot threads here. The Deaf Man's story is the least complicated of the lot, and the other two are, if anything, more compelling, especially the one about the biker who achieved death by crucifixion. Now that was nasty.
The planning of the novel as a whole is lightly handled. Nice work McBain/Hunter/Carella/Taubman. Looking forward to your next trick.
But I suddenly realised while reading this, the third of the Deaf Man novels, that the Deaf Man is another alter ego. He's cleverer than Carella, but he's also Carella's dark side, McBain's dark side. So he's never ever going to get caught, is he? Also I don't even want him to, because McBain has built in a kind of reader sympathy for him by allowing us into the workings of his ingenious brain. That way the reader gets to feel clever too.
As for "the bumbleheads who worked in the 87th Precinct", he "looked upon them almost fondly, like cretinous children who needed to be taken to the circus every now and then". I think the Deaf Man's character has changed a little, even softened, since his first appearance when he was particularly nasty, I seem to remember, to the young woman who he took to bed for some sadistic fun.
In this novel, the Deaf Man is responsible for several people being killed, but it was their own fault for being stupid, and the Deaf Man himself didn't do anything violent whatsoever. He left the bank at a barely hurried pace, in the process making Carella look (and feel) like a pillock.
There are three plot threads here. The Deaf Man's story is the least complicated of the lot, and the other two are, if anything, more compelling, especially the one about the biker who achieved death by crucifixion. Now that was nasty.
The planning of the novel as a whole is lightly handled. Nice work McBain/Hunter/Carella/Taubman. Looking forward to your next trick.
July 23, 2020
Recenze na romány Poldové a Není hluchý jako hluchý
McBain si do realisticky laděných příběhů z 87 revíru vsunul epizody s fantomasoidním zlosynem, spřádajícím geniální plány. Někde se o Hluchém mluví jako o Moriartym… mě připomíná spíš Wille E. Coyota. Romány s ním jsou postavené na stejném základě. Hluchý buduje dokonalý zločin, posílá stopy 87 revíru, aby jim dal šanci na to přijít, 87 revír vůbec nechápe, co se děje, během románu někdo zmlátí Carellu… a na závěr se Hluchému připlete do cesty nějaká náhoda, která mu celé jeho plány zmaří. V Poldech má vážně nápaditý plán, aby to všechno skončilo vysloveně vaudevillovou scénou, kdy se zcela náhodně protne asi pět různých věcí.
McBain tyhle romány nebere tak vážně, takže se víc soustředí na komediální momenty – viz malování 87 revíru či výslechy podivných svědků. První příběh je (i přes mnoho mrtvých) vážně spíše groteska, kde se i policisté chovají jako mnohem větší idioti než obvykle. Jeden se zvládne sám postřelit a Steve Carella tady s úspěchem obhajuje titul nejneschopnějšího policajta v dějinách literatury. Během pátrání po chuligánech, co zapalují bezdomovce, je nejprve sám zapálený… a při další akci pak zmlácený. Druhý román má temnější postranní případ, jednu zajímavou lupičskou linii a víc přechází do syrovosti, která je pro pozdější McBainy typická. Celý Hluchého plán je sice ve své podstatě zbytečně překombinovaný, ale rozhodně přináší překvapivý zvrat a minimálně jednu nápaditou scénu. A i když je tu taky Carella zmlácený a pořezaný, tak aspoň nevyjde za úplné pitomce. Což už je vážně docela úspěch.
McBain si do realisticky laděných příběhů z 87 revíru vsunul epizody s fantomasoidním zlosynem, spřádajícím geniální plány. Někde se o Hluchém mluví jako o Moriartym… mě připomíná spíš Wille E. Coyota. Romány s ním jsou postavené na stejném základě. Hluchý buduje dokonalý zločin, posílá stopy 87 revíru, aby jim dal šanci na to přijít, 87 revír vůbec nechápe, co se děje, během románu někdo zmlátí Carellu… a na závěr se Hluchému připlete do cesty nějaká náhoda, která mu celé jeho plány zmaří. V Poldech má vážně nápaditý plán, aby to všechno skončilo vysloveně vaudevillovou scénou, kdy se zcela náhodně protne asi pět různých věcí.
McBain tyhle romány nebere tak vážně, takže se víc soustředí na komediální momenty – viz malování 87 revíru či výslechy podivných svědků. První příběh je (i přes mnoho mrtvých) vážně spíše groteska, kde se i policisté chovají jako mnohem větší idioti než obvykle. Jeden se zvládne sám postřelit a Steve Carella tady s úspěchem obhajuje titul nejneschopnějšího policajta v dějinách literatury. Během pátrání po chuligánech, co zapalují bezdomovce, je nejprve sám zapálený… a při další akci pak zmlácený. Druhý román má temnější postranní případ, jednu zajímavou lupičskou linii a víc přechází do syrovosti, která je pro pozdější McBainy typická. Celý Hluchého plán je sice ve své podstatě zbytečně překombinovaný, ale rozhodně přináší překvapivý zvrat a minimálně jednu nápaditou scénu. A i když je tu taky Carella zmlácený a pořezaný, tak aspoň nevyjde za úplné pitomce. Což už je vážně docela úspěch.
June 3, 2022
#27 is one of the better 87th Precinct novels within the series. With three revolving crimes to hold your attention, from graphic yet symbolic murder to burglaries of vacationers to the return of the Deaf Man, there is plenty to grab you.
Carella is front and center for 2/3 of the story, as he lives to tell the tale when mixing with the DM. However, for me, the Deaf Man is lacking so much gravitas as to be laughable as a villain. From his artistic deliveries to the station, his selection of robbery crew, to his less than humorous insight, I just think the character didn't age well, even over the course of the series itself, let alone to my reading in 2022. Interesting note: the use of Yul Brenner as a descriptor in the story before his actual starring role in the movie "Fuzz", as the titular Deaf man was thought provoking. Did one prompt the other?
As the additional murder is one of a random nature, it does represent a culture shift of the era, with regards to the law enforcement. Nevertheless, Carella handles it well and continues to be a stalwart in the series.
Kling gets a burglary squeal that (besides being predictable and stale) presents a pathway that leads to future happiness. Gussie is quite the character. "He must be out of live cats." Really? And the use of Walkie-Talkies, ah the memories.
Recommend this one among the 87th Top 10.
Thanks for reading.
Carella is front and center for 2/3 of the story, as he lives to tell the tale when mixing with the DM. However, for me, the Deaf Man is lacking so much gravitas as to be laughable as a villain. From his artistic deliveries to the station, his selection of robbery crew, to his less than humorous insight, I just think the character didn't age well, even over the course of the series itself, let alone to my reading in 2022. Interesting note: the use of Yul Brenner as a descriptor in the story before his actual starring role in the movie "Fuzz", as the titular Deaf man was thought provoking. Did one prompt the other?
As the additional murder is one of a random nature, it does represent a culture shift of the era, with regards to the law enforcement. Nevertheless, Carella handles it well and continues to be a stalwart in the series.
Kling gets a burglary squeal that (besides being predictable and stale) presents a pathway that leads to future happiness. Gussie is quite the character. "He must be out of live cats." Really? And the use of Walkie-Talkies, ah the memories.
Recommend this one among the 87th Top 10.
Thanks for reading.
July 2, 2019
Let's Hear It For the Deaf Man by Ed McBain (Evan Hunter)
The boys from the 87th precinct have once again been notified by their nemesis The Deaf Man that he is planning to rob a bank, with their help. He's also thoughtfully supplying photocopies of clues to help them.
And then there is the mystery of the young man found nailed to a wall in decrepit tenement. And the spate of break-ins at the apartment towers.
Three mysteries to keep the department hopping. An enjoyable mystery series for fans of the law portion of "Law & Order".
While this book can be enjoyed as a stand alone, it marks the third time the department has run afoul of The Deaf Man. Those wishing to get the full impact of the Deaf Man should start with earlier book.
February 2, 2019
The Deaf Man is back. With a plan. A plan that he wants the 87th Precinct cops to know in advance. He teases them with clues but why would he want them to know what he is going to do before he does it? Well I guess The Deaf Man moves in mysterious ways.
Whilst all this is going on, work is coming in from elsewhere. There's a crucified body found in a building best described as a hovel. There's a burglar targeting apartments whilst their occupants are away - and leaving a cat behind as part of his MO. And Kling has found love!
So, in short, another day at the office for the 87th Precinct Detectives. And an enjoyable read for Ed McBain fans...
Whilst all this is going on, work is coming in from elsewhere. There's a crucified body found in a building best described as a hovel. There's a burglar targeting apartments whilst their occupants are away - and leaving a cat behind as part of his MO. And Kling has found love!
So, in short, another day at the office for the 87th Precinct Detectives. And an enjoyable read for Ed McBain fans...
April 2, 2022
One of the better ones, definitely the best in the last few anyway. Three solid cases are being worked bybthe detectives of the 87th. First there is a cat burglar knocking over apartments. Second there is a murdered man found in an abandoned tenement, hung up like a crucified Jesus. Then finally where the title comes from, the deaf man is back with a scheme of knocking over a bank and says he will do it with the help of Det. Carella.
Recommended, McBain still finds time to wallow in hackiness, one whole chapter is him waxing poetic about how the city is a woman. However with three interesting cases to get through he doesn't have the space to dive to far into complete hack.
Recommended, McBain still finds time to wallow in hackiness, one whole chapter is him waxing poetic about how the city is a woman. However with three interesting cases to get through he doesn't have the space to dive to far into complete hack.
August 22, 2020
Dang good book. I know some people harp that this series is repetitive. But for me, I just don't buy it. It's similar to Law and Order (touchy subject for McBains) in that you love the plots plus the characters, but character development isn't the focus of the series. Day to day cases are. And with the return of the Deaf Man, we're given another treat. Plus, one whole chapter dedicated to the city - how she chews you up and spits you out. McBain gives some very brief snapshots of other crimes going on in the city, and they're urgent and deep. Damned good. 4.5 stars for me.
May 21, 2018
Another fine installment (each seems to be equally as good as the next) although here the Deaf Man’s return is hardly the centerpiece. The concurrent cases are much more interesting and handled with a little more flair. Interesting to see how, since now the series has progressed into the 1970s, McBain is getting a little more liberal with his profanity.
May 29, 2018
The Deaf Man is hardly Hannibal Lector and so the A-plot is pretty forgettable. As usual the procedural day to day material around is pretty good, but not the strongest in the series, but as a quick read you’re never going to go that far wrong.
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