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87th Precinct #45
Mischief
A punk wielding a spray can is no match for a killer armed with a gun -- and a deadly aim to knock off the city's graffiti artists. One by one, the young scribblers are found murdered, maliciously coated with paint and blood. Detective Steve Carella can't see the writing on the wall -- yet. Meanwhile, the Deaf Man, the 87th Precinct's longtime tormentor, is leading its cops, clue by maddening clue, to uncover a heinous crime that will make the graffiti killer look like an amateur. It's all primed to go down at a raucous rock and rap concert -- but who's going to take the rap?
448 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published September 1, 1993
7 people are currently reading
404 people want to read
About the author
Ed McBain
710 books668 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 81 reviews
December 31, 2015
This book, which was first published in 1993, is the 45th entry in the 87th Precinct series. A lot has changed in the thirty-seven years since Cop Hater, the first in the series, was released, and as the books progress, one can watch the evolution of the technology used by police to fight crime from index cards and penciled notes to the advent of computers and much more sophisticated forensics.
The books themselves have changed as well. Cop Hater was very much a book of the old-school pulp novel tradition from an age when books like this were mostly sold of off spinning racks in the neighborhood drug store. Many of these books were little longer than a novella, and could easily be consumed in a single evening. Cop Hater, for example, told a gripping story in a bare 236 pages.
By the early 1990s, though, crime novels had become a more respectable form of entertainment, now enjoyed even by relatively sophisticated readers, many of whom would have never admitted to reading the "trashy" pulp novels of the Fifties. The books themselves had begun to bulk up, perhaps as a sign of their growing respectability, and Mischief weighs in at 420 pages--almost twice as long as the book that first introduced the detectives of the 87th Precinct. This was not necessarily a bad thing; a good book is a good book irrespective of its length, while a bad one is still going to suck no matter how brief it might be.
Judging by this book though, McBain might have been better off sticking to the shorter form. He winds up producing a much longer book not by telling a more complex story, but rather by cramming together three entirely separate investigations into one novel. Even this wouldn't necessarily be a problem; in the earlier books, the detectives were often working a couple of cases at a time.
The difficulty lies in the fact is that all three of these cases are very convoluted and McBain leaps from one investigation to another, often several times in the same chapter, sometimes devoting only a few short paragraphs to one case before jumping on to the next. This is further complicated by the fact that there's a large cast of characters involved and several different teams of detectives investigating the cases, and in the end it all gets extremely confusing at points. There's no relaxing into this book; you've got to be constantly paying attention to keep everything straight.
One thing that hasn't changed involves the detectives themselves. In thirty-seven years, they haven't changed a bit. Casting an eye around the squad room, McBain notes that all of the detectives are in their middle thirties, which is pretty much where they were when the series began. (In fairness, this is not entirely McBain's fault. His initial plan was to have a rotating cast of characters, and detectives would come and go just as one would expect to see on a real police force. Very early in the series, he killed off one of the detectives who had become the lead protagonist up to that point, and his publisher threw a fit. They made him rewrite the ending of the book so that the detective would live and could go on to star in another fifty-odd books. Like most fans of this series, I've grown to really enjoy this cast of characters and so I'm glad McBain was forced to deviate from his original plan, but it might have been interesting to see how the series would have evolved had he stuck to his guns.)
The first of the disparate plots in the book involves the 87th Precinct's persistent nemesis, the Deaf Man, who returns to taunt the detectives with a great new scheme. He spends most of the book running them around in circles and, as always, it's fun to watch the battle of wits that results.
In another case, someone is killing graffiti writers who are defacing the walls and other blank spaces of the city. Naturally, some citizens are applauding the killer and feel that the "writers" are getting exactly what they deserve. But the cops still feel the need to track down the killer and put a stop to his vigilante justice. Finally, someone is dumping elderly people with dementia in public places around the city and attempting to destroy any means of identifying these people who will then have to be cared for by the general public. Some of these poor people are being left out in the elements and after one elderly woman dies, the case becomes increasingly serious.
This is not a bad book by any stretch of the imagination, but McBain has clearly padded the daylights out of it, perhaps to accommodate emerging trends. It would have been a much more entertaining read at 320 pages than at 420. Of the three investigations, the one involving elder dumping is the least interesting and it has the feel of being tacked on to the rest of the story. The book would have been much tighter and more enjoyable had this whole plot line been left on the cutting room floor. In the end, Mischief falls into the middle of the pack of the books in this series, not the worst, but certainly not among the best.
The books themselves have changed as well. Cop Hater was very much a book of the old-school pulp novel tradition from an age when books like this were mostly sold of off spinning racks in the neighborhood drug store. Many of these books were little longer than a novella, and could easily be consumed in a single evening. Cop Hater, for example, told a gripping story in a bare 236 pages.
By the early 1990s, though, crime novels had become a more respectable form of entertainment, now enjoyed even by relatively sophisticated readers, many of whom would have never admitted to reading the "trashy" pulp novels of the Fifties. The books themselves had begun to bulk up, perhaps as a sign of their growing respectability, and Mischief weighs in at 420 pages--almost twice as long as the book that first introduced the detectives of the 87th Precinct. This was not necessarily a bad thing; a good book is a good book irrespective of its length, while a bad one is still going to suck no matter how brief it might be.
Judging by this book though, McBain might have been better off sticking to the shorter form. He winds up producing a much longer book not by telling a more complex story, but rather by cramming together three entirely separate investigations into one novel. Even this wouldn't necessarily be a problem; in the earlier books, the detectives were often working a couple of cases at a time.
The difficulty lies in the fact is that all three of these cases are very convoluted and McBain leaps from one investigation to another, often several times in the same chapter, sometimes devoting only a few short paragraphs to one case before jumping on to the next. This is further complicated by the fact that there's a large cast of characters involved and several different teams of detectives investigating the cases, and in the end it all gets extremely confusing at points. There's no relaxing into this book; you've got to be constantly paying attention to keep everything straight.
One thing that hasn't changed involves the detectives themselves. In thirty-seven years, they haven't changed a bit. Casting an eye around the squad room, McBain notes that all of the detectives are in their middle thirties, which is pretty much where they were when the series began. (In fairness, this is not entirely McBain's fault. His initial plan was to have a rotating cast of characters, and detectives would come and go just as one would expect to see on a real police force. Very early in the series, he killed off one of the detectives who had become the lead protagonist up to that point, and his publisher threw a fit. They made him rewrite the ending of the book so that the detective would live and could go on to star in another fifty-odd books. Like most fans of this series, I've grown to really enjoy this cast of characters and so I'm glad McBain was forced to deviate from his original plan, but it might have been interesting to see how the series would have evolved had he stuck to his guns.)
The first of the disparate plots in the book involves the 87th Precinct's persistent nemesis, the Deaf Man, who returns to taunt the detectives with a great new scheme. He spends most of the book running them around in circles and, as always, it's fun to watch the battle of wits that results.
In another case, someone is killing graffiti writers who are defacing the walls and other blank spaces of the city. Naturally, some citizens are applauding the killer and feel that the "writers" are getting exactly what they deserve. But the cops still feel the need to track down the killer and put a stop to his vigilante justice. Finally, someone is dumping elderly people with dementia in public places around the city and attempting to destroy any means of identifying these people who will then have to be cared for by the general public. Some of these poor people are being left out in the elements and after one elderly woman dies, the case becomes increasingly serious.
This is not a bad book by any stretch of the imagination, but McBain has clearly padded the daylights out of it, perhaps to accommodate emerging trends. It would have been a much more entertaining read at 320 pages than at 420. Of the three investigations, the one involving elder dumping is the least interesting and it has the feel of being tacked on to the rest of the story. The book would have been much tighter and more enjoyable had this whole plot line been left on the cutting room floor. In the end, Mischief falls into the middle of the pack of the books in this series, not the worst, but certainly not among the best.
May 11, 2018
Not my favourite 87th Precinct book, a very downbeat view of the city in crisis, caused by drugs, guns and racial tension, with too many cases coalescing in one book. This loses any pace in the narrative and I found it a little frustrating. Carella, Brown, Meyer, Kling, Hawes and Parker all feature significantly in quite a long book by the standards of the 87th series.
January 20, 2023
Really liked this one as there was a lot going on. At least three main crime threads plus a couple of minor plots and character backgrounds. As usual some things were not what they at first appeared and a few twists kept me guessing up until the end. The deaf man makes a reappearance and once again confounds the detectives with his mysterious clues.
Not one of the most complex plots but the title says it all about what was going on in the city.
Not one of the most complex plots but the title says it all about what was going on in the city.
April 5, 2022
The 87yj Squad move on. This book is a generic period in the life of the detectives. Meyer Meyer and Hawes are looking at the dumping of confused elderly people, one of whom dies, and the theft of blankets from a homeless shelter. Parker, makes one of his few appearances, hunting the killer of graffiti writers with Kling as his partner. Carella and Brown are once again haunted by the appearance of the Deaf Man who is sending his cryptic notes once more. A lot of social messages are being sent out, from the general unrest among the immigrant communities via the provisions for elderly people with dementia to the problems of gun use and drugs. All round, a tale of mayhem and murder going uncontrolled. Paints a dismal picture of this, albeit fictional society, that seems to mirror the unrest in large cities of this period.
A good book but the focus on so many cases detracts from the story, for me at least. A good 3 stars
A good book but the focus on so many cases detracts from the story, for me at least. A good 3 stars
April 14, 2014
As usual, several plots, including the return of the Deaf Man, who is calling and sending clues from a novel to Detective Steve Carella about a pending catastrophe, which is intended as a diversion to hide his brilliant crime. Second, someone is abandoning elderly people suffering from dementia or Alzheimer's. Finally, there is a series of killings of graffiti artists ("writers"), which falls in the 87th Street Precinct to solve. A little weaker than usual.
March 11, 2015
Another great yarn by McBain. He has such a deft touch with police dialogue that I forget I'm reading, rather than listening to conversations between characters. My only complaint about Mischief was an overuse of profanity. Yes, these characters would likely talk this way, but McBain's other books about the 87th precinct that I've read managed with far less reliance on the f-word. Minor issue, but some might be turned off.
Otherwise a fast paced and thoroughly entertaining read.
Otherwise a fast paced and thoroughly entertaining read.
January 20, 2023
This novel is mostly about racial issues, cleverly mixed in the labyrinthine plot. It is sad to see that those issues are still as bad (or even worse) as in the 90s. Structured more as a movie script than as a novel (and a minus point for that), we follow several plots at a fast pace. So fast that at times you loose track of who some characters are and why they are introduced in the narrative (another minus point).
The main threads are three:
1) Meyer and Hawes investigate a particularly nasty criminal who is dumping elderly, sick people to lonely locations. One elderly lady dies because of weather exposure and the case turns into murder.
2) Kling and Parker investigate a serial killer hitting on graffiti writers and therefore very popular with the public.
3) Carella and Brown investigate a Deaf Man threat. I am not a fan of the Deaf Man plot line, inasmuch that the character is similar to a super-vilain, always managing to turn the detectives of the 87th into stumbling idiots. In this episode, he also seems to be indestructible, since a very nasty “accident” happens to him, with no consequences.
In the background, but linked to the Deaf Man plot, are the story of a nasty rap band and their encounter with Chloe, a character from a previous book (Calypso) and Kling budding romance. Both plots explore racial issues, which McBain identified very wisely as useless and misguided.
Being himself of Italian origins, McBain found it absurd that fourth or fifth generations citizens born in the US from Italian ancestors still identified themselves as Italo-American. This without having ever lived in Italy or speaking any of the language. Obviously, the same applies to all other “communities": being Afro, Puerto Rican or whatever.
PS a few notes on this novel.
On the topic of rap, McBain mentions it as focussing only on sex and violence and I tend to agree very much with him, although being very politically incorrect.
On the topic of Italo-Americans or Anglo-Italians, etc… I must say that as a “real” Italian, I met many throughout the world, who claimed their tribal roots are lying in the country of origins of their ancestors, while they themselves never set foot to Italy, know nothing about the country and don’t speak a single Italian word. I do not consider them Italians and I don’t understand why they claim they are something they are not, instead of accepting the nationality of the country where they were born, of which they speak the language and know history and traditions.
On the topic of McBain’s style, since he was also a scriptwriter, sometimes the narrative veers way to much into that direction, as if he was constantly trying to get his material ready for the big (or small) screen (which hardly ever happened). This makes it tiring at times to follow and makes the overall plot loose focus, because of the dispersion in too many threads. This novel would have been better suited to a TV cop serial than as a self standing thriller…
The main threads are three:
1) Meyer and Hawes investigate a particularly nasty criminal who is dumping elderly, sick people to lonely locations. One elderly lady dies because of weather exposure and the case turns into murder.
2) Kling and Parker investigate a serial killer hitting on graffiti writers and therefore very popular with the public.
3) Carella and Brown investigate a Deaf Man threat. I am not a fan of the Deaf Man plot line, inasmuch that the character is similar to a super-vilain, always managing to turn the detectives of the 87th into stumbling idiots. In this episode, he also seems to be indestructible, since a very nasty “accident” happens to him, with no consequences.
In the background, but linked to the Deaf Man plot, are the story of a nasty rap band and their encounter with Chloe, a character from a previous book (Calypso) and Kling budding romance. Both plots explore racial issues, which McBain identified very wisely as useless and misguided.
Being himself of Italian origins, McBain found it absurd that fourth or fifth generations citizens born in the US from Italian ancestors still identified themselves as Italo-American. This without having ever lived in Italy or speaking any of the language. Obviously, the same applies to all other “communities": being Afro, Puerto Rican or whatever.
PS a few notes on this novel.
On the topic of rap, McBain mentions it as focussing only on sex and violence and I tend to agree very much with him, although being very politically incorrect.
On the topic of Italo-Americans or Anglo-Italians, etc… I must say that as a “real” Italian, I met many throughout the world, who claimed their tribal roots are lying in the country of origins of their ancestors, while they themselves never set foot to Italy, know nothing about the country and don’t speak a single Italian word. I do not consider them Italians and I don’t understand why they claim they are something they are not, instead of accepting the nationality of the country where they were born, of which they speak the language and know history and traditions.
On the topic of McBain’s style, since he was also a scriptwriter, sometimes the narrative veers way to much into that direction, as if he was constantly trying to get his material ready for the big (or small) screen (which hardly ever happened). This makes it tiring at times to follow and makes the overall plot loose focus, because of the dispersion in too many threads. This novel would have been better suited to a TV cop serial than as a self standing thriller…
March 4, 2010
I am a huge fan of Ed McBain's 87th precient series. Not because of any weighty depth, but the fact its urban grit makes for a very realistic if not somewhat pulpy series. With 1993's Mischief, the stage is set for the return of the Deaf Man and his plans to incite a riot at an all-day park concert.
Like with many of the 87th books, you'll find barely any character development or weighty subject matter. It's the 2 and the 4 in these stories. It's because of that that makes it good. Sometimes simple is better.
Like with many of the 87th books, you'll find barely any character development or weighty subject matter. It's the 2 and the 4 in these stories. It's because of that that makes it good. Sometimes simple is better.
September 27, 2013
I found another of Ed McBain's 87th Precinct books. In this book someone is murdering graffiti artists in the city. At the same time, the Deaf Man returns taunting the officers of the 87th with clues to a crime that is going to be committed. Will they be able to solve "the mystery" in time to prevent people from being slaughtered? I enjoy the way McBain has two mysteries going on at the same time. I don't think that this is one of his best, however.
May 25, 2024
The storyline here was entertaining enough with three separate cases being worked on, including one with the Deaf Man. However, the descriptions of explicit sex acts is repulsive and thus earns the book only two stars. Don't bother with this one. I read it, so you don't have to.
December 12, 2021
"[...] slain by the person the newspapers were currently calling the Sprayer Slayer. In America, everything needed a title because everything was a miniseries concocted for the enjoyment of the populace."
A good entry in Ed McBain's monumental saga of the 87th Precinct! Like in several previous novels, Mischief (1993), the 45th title in the series, has multiple parallel storylines that do not intersect, other than through the characters of the detectives.
A blurb on the cover screams "The Deaf Man Returns," and indeed one of the parallel threads is the story of the Deaf Man, the archnemesis of the 87th Precinct cops. As usual, the Deaf Man (the author has fun inventing the aliases - one of them used here is Harry Gimperde, a pun based on the criminal mastermind's impairment) is planning to cause a major calamity. And, as usual, Steve Carella is the Deaf Man's main target.
The thread that opens the novel deals with serial murders of graffiti writers:
Another storyline features "Granny dumping" - leaving elderly people, who are unable to care for themselves and are too burdensome to care for, in public places, such as in front of hospitals or nursing homes. I hope that in real life police treat these cruel acts with the same seriousness as the 87th Precinct detectives do.
We also have the storyline of a rap group preparing for a concert - that thread is connected to one of the previous stories. The reader will also find two interesting vignettes: one featuring Teddy Carella (the detective's wife) engaged in an act of social activism, and the other about a dramatic hostage situation and Eileen Burke's role in direct negotiations with the hostage taker.
From the plot point of view, the novel culminates with a dramatic situation and its rather unexpected resolution. However, to me, the strongest ending moment comes when the author recites a litany of lofty ideals that are said to have inspired the birth of the U.S. of America:
Three-and-a-quarter stars.
A good entry in Ed McBain's monumental saga of the 87th Precinct! Like in several previous novels, Mischief (1993), the 45th title in the series, has multiple parallel storylines that do not intersect, other than through the characters of the detectives.
A blurb on the cover screams "The Deaf Man Returns," and indeed one of the parallel threads is the story of the Deaf Man, the archnemesis of the 87th Precinct cops. As usual, the Deaf Man (the author has fun inventing the aliases - one of them used here is Harry Gimperde, a pun based on the criminal mastermind's impairment) is planning to cause a major calamity. And, as usual, Steve Carella is the Deaf Man's main target.
The thread that opens the novel deals with serial murders of graffiti writers:
"He shot the boy one more time, in the chest this time, and then he reached down to pick up the can in his gloved hand, and pressed the button on top of the can, and squirted red paint all over the boy's face oozing blood, his chest oozing blood, red paint and red blood mingling [...]"It is a complex plot thread, with quite surprising twists and turns.
Another storyline features "Granny dumping" - leaving elderly people, who are unable to care for themselves and are too burdensome to care for, in public places, such as in front of hospitals or nursing homes. I hope that in real life police treat these cruel acts with the same seriousness as the 87th Precinct detectives do.
We also have the storyline of a rap group preparing for a concert - that thread is connected to one of the previous stories. The reader will also find two interesting vignettes: one featuring Teddy Carella (the detective's wife) engaged in an act of social activism, and the other about a dramatic hostage situation and Eileen Burke's role in direct negotiations with the hostage taker.
From the plot point of view, the novel culminates with a dramatic situation and its rather unexpected resolution. However, to me, the strongest ending moment comes when the author recites a litany of lofty ideals that are said to have inspired the birth of the U.S. of America:
"In this land of the free and home of the brave, men and women of every religion and creed would loudly sing the praises of freedom while reaping all those amber waves of grain. [...] Men and women would come to respect each other's customs and beliefs while simultaneously merging into a strong single tribe with a strong single voice [...] Here in America, the separate parts would at last become the whole, one nation, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all."Quite biting and bitter sarcasm, and let's not forget that 28 years ago, when the novel was written, the divisions in the American society were likely not as deep as they are now.
Three-and-a-quarter stars.
August 21, 2017
This is a good fast paced thriller that revolves around the officers of the 87th Precinct (of which there are many in the series apparantly) as they deal with a series of murders, the abandonment of elderly dementia patients and racial tensions. Throw in the communications from the Deaf Man and the Precinct is stretched to breaking point. I don't really know why there were so many different investigations in this one book and it did jump around from one to another a little bit but this could just be how he writes (this is the first one of these I have read) and once you get used to it and stop waiting for them to tie together its much easier to follow. The writing itself is good, easy to follow and not too slow either but given the different stories you have to pay attention to who is investigating what otherwise some bits can be a little confusing. Overall not a bad read though.
January 29, 2019
This one opens with an intense story about the death of a graffiti artist. Brutal.
Elsewhere, elderly patients, who have major problems with their memories, are being dumped around town. And a concert in the park is being planned.
Another good story about the 87th, and their ongoing battle with the Deaf Man! All the story lines in here are pretty good, with the one exception of Teddy and the abortion clinic, which seemed to have no purpose in this book. I was also sorta bummed there wasn’t more wrap up with the rap group. But overall, I was satisfied with the read. Even with the weird little ending with Kling.
I'm also totally curious about the Deaf Man’s fate! That's why I've already checked out the sixth, and last, book in this confrontation. Can't wait!
Elsewhere, elderly patients, who have major problems with their memories, are being dumped around town. And a concert in the park is being planned.
Another good story about the 87th, and their ongoing battle with the Deaf Man! All the story lines in here are pretty good, with the one exception of Teddy and the abortion clinic, which seemed to have no purpose in this book. I was also sorta bummed there wasn’t more wrap up with the rap group. But overall, I was satisfied with the read. Even with the weird little ending with Kling.
I'm also totally curious about the Deaf Man’s fate! That's why I've already checked out the sixth, and last, book in this confrontation. Can't wait!
August 8, 2019
The series is winding down. This novel is very short, with two stories intertwined but each very simple. The new narrator doesn’t do good voices. The superb interrogations are mostly missing. Following an author’s whole series, written over decades, is interesting.
September 12, 2021
Not my favorite 87th Precinct story - too many subplots.
January 25, 2021
Jak vyřešit, když nemáte pořádný příběh? Jednoduše, stačí ho promíchat s mnoha dalšími podobnými příběhy. A dáte tomu pořádné tempo.
Uprostřed všeho je zabíjení tvůrců grafity – a do toho se vrací Hluchý, aby policistům zavařil. Eileen, která je teď vyjednávačka, vyráží do akce, Andy Parker balí matku oběti, rapová skupina se připravuje na koncert v parku… a ve městě vypuká aprílové šílenství.
Když to rozeberete na prvočinitelem, tak zjistíte, že případ s grafity má sice zajímavé téma, ale přichází s jedním z nejotřepanějším řešení v dějinách kriminálek. Plán Hluchého je sice ďábelský, ale moc jsem nepochopil, proč je tak komplikovaný a proč se musí vymýšlet falešné problémy na odvedení pozornosti. (Byť celé vyústění akce je docela fajn.) Ostatní jsou spíš střípky, které spíš dokreslují atmosféru města, a do toho občas sarkastické poznámky a brutální mezihry.
Čili, jednotlivé detaily nic extra, ale jak se to rychle střídá, jak vám tím McBain míhá před očima, tak to působí spíš, jako že to vystihuje chaotičnost a nesmyslnost života (což je ještě doťuknuté brutálními konci jednotlivých příběhů) – než že se s tím autor moc nes*al.
Uprostřed všeho je zabíjení tvůrců grafity – a do toho se vrací Hluchý, aby policistům zavařil. Eileen, která je teď vyjednávačka, vyráží do akce, Andy Parker balí matku oběti, rapová skupina se připravuje na koncert v parku… a ve městě vypuká aprílové šílenství.
Když to rozeberete na prvočinitelem, tak zjistíte, že případ s grafity má sice zajímavé téma, ale přichází s jedním z nejotřepanějším řešení v dějinách kriminálek. Plán Hluchého je sice ďábelský, ale moc jsem nepochopil, proč je tak komplikovaný a proč se musí vymýšlet falešné problémy na odvedení pozornosti. (Byť celé vyústění akce je docela fajn.) Ostatní jsou spíš střípky, které spíš dokreslují atmosféru města, a do toho občas sarkastické poznámky a brutální mezihry.
Čili, jednotlivé detaily nic extra, ale jak se to rychle střídá, jak vám tím McBain míhá před očima, tak to působí spíš, jako že to vystihuje chaotičnost a nesmyslnost života (což je ještě doťuknuté brutálními konci jednotlivých příběhů) – než že se s tím autor moc nes*al.
July 8, 2020
In this novel, Ed McBain has his main group of detectives working multiple cases at the same time, which obviously is how the police work, as criminal activity doesn't have a sign-up sheet for when an act can be committed. If written smoothly, this type of procedural can be well put together and quite enjoyable.
With Mischief, I found myself at times struggling, however briefly, with determining which case the author was discussing at a given point. The story jumped from one crime scene investigation to another with little or no transition, although sometimes an ellipsis (three asterisks) was used. At one point, an investigation into a homeless shelter (with Cotton Hawes as the detective 'on the ground', to use military parlance here) the break is shown by an ellipsis, and we jump from a beaten down homeless shelter to a strip club. Sometimes chapter breaks are used to transition (such as between finding an abandoned elder and another story line) . Either way, it makes the story line choppy and seemingly incomplete.
Published in 1993, Mischief tells several stories, including two that were very much in the news at the time. One, graffiti artists defacing streets, signs and buildings. Being of the old school, I have trouble calling some of the writing as anything but garbage, an old school social media which like something entered through a computer never really goes away. Someone else seemed to feel that way Mischief, as they were killing graffiti writers around town.
The other socially recognizable storyline from the 1990s was the abandonment of seniors to die in the elements if they weren't found in time. It reflects on an even older story, where a family whose grandfather is being forced to exist on the edges... if I ever find that one again I will post notes.
Additionally there was a return of someone called The Deaf Man, a criminal who regularly escaped justice after causing mayhem in varying venues and strengths. Here we see the plots woven through the other plots.
All of these are interwoven with a young rap group who are struggling to really make a name for themselves, using new rap and old lyrics. The lyrics are unsettling but paint a culture's pain in a very real way. Perhaps if everyone had been able to hear these lyrics and not something about the length of someone's shorts, there could have been the beginning of understanding between the cultures that built into something more positive.
The unfortunate winding together of these in a way that didn't allow for easy mental transition from one to the other is part of the reason this book, although it contains many storylines that are culturally and socially significant, was never on my reread list. The choppy writing blended with the unsettling tales makes understanding more difficult. However, for that very reason I think that this needs to be part of school reading along with the author's major work The Blackboard Jungle.
With Mischief, I found myself at times struggling, however briefly, with determining which case the author was discussing at a given point. The story jumped from one crime scene investigation to another with little or no transition, although sometimes an ellipsis (three asterisks) was used. At one point, an investigation into a homeless shelter (with Cotton Hawes as the detective 'on the ground', to use military parlance here) the break is shown by an ellipsis, and we jump from a beaten down homeless shelter to a strip club. Sometimes chapter breaks are used to transition (such as between finding an abandoned elder and another story line) . Either way, it makes the story line choppy and seemingly incomplete.
Published in 1993, Mischief tells several stories, including two that were very much in the news at the time. One, graffiti artists defacing streets, signs and buildings. Being of the old school, I have trouble calling some of the writing as anything but garbage, an old school social media which like something entered through a computer never really goes away. Someone else seemed to feel that way Mischief, as they were killing graffiti writers around town.
The other socially recognizable storyline from the 1990s was the abandonment of seniors to die in the elements if they weren't found in time. It reflects on an even older story, where a family whose grandfather is being forced to exist on the edges... if I ever find that one again I will post notes.
Additionally there was a return of someone called The Deaf Man, a criminal who regularly escaped justice after causing mayhem in varying venues and strengths. Here we see the plots woven through the other plots.
All of these are interwoven with a young rap group who are struggling to really make a name for themselves, using new rap and old lyrics. The lyrics are unsettling but paint a culture's pain in a very real way. Perhaps if everyone had been able to hear these lyrics and not something about the length of someone's shorts, there could have been the beginning of understanding between the cultures that built into something more positive.
The unfortunate winding together of these in a way that didn't allow for easy mental transition from one to the other is part of the reason this book, although it contains many storylines that are culturally and socially significant, was never on my reread list. The choppy writing blended with the unsettling tales makes understanding more difficult. However, for that very reason I think that this needs to be part of school reading along with the author's major work The Blackboard Jungle.
January 4, 2015
I love Ed McBain... I love that he's created this entirely believably city with backgrounds of why names are what they are. I love that he brings back characters from previous books (even if they are brand-new to me) but isn't afraid to kill them off.
Last I'd left Bert Kling, he'd just met Claire Townsend so I was trying to keep up about when he'd dated Eileen (which is alluded to in the book) and figure out why he's asking Sharyn Cooke on a date. Where was Claire?! (I googled this after I finished the book and apparently Claire died back in Lady Lady I Did It, which I read a very long time ago. This is the problem when I read these out of order.)
Eileen has a position in this story with the hostage situation and the death of Georgia Mowbly. I remember reading about her in Vespers (I think) and how she was terrified of going back on the police force - must have all worked out!
Carella is still hunting the Deaf Man (I can't remember why he's called the deaf man) who escapes at the end after getting shot by the car driver, Gloria. Will McBain bring him back?
The sporatic information bits about death (i.e. the couple who get shot in the backs of their heads with their infant daughter still alive but barely) adds to the "mischief" that's going on across the city. Why 3 stars? The book was almost too long for what it was and the mysteries themselves were okay - I'd thought that Jeffry Colbert was the suspect in the graffiti murders - before Parker and Kling seemed to - but the real treat is his hardboiled dialogue and fleshing out the city. Will absolutely read more of these!
Last I'd left Bert Kling, he'd just met Claire Townsend so I was trying to keep up about when he'd dated Eileen (which is alluded to in the book) and figure out why he's asking Sharyn Cooke on a date. Where was Claire?! (I googled this after I finished the book and apparently Claire died back in Lady Lady I Did It, which I read a very long time ago. This is the problem when I read these out of order.)
Eileen has a position in this story with the hostage situation and the death of Georgia Mowbly. I remember reading about her in Vespers (I think) and how she was terrified of going back on the police force - must have all worked out!
Carella is still hunting the Deaf Man (I can't remember why he's called the deaf man) who escapes at the end after getting shot by the car driver, Gloria. Will McBain bring him back?
The sporatic information bits about death (i.e. the couple who get shot in the backs of their heads with their infant daughter still alive but barely) adds to the "mischief" that's going on across the city. Why 3 stars? The book was almost too long for what it was and the mysteries themselves were okay - I'd thought that Jeffry Colbert was the suspect in the graffiti murders - before Parker and Kling seemed to - but the real treat is his hardboiled dialogue and fleshing out the city. Will absolutely read more of these!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 15, 2010
Another 87th squad although Carella (to my dismay) plays a rather inconsequential part. The Deaf Man makes his appearance, sending cryptic notes to Carella that hint at potential mass disruption while the other detectives work on the apparent serial killings of graffiti artists.
Good, but not up to McBain's other 87th squad work. McBain sets the bar so high that when he can't quite make the leap, we are excessively disappointed.
Good, but not up to McBain's other 87th squad work. McBain sets the bar so high that when he can't quite make the leap, we are excessively disappointed.
March 1, 2021
Not one of my favourite McBain novels to be honest. As the 87th series went on, he seemed to want to stretch the books out, having several different strands running and juggling them like saucers on sticks. And it just didn't quite work as well in this one, with the Deaf Man and the associated storylines going on a bit too much for me and detracting from the main characters, with the series lead detective Carella barely featuring in this novel x
June 27, 2021
A really enjoyable and assured entry in the series. This one has almost as much going on as ‘Tricks’, with old people being dumped in the city, someone killing graffiti artists and the Deaf Man making a new appearance. Sometimes the Deaf Man books feel too silly, but this one balances his schemes really well against the other storylines. There’s also a pleasing reappearance of character from a former book and a great sub plot about Eileen Burke’s experiences as a hostage negotiator.
September 17, 2017
Detective Steve Carella and his squad at the 87th precinct receiving letters of impending doom. The squad is investigating graffiti crimes where the scribblers are found dead. Also they are finding old people left on benches most of who do not know how they got there. The "deaf" man supposedly is sending the notes to the squad room and this is a character in past books.
June 23, 2018
I found this book interesting. Some of the first mystery books I started reading were from Ed McBain.
I found the plot interesting, but not really up to his usual stands. Then again, I haven't read any of his books in awhile. I think I need to get back to them. This hook, though a bit different to me was a little lacking for its idea for its motive's twist, but again it was different.
I found the plot interesting, but not really up to his usual stands. Then again, I haven't read any of his books in awhile. I think I need to get back to them. This hook, though a bit different to me was a little lacking for its idea for its motive's twist, but again it was different.
January 29, 2015
Not one of McBain's best. I think there were too many unlinked plots going on, as if he had to add some just to make up the word count. Enjoyable though. The Deaf Man is back, but there just wasn't that much suspense.
August 5, 2019
Excellent entry in the series - let’s call it four and half stars!
Multiple story lines, all well developed, lots of the characters involved, continued development of some characters and their personal lives. And the Deaf Man is always a plus.
Multiple story lines, all well developed, lots of the characters involved, continued development of some characters and their personal lives. And the Deaf Man is always a plus.
March 26, 2020
Having enjoyed the last Ed McBain I read, thought I would give this one a try and it did not disappoint. I love the May McBain intertwines various cases into one story and the way some stay unresolved. With over 50 novels in this crime series, I will certainly be seeking out more of these books.
April 25, 2025
Meh. I typically love Ed McBain but didn’t enjoy this one. Too many subplots rolling around which I found distracting. It’s a good thing this wasn’t the first 87th precinct novel I’ve ever read😂
February 19, 2017
I love the way there were many stories of different crimes, some solved and some not,,with a twist on the Deaf Man,,
June 2, 2020
The 87th always close to my heart. McBain the master. Even though they are a tad dated I hope to re-read them for many years to come.
July 5, 2020
Longer and slower pace to other 87th Precinct novels but tied up satisfyingly as usual.
More smart, sharp dialogue and interactions between the cops and between cops and perps.
More smart, sharp dialogue and interactions between the cops and between cops and perps.
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