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87th Precinct #32
Long Time No See
They never saw their executioner. Because each victim had this in common: they were blind. Steve Carella, a weary detective very much in love with his deaf wife, is stymied in a hunt that began when a Vietnam veteran, his sight taken in war, was found with his head nearly separated from his body. But as the bizarre killing spree goes on, Carella begins to look into the first victim's dreams. And what he sees is a panorama of war, sexuality, secrets, and torment -- and one man's pure, blind rage...
304 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1977
95 people are currently reading
439 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 86 reviews
February 19, 2015
When James Harris left the army after a stint in Vietnam, he had been blinded and was suffering from serious psychological problems. Ten years later, he's living on his disability pension, on the small amount of money his wife makes, and on the pan-handling he does every day on the streets of Isola. Then, one cold winter evening, he and his seeing-eye dog, Stanley are making their way home when someone--a lunatic, perhaps?--chloroforms Stanley, then slashes Harris's throat and leaves him bleeding to death on the street.
Steve Carella of the 87th Precinct lands the case and begins the job of trying to determine who might have wanted the blind man dead. He and Detective Meyer Meyer interview Harris's widow, who is also blind, but she appears to have no information that might be of any help.
Later, Carella and Meyer return to the Harris apartment to escort Mrs. Harris to the morgue so that she can officially identify her husband's body. But they now discover Mrs. Harris dead, also with her throat slashed, and someone has tossed the apartment, obviously looking for something.
The detectives begin digging into the relative pasts of both Mr. and Mrs. Harris in the hope of finding something that might shed some light on their murders. They turn up some interesting background on each of the victims and some potential suspects, but the deeper they dig into the case, the more confusing--and hopeless--it seems to become.
This book, which first appeared in 1982, is a little more than halfway through the long-running 87th Precinct series, and it's a pretty good read. McBain still has a habit of including perhaps a bit too much of the penal code in the narrative and he occasionally wanders a bit too far off on a tangent, but those are small complaints. The plot is a clever one, and Steve Carella will need all his wits about him if he's going to find a solution to this case. As always, it's fun to watch him in action.
Steve Carella of the 87th Precinct lands the case and begins the job of trying to determine who might have wanted the blind man dead. He and Detective Meyer Meyer interview Harris's widow, who is also blind, but she appears to have no information that might be of any help.
Later, Carella and Meyer return to the Harris apartment to escort Mrs. Harris to the morgue so that she can officially identify her husband's body. But they now discover Mrs. Harris dead, also with her throat slashed, and someone has tossed the apartment, obviously looking for something.
The detectives begin digging into the relative pasts of both Mr. and Mrs. Harris in the hope of finding something that might shed some light on their murders. They turn up some interesting background on each of the victims and some potential suspects, but the deeper they dig into the case, the more confusing--and hopeless--it seems to become.
This book, which first appeared in 1982, is a little more than halfway through the long-running 87th Precinct series, and it's a pretty good read. McBain still has a habit of including perhaps a bit too much of the penal code in the narrative and he occasionally wanders a bit too far off on a tangent, but those are small complaints. The plot is a clever one, and Steve Carella will need all his wits about him if he's going to find a solution to this case. As always, it's fun to watch him in action.
Want to read
April 7, 2017This copy is signed by Ed McBain in quotes and E. Hunter, the book also contains a personalize note dated 7/20/77 and signed by E. Hunter.
August 3, 2025
★★★½
Long Time No See stands as a strong and engaging entry in the 87th Precinct series. The mystery itself is cleverly constructed and entertaining, with enough twists to keep the pace moving. I particularly liked that this instalment centres largely on Carella, giving more depth to one of the series’ most familiar faces.
That said, the book is noticeably longer than most previous entries by around 100 pages, and the length does affect the flow. There are moments when the story feels a little over extended, with some scenes dragging more than necessary despite the intriguing plot threads and well drawn characters. Still, the atmosphere of the city and the procedural detail remain compelling, and McBain’s sharp, realistic dialogue is as effective as ever.
Overall, while it does not quite reach the tightness of the best in the series, Long Time No See is an enjoyable and worthwhile read for fans who appreciate solid character work and a good, slow burn mystery.
Long Time No See stands as a strong and engaging entry in the 87th Precinct series. The mystery itself is cleverly constructed and entertaining, with enough twists to keep the pace moving. I particularly liked that this instalment centres largely on Carella, giving more depth to one of the series’ most familiar faces.
That said, the book is noticeably longer than most previous entries by around 100 pages, and the length does affect the flow. There are moments when the story feels a little over extended, with some scenes dragging more than necessary despite the intriguing plot threads and well drawn characters. Still, the atmosphere of the city and the procedural detail remain compelling, and McBain’s sharp, realistic dialogue is as effective as ever.
Overall, while it does not quite reach the tightness of the best in the series, Long Time No See is an enjoyable and worthwhile read for fans who appreciate solid character work and a good, slow burn mystery.
March 4, 2018
Longer than previous entries, but just as engaging. This is prototypical procedural stuff with Carella chasing down all available leads until he has enough to crack the case. There's an odd bit in the middle that relies on a bit of psychoanalysis, some dream interpretation, some transposition, but mostly there is just good police work leading to an arrest and confession. Wholly satisfying.
February 14, 2016
I chose this book for a mystery challenge I'm participating in for the category "Read a book published the year you graduated from high school." That was 1977 and this was the book--I probably read it back then too, as this series was one of my favorites. I have to admit it was rather dated and cheesy re-reading it now, but still enjoyable and I didn't actually remember a thing about it.
March 13, 2018
I must admit that I sometimes shy away from novels with blind characters. Far too often, they are portrayed in ways that I as a blind person find offensive. But, since I've been thoroughly enjoying the books in this series, and since the author has portrayed other people with disabilities realistically, I thought I'd give this one a try. Sadly, I wish I hadn't.
The story is compelling enough. A Vietnam veteran who was blinded in the war is murdered. His wife, who is also blind, is questioned, but the next day, she is also found dead.
While the author clearly did some research about how blind people live, the book is filled with things which offended me. Was it really necessary to portray the man as a beggar? I suppose that there are a few blind people who make their living in that manner (though I suspect that many of the beggars one sees are actually sighted folks pretending to be blind.) Blind people pursue so many different occupations that there is no reason at all for the author to have made such a choice. McBain tells us that the wife was shocked by her husband's murder because she didn't think anyone would ever murder a blind person. Really? I can't think of one blind person I know (and I know plenty) who would make such a ridiculous assertion. There is lots and lots of discussion about what to do with the man's guide dog: whether to take it to the pound, etc. Over and over, the guide dog school is mentioned, but it never seems to occur to Carella and his compadres that they might want to contact the school. And there's lots of talk about whether the dog will bite and under what circumstances.
And on and on it goes. (
Will I continue with this series? Absolutely. I've enjoyed so many of the earlier entries that it seems stupid to stop simply because of this book. It's unfortunate, however, that people who want to read about the great men of the 87th will be exposed to this trash.
The story is compelling enough. A Vietnam veteran who was blinded in the war is murdered. His wife, who is also blind, is questioned, but the next day, she is also found dead.
While the author clearly did some research about how blind people live, the book is filled with things which offended me. Was it really necessary to portray the man as a beggar? I suppose that there are a few blind people who make their living in that manner (though I suspect that many of the beggars one sees are actually sighted folks pretending to be blind.) Blind people pursue so many different occupations that there is no reason at all for the author to have made such a choice. McBain tells us that the wife was shocked by her husband's murder because she didn't think anyone would ever murder a blind person. Really? I can't think of one blind person I know (and I know plenty) who would make such a ridiculous assertion. There is lots and lots of discussion about what to do with the man's guide dog: whether to take it to the pound, etc. Over and over, the guide dog school is mentioned, but it never seems to occur to Carella and his compadres that they might want to contact the school. And there's lots of talk about whether the dog will bite and under what circumstances.
And on and on it goes. (
Will I continue with this series? Absolutely. I've enjoyed so many of the earlier entries that it seems stupid to stop simply because of this book. It's unfortunate, however, that people who want to read about the great men of the 87th will be exposed to this trash.
January 10, 2021
Published in 1977, this is a classic, well-plotted thriller, with a right touch of gritty realism and very little of the sleaze to come in future McBain's novel.
The sarcastic title refers to the killing of three blind people and the first murder is the key to the plot, dutiful investigated by Carella, still working as the main character of the series and he's only briefly supported by Meyer and Hawkes. McBain let us know that Carella is a good cop, reliable, strong, compassionate and tough when needed, but also not the smartest of the bunch.
For anybody with even little imagination, it will be obvious where Carella should look for the vital clue, but it takes a very long time before Carella actually gets there, all the while investigating the past nightmares of the victim (which will also be useful).
On a side note, and as a dutiful reader of the 87th Precinct's stories, it is disappointing to note how McBain grew into the "dirty old man" stereotype with each following instalment. As mentioned, here the sleaze is contained into the short mention of catalogs for "marital aids".
By 1990, whole 87th novels dealt with satanic orgies, raped prostitutes, graphic details of all sorts of couplings, prostitutes stake-out, Vice squads exploits, etc... (McBain seemed to have developed a thing for prostitution).
I am not sure if life in the Big Bad City got more perverted, or if it was just McBain, increasingly cynical, but also savouring the dirt.
The sarcastic title refers to the killing of three blind people and the first murder is the key to the plot, dutiful investigated by Carella, still working as the main character of the series and he's only briefly supported by Meyer and Hawkes. McBain let us know that Carella is a good cop, reliable, strong, compassionate and tough when needed, but also not the smartest of the bunch.
For anybody with even little imagination, it will be obvious where Carella should look for the vital clue, but it takes a very long time before Carella actually gets there, all the while investigating the past nightmares of the victim (which will also be useful).
On a side note, and as a dutiful reader of the 87th Precinct's stories, it is disappointing to note how McBain grew into the "dirty old man" stereotype with each following instalment. As mentioned, here the sleaze is contained into the short mention of catalogs for "marital aids".
By 1990, whole 87th novels dealt with satanic orgies, raped prostitutes, graphic details of all sorts of couplings, prostitutes stake-out, Vice squads exploits, etc... (McBain seemed to have developed a thing for prostitution).
I am not sure if life in the Big Bad City got more perverted, or if it was just McBain, increasingly cynical, but also savouring the dirt.
August 4, 2019
"In the good old days, your average real-life murder was a woman coming into the apartment and finding her husband drunk again, and shaking him, and then saying the hell with it, and sticking him sixteen times in the chest and throat. That was real life, baby. You wanted bullshit, you went to mystery novels written by ladies who lived in Sussex. Thrillers. About as thrilling as Aunt Lucy's tatted night cap."
So says Ed McBain in typically snappy style in this 87th Precinct novel. We are well into the 1970's by the time that this one has been published and so things are occasionally a little more 18 cert, but otherwise very little has changed. The main characters are all present and correct and this one is pretty strong plot-wise. The massage parlour sequence was a mistake though. Sure it's quite an entertaining passage but real-life definitely takes a giant leap out of the window here!
So says Ed McBain in typically snappy style in this 87th Precinct novel. We are well into the 1970's by the time that this one has been published and so things are occasionally a little more 18 cert, but otherwise very little has changed. The main characters are all present and correct and this one is pretty strong plot-wise. The massage parlour sequence was a mistake though. Sure it's quite an entertaining passage but real-life definitely takes a giant leap out of the window here!
April 14, 2013
Great title!! James Harris was blinded from a frag grenade in Vietnam, but is happy in a biracial marriage with another blind woman. His seeing eye dog Stanely is chloroformed and James dies of a slashed throat. When Steve Carella and Meyer Meyer return to Harris's apartment to accompanying his wife to the morgue, she too has had her throat slashed and the apartment is a shambles. Steve starts his standard detailed investigation, uncovering infidelity and delves into James' nightmares to solve the mystery and find the killer.
January 22, 2021
At 300 pages this is by far the longest 87th Precinct book so far. With this increased book length comes some added complexity. There is only one case being investigated here but it's a tough one with no obvious motive. Steve Carella and Meyer Meyer make a few trips outside the city while following up on leads. This has happened before, but never in this much detail. Another departure was there was very little about the detectives personal lives, this one was an intense police procedural all the way through.
Really enjoyed this one and I found it a step up from most of the others.
Really enjoyed this one and I found it a step up from most of the others.
January 24, 2019
Long Time No See is another solid entry in Ed McBain’s 87th Precinct series. The plot is clever and well constructed, and the book is filled with excellent examples of realistic dialogue and police investigation in a pre-internet world.
So why just three stars? Because oftentimes someone’s strength is also their greatest weakness. In this case, McBain’s uncanny talent for seamlessly inserting mundane, common events into the action (e.g., one cop’s irritation with another because of a difference between their respective definitions of “first thing in the morning”) brings both entertainment and frustration to the reader. The plot mystery here is solid. Yet McBain insists on padding the pages with extraneous fluff, such as tossing in excerpts from the fictional city’s penal code or relating a lengthy dialogue between Carella and a magistrate from whom the detective is seeking a search warrant.
As I said, strength can also become weakness, and although I’ve become quite accustomed to and fond of the author’s style, in this instance I found myself wishing he’d just stick to the story straight up. It is a great plot and interesting storyline that is marred by too much tangential material. So 3.5 stars, rounded down.
So why just three stars? Because oftentimes someone’s strength is also their greatest weakness. In this case, McBain’s uncanny talent for seamlessly inserting mundane, common events into the action (e.g., one cop’s irritation with another because of a difference between their respective definitions of “first thing in the morning”) brings both entertainment and frustration to the reader. The plot mystery here is solid. Yet McBain insists on padding the pages with extraneous fluff, such as tossing in excerpts from the fictional city’s penal code or relating a lengthy dialogue between Carella and a magistrate from whom the detective is seeking a search warrant.
As I said, strength can also become weakness, and although I’ve become quite accustomed to and fond of the author’s style, in this instance I found myself wishing he’d just stick to the story straight up. It is a great plot and interesting storyline that is marred by too much tangential material. So 3.5 stars, rounded down.
December 2, 2019
This entry in the 87th precinct series feels a bit more of a detective novel and a bit less of a procedural, with Carrella piecing together the solution to the mystery through conversations with conversations with shrinks and witnesses. It still has many of the trademarks of the series though, and sees narrators McBain in particularly playful form.
September 24, 2020
Po minulém díle je tohle hutnější detektivka rozjetá na větší ploše. A to je tam přitom jen jeden případ – vraždy slepců.
Při čtení McBaina si uvědomuju další rys, díky kterému se vymyká. A sice v tom, že na rozdíl od starších detektivek, kde je dominantní osobnost detektiva, tady vlastně hrdinové moc velké osobnosti nemají. Ano, každý má nějaký svůj rys, ale pokud byste nechali případ vyšetřovat místo Carelly někoho jiného, moc by se na knize nezměnilo. McBain používá tu samou metodu jako třeba Westlake ve svých humoristických kriminálkách – že hlavní postava je v podstatě nahrávač, „straight
face“, muž stojící ve víru chaotických událostí a šílených postav. A tady taky. Hrdinové ustupují a slouží jen jako něco, od čeho se odráží charaktery ostatních lidí.
A i případ je propracovanější a víc se s ním pracuje. Pátrání postupně odhaluje věci ze života slepých partnerů, zabrousí se mezi gangy i do Vietnamu. Vytahují se tady tehdy dost populární rozbory snů, které jsou tu ale dobře využité.
Je to prostě mnohem vydatnější pátrání, než bývá u McBaina zvykem. Ano, jakmile zasáhne do příběhu obvyklý deus ex machina, jde to už možná až moc velkým hopem, ale tady by to v pohodě šlo i bez něj.
Při čtení McBaina si uvědomuju další rys, díky kterému se vymyká. A sice v tom, že na rozdíl od starších detektivek, kde je dominantní osobnost detektiva, tady vlastně hrdinové moc velké osobnosti nemají. Ano, každý má nějaký svůj rys, ale pokud byste nechali případ vyšetřovat místo Carelly někoho jiného, moc by se na knize nezměnilo. McBain používá tu samou metodu jako třeba Westlake ve svých humoristických kriminálkách – že hlavní postava je v podstatě nahrávač, „straight
face“, muž stojící ve víru chaotických událostí a šílených postav. A tady taky. Hrdinové ustupují a slouží jen jako něco, od čeho se odráží charaktery ostatních lidí.
A i případ je propracovanější a víc se s ním pracuje. Pátrání postupně odhaluje věci ze života slepých partnerů, zabrousí se mezi gangy i do Vietnamu. Vytahují se tady tehdy dost populární rozbory snů, které jsou tu ale dobře využité.
Je to prostě mnohem vydatnější pátrání, než bývá u McBaina zvykem. Ano, jakmile zasáhne do příběhu obvyklý deus ex machina, jde to už možná až moc velkým hopem, ale tady by to v pohodě šlo i bez něj.
December 17, 2020
Érdekesnek induló krimi, megölnek két vak embert. Milyen rohadék öl már meg kiscicát, kiskutyát, vak embert? Sajnos a későbbiekben a történet nem ível fel, inkább ellaposodik, mint az ideális vírusgörbe. Ahogy haladunk ebben a nem rövid krimiben, úgy válik egyre nyilvánvalóbbá a végső megoldás, ami végül is nem egy rossz sztori, de McBainnek most sikerült az izgalom teljes kizárásával végig vinnie a történetet. Pedig még a pszichoanalízist is beveti, igaz, ezek a freudi elemzések szerintem már negyven évvel korábban is idejétmúltnak számítottak.
Amiben McBain jó, az a város ábrázolása, Carella, mint egy tető ormon merengő Batman borong a város bűnein. Sőt, még egy olyan topológia leírást is kapunk ebben a regényben, ami alapján akár a város térképét is megrajzolhatnánk, ha kevésbé volnánk lusták.
Amiben McBain jó, az a város ábrázolása, Carella, mint egy tető ormon merengő Batman borong a város bűnein. Sőt, még egy olyan topológia leírást is kapunk ebben a regényben, ami alapján akár a város térképét is megrajzolhatnánk, ha kevésbé volnánk lusták.
August 11, 2018
11 aug 2018 finished good read three stars i like it, call it 3.5
March 20, 2024
Pretty good little police mystery.
July 18, 2019
Another excellent read in the long running 87th Precinct series. This one has a lot of focus on Carella, a lot of psychology and is clearly showing the downslide of McBain's beloved NYC as Isola that was a consistent background of all the books. The infusion of sex, and the tawdriest kind of sex, into the day to day life of the precinct (against which Kling's hope to have a weekend with his girlfriend where her father wasn't from one of my other recent reads seems painfully quaint) is not met with casual equanimity by McBain's viewpoint character, and you can almost feel the 1977 times square leeching through the pages.
As a result of the case this one feels more grounded in its time than others in the series. All of them are time capsules, but you could take, say, Bread and update the criminal parts to just about any year whereas this one needs to be in 1977 to work.
As a result of the case this one feels more grounded in its time than others in the series. All of them are time capsules, but you could take, say, Bread and update the criminal parts to just about any year whereas this one needs to be in 1977 to work.
August 29, 2021
McBain plots out and follows a single case this round, leaving this entry almost exclusive to Steve Carella to solve. Like in any real case, the investigation roams through a series of random characters, almost exhaustively, and poor Carella must slog through endless phone calls, trips out of state, and in-person interviews.
McBain keeps all of this lively, and tosses in a surprising amount of sexual references, a slight change for the series, and in way that seems almost gratuitous. Guessing that by 1977, either the publishers or McBain himself thought that the series needed to start getting more explicit to stay contemporary.
Nevertheless, the case itself is unusual, McBain’s effortless writing makes the pages fly by, and his dialog, as always, is perfect.
McBain keeps all of this lively, and tosses in a surprising amount of sexual references, a slight change for the series, and in way that seems almost gratuitous. Guessing that by 1977, either the publishers or McBain himself thought that the series needed to start getting more explicit to stay contemporary.
Nevertheless, the case itself is unusual, McBain’s effortless writing makes the pages fly by, and his dialog, as always, is perfect.
December 22, 2019
A slightly longer 87th novel and a story of detection with Carella in the lead assisted by Meyer Meyer and Cotton Hawes with Genero in the background. A blind army veteran is found brutally murdered and his then his blind wife shares a similar fate. What was the killer looking forr and why are other blind people attacked? Carella follows the trail into his army past until the killer is run to ground.
Lots of reminiscing and eulogising about the past and the state of the nation that rather felt like padding. Nevertheless a good solid detective story. I dithered between 3 and 4 stars, came to 3 as it is not quite so enjoyable as some of the others in the series.
Lots of reminiscing and eulogising about the past and the state of the nation that rather felt like padding. Nevertheless a good solid detective story. I dithered between 3 and 4 stars, came to 3 as it is not quite so enjoyable as some of the others in the series.
July 13, 2020
This is longer than most, if not the longest, of the series before. It gives it a feeling of more gravitas and it's definitely a good entry in the series. Focusing solely on one crime, or series of crimes, it continues the dark atmosphere of the best of the recent books proceeding it, whilst still containing the trademark wit, sharp dialogue, humanism and occasional absurdist moments. It's also a Carella book through and through, focusing on his investigation and his character. His frustrations, world view and what seems to be hints of a minor mid-life crisis. Cracking.
May 4, 2017
Steve Carella is the lead detective in this 87th Precinct novel of murder - three murders of blind people, the first of which is a Vietnam vet blinded in action ten years earlier. Carella pushes hard on theories from the war and earlier in the victim's gang life. McBain takes time for a good description of the city of Isola and the writing is almost lyrical in parts. Great book and hardly dated from 40 years ago.
October 30, 2018
I've read many of the 87th Precinct books, and this is my favorite by a long margin. Great characters, great story, the usual sadness of many of the lives involved. The original title is fun, while the Italian one ("Dal passato, incubi per l'87° Distretto", which translates to "Nightmares from the past for the 87th Precinct") is more spot-on regarding the story.
Highly recommended.
Highly recommended.
August 22, 2017
I'm thinking that McBain was "competing" with the likes of Mickey Spillane as the grittiness of the series continues to ramp up. It was interesting that Steve Carella spent some time thinking about life and getting a bit contemplative in this one.
November 12, 2017
One of the better 87th novels, Carrella is "looking" for a person murdering blind people. The case has our man digging through the psychology of soldiers returned from the horrors of Vietnam. Along the way a seeing eye dog named Stanley enters the officers life.
November 30, 2017
Good Murder Mystery
It’s been a long time since I read an 87th Precinct Mystery. This one was not at all familiar, so I am guessing that I missed it the first time around! Very enjoyable....and I did remember some of the main characters!
It’s been a long time since I read an 87th Precinct Mystery. This one was not at all familiar, so I am guessing that I missed it the first time around! Very enjoyable....and I did remember some of the main characters!
November 30, 2018
Well written but dated
I saw 300 pages and figured it was going to keep me in the edge of my seat. I figured it out so early on that I was disappointed by the fact that they didn't look right under their noses. It was fine, though.
I saw 300 pages and figured it was going to keep me in the edge of my seat. I figured it out so early on that I was disappointed by the fact that they didn't look right under their noses. It was fine, though.
December 14, 2022
Another fast paced story. Two blind people are murdered and with no apparent enemies, Carella is stumbling around. This book was from 1977 and includes all that claptrap about dreams as ways to deal with trauma that was popular psuedo-science of the time.
July 25, 2018
A good 87th Precinct book. Gets a little muddled with military nonsense at one point. Some fun asides into interesting locations and plots. Still, a fun one.
February 24, 2020
I enjoyed this book....couldn't wait to find out the ending....His books are such a pleasure to read
December 31, 2021
First time reading an Ed McBain 87th precinct novel. What is the peculiar draw of the crime procedural? I thought it would involve more action scenes, like car chases, or at least a bit of fisticuffs involving Detective Steve Carella and his partner, Meyer Meyer.
But nope, it’s mostly just phone calls and interviews as Carella simply applies the evidence he’s got to a) eliminate possible perpetrators and b) get more evidence to track the true perpetrator. There are a few murders, but all carried off with a bare minimum of thriller sizzle, as if simply setting the stage for the detectives to arrive. Much of the text besides the criminal acts is told from the post-hoc view of the cops investigating the scene.
These men — all men — are mostly brutes:
All brutes, except Detective Carella, of course, who has a good heart, always willing to let his city disappoint him further. And Meyer. He is supposed to be a street philosopher, though we see little of him in this episode, which, I suppose is reason enough to read another volume.
Another source of great entertainment here is running commentary on the city of Isola, setting the scene, of course, but also serving up hard-boiled buffers between the plot points. This authorial voice-over is full of lush descriptive sentences and gorgeous one-liners:
But nope, it’s mostly just phone calls and interviews as Carella simply applies the evidence he’s got to a) eliminate possible perpetrators and b) get more evidence to track the true perpetrator. There are a few murders, but all carried off with a bare minimum of thriller sizzle, as if simply setting the stage for the detectives to arrive. Much of the text besides the criminal acts is told from the post-hoc view of the cops investigating the scene.
These men — all men — are mostly brutes:
“What do we do about the dog?��� he asked Carella.
“I was just wondering the same thing.”
“It’s a seeing-eye dog,” Monoghan said. “Maybe he saw who done it. Maybe you can ask him who done it.”
Monroe burst out laughing again. Monoghan, as originator of the witticism, modestly restrained himself a moment longer, and then joined his partner. Together they bellowed to the night.
All brutes, except Detective Carella, of course, who has a good heart, always willing to let his city disappoint him further. And Meyer. He is supposed to be a street philosopher, though we see little of him in this episode, which, I suppose is reason enough to read another volume.
Another source of great entertainment here is running commentary on the city of Isola, setting the scene, of course, but also serving up hard-boiled buffers between the plot points. This authorial voice-over is full of lush descriptive sentences and gorgeous one-liners:
Diamondback was black, and black is beautiful—but Diamondback wasn’t. The blacks coming up out of those subway kiosks worked in a variety of jobs during the day, most of them menial. Many of the women cleaned house for other women, soaping fine china and polishing heavy sterling, dusting furniture bought abroad in French and English antique shops, hanging custom-designed dresses in closets where sables and minks nuzzled side by side, rinsing out crystal champagne glasses, and putting into the garbage outside the kitchen door empty magnum bottles with labels they could not pronounce. Some of the men worked in the kitchens of restaurants, washing dishes or sweeping floors, fetching or carrying while in the dining rooms out front the patrons ordered pâté de foie gras or filet mignon a la béarnaise.
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