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87th Precinct #41
Lullaby
The squadroom at 5:15 on New Year's morning looked much as it did on any other day...
But an exceptionally heinous crime was already sending a wave of outrage through even the veteran cops of the 87th Precinct: a wealthy couple, returning home from New Year's festivities, discovered their baby -- and the infant's teenage sitter -- murdered. Parents themselves, detectives Carella and Meyer resolve to bring in the perpetrator at any cost. Meanwhile, gang warfare is overtaking the city's streets, threatening its very foundation. A sinister song of death and destruction echoes through the 87th, and it isn't "Auld Lang Syne."
But an exceptionally heinous crime was already sending a wave of outrage through even the veteran cops of the 87th Precinct: a wealthy couple, returning home from New Year's festivities, discovered their baby -- and the infant's teenage sitter -- murdered. Parents themselves, detectives Carella and Meyer resolve to bring in the perpetrator at any cost. Meanwhile, gang warfare is overtaking the city's streets, threatening its very foundation. A sinister song of death and destruction echoes through the 87th, and it isn't "Auld Lang Syne."
432 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published January 1, 1989
184 people are currently reading
520 people want to read
About the author
Ed McBain
712 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 98 reviews
November 10, 2015
In the forty-first installment of Ed McBain’s 87th Precinct series, the detectives of the 87th ring in the New Year with a particularly gruesome crime when a couple returns home from a New Year’s Eve party to find the sixteen-year-old babysitter knifed to death and their baby smothered. The likeliest suspect appears to be the boyfriend that the babysitter threw over a few weeks earlier, but he’s proving hard to find and, given the fact that the crimes occurred on the hardest-partying night of the year, witness statements are not as reliable as they otherwise might be.
While Steve Carella and Meyer Meyer try to find the party responsible for the killings, Detective Bert Kling finds himself in the middle of a war between two drug gangs that is becoming increasingly vicious. Both sides seem to be very well-armed and Kling, unfortunately seems to be right in the middle of the crossfire.
Finally, another detective who had a very unsettling experience in the last novel in the series is determined to quit the force but is having trouble convincing the department’s psychiatrist to sign off on the resignation. It all adds up to another fast-paced and compelling story from one of the masters of the genre.
While Steve Carella and Meyer Meyer try to find the party responsible for the killings, Detective Bert Kling finds himself in the middle of a war between two drug gangs that is becoming increasingly vicious. Both sides seem to be very well-armed and Kling, unfortunately seems to be right in the middle of the crossfire.
Finally, another detective who had a very unsettling experience in the last novel in the series is determined to quit the force but is having trouble convincing the department’s psychiatrist to sign off on the resignation. It all adds up to another fast-paced and compelling story from one of the masters of the genre.
January 31, 2018
Waste of time.
Made it about 40%, couldn't finish it, never read another book written by this author. Main plot and another story keeps going back and forth. This type of writing was confusing and made it impossible to enjoy and follow.
Made it about 40%, couldn't finish it, never read another book written by this author. Main plot and another story keeps going back and forth. This type of writing was confusing and made it impossible to enjoy and follow.
April 7, 2013
McBain is a genius at dialogue - he writes it like no one else. This is party why I enjoy his books - they move quickly and I enjoy the banter between characters.
This book was great until about the last 50 pages where the drug deal started taking over. I may have been reading the book when I was too tired to understand the plot 100% - but there was still too much going on in a plot I thought of as secondary.
I thought that the reveal of the baby's killer was unexpected but it happened with 20 pages left in the book that I thought something else would happen with that storyline.
I think Eileen is insufferable. I don't really have sympathy for her but maybe that's because I seem to have missed the books where the rape and murder happen.
NOTE: I also like that Nellie says October 15th is a birthdate of great men. I looked it up and sure enough - it's McBain's birthday. Very clever.
This book was great until about the last 50 pages where the drug deal started taking over. I may have been reading the book when I was too tired to understand the plot 100% - but there was still too much going on in a plot I thought of as secondary.
I thought that the reveal of the baby's killer was unexpected but it happened with 20 pages left in the book that I thought something else would happen with that storyline.
I think Eileen is insufferable. I don't really have sympathy for her but maybe that's because I seem to have missed the books where the rape and murder happen.
NOTE: I also like that Nellie says October 15th is a birthdate of great men. I looked it up and sure enough - it's McBain's birthday. Very clever.
July 13, 2017
Starts strong with the heinous double murder of a teenage babysitter and her infant charge. The secondary plot about drug dealers seemed disjointed from the primary plot, but it's been awhile since I read a McBain, and it is later in the series, so maybe this was a normal thing in order to involve all the different characters. Still a good book, with excellent dialogue.
February 16, 2018
A dark book, starting in the early hours of a New year with Carella and Meyer catching the murder of a baby and her babysitter, an armed robbery in the same building and Kling interrupting a beating which turns out to be part of a complex series of violent gang battles over a major drug deal. Written in 1988, the 87th team face the modern world.
March 19, 2023
A re-read. Just as good. Fat Ollie alert. Carella and Meyer Crack one case and Kling sorta solves the other.
June 14, 2022
Some of the books in this series are focused on just one case, while others have a couple of related crimes. This one follows the latter path, but for me there was just too much going on. Following along with all the red herrings and leads that went nowhere became a bit of a chore by the three quarter mark. On top of that, there was a couple of different POV side stories that had nothing to do with the main plot. These seemed to be an unnecessary disconnected add on.
The conclusion was satisfying enough but getting there was not easy. Not one of my favorites in the series so far.
The conclusion was satisfying enough but getting there was not easy. Not one of my favorites in the series so far.
October 29, 2022
“Love or money,” Meyer said and sighed. “It never changes.”
2 murders on the first day of the new year. A baby and the babysitter. A brutal case for the detectives of the 87th Precinct. And one with quite a lot of twists and turns, all of which were entertaining to read!
The secondary plot was about a Jamaican gang, and a Latino man named Herrera, and drugs. Not the best story.
And the tertiary plot was Eileen going to therapy to talk about her rape, her subsequent shooting of a suspect, and her desire to quit the force. Though not a part of either of the above plotlines, this was really well written and quite illuminating for Eileen's character.
Put all together, another good read! I'm going to be quite sad when I reach the end of these novels.
2 murders on the first day of the new year. A baby and the babysitter. A brutal case for the detectives of the 87th Precinct. And one with quite a lot of twists and turns, all of which were entertaining to read!
The secondary plot was about a Jamaican gang, and a Latino man named Herrera, and drugs. Not the best story.
And the tertiary plot was Eileen going to therapy to talk about her rape, her subsequent shooting of a suspect, and her desire to quit the force. Though not a part of either of the above plotlines, this was really well written and quite illuminating for Eileen's character.
Put all together, another good read! I'm going to be quite sad when I reach the end of these novels.
December 1, 2013
One of the better ones. Carella and Meyer are called to the scene of a double murder: a young infant and her babysitter, and the city is outraged. Meanwhile, Kling saves the life of an ungrateful Puerto Rican from a Jamaican gang, and gets involved in stopping a major drug shipment and preventing a drug war. And Bert's cop girlfriend, Elaine, is battling her demons and consulting a police psychologist.
May 19, 2021
New Year and Carella and Meyer collect a double homicide of a babysitter and the baby. Wills has a burglary, and Kling shoots up some Jamaicans who are beating up a Puerto Rican man with baseball bats. As so often occurs greed rises up and painstaking leg work leads to arrests.
A good fast-paced novel with plenty of action from the usual characters in the busy squad room. The book is longer than many in this series and in places is rather "flowery" seemingly to pad the text. Overall a good quick read but makes 3 stars from me.
A good fast-paced novel with plenty of action from the usual characters in the busy squad room. The book is longer than many in this series and in places is rather "flowery" seemingly to pad the text. Overall a good quick read but makes 3 stars from me.
March 16, 2018
Carella and Meyer investigate the death of a babysitter and an infant while Kling looks into a drug caper. There's also a subplot about Eileen receiving counseling that is not as well developed. Well done, realistic, quick read. Recommended to all McBain fans.
October 17, 2019
There are two main plots in this novel: the first good, the second not so much...
A six months baby and her sitter are found dead on New Year’s Day and Carella is under considerable pressure to find the author of such an heinous crime. I don’t mean the 16 y.o. sitter, presumably raped and definitely stabbed, but who would smother a baby in the crib?
This plot is intriguing and believable enough to make you want to know who the actual killer is.
The second plot is about Bert Kling stumbling into a beating, followed by a drug deal involving multi-racial gangs (Chinese, Jamaican, Spanish... refreshingly enough, no Italians or Irish). To say that this plot is convoluted is a major understatement. Page after page of Chinese trying to outsmart Jamaicans (or the opposite) and a Puertorican planning to double-cross everybody, without ever considering that “everybody” may want to do the same with him.
Not an even mix, hence the low score.
A six months baby and her sitter are found dead on New Year’s Day and Carella is under considerable pressure to find the author of such an heinous crime. I don’t mean the 16 y.o. sitter, presumably raped and definitely stabbed, but who would smother a baby in the crib?
This plot is intriguing and believable enough to make you want to know who the actual killer is.
The second plot is about Bert Kling stumbling into a beating, followed by a drug deal involving multi-racial gangs (Chinese, Jamaican, Spanish... refreshingly enough, no Italians or Irish). To say that this plot is convoluted is a major understatement. Page after page of Chinese trying to outsmart Jamaicans (or the opposite) and a Puertorican planning to double-cross everybody, without ever considering that “everybody” may want to do the same with him.
Not an even mix, hence the low score.
January 15, 2016
This book started out quite well but I just couldn't stay interested. But I have to admit that I was reading several other books at the same time (I always do) (and some really great ones at that) so don't judge my rating as negative, just as a consideration. I read hundreds of books every year so I know what a good book is and what a good book isn't. This book started well but I just couldn't stay focused in the story and I don't know the reason for that. Please read for yourself to decide. It is definitely worth the attempt. Don't just bypass it. Ed McBain has always been a great author who writes some amazing detective stories which is why I picked this one up. I am not sure why I didn't enjoy it as much as I remember enjoying the others. Maybe you will. (What a helpful review, right? LOL. Sorry.)
May 28, 2014
Not my favorite Ed McBain. The main plot about the murder of the babysitter and the baby was pretty good. I should have figured it out myself. The subplot about gangs and drugs was not very compelling. I should have skipped over it.
February 28, 2025
Brilliant (reread)
August 15, 2022
Ed McBain's 87th Precinct novels are pictured next to the definition of "police procedural" in the dictionary. Unlike say, the works of Michael Connelly or Ian Rankin, the cops in McBain's novels work as teams, often handling more than one case at a time. This story focuses on the murder of a 6-month-old baby and her babysitter. Excellent read.
March 20, 2017
Starý dobrý Ed v novém kabátku. Příběh měl tři hlavní dějové linie, přičemž mě se líbily ty nedůležité :))) Skvělá hádací detektivka :-))
November 18, 2021
"One of the ambulance attendants walked over to where Hodding still had his arm around his wife.
'Leave the knife in her or what?' he asked Carella.
Which was when Mrs. Hodding began screaming."
Another strong entry in the 87th Precinct series. Ed McBain's Lullaby (1989) has a captivating plot and several interesting characters; the denouement is close to plausible - a rarity in the crime novels genre.
New Year's Day, early morning. Detectives Carella and Meyer catch the case of a double murder: a young babysitter stabbed to death and a baby smothered with a pillow. The baby's parents come back from the New Year's party and find the bodies. The detectives quickly find out that the case might be connected to a residential burglary, which occurred in the same building the day before.
The two threads - murder and burglary - are accompanied by two other stories unfolding in parallel. Detective Kling saves the life of a small crook who is being viciously beaten by three thugs and is rewarded by getting information about a major drug shipment to arrive. The author also offers interesting accounts of psychotherapy sessions for cops suffering a nervous breakdown or job burnout. The four threads continue throughout the plot, with the murder thread getting a particularly plausible and logical conclusion.
There is some strong writing in the novel. From this sad passage
In several places, the author inserts biting social commentary as a background for the plot. I find it stunning that while the novel was written only 32 years ago, the compassionate and well-meant remarks would be deemed totally inappropriate today, simply because of the language. I much prefer the language of the past, crude and potentially offensive, yet devoid of circumlocutions and euphemisms, thus better conveying the hard truths. The novel is well worth reading even if just for emphasizing how much the acceptable language has changed over the third of a century.
Three-and-a-quarter stars.
'Leave the knife in her or what?' he asked Carella.
Which was when Mrs. Hodding began screaming."
Another strong entry in the 87th Precinct series. Ed McBain's Lullaby (1989) has a captivating plot and several interesting characters; the denouement is close to plausible - a rarity in the crime novels genre.
New Year's Day, early morning. Detectives Carella and Meyer catch the case of a double murder: a young babysitter stabbed to death and a baby smothered with a pillow. The baby's parents come back from the New Year's party and find the bodies. The detectives quickly find out that the case might be connected to a residential burglary, which occurred in the same building the day before.
The two threads - murder and burglary - are accompanied by two other stories unfolding in parallel. Detective Kling saves the life of a small crook who is being viciously beaten by three thugs and is rewarded by getting information about a major drug shipment to arrive. The author also offers interesting accounts of psychotherapy sessions for cops suffering a nervous breakdown or job burnout. The four threads continue throughout the plot, with the murder thread getting a particularly plausible and logical conclusion.
There is some strong writing in the novel. From this sad passage
"'Yes?' he said again.to the scene of a savage killing, so cruel that I found it very hard to read.
And with that single word, identical to all the yesses he'd already said, Carella knew for certain that the man already knew, the man was bracing himself for the words he knew would come, using the 'Yes?' as a shield to protect himself from the horror of those words, to deflect those words, to render them harmless."
In several places, the author inserts biting social commentary as a background for the plot. I find it stunning that while the novel was written only 32 years ago, the compassionate and well-meant remarks would be deemed totally inappropriate today, simply because of the language. I much prefer the language of the past, crude and potentially offensive, yet devoid of circumlocutions and euphemisms, thus better conveying the hard truths. The novel is well worth reading even if just for emphasizing how much the acceptable language has changed over the third of a century.
Three-and-a-quarter stars.
February 8, 2018
McBain. Three concurrent separate and complex sub-plots. The best cop-suspect dialogue ever. Fast pace, tight and excellent writing. What else do you need? Enjoy.
August 4, 2018
If Ed McBain did not invent the police procedural, he must surely be credited with making it popular. Long before Law and Order, McBain in his popular 87th Precinct series was combining the nuts and bolts of real police work investigating and solving all varieties of violent crimes. Part of McBain’s genius was infusing humanity into the investigators and the perpetrators of the crimes.
LULLABY is one of the books in the series. Originally published in 1989, it is still vibrant and entertaining.
This time, Carella, Kling and the other detectives look into the case of a murdered babysitter and an infant baby. As part of the investigation, subplots develop involving drug deals and rival gangs while another involves a woman officer trying to come to terms with her own rape.
Wondering how these different threads may or may not come together is part of the enjoyment of the story.
McBain inserts excerpts of police reports and interrogations to provide a feel of authenticity.
Less enjoyable is when he shifts scenes and perspectives without the usual line spaces or other marker to clue in the reader. This is less confusing, however, when one gets used to the technique.
All-in-all, however, this is a solid and enjoyable work by one of the masters of the genre.
LULLABY is one of the books in the series. Originally published in 1989, it is still vibrant and entertaining.
This time, Carella, Kling and the other detectives look into the case of a murdered babysitter and an infant baby. As part of the investigation, subplots develop involving drug deals and rival gangs while another involves a woman officer trying to come to terms with her own rape.
Wondering how these different threads may or may not come together is part of the enjoyment of the story.
McBain inserts excerpts of police reports and interrogations to provide a feel of authenticity.
Less enjoyable is when he shifts scenes and perspectives without the usual line spaces or other marker to clue in the reader. This is less confusing, however, when one gets used to the technique.
All-in-all, however, this is a solid and enjoyable work by one of the masters of the genre.
February 2, 2018
First time reader of Ed McBain and although it was an interesting enough book I didn’t like how he changed to different crimes in the middle of a page without a paragraph indent or anything at all to indicate the change was coming. There were 3 different crimes and none of them connected to the others. The murder story was intriguing although before it was solved I had figured out who did it and why. The drug story was way too complex (not that I didn’t get it) and did not need to be in this book. Also, the side story about Eileen was also completely unnecessary but perhaps that is how he writes all of his 87th precinct books. Probably won’t read him again. Nothing to draw me back.
June 16, 2021
I found this one a bit of a mixed bag. There’s a traditional double homicide which is hard to take at times but still gripping, a second storyline about a drugs buy which I found confusing and the continuing subplot about Eileen Burke which I thought was very well handled. My main problem was with the drugs story which was convoluted and relied on portrayals of characters from various ethnic minorities which felt very dated. McBain usually does race pretty well, but he really didn’t here. The main storyline wasn’t his best either, but I thought the book would have been stronger with just that and the Burke subplot.
September 30, 2015
87th Precinct Mysteries, gritty, and real
I first read the 87th precinct mysteries over 25 years ago. Then after awhile, I found the formula almost boring.
Picked up again on vacation and Ed McBain doesn't disappoint. The characters have been developed over time but you can still pick up anywhere in the series. Always interesting, very often humorous, unpredictable and at times touching. Reminds me of NYPD Blue. Not just another police procedural but real people on the job.
I first read the 87th precinct mysteries over 25 years ago. Then after awhile, I found the formula almost boring.
Picked up again on vacation and Ed McBain doesn't disappoint. The characters have been developed over time but you can still pick up anywhere in the series. Always interesting, very often humorous, unpredictable and at times touching. Reminds me of NYPD Blue. Not just another police procedural but real people on the job.
November 9, 2017
Police procedural involving 3 story lines: Carella and Meyer investigate murders of an infant and baby sitter, Kling gets involved in gang wars among Jamaicans, Chinese, and Latins; Eileen Burke sees a psychologist to learn why she wants to quit the force. All interesting and believable with well developed resolutions.
March 20, 2018
One of the best police procedural EVER
Years ago I read all the Ed McBain 87th precinct books, or at least I thought I’d read them all. Anyway, lately I’ve been re-reading some of them and came across Lullaby which I may have missed. Not just a page-turner but riveting. McBain, alias Evan Hunter (Blackboard Jungle) was truly a master of the genre.
Years ago I read all the Ed McBain 87th precinct books, or at least I thought I’d read them all. Anyway, lately I’ve been re-reading some of them and came across Lullaby which I may have missed. Not just a page-turner but riveting. McBain, alias Evan Hunter (Blackboard Jungle) was truly a master of the genre.
August 10, 2018
Excellent, comme d’habitude. Les arcs narratifs sont palpitants, et les enchevêtrements très bien réalisés. Ed McBain sait tenir en haleine son lectorat jusqu’à à la dernière ligne du roman.
July 26, 2019
Questo è un romanzo tutto giocato sul ritmo dei dialoghi.Incalzanti, serrati.Ha 30 anni ma sembra una avanguardia.Si faccia sotto l'autore di thriller capace di tanto. Lo aspettiamo.
May 16, 2020
Re-re-read!! Okay I admit to being biased. Read my first 87th in 1978 (Sadie When She Died). I love them so much I cannot possibly be objective.
May 27, 2025
Readable but by no means the best. I am reading my way through all 54 novels in this series and I'm doing it in chronological order. This means re-reading in some instances, except that I first read them so long ago I remember little about them. I note that by this stage the linkage from one book to the next seems stronger, in that the continuing thread is only fully enjoyable if you've read the previous novels.
Here, for example, my favourite element is the continuation of the Eileen Burke story. Eileen is Kling's current girlfriend; she's also a cop, and her specific expertise is in playing a decoy, bringing her exuberant breasts (I think 'exuberant' was the word) along with her. In Lightning (novel 38), she acts as a decoy for a serial rapist, one who likes to cut his women, often in the nastiest of places. The twist in Lightning is that her support team loses her and she is both raped and cut (in the face, thank goodness).
In Tricks (novel 41), Eileen works as a decoy again. It emerges that she and Kling have never been intimate since the rape. Is it a good idea for her to deliberately attract a serial murderer of prostitutes? Of course not. She does it though, and Kling (who loves her) tries to follow along and see she comes to no harm, even though she has already got two officers backing her up. The result is that Eileen's support team is decoyed (accidentally) by Kling, and she is left alone with the killer. Fortunately, she keeps her wits about her and shoots him (the killer, not Kling) dead. But she loses the rag and empties all the bullets in the gun into his lifeless body, thus indicating a less than professional approach. Eileen is, in fact, losing the plot.
Finally (well actually it's not final at all, since this story is still not tied up), she's seeing a psychologist in Lullaby. If you hadn't read the two earlier volumes, the lengthy pages of dialogue with the therapist would surely seem rather boring. But if you have, it's really interesting to see where all this is going. By the end of Lullaby, it seems the Kling/Eileen relationship is about to hit maximum danger point.
But I enjoyed Eileen's therapy sessions because I'm emotionally invested in her story. And Kling has had such a hard time ever since he first appeared in the series which was right back at the start in Cop Hater. He's had one girlfriend shot. Another went off to university and lost interest. A third married him and then started a tawdry affair. And now the fourth has been raped and understandably gone off sex altogether. Meanwhile, in this novel, another villain is out to assassinate Kling for complicated reasons, the second time this has been a problem. His life is simply depressing and DANGEROUS.
Lullaby opens with a homicide that has nothing to do with Kling and Eileen. A babysitter and a baby are brutally murdered. Not the first time Ed McBain has sacrificed a baby to violence, but the first time it's a main victim. And obviously that's an emotive lead story: a young girl and a baby dying. However, somehow, as the book progresses, I found myself caring less and less about the girl and the baby. They just didn't seem to matter all that much, especially given the complicated reasons that gradually emerge as factors in their murder. Then there's another unrelated plot involving gang warfare and drugs, which is mainly interesting not because it threatens half the city but because a gang leader is out to eliminate Kling.
I did like the police procedural technique being applied to the machine that Carella and Teddy use in place of a hearing person's phone. Most educative. Similarly, the state procedures for adopting a child are laid out in considerable detail.
But all in all, the pace and vitality are nothing compared to the earlier book Poison, in my opinion.
Even when McBain is not on top form, however, he beats nearly every other police thriller into a cocked hat.
Here, for example, my favourite element is the continuation of the Eileen Burke story. Eileen is Kling's current girlfriend; she's also a cop, and her specific expertise is in playing a decoy, bringing her exuberant breasts (I think 'exuberant' was the word) along with her. In Lightning (novel 38), she acts as a decoy for a serial rapist, one who likes to cut his women, often in the nastiest of places. The twist in Lightning is that her support team loses her and she is both raped and cut (in the face, thank goodness).
In Tricks (novel 41), Eileen works as a decoy again. It emerges that she and Kling have never been intimate since the rape. Is it a good idea for her to deliberately attract a serial murderer of prostitutes? Of course not. She does it though, and Kling (who loves her) tries to follow along and see she comes to no harm, even though she has already got two officers backing her up. The result is that Eileen's support team is decoyed (accidentally) by Kling, and she is left alone with the killer. Fortunately, she keeps her wits about her and shoots him (the killer, not Kling) dead. But she loses the rag and empties all the bullets in the gun into his lifeless body, thus indicating a less than professional approach. Eileen is, in fact, losing the plot.
Finally (well actually it's not final at all, since this story is still not tied up), she's seeing a psychologist in Lullaby. If you hadn't read the two earlier volumes, the lengthy pages of dialogue with the therapist would surely seem rather boring. But if you have, it's really interesting to see where all this is going. By the end of Lullaby, it seems the Kling/Eileen relationship is about to hit maximum danger point.
But I enjoyed Eileen's therapy sessions because I'm emotionally invested in her story. And Kling has had such a hard time ever since he first appeared in the series which was right back at the start in Cop Hater. He's had one girlfriend shot. Another went off to university and lost interest. A third married him and then started a tawdry affair. And now the fourth has been raped and understandably gone off sex altogether. Meanwhile, in this novel, another villain is out to assassinate Kling for complicated reasons, the second time this has been a problem. His life is simply depressing and DANGEROUS.
Lullaby opens with a homicide that has nothing to do with Kling and Eileen. A babysitter and a baby are brutally murdered. Not the first time Ed McBain has sacrificed a baby to violence, but the first time it's a main victim. And obviously that's an emotive lead story: a young girl and a baby dying. However, somehow, as the book progresses, I found myself caring less and less about the girl and the baby. They just didn't seem to matter all that much, especially given the complicated reasons that gradually emerge as factors in their murder. Then there's another unrelated plot involving gang warfare and drugs, which is mainly interesting not because it threatens half the city but because a gang leader is out to eliminate Kling.
I did like the police procedural technique being applied to the machine that Carella and Teddy use in place of a hearing person's phone. Most educative. Similarly, the state procedures for adopting a child are laid out in considerable detail.
But all in all, the pace and vitality are nothing compared to the earlier book Poison, in my opinion.
Even when McBain is not on top form, however, he beats nearly every other police thriller into a cocked hat.
November 30, 2021
Amândoi poliţiştii aveau copii. Adolescenta care stătuse cu copilul avea cam aceeaşi vârstă cu fiica lui Meyer. Copilaşul din pătuţ îi reamintea lui Carella de vremea în care gemenii săi erau bebeluşi.
În apartament se instalase frigul. Era ora trei dimineaţa şi, în cele mai multe blocuri din oraş, administratorii reduceau termostatele după miezul nopţii. Poliţiştii, tehnicienii şi medicul legist îşi vedeau de lucru, îmbrăcaţi în paltoane. Părinţii copilului rămăseseră cu hainele de stradă. Bărbatul purta un palton de stofa neagră şi un fular de mătase albă peste smoching. Femeia purta o blană de vizon, rochie lungă, de mătase verde şi pantofi escarpen din mătase, asortaţi la culoare. Bărbatul şi femeia aveau feţele împietrite. Ca şi când cineva le-ar fi tras un pumn zdravăn. Aveau privirea rătăcită, incapabilă de-a se concentra.
Era cea dintâi zi a unui nou an care se anunţa plin de promisiuni.
Cadavrul fetei care îngrijise de copilaş zăcea pe podea, cam la mijlocul holului ce mărginea partea din spate a apartamentului. Camera copilului se afla în celălalt capăt al holului, lângă scara de incendiu. Pe pervaz şi pe fereastră se vedeau nişte urme, ceea ce ducea la concluzia că pe-aici se intrase. Lângă pătuţ, pe jos, se afla o bucată dintr-o frânghie ruptă. Monoghan şi Monroe, cu pălăriile trase pe ochi şi cu mâinile în buzunarele paltoanelor, se uitau la fata moartă. Dintre toţi cei aflaţi în cameră, ei erau singurii care purtau pălării. Cineva de la secţie declarase cândva, într-un interviu, că singurii poliţişti din oraş care purtau pălării erau cei doi de la brigada Omucideri. Cel ce spusese asta era el însuşi de la Omucideri, aşa încât e posibil să fi fost ceva adevăr în afirmaţia respectivă. În acest oraş, cei de la Omucideri aveau obligaţia să supravegheze investigarea fiecărui caz de asasinat în parte. Probabil că de aceea purtau pălării: să aibă aer de şefi. Prin regulament însă un caz de omucidere aparţinea secţiei de poliţie pe raza căreia se petrecuse evenimentul. Dubla crimă din această seară urma să fie cercetată de poliţiştii de la Secţia de poliţie locală, numărul 87. Era vorba de poliţiştii Meyer Meyer şi Steve Carella. Norocul lor.
Medicul legist stătea ghemuit lângă cadavrul adolescentei. Monoghan presupunea că, din clipă în clipă, medicul îi va anunţa că moartea fetei se datora cuţitului înfipt în piept. Monoghan fusese chemat pentru acest caz de la o petrecere. Se simţea încă puţin ameţit, suficient ca toate să i se pară niţel comice. Fata moartă pe podea, bluza sfâşiată, fusta răsucită în jurul coapselor, cuţitul împlântat în piept. Un medalion cu lapislazuli pe un lanţ de aur rupt, încolăcit ca un şarpe cu cap albastru pe jos, lângă cadavru. Monoghan se uită la medicul legist şi zâmbi misterios. Monroe era cât se poate de treaz, dar şi el găsea ceva comic în toate astea, probabil din cauză că era Anul Nou şi în blestemata lor de meserie, dacă nu reuşeşti câteodată să râzi şi sa dansezi până uiţi de toate necazurile şi grijile…
— E moartă, constată medicul legist.
Afirmaţia sa oficializa faptul.
— Prin împuşcare, nu-i aşa? întrebă Monoghan şi zâmbi misterios.
Legistul nu catadicsi să răspundă. Îşi închise cu un pocnet trusa, se ridică în picioare şi se duse în camera de zi, unde Carella şi Meyer tot mai încercau să obţină ceva date de la părinţii năuciţi ai copilaşului.
— Autopsiile le vom face cât putem de repede, spuse el. Apoi, explică: sărbătorile. Până atunci se poate afirma doar că fata a fost înjunghiată, iar copilul asfixiat.
— Mulţumim, spuse Meyer.
Carella înclină din cap.
Tocmai îşi amintea că, demult, cu ani în urmă, când se scula noaptea ca să-i hrănească pe gemeni, pe unul îl ţinea în braţe, iar celuilalt îi proptea sticla cu lapte de pernă. La următoarea masă, inversa copiii, astfel încât, întotdeauna, unul era ţinut în braţe.
În apartament se instalase frigul. Era ora trei dimineaţa şi, în cele mai multe blocuri din oraş, administratorii reduceau termostatele după miezul nopţii. Poliţiştii, tehnicienii şi medicul legist îşi vedeau de lucru, îmbrăcaţi în paltoane. Părinţii copilului rămăseseră cu hainele de stradă. Bărbatul purta un palton de stofa neagră şi un fular de mătase albă peste smoching. Femeia purta o blană de vizon, rochie lungă, de mătase verde şi pantofi escarpen din mătase, asortaţi la culoare. Bărbatul şi femeia aveau feţele împietrite. Ca şi când cineva le-ar fi tras un pumn zdravăn. Aveau privirea rătăcită, incapabilă de-a se concentra.
Era cea dintâi zi a unui nou an care se anunţa plin de promisiuni.
Cadavrul fetei care îngrijise de copilaş zăcea pe podea, cam la mijlocul holului ce mărginea partea din spate a apartamentului. Camera copilului se afla în celălalt capăt al holului, lângă scara de incendiu. Pe pervaz şi pe fereastră se vedeau nişte urme, ceea ce ducea la concluzia că pe-aici se intrase. Lângă pătuţ, pe jos, se afla o bucată dintr-o frânghie ruptă. Monoghan şi Monroe, cu pălăriile trase pe ochi şi cu mâinile în buzunarele paltoanelor, se uitau la fata moartă. Dintre toţi cei aflaţi în cameră, ei erau singurii care purtau pălării. Cineva de la secţie declarase cândva, într-un interviu, că singurii poliţişti din oraş care purtau pălării erau cei doi de la brigada Omucideri. Cel ce spusese asta era el însuşi de la Omucideri, aşa încât e posibil să fi fost ceva adevăr în afirmaţia respectivă. În acest oraş, cei de la Omucideri aveau obligaţia să supravegheze investigarea fiecărui caz de asasinat în parte. Probabil că de aceea purtau pălării: să aibă aer de şefi. Prin regulament însă un caz de omucidere aparţinea secţiei de poliţie pe raza căreia se petrecuse evenimentul. Dubla crimă din această seară urma să fie cercetată de poliţiştii de la Secţia de poliţie locală, numărul 87. Era vorba de poliţiştii Meyer Meyer şi Steve Carella. Norocul lor.
Medicul legist stătea ghemuit lângă cadavrul adolescentei. Monoghan presupunea că, din clipă în clipă, medicul îi va anunţa că moartea fetei se datora cuţitului înfipt în piept. Monoghan fusese chemat pentru acest caz de la o petrecere. Se simţea încă puţin ameţit, suficient ca toate să i se pară niţel comice. Fata moartă pe podea, bluza sfâşiată, fusta răsucită în jurul coapselor, cuţitul împlântat în piept. Un medalion cu lapislazuli pe un lanţ de aur rupt, încolăcit ca un şarpe cu cap albastru pe jos, lângă cadavru. Monoghan se uită la medicul legist şi zâmbi misterios. Monroe era cât se poate de treaz, dar şi el găsea ceva comic în toate astea, probabil din cauză că era Anul Nou şi în blestemata lor de meserie, dacă nu reuşeşti câteodată să râzi şi sa dansezi până uiţi de toate necazurile şi grijile…
— E moartă, constată medicul legist.
Afirmaţia sa oficializa faptul.
— Prin împuşcare, nu-i aşa? întrebă Monoghan şi zâmbi misterios.
Legistul nu catadicsi să răspundă. Îşi închise cu un pocnet trusa, se ridică în picioare şi se duse în camera de zi, unde Carella şi Meyer tot mai încercau să obţină ceva date de la părinţii năuciţi ai copilaşului.
— Autopsiile le vom face cât putem de repede, spuse el. Apoi, explică: sărbătorile. Până atunci se poate afirma doar că fata a fost înjunghiată, iar copilul asfixiat.
— Mulţumim, spuse Meyer.
Carella înclină din cap.
Tocmai îşi amintea că, demult, cu ani în urmă, când se scula noaptea ca să-i hrănească pe gemeni, pe unul îl ţinea în braţe, iar celuilalt îi proptea sticla cu lapte de pernă. La următoarea masă, inversa copiii, astfel încât, întotdeauna, unul era ţinut în braţe.
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