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87th Precinct #19
He Who Hesitates
Outside the 87th Precinct a stranger stands in the falling snow. A big man with big hands, Roger He knows he should go in and tell a policeman about what happened the night before; about Molly, the homely girl he met in a bar and brought back to his rented room. But then again...The snow falls on the city. Pushers, pimps, and working stiffs come and go. Roger tries to make up his mind. And every second that he hesitates takes him one step farther away from the 87th Precinct station, as another second ticks away on an innocent woman's life...
320 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1965
126 people are currently reading
410 people want to read
About the author
Ed McBain
711 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 126 reviews
March 2, 2014
This is, by far, the strangest of the books in Ed McBain’s 87th Precinct series, at least among the ones I’ve read thus far. While the story takes place within the confines of the precinct, only a couple of the detectives who normally populate these stories make even a cameo appearance, and they have no practical impact on the outcome of the story.
The tale unfolds from the third person point-of-view of Roger Broome who is visiting Isola from a rural community upstate. Broome and his brother manufacture handcrafted bowls and other wooden items and Roger is in town to sell them. The story opens early one cold winter morning when Broome leaves the rooming house where he is staying, intent on going to the police station. He has something to tell the detectives there. We don’t learn for some time exactly what it is he has to say, but once he gets to the station, Broome gets cold feet and decides to delay going in for a bit.
He continues to delay for much of the rest of the day while he ruminates about who he wants to see once in the station and what he wants to tell them. Gradually, the reader learns what is on his mind and why he’s hesitating so long.
And that’s about it. The reader is naturally curious about all of this, but there’s very little tension in the story and the book seems excessively padded with material that might have been designed to turn what could have been an entertaining short story into a relatively short book. It’s not a bad book, but it’s certainly not McBain’s best effort. Readers new to the series would be well-advised to begin with another entry, and all but the most compulsive readers of the series could skip this one without missing much.
The tale unfolds from the third person point-of-view of Roger Broome who is visiting Isola from a rural community upstate. Broome and his brother manufacture handcrafted bowls and other wooden items and Roger is in town to sell them. The story opens early one cold winter morning when Broome leaves the rooming house where he is staying, intent on going to the police station. He has something to tell the detectives there. We don’t learn for some time exactly what it is he has to say, but once he gets to the station, Broome gets cold feet and decides to delay going in for a bit.
He continues to delay for much of the rest of the day while he ruminates about who he wants to see once in the station and what he wants to tell them. Gradually, the reader learns what is on his mind and why he’s hesitating so long.
And that’s about it. The reader is naturally curious about all of this, but there’s very little tension in the story and the book seems excessively padded with material that might have been designed to turn what could have been an entertaining short story into a relatively short book. It’s not a bad book, but it’s certainly not McBain’s best effort. Readers new to the series would be well-advised to begin with another entry, and all but the most compulsive readers of the series could skip this one without missing much.
July 19, 2021
An unusual viewpoint is presented in this one, as we see the 87th precinct through the eyes of an outsider, when a would-be confessor determines whether or not to report a crime. As we don't really get to spend time with the usual gang, there's very little humor here which made for a slow-moving, and fairly unrewarding slough. I did, however, like the ending.
July 11, 2024
I have to say that this is the worst book in the series for me so far.
A rural man who is trying to sell woodcrafts. He has to go to the police station, but can't quite bring himself to do it.
Pretty dull.
A rural man who is trying to sell woodcrafts. He has to go to the police station, but can't quite bring himself to do it.
Pretty dull.
April 25, 2025
★★★★
HE WHO HESITATES is a very different kind of 87th Precinct novel, and one I thoroughly enjoyed. It shifts away from the familiar faces of Carella, Kling and the gang, focusing instead on an outsider, Roger Broom. The book delves into Roger’s internal monologue, and through it, we get a rather fascinating glimpse into his unravelling psychology.
It’s a bold move by McBain, as the only real ties to the 87th are a few cameo appearances from our heroes, and the fact the entire plot hinges on Roger circling the station, debating whether to confess to a crime. Despite having a fair idea of where the story was headed, I found myself gripped, eagerly turning the pages. The tension isn’t so much in what will happen, but in how it’ll play out - and it builds beautifully!
A slight bummer that I had limited reading time and had to stretch this over two nights; it’s the kind of book I’d have happily devoured in a single sitting.
I also really liked the open ending, which suited the tone of the story perfectly and left me thinking about what might come next for Roger.
Distinctive, atmospheric and a solid detour from the series norm. Wouldn’t want too many like this, but as a one-off, it’s a great change of pace.
HE WHO HESITATES is a very different kind of 87th Precinct novel, and one I thoroughly enjoyed. It shifts away from the familiar faces of Carella, Kling and the gang, focusing instead on an outsider, Roger Broom. The book delves into Roger’s internal monologue, and through it, we get a rather fascinating glimpse into his unravelling psychology.
It’s a bold move by McBain, as the only real ties to the 87th are a few cameo appearances from our heroes, and the fact the entire plot hinges on Roger circling the station, debating whether to confess to a crime. Despite having a fair idea of where the story was headed, I found myself gripped, eagerly turning the pages. The tension isn’t so much in what will happen, but in how it’ll play out - and it builds beautifully!
A slight bummer that I had limited reading time and had to stretch this over two nights; it’s the kind of book I’d have happily devoured in a single sitting.
I also really liked the open ending, which suited the tone of the story perfectly and left me thinking about what might come next for Roger.
Distinctive, atmospheric and a solid detour from the series norm. Wouldn’t want too many like this, but as a one-off, it’s a great change of pace.
February 8, 2024
One of the weaker books in the series. The cops of the 87th are consigned to cameo appearances. The story centers on a character trying to decide whether or not to go to 87th to discuss a matter.
The next book, Doll, is not available in Ebook format. I do not have it in paperback either.
The next book, Doll, is not available in Ebook format. I do not have it in paperback either.
July 25, 2024
What makes this series of the 97th precinct brilliant is that it's not just taking a character(s) and reusing them over and over again in similar settings with similar stories. McBain has the writing bravery to move out, around, over and under and provide an objective view of all of the precinct and those who inhabit it.
This tale is told through the eyes of a charcter who is roaming the precinct. What comes of this is brilliant and an excellent character study. This is nearly unheard of these days as writers will slog on about a character and every single little bit of nothing to avoid creating a decent plot.
In this case McBain creates a character through writing and NOT writing of the individual. So much left to the imagination throughout. I believe a group of 20 together who have read the book. From that lot, I believe, 20 different views would come of the story. That is excellent writing.
The plot is more of the plotting and laying out a tale that unfolds to an ending, if you want to call it that. The open ending further enhances the whole. So much left to the imagination. Those who struggle with imagination will very much dislike the whole.
Now, I have to note that it was obvious to me of what the outcome would be of the machinations of the focused character. Don't know if other readers might come to similar conclusions.
Again, McBain creates individual dialogues of each character. His writing of the main character is Simpy brilliant as McBain consistently keeps the character on and off balance or whatever.
Bottom line: I recommend this book. 10 out of ten points.
This tale is told through the eyes of a charcter who is roaming the precinct. What comes of this is brilliant and an excellent character study. This is nearly unheard of these days as writers will slog on about a character and every single little bit of nothing to avoid creating a decent plot.
In this case McBain creates a character through writing and NOT writing of the individual. So much left to the imagination throughout. I believe a group of 20 together who have read the book. From that lot, I believe, 20 different views would come of the story. That is excellent writing.
The plot is more of the plotting and laying out a tale that unfolds to an ending, if you want to call it that. The open ending further enhances the whole. So much left to the imagination. Those who struggle with imagination will very much dislike the whole.
Now, I have to note that it was obvious to me of what the outcome would be of the machinations of the focused character. Don't know if other readers might come to similar conclusions.
Again, McBain creates individual dialogues of each character. His writing of the main character is Simpy brilliant as McBain consistently keeps the character on and off balance or whatever.
Bottom line: I recommend this book. 10 out of ten points.
May 17, 2009
This book drove me nuts! I kept reading and hoping it would get better. It didn't, and it drove me to distraction.
December 3, 2017
Another great evening spent in the 87th Precinct. This, quite short book, is something very different and perhaps unusual in a crime genre novel. Roger Broome is in town to sell the wooden items made by himself and his brother in their workshop and house, out of town, were they live with their mother. Until the very last page Roger is dithering about going to the station house as there is something that he wants to talk about. He meets a sex offender in the park, brushes into Detective Andy Parker, the bully of the 87th, and a drug user. He still never quite makes it up the entrance steps. Steve Carella and his wife make a brief appearance but what has Roger on his mind? I
I urge you to sit down with this one. 4stars.
I urge you to sit down with this one. 4stars.
January 30, 2020
Well, this was indeed a different 87th Precinct story— but I enjoyed it thoroughly. At first, I was afraid of becoming bored, as I thought McBain was simply writing to kill time until a story idea showed up.
But then, a funny thing happened. I was filled with anticipation and dread as the protagonist and narrator, Roger Broome, slowly begins to reveal his very dark, deeply disturbed mind.
There’s very little action in this story, except that which is occurring within the confines of a mind besieged by conflict and disturbing thoughts. One could assert that either McBain was just lazy when he penned his story, or that he truly was gifted in his ability to convey a crime story with minimal criminal activity. This was more of a psychological thriller than a police procedural, and a neat diversion from the author’s usual fare in this wonderful series. A quick and strangely satisfying read.
But then, a funny thing happened. I was filled with anticipation and dread as the protagonist and narrator, Roger Broome, slowly begins to reveal his very dark, deeply disturbed mind.
There’s very little action in this story, except that which is occurring within the confines of a mind besieged by conflict and disturbing thoughts. One could assert that either McBain was just lazy when he penned his story, or that he truly was gifted in his ability to convey a crime story with minimal criminal activity. This was more of a psychological thriller than a police procedural, and a neat diversion from the author’s usual fare in this wonderful series. A quick and strangely satisfying read.
August 26, 2012
I am unsure how this book qualifies as an 87th Street Precinct book. Basically, it's about a guy who accidentally kills a girl he picks up in a bar and then spends the rest of the book deciding whether or not he should report his crime. Awful.
January 19, 2016
A bit of a departure in the 87th Precinct series since there is pretty much no police procedural plot and the detectives have very little page time. More of a psychological character study, but I did not think it was bad, just different from the other books in the series I have read.
October 16, 2016
If American author O. Henry, who is known for his unexpected endings, decided to give Ed McBain a break by contributing to the 87th Precinct series, this would have been his entry.
Because I'm not one one hundredth as smart as either of these prolific authors, I can think of no way of summarizing this fun read without taking away from the experience. Even the blurb in the talking book catalog says a bit more than I think is wise.
The problem, of course, is that I have now left you with no reason to read "He Who Hesitates," and, if you don't, you will miss out on an unforgettable experience. And that would certainly be quite a loss. If the first sentence of this review caused you to wonder about the book, take the plunge and see what you think. NOTE: As any of you who follow my reviews regularly are aware, I recently became a bit of a convert where my reading habits are concerned. I have generally read series such as this by moving in and out of them at will with no particular regard to the order in which the books appear. I now realize that, in many cases, there is a definite advantage to reading them in order (or as close to that as I can get) and so I am returning to series whose entries I have liked to revisit them and "fill in the blanks," as it were. This has proved to be extremely rewarding, though it sometimes shows weaknesses I didn't know existed. I am finding, for example, that certain writers utilize particular solutions to their crimes far too frequently which is frustrating indeed. McBain is definitely not in that category, at least not so far. It is amazing that, while he stays true to his characters, he finds so many creative ways to tell the stories that I simply can't stop reading. In addition, I have come to care very much about the cops who make up the 87th Precinct and I look forward to learning about the trajectory of their lives as the series progresses.
Because I'm not one one hundredth as smart as either of these prolific authors, I can think of no way of summarizing this fun read without taking away from the experience. Even the blurb in the talking book catalog says a bit more than I think is wise.
The problem, of course, is that I have now left you with no reason to read "He Who Hesitates," and, if you don't, you will miss out on an unforgettable experience. And that would certainly be quite a loss. If the first sentence of this review caused you to wonder about the book, take the plunge and see what you think. NOTE: As any of you who follow my reviews regularly are aware, I recently became a bit of a convert where my reading habits are concerned. I have generally read series such as this by moving in and out of them at will with no particular regard to the order in which the books appear. I now realize that, in many cases, there is a definite advantage to reading them in order (or as close to that as I can get) and so I am returning to series whose entries I have liked to revisit them and "fill in the blanks," as it were. This has proved to be extremely rewarding, though it sometimes shows weaknesses I didn't know existed. I am finding, for example, that certain writers utilize particular solutions to their crimes far too frequently which is frustrating indeed. McBain is definitely not in that category, at least not so far. It is amazing that, while he stays true to his characters, he finds so many creative ways to tell the stories that I simply can't stop reading. In addition, I have come to care very much about the cops who make up the 87th Precinct and I look forward to learning about the trajectory of their lives as the series progresses.
January 21, 2013
McBain (or Hunter AS McBain) is probably my favorite writer. It was kind of a bummer to give an 87th two stars. Had to, though. These books were churned out quickly. This is the only one I've read, so far, that felt like Evan needed to have spent more time with it.
August 17, 2018
Oddest, weirdest, and most unsettling book thus far in the series. Shouldn’t have been in the series, to be honest.
October 28, 2020
This is a different take on the mystery series based on and around the 87th Precinct, with the focus on one man, a stranger in town, who needs to talk to someone. The large male stranger stands outside the police station, debating on if he should go inside and report ... something. He hesitates then moves away.
Over the pace of the book, he returns again and again to the question, who should he report a crime to? Should he just walk in? He talks with another stranger in a park, who appears to solicit him for sex. He also talks with a stranger in a pharmacy, where he returns again and again. He is on good terms with his temporary landlady, who shares a morning cuppa with him as he prepares to head out - to the police station.
Meanwhile, we glimpse vignettes of the detectives we are used to seeing, Willis and Hawes, Parker and Carella. None of them appear to be investigating the crime the stranger wants to report. However, various discussions lead the reader to wonder - are the detectives skirting around the crime?
As the story winds through the vague tale of something, the reader begins to get a chill - a guess - what has happened? Has our stranger, who identifies as a woodworker named Roger Broome, committed a serious crime? Roger makes multiple trips to the precinct, wanting to report but not sure if he should. He spies on the detectives, and decides that Carella is his best choice of contact, but when to approach?
As Roger continues to delay, the reader gets a stronger feel for what has happened, and as the story bursts into the final pages we learn both what has happened and why. Should Roger continue to pursue telling his story? Mother says he should come home, and he vacillates, until another incident decides what happens.
Was this a great story? Perhaps not, but it does bring the reader deep into the mind of someone who didn't set out to be bad, and isn't sure what to do next. It isn't a detective story inasmuch as the only time the detectives are active is during a robbery, which in itself was odd, considering they are Homicide.
Recommendations - good read, but not the best story to introduce the 87th Precinct and the world of the fictional town of Isola.
Over the pace of the book, he returns again and again to the question, who should he report a crime to? Should he just walk in? He talks with another stranger in a park, who appears to solicit him for sex. He also talks with a stranger in a pharmacy, where he returns again and again. He is on good terms with his temporary landlady, who shares a morning cuppa with him as he prepares to head out - to the police station.
Meanwhile, we glimpse vignettes of the detectives we are used to seeing, Willis and Hawes, Parker and Carella. None of them appear to be investigating the crime the stranger wants to report. However, various discussions lead the reader to wonder - are the detectives skirting around the crime?
As the story winds through the vague tale of something, the reader begins to get a chill - a guess - what has happened? Has our stranger, who identifies as a woodworker named Roger Broome, committed a serious crime? Roger makes multiple trips to the precinct, wanting to report but not sure if he should. He spies on the detectives, and decides that Carella is his best choice of contact, but when to approach?
As Roger continues to delay, the reader gets a stronger feel for what has happened, and as the story bursts into the final pages we learn both what has happened and why. Should Roger continue to pursue telling his story? Mother says he should come home, and he vacillates, until another incident decides what happens.
Was this a great story? Perhaps not, but it does bring the reader deep into the mind of someone who didn't set out to be bad, and isn't sure what to do next. It isn't a detective story inasmuch as the only time the detectives are active is during a robbery, which in itself was odd, considering they are Homicide.
Recommendations - good read, but not the best story to introduce the 87th Precinct and the world of the fictional town of Isola.
June 17, 2018
This installment in the series is told by a stranger to the city. He's a young man in town to sell his wood wares. The police are distant figures. He needs to speak with them but he's afraid. He wanders the city picking up meals and drinks. His mother wants him home, but he has unfinished business. The mystery is what exactly is his business and why does he want to see the cops. If this was the first book this series you read then you'll have no real sense of the series. It's really an outlier, an experiment by McBain that realized the formula could easily get stale and a new approach might give it some life. The approach worked for me and even the ending was a surprise considering what I've come to expect having been slowly reading them in order.
February 2, 2019
This is not your typical Ed McBain. Nor is it your typical 87th Precinct. It is not even your typical police procedural.
This novel features the 87th detectives only in passing. Carella and Meyer are not even mentioned by name.
The story follows a young out-of-city woodworker who has arrived to sell his wares. It follows him for a couple of days, jumping back and forth in the timeline to tease out the plot.
It is very engaging and very cleverly written. I almost suspect McBain wrote this as a standalone novel but changed it to an 87th at a later date. Whatever his motive for writing it the way he did, it stands up as one of the most intriguing entries in the series.
Not the best one to start with but a real unexpected gem for those who know Carella, Hawes and co well.
This novel features the 87th detectives only in passing. Carella and Meyer are not even mentioned by name.
The story follows a young out-of-city woodworker who has arrived to sell his wares. It follows him for a couple of days, jumping back and forth in the timeline to tease out the plot.
It is very engaging and very cleverly written. I almost suspect McBain wrote this as a standalone novel but changed it to an 87th at a later date. Whatever his motive for writing it the way he did, it stands up as one of the most intriguing entries in the series.
Not the best one to start with but a real unexpected gem for those who know Carella, Hawes and co well.
October 1, 2018
The clever premise of this book makes it one of the better stories in the series. What we know is a man has something to tell the police, but he cannot bring himself to speak it. Is it something good or bad? Will it save a life or not? Will it get him in trouble or will it make him a hero? These questions aren't answered until you get deep into the book. But it's not a bad journey to find these answers. Well done, Mr. McBain.
August 21, 2020
Roger Broome loves his mother, is kind to his landlady, and has just met a nice girl - but he also has a chilling secret.
Crime-fiction that borders on horror (the story is very Psycho-like), most of the novel is a fish-out-of-water story about a kindly young man making a trip to the big city, but you know very well that there is a creepy refrigerator on the cover.
Crime-fiction that borders on horror (the story is very Psycho-like), most of the novel is a fish-out-of-water story about a kindly young man making a trip to the big city, but you know very well that there is a creepy refrigerator on the cover.
October 24, 2013
I've become quite a fan of the 87th Precinct stories during the past year, I am working my way through them, and this is No 19 in the series. Although I only gave it four stars, this is probably unfair, since it affected me more than the others that I have read thus far.
As other reviewers have said, this book looks at the Precinct from the outside and the main protagonist, Roger Broome, (he could scarcely be called the hero) is a man from out of town who is about to return home after spending a few days in the Big City selling products for his small family firm.
He wakes up on Page One knowing that he needs to visit the police station before going home to Mother. It pretty soon becomes apparent that our hero is no ordinary mortal, but a very mixed up and sick man indeed, and that the crime he feels a need to report is his killing of a woman whom he brought back to his cheap hotel room the night before.
The book consists partly of Roger's developing relationship with a coloured shop girl and of a recapitulation of the events which led to his murder of the girl he had picked up the night before.
Is he going to kill the other girl? He's certainly crazy enough!
This story has stayed with me and not in any pleasant way. There is no happy ending and no justice at the end for his anonymous victim who will never be missed and never found. I found this very depressing.
What cannot be denied is that this is a remarkable novella from a remarkably gifted writer, but it is somewhat too sordid for comfort.
As other reviewers have said, this book looks at the Precinct from the outside and the main protagonist, Roger Broome, (he could scarcely be called the hero) is a man from out of town who is about to return home after spending a few days in the Big City selling products for his small family firm.
He wakes up on Page One knowing that he needs to visit the police station before going home to Mother. It pretty soon becomes apparent that our hero is no ordinary mortal, but a very mixed up and sick man indeed, and that the crime he feels a need to report is his killing of a woman whom he brought back to his cheap hotel room the night before.
The book consists partly of Roger's developing relationship with a coloured shop girl and of a recapitulation of the events which led to his murder of the girl he had picked up the night before.
Is he going to kill the other girl? He's certainly crazy enough!
This story has stayed with me and not in any pleasant way. There is no happy ending and no justice at the end for his anonymous victim who will never be missed and never found. I found this very depressing.
What cannot be denied is that this is a remarkable novella from a remarkably gifted writer, but it is somewhat too sordid for comfort.
June 15, 2014
Ed McBain wrote so many great books in the 87th Precinct series that he could afford to stretch his writing muscles in different ways. In this entry he depicts the men of the 87th as secondary players who are seen only through the eyes of a visitor to the city. Roger Broome arrived in Isola to sell woodenware that he has made in his family's workshop. He wants to report a crime but his own emotions and other circumstances stand in the way. The author was a master with dialogue and in addition to those skills he uses stream of consciousness to follow Broome's thoughts as he wrestles with his dilemma.
If the reader knows McBain's work this is one to add to your reading pile. This would not be a good introduction to the series for someone unfamilliar with the author.
If the reader knows McBain's work this is one to add to your reading pile. This would not be a good introduction to the series for someone unfamilliar with the author.
June 15, 2015
Much like many of the other reviews here on this site, it pains me (PAINS ME) to have to write a bad review of an 87th Precinct book, and, yet, here we are. While it takes place in the 87th and features some of the characters we've come to know throughout the series, this book reads more like an homage to Jim Thompson's "The Killer Inside Me." One of the more predictable but also more satisfying aspects of the 87th Precinct novels is that more often than not justice is served and the good guys triumph over the bad guys. Not so here. Next, please.
January 1, 2016
This was an odd addition to the 87th canon. It's the story of an out-of-towner named Broome getting a firsthand view of the big, bad city. Our tried and true bulls make very brief appearances as this "guest" interweaves through the neighborhood. I think McBain was trying to do something different to shake things up. Might've worked a little better if half of the chapters had been from the viewpoint of the bulls, and the other half focused on Broome. Like all of McBain's books, though, still well written and captures the flow of the city perfectly.
November 25, 2012
In questo libro l'autore ci costringe a inseguire il suo personaggio lungo le strade di una città anonima resa più ospitale solo dal tocco leggiadro della neve.
L'uomo fa molti incontri in pochi rapidi giorni colmi di fatti.
Ci si sposta tra il ricordo e il presente in uno strano intreccio, nell'attesa spasmodica di una decisione che il protagonista, appunto, esita a prendere...
L'uomo fa molti incontri in pochi rapidi giorni colmi di fatti.
Ci si sposta tra il ricordo e il presente in uno strano intreccio, nell'attesa spasmodica di una decisione che il protagonista, appunto, esita a prendere...
August 20, 2014
Well, McBain has undergone a sea change. Impressed. He kept the suspense up all the way through. Should really give it four stars, but maybe not. Written in 1965, so maybe the zeitgeist was having an effect on him. Less black humour and more a character study, like one continuous stream of consciousness.
January 4, 2017
This is the strangest of all the 87th Precinct books so far. This tale has nothing to do with the cops and instead is entirely inside the mind of the criminal. No police work, instead, an interesting take on a crime from the killers point of view.
April 11, 2021
Very disappointing. Slow start, and kept wondering what the story was he was going to tell the police. Slowly this emerges, but there is a great deal of inconsequential detail. Not very plausible denouement.
May 31, 2019
I wish I'd hesitated.
August 19, 2018
Che libro! 😂 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Una donna diventata vedova in giovane età delega, al suo figlio primogenito di sette anni, il ruolo di “uomo di famiglia”. Da quel momento in avanti, Roger Broome, il protagonista della storia, un bambino verosimilmente non diverso da molti altri, si perde in quella identità imposta, non è più un bambino eppure non maturerà mai come uomo.
Cinque stelle da parte mia per “L’uomo dei dubbi”, anche se il libro è descritto molto meglio e con maggiore attinenza dal titolo inglese originale: “He who hesitates”... colui che esita... Titolo perfetto! L’intero libro gira infatti letteralmente intorno all’ESITAZIONE DI ROGER.
In una gelida notte invernale, Roger si è imbattuto in Molly, una ragazza tra le più brutte che si siano mai viste, e tra la rabbia repressa causatagli dalla madre e la ragazza che non smette di parlare, succede il fattaccio. Quale sia questo fattaccio, l’autore ce lo svelerà nel filo del racconto attraverso dei flashback.
Il fatto è che Roger non funziona proprio come l’uomo adulto che egli dovrebbe essere a ventisette anni. Quella mamma, che noi non conosciamo direttamente ma di cui lui parla nell'intero arco del libro, oltre a obbligarlo a coprire le veci di “uomo di famiglia”, non lo ha cresciuto alla vita, formato, aiutato a maturare! Roger non sembra rendersi affatto conto dell’enorme gravità dell'atto enormemente raccapricciante che ha commesso... Sembra quasi un gioco...
Il libro inizia con Roger che si sveglia dopo la notte del fattaccio e deve recarsi alla stazione di Polizia... Quello che dovrebbe fare sarebbe piuttosto semplice: entrare e consegnarsi alle autorità. Quello che invece fa è girare intorno alla stazione, pedinare poliziotti, osservare poliziotti, ...... Il libro è scritto molto bene e raccontato egregiamente da un eccellente scrittore... Detto questo, la trama, particolare nel suo genere, può piacere e può non piacere. A me è piaciuta moltissimo! 😊👌
Con l’ “uomo dei dubbi”, Ed McBain, eteronimo dello scrittore Evan Hunter, ci porta nella vita e nella mente di un uomo mentalmente disturbato, un disturbo nato e sviluppatosi a causa di una madre debole nella propria vita ed esigente nei confronti del figlio. L’ultima parola del libro, seguita dal punto conclusivo, non a caso è la parola “madre”. Madre! Una parola che è una sentenza: colei che alla fine è da tenersi responsabile dei deliri di questo uomo bambino, alto quasi due metri ma dal cervello di un bimbetto.
Roger sembrerebbe a prima vista un uomo qualunque: sì molto alto certo, ma normalissimo, un gigante buono. Se non fosse che, a causa di sua madre, Roger non riesce a vivere come lo fanno gli uomini della sua età. Con l’idea e le parole della madre sempre addosso, Roger ha diverse problematiche col mondo femminile e, come quasi sempre succede nei rapporti di co-dipendenza madre-figlio, il protagonista del libro non riesce ad avere rapporti duraturi con le donne.
Non solo, c’è un fatto di cui Roger non riesce proprio a capacitarsi: perché? perché gli piacciono soltanto le donne più brutte esistenti in qualunque situazione? Dalla più orrenda dell’intera scuola... e via dicendo... Roger non riesce a spiegarselo, ma il lettore lo ha capito molto bene: Roger è il tipico uomo che una donna non l’avrà mai, perché finirà i suoi giorni prendendosi cura della madre anziana. Inconsciamente quindi sceglie donne di cui sa che non potrà mai innamorarsi, a cui sa che non potrà mai attaccarsi.
Lo scrittore ci porta nel profondo della psiche di Roger per farci capire come possa nascere il delirio... E come possa un uomo - nato come molti altri - trasformarsi in un mostro insensibile, capace di commettere atrocità.
Ogni tanto Roger si sente sollevato al pensiero di andare in prigione... Perché sa che quello è l’unico posto dove può vivere senza la presenza soffocante di sua madre. Ma proprio come il bambino che in realtà egli è, pur essendo consapevole che deve consegnarsi alla Polizia, i suoi meccanismi mentali lo portano a trovare scuse, su scuse... Ogni evento, visione, parola, è una scusa per non fare quello che sa di dover fare.
Ho trovato il libro in sé eccezionale (e in diversi punti comico!) e sorrido nel pensare a una recensione Amazon piuttosto critica sul libro stesso: la capisco!!! 😀 Quella recensione mi aveva tra l’altro fatto dubitare molto sul procedere o meno alla lettura dl libro... Alla fine, mi sento di giudicare questo libro un piccolo capolavoro di psicanalisi... Un piccolo viaggio nel mondo malato di un pover'uomo che forse sarebbe cresciuto diversamente - e molto meglio - con una madre diversa. Un pover'uomo soltanto perché parliamo di finzione letteraria. Nella realtà dei fatti, un vero e proprio mostro!
Libro valutato 5 stelle!!! ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Magadeilibri
Cinque stelle da parte mia per “L’uomo dei dubbi”, anche se il libro è descritto molto meglio e con maggiore attinenza dal titolo inglese originale: “He who hesitates”... colui che esita... Titolo perfetto! L’intero libro gira infatti letteralmente intorno all’ESITAZIONE DI ROGER.
In una gelida notte invernale, Roger si è imbattuto in Molly, una ragazza tra le più brutte che si siano mai viste, e tra la rabbia repressa causatagli dalla madre e la ragazza che non smette di parlare, succede il fattaccio. Quale sia questo fattaccio, l’autore ce lo svelerà nel filo del racconto attraverso dei flashback.
Il fatto è che Roger non funziona proprio come l’uomo adulto che egli dovrebbe essere a ventisette anni. Quella mamma, che noi non conosciamo direttamente ma di cui lui parla nell'intero arco del libro, oltre a obbligarlo a coprire le veci di “uomo di famiglia”, non lo ha cresciuto alla vita, formato, aiutato a maturare! Roger non sembra rendersi affatto conto dell’enorme gravità dell'atto enormemente raccapricciante che ha commesso... Sembra quasi un gioco...
Il libro inizia con Roger che si sveglia dopo la notte del fattaccio e deve recarsi alla stazione di Polizia... Quello che dovrebbe fare sarebbe piuttosto semplice: entrare e consegnarsi alle autorità. Quello che invece fa è girare intorno alla stazione, pedinare poliziotti, osservare poliziotti, ...... Il libro è scritto molto bene e raccontato egregiamente da un eccellente scrittore... Detto questo, la trama, particolare nel suo genere, può piacere e può non piacere. A me è piaciuta moltissimo! 😊👌
Con l’ “uomo dei dubbi”, Ed McBain, eteronimo dello scrittore Evan Hunter, ci porta nella vita e nella mente di un uomo mentalmente disturbato, un disturbo nato e sviluppatosi a causa di una madre debole nella propria vita ed esigente nei confronti del figlio. L’ultima parola del libro, seguita dal punto conclusivo, non a caso è la parola “madre”. Madre! Una parola che è una sentenza: colei che alla fine è da tenersi responsabile dei deliri di questo uomo bambino, alto quasi due metri ma dal cervello di un bimbetto.
Roger sembrerebbe a prima vista un uomo qualunque: sì molto alto certo, ma normalissimo, un gigante buono. Se non fosse che, a causa di sua madre, Roger non riesce a vivere come lo fanno gli uomini della sua età. Con l’idea e le parole della madre sempre addosso, Roger ha diverse problematiche col mondo femminile e, come quasi sempre succede nei rapporti di co-dipendenza madre-figlio, il protagonista del libro non riesce ad avere rapporti duraturi con le donne.
Non solo, c’è un fatto di cui Roger non riesce proprio a capacitarsi: perché? perché gli piacciono soltanto le donne più brutte esistenti in qualunque situazione? Dalla più orrenda dell’intera scuola... e via dicendo... Roger non riesce a spiegarselo, ma il lettore lo ha capito molto bene: Roger è il tipico uomo che una donna non l’avrà mai, perché finirà i suoi giorni prendendosi cura della madre anziana. Inconsciamente quindi sceglie donne di cui sa che non potrà mai innamorarsi, a cui sa che non potrà mai attaccarsi.
Lo scrittore ci porta nel profondo della psiche di Roger per farci capire come possa nascere il delirio... E come possa un uomo - nato come molti altri - trasformarsi in un mostro insensibile, capace di commettere atrocità.
Ogni tanto Roger si sente sollevato al pensiero di andare in prigione... Perché sa che quello è l’unico posto dove può vivere senza la presenza soffocante di sua madre. Ma proprio come il bambino che in realtà egli è, pur essendo consapevole che deve consegnarsi alla Polizia, i suoi meccanismi mentali lo portano a trovare scuse, su scuse... Ogni evento, visione, parola, è una scusa per non fare quello che sa di dover fare.
Ho trovato il libro in sé eccezionale (e in diversi punti comico!) e sorrido nel pensare a una recensione Amazon piuttosto critica sul libro stesso: la capisco!!! 😀 Quella recensione mi aveva tra l’altro fatto dubitare molto sul procedere o meno alla lettura dl libro... Alla fine, mi sento di giudicare questo libro un piccolo capolavoro di psicanalisi... Un piccolo viaggio nel mondo malato di un pover'uomo che forse sarebbe cresciuto diversamente - e molto meglio - con una madre diversa. Un pover'uomo soltanto perché parliamo di finzione letteraria. Nella realtà dei fatti, un vero e proprio mostro!
Libro valutato 5 stelle!!! ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Magadeilibri
June 29, 2023
I found this at Half Price Books, it was small and yellow and wrapped in plastic, and with a cover that dated itself according to its 1966 copyright. I was looking to read something short and cheap, and I always wanted to read one of those books wrapped in plastic, so I picked it up. And the cover of the version I bought (apparently there are other covers) showed some rough-looking guy smoking a cigarette, as part of montage that also included a bridge, what I thought was a square bottle of whiskey but it’s a refrigerator (key to the story), and a striking black woman kind of laying in his messy head of hair. It’s part of the “87th Precinct Mystery” series by Ed McBain, who appears to have had some success as a mystery writer. The front and back covers featured some promotional quotes from the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, Jacksonville Journal and New York Herald Tribune, my guess from a time when any newspaper of significance reviewed a lot of books. So it just had a nice nostalgic feeling to it, a Dell paperback that people would pick up at a drugstore back then. The price printed on the cover is 50 cents. I think Half Price Book charged $1.
The “He Who Hesitates” is the main character, Roger Broome. He’s gone to the city, not sure which city, in his truck full of wooden kitchenware that his family makes in a small town outside the city. Roger is somewhat possessed by his mother, through her voice in his head, when it comes to his lovers. Through the 150-page story, he wants to go the police station to tell the police apparently about a crime he knows of. He’s always hanging around and sometimes in the station, but he keeps procrastinating by getting distracted by various casts of characters who talk like they’re out of a 1950s-60s police movie. But the suspense builds well because you’d just wish he’d get it over with or go home. What’s interesting is that Roger feels the same frustration, which made me more curious about what the hell happened and what his problem is.
Complementing his Mommy issues are his love interest issues. It starts to get a bit sexist and racist at this point. His conversations about women were all about appearance, who’s ugly and who’s pretty, who’s hispanic and who’s black. He goes out with a pretty black woman, but he (Roger is white) is obsessed that she’s black (the author/character uses the term colored), and he knows this would really disappoint Mommy. And the other woman he dates he calls just plain ugly. For a short trip to the city, he’s got a lot of love life going on, things develop fast. But so do his obsessions over how these women look, and how they represent the arch of Roger’s lonely life.
The book was categorized as a police procedural, which it doesn’t appear to be. It’s interesting though because I think it plays off the idea of a procedural, the limited knowledge I have of them. So I’d chalk this one up as a quick read for the curious about a genre book of the time, with a nice bit of weirdness presented through some awkward language.
The “He Who Hesitates” is the main character, Roger Broome. He’s gone to the city, not sure which city, in his truck full of wooden kitchenware that his family makes in a small town outside the city. Roger is somewhat possessed by his mother, through her voice in his head, when it comes to his lovers. Through the 150-page story, he wants to go the police station to tell the police apparently about a crime he knows of. He’s always hanging around and sometimes in the station, but he keeps procrastinating by getting distracted by various casts of characters who talk like they’re out of a 1950s-60s police movie. But the suspense builds well because you’d just wish he’d get it over with or go home. What’s interesting is that Roger feels the same frustration, which made me more curious about what the hell happened and what his problem is.
Complementing his Mommy issues are his love interest issues. It starts to get a bit sexist and racist at this point. His conversations about women were all about appearance, who’s ugly and who’s pretty, who’s hispanic and who’s black. He goes out with a pretty black woman, but he (Roger is white) is obsessed that she’s black (the author/character uses the term colored), and he knows this would really disappoint Mommy. And the other woman he dates he calls just plain ugly. For a short trip to the city, he’s got a lot of love life going on, things develop fast. But so do his obsessions over how these women look, and how they represent the arch of Roger’s lonely life.
The book was categorized as a police procedural, which it doesn’t appear to be. It’s interesting though because I think it plays off the idea of a procedural, the limited knowledge I have of them. So I’d chalk this one up as a quick read for the curious about a genre book of the time, with a nice bit of weirdness presented through some awkward language.
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