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HARK
by Ed McBain
Orion, October 2004
293 pages
12.99GBP
ISBN: 0752855867


Buy in the UK | Buy in Canada

HARK is the 54th book in the series and marks the return of Ed McBain's legendary police procedural series featuring the members of the 87th Precinct. Ever since the first 87th Precinct novel was published in 1956 McBain has garnered rave reviews and a loyal following.

When Gloria Stanford is found appallingly murdered it appears at first glance to be a robbery gone wrong; she is found with no identification on her whatsoever. But since she had everything, who would want to kill her? Those handling the case are unsure until Detective Steve Carella starts to receive a number of strange cryptic message that seem to indicate otherwise.

The messages are from Carella's nemesis, the Deaf Man, a master criminal long thought to be dead but who appears to have come back to haunt him. It is clear that the Deaf Man is back to settle old scores. Since his last clash with Carella he also appears to have acquired a liking for Shakespeare so much that he uses it to confound them and keep them guessing.

There is not much one can say about this series in general that hasn't been said before. Over the years the 87th Precinct series has developed a life of its own and has grown in stature so much that it is more often than not the books that are the most synonymous with McBain.

HARK is in fact a gripping thriller that is layered, powerful and absorbing. We follow eagerly all the twists and turns that take place as they try to solve not only a grisly high profile murder but as they also try to put an end to the Deaf Man and his antics once and for all. HARK encompasses all that is relished in a good novel, riddles, violence and betrayal of the highest order.

The 87th Precinct is much more than a police procedural. Carella is still trying to work out how he is going to pay for his sister's and mother's double wedding. Not only is Cotton Hawes a target of a sniper but also his journalist girlfriend is exploiting the situation. One feels as if you are coming home to a favourite meal. The reader does not have to be reassured over the contents of the book as there is no way after reading it you will feel disappointed. Even if you are not a fan of police procedurals then let HARK tempt you even if it is just for the smoothness of the prose alone.

Reviewed by Ayo Onatade, October 2004

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Contact: Yvonne Klein (ymk@reviewingtheevidence.com)


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