>I wonder if the 87th precinct is a case where the
author's innovations
>have become so assimilated into our idea of the
police procedural that we
>don't even appreciate them for what they are (sort of
like the proverbial
>student who complained that Hamlet was unoriginal
because the characters
>used so many familiar expressions). I've read one
McBain book (Hail Hail
>the Gang's all here) and though I thought it was
fine, I don't feel the
>need to rush out and get a lot more. If you've seen
enough "Hill Street
>Blues" or "Homicide" ("Law & Order" less so
because of the single case,
>start to finish approach) or really any type of
ensemble episodic
>television (a lot of the doctor and lawyer shows fit
the mold as well as
>the cop shows) you pretty much know what to
expect.
As I
recall, "Hail Hail" is not one of the better 87th Precinct
offerings. Not that it's bad, mind you. But it's not as good
as some of the others. Basically, "Hail Hail" was an effort
to get all of the major and minor players from the books
together in one book.
For a
better 87th precinct read, I recommend "Fuzz." "Calypso" and
"Ghosts" are good as well.
AB
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