I love Ed McBain. His books are serious, comic, irreverent and a joy to read. And its amazing the range he had with the 87th Precinct Books of which this is one — and the lawyer Matthew Hope to Blackboard Jungle, written as Evan Hunter.This is the 12th in the percent books with all the usual characters -- working cops just trying to put away the bad guys. And they have come across an old nemesis they thought was dead. Steve Carella is dressed as a homeless man to catch teenagers who are setting homeless men on fire; he gets burned and he gets beat up. Meanwhile, the others on his team receive a threatening note that if someone is not paid $5,000, a commissioner will be killed -- and is. Then the note asks for more, to not kill the deputy mayor and in a spectacular bombing, he is killed. In the midst of all this the town of Isola is hit by one of the biggest storms in history, the police department is being painted by seemingly inept painters who spatter everything and finally, the cops come across an attempt to rob a tailor. And somehow, its at the tailor's where everything somehow comes to gather. Very much as you realize it probably happens for many crimes. The characters feel real and speak realistically, and you feel for them the whole time you're reading the book. Ed McBain/Evan Hunter was a genius. There are few authors I can say that for every time I open a book.
In Fuzz, a master criminal nicknamed the Deaf Man returns to bedevil the detectives of the 87th Precinct. As is often the case in this series, the weather plays an important part in the book. It's the middle of winter; the snow is deep, and the temperatures are freezing. It's not fit weather for man or beast, but the criminals are not taking the winter off and so neither can the police.In one particularly aggravating series of crimes, someone is pouring gasoline on sleeping homeless men and then setting them on fire. Detective Steve Carella goes under cover in order to catch the killers, but this means he's going to spend a lot of time freezing in alleys and doorways, playing bait for the attackers. It won't be any fun at all, and it's going to be a particularly frustrating assignment.While Carella is thus occupied, someone calls the 87th Precinct and demands that he be paid $5,000 or he will shoot the Parks Commissioner. Almost everyone, including the Parks Commissioner, assumes the call is a prank. Sadly it isn't, and after the Parks Commissioner is shot and killed, the caller, who turns out to be the old nemesis of the 87th, the Deaf Man, steps up his game and puts the city in a panic.All in all, this is a very entertaining read that should appeal to the legions of fans who follow this series.
What do You think about Fuzz (2000)?
RATING: 3.75 rounded up to 4.0SUMMARY: The Deaf Man is a diabolical criminal who has a grudge against the detectives of th 87th. His plan is to keep killing high ranking city officials until the city decides maybe it's just safer to pay him the money he is asking for.COMMENT: I've read this book at least three times, starting when I was a teenager. It didn't have quite the wonder this third time that it did the first time I read it. But then again, I'm not the teenager I used to be.The length of time since my last reading, combined with my advancing age, manager to keep the details of the story new to me. It still has it's funny lines. And I like the ending. But the story does show a little age. They have to find a pay phone to call into the office. They don't have hand held radios. Today no officer would work without a radio.It may no longer be the great book I used to think it was, but it's still a good book and will give you some hours of pleasure if you like police procedure type of stories.
—Roger
The elusive Deaf Man is back. He calls the 87th precinct and demands $5,000 or a city commissioner will be killed, who is then shot by a sniper leaving the Opera. He ups the ante by demanding $50,000 or a Deputy Mayor will be killed, who is then blown to bits by a bomb in his limousine. Further threats are sent to rich businessman to collect $5,000 per head. Meanwhile, Steve Carella is trying to stop someone from dousing the indigent with gasoline and lighting them on fire, when he becomes a victim when his gun gets caught in his homeless disguise. Two good stories, with a dizzying conclusion.
—Skip
In this entry in the 87th Precinct series the Deaf Man returns to antagonize the squad. This time he sends threatening notes warning of impending assassinations of city officials. When the targets are indeed murdered the detectives battle apprehensions that their foe may be more than a match for their skills and experience. While these events are going on they must also deal with a malicious pair of teens who pour gasoline on the homeless and set them on fire. And there's word on the street that a major robbery will take place soon but details are maddeningly sparse.The author skillfully choreographs all of the characters and events in such a way that the finale comes off in a veritable ballet of action and sudden realization. This was a very strong addition to the series and marked the first return of a favorite character--the criminal mastermind called the Deaf Man.
—Mark Shannon
