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Read So Long As You Both Shall Live (1976)

So Long as You Both Shall Live (1976)

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Rating
3.82 of 5 Votes: 4
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ISBN
0394485831 (ISBN13: 9780394485836)
Language
English
Publisher
random house trade

So Long As You Both Shall Live (1976) - Plot & Excerpts

It's a happy day for the detectives of the 87th Precinct when one of their own, Bert Kling, marries his beautiful girlfriend, a very successful model named Augusta Blair. After the wedding party is over, the newlyweds retire to their hotel room and Bert decides to take a shower before the real festivities begin. But when Burt gets out of the shower, he discovers much to his dismay, that his bride has disappeared.At first, Bert thinks that his pals have pulled the old "Kidnap the Bride" wedding trick and that they will be holding Augusta hostage downstairs in the hotel bar until Bert comes down and buys enough drinks to ransom her back. But then Bert discovers one of Augusta's shoes abandoned on the floor and even worse, finds a chloroform-soaked rag in the wastebasket. Obviously, this is no joke.The detectives of the 87th spring into action to investigate the kidnapping, expecting that Bert will soon receive a ransom demand. But hours later, the kidnapper has not called and there is no news of the disappearing bride. At this point, Fat Ollie Weeks inserts himself into the case, even though he's assigned to another precinct. Nobody in the 87th can stand Fat Ollie, even though most of them admit that he's an excellent detective. And as it turns out, they're going to need all the help they can get if they have any hope of recovering Augusta alive.This is among the better books in the series, at least among the first thirty-one of them, and it's fun to watch the detectives work this case which really hits home for them. Another great read from one of the masters.

SO LONG AS YOU BOTH SHALL LIVE – VGEd McBain – 32nd in seriesDet. Bert Kling had just married beautiful Augusta Blair and was anticipating his wedding night. Augusta was waiting for him. He got out of the shower, and opened the door, but Augusta is gone. He’s not too worried as he had been told of a quaint custom of kidnapping the bride on her wedding night and his fellow officers in the 87th Precinct were professionals. And then he noticed her coat still on the rack, and the single shoe lying on its side, and the sickeningly sweet smell of chloroform. And now he’s worried.***In 147 pages, Ed McBain writes a mystery with a full range of characters, excellent dialogue, red herrings and good suspense. The man truly is a master and I never tire of his books.

What do You think about So Long As You Both Shall Live (1976)?

Fat Ollie takes center stage in this 87th Precinct McBain. Bert Kling is marrying Augusta, a model, who is kidnapped from their wedding suite by a looney. The scene shifts back and forth between Augusta, who is not about to let things take their course without a fight, and the investigation. They are stymied with seemingly no leads, but Ollie, “ who was bigoted, slovenly, opinionated, crude, insensitive, gross, humorless, unimaginative…No, that wasn’t true. Ollie was imaginative,” joins the hunt and, with the help of the wedding photographer, develops the two leads that break the case open.Short, almost a novella, the book is standard McBain fare, that is to say, a solid police procedural.
—Eric_W

Minor spoilers ahead, but nothing you won't get from the book jacket or the blurbs on Amazon.This one was really fun reading, for me. I've read enough of the 87th Precinct books to know pretty well what I'm going to get coming in. This one was fresh. What makes it new is the impending sense of possible disaster hanging over the story.This is a very personal case for the detectives. Kling's wife is kidnapped on their wedding night. So, it's all hands on deck to solve this, including another memorable turn from Fat Ollie Weeks who appears because he knows the boys will be worked up. He's sure he'll be more detached and will therefore see things that the others will miss. Despite his being a completely unlikeable guy, he really does come through on this case. Anyway, I was kind of nervous through the whole story. McBain has never been shy about killing off the supporting cast. He's even done it to Bert Kling before. So there's no comfort level that you know she'll be all right.This is a fast-paced, convincing, edge-of-your-seat police procedural. I enjoyed it thoroughly.
—Tim Healy

Very good book. Detective Bert Kling's bad luck with women is finally over - or so he thinks. In the presence of all their friends and loved ones, he marries the girl of his dreams, model Augusta Blair. On the evening of their wedding, she gets snatched right out of their hotel room. The detectives of the 87th precinct pour all their energy into finding Augusta. Tension rises and time is running out - will they figure it out and get to her in time? Much more of a thriller than most of the 87th p
—Cathy

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