The Last Dance : A Novel of the 87th Precinct (87th Precinct Mysteries (Audio))

Rating:
Summary: More than a 3 but not quite a 4
Review: This book was fast reading and entertaining, yet I felt there were too many characters and too many things happening. Towards the end when another new character was introduced, it was too much. I didn't think it wrapped up well, either.
I will try another on of his books, but he'll have to put a little more substance in his writing for me to become a fan.

Rating:
Summary: Another good one from Ed/Evan
Review: This book was good to read right after BIG BAD CITY as, it made lots of references to some of the same characters (without a redo) I think that the writing style was a bit more relaxed. It was as if reading about an old friend instead of tight and formal...like when you read about a character the first time. There was a big twist as usual and an unlikely killer. I love the way they get to the killer without boring me, simply because all of the characters are so well written. If it was my first McBain I would have given it 4 stars as it was not a very deep or strongly written novel...but since I'm an 87th precinct fan and know the characters it was as if I turned on the TV and watched another good episode of my favorite series.

Rating:
Summary: Better and better
Review: This Ed McBain 87th Precinct book is proof that these stories
just get better and better.
The characters are complex and very, very human, and all the
more believeable for it.
An old man is found dead in mysterious circumstances, but there
is no motive for his death, and the case stagnates until a very
nice motive suddenly appears. The man was sitting on literary
rights to a play about to be staged, and he was refusing to
sell the rights. And a lot of people wanted that play to go
and be staged; there was a lot of money at stake.
Then one of Steve's favorite informers is shot to death in a
pizza place, when the informer is talking to Steve and about to
help him on a case. The audacity of that killing upsets the police, and the hunt begins in earnest.
Plus, Fat Ollie gets involved and is determined to help the
detectives of the 87th, whether they want it or not.
There is a lot of action here, and the pace is fast and strong.
A solid and good police-procedural entry.

Rating:
Summary: Not A Mystery Fan But...
Review: This was my first Ed McBain book - and it will not be my last. This story moved like lightning! On every page a new twist to the plot occurred. McBain's prose and dialogue is both entertaining and exciting - his characters real and life-like. Read this book!

Rating:
Summary: The Best in the Business
Review: When an 87th Precinct novel comes out, I must get it and read it. I have now read all 50 of these novels, and not a single one is bad. "The Last Dance" is no exception. An old man, Andrew Hale is murdered, found hanging in his apartment, having been drugged with Rohypnol. Another murder oa a young hooker is linked to this one because of the use of the same drug. The stoolie, Danny Gimp, is shot to death by 2 gunmen, and an old woman is murdered. It's always good to see Carella, Brown, Kling, and Meyer tackle all these cases and come up with the murderer. The 87th Precinct novels are the product of the best there is in the genre of police procedurals, Ed McBain. I just hope this isn't the last dance for the guys from the 87th Precinct.