Synopses & Reviews
In this city, you have to pay attention. In this city, things are happening all the time, all over the place, and you don't have to be a detective to smell evil in the wind.
Take this week's tabloids: the face of a dead girl is splashed across the front page. She was found sprawled near a park bench not seven blocks from the police station. Detectives Carella and Brown soon discover the girl has a most unusual past. Meanwhile, the late-night news tracks the exploits of The Cookie Boy, a professional thief who leaves his calling card -- a box of chocolate chip cookies -- at the scene of each score. And while the detectives of the 87th Precinct are investigating these cases, one of them is being stalked by the man who killed his father.
Welcome to the Big Bad City.
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Boston Herald Classic McBain -- taut with trenchant dialogue....In The Big Bad City, McBain proves he can pack punches in both the physical and emotional arenas.
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Syracuse Herald-American (NY) If you're looking for a sure thing, pick this one up.
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Robert B. Parker It's hard to think of anyone better at what he does. In fact, it's impossible.
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Omaha WorkHerald (NE) [A] juicy mystery...McBain...lives up to his daunting reputation....The 87th Precinct is always an exciting place to visit.
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New York Newsday Full of noir touches and snappy dialogue.
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Winston-Salem Journal (NC) You wouldn't want to live there, but you will enjoy visiting The Big Bad City.
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Publishers Weekly McBain is so good he ought to be arrested.
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People Ed McBain is, by far, the best at what he does. Case closed.
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Seattle Times-Post Intelligencer As good as it gets...compulsively readable.
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The Philadelphia Inquirer Vintage stuff. The dialogue is sharp, the plotting accomplished, and the prose bears the McBain stamp uncluttered, unpretentious, ironic.
About the Author
Ed McBain is the only American to receive the Diamond Dagger, the British Crime Writers Association's highest award. He also holds the Mystery Writers of America's coveted Grand Master Award. His books have sold over one hundred million copies, ranging from his most recent 87th Precinct novel,
Nocturne, to the bestselling novels
The Blackboard Jungle and
Privileged Conversation, written under his own name, Evan Hunter. He is also the author of the screenplay for Alfred Hitchcock's
The Birds. He lives in Connecticut with his wife, Dragica.