Poison

Even when it looks like a suicide the guys in homicide get pulled out of bed just in case its criminal. There is nothing fancy about the 87th Precinct or the murders there. The straight talking homicide detectives start their shifts on time, stay late and break cases by wearing out shoe leather. The series dates from the 1970s, before cell phones, DNA analysis or computers; back when an answering machine stood out as high-tech. The throwback to old fashioned adds a certain charm and a ton of substance. No need to suspend disbelief, these stories are as real as real can be. The only device that feels like fiction is that the names of the locations have been changed. (This is the one extraneous aspect of the writing, especially since referring to the Bowery as “Vineland” or replacing Alphabet City with “Cambel’s” does little to conceal identity). If you are in the mood to chomp on a satisfying police procedural, the 87th Precinct books are the meatloaf of murder – a welcome antidote to modern dishes about glamorous cops in expensive suits engaging in high speed chases that end with gratuitous explosions. The “tough” guys in the 87th treat their wives to Chinese more often than they flash their guns. In the gritty 87th, the homicide cops solve crimes by pounding the pavement, knocking on doors, and chasing down every lead without gimmicks or gadgets. When the answers don’t add up, they go back the next day and ask the same people the sames questions all over again. Very little disrupts the methodical routines of the 87th, and yet, each book has a unique feel depending on which detective in the squad pulls the case. There is nothing fancy about murder in the 87th Precinct. Someone dies, someone killed them. And that’s all it takes to roll out a page turner.

The 87th Precinct series was written over a span of more than half a century. The books can be roughly divided into those with titles of multiple words (like “Hail to the Chief”) and those with titles of single words (like “Ice”). The single word titles are notable for being enigmatic, referring to multiple plots or sub-plots, or even odd anecdotes. “Poison” is such a book. It’s also of interest because it features Det. Hal Willis, normally not front and center in the squad, and it has a cliff-hanger ending, possibly the only such ending in the entire series. The main plot begins with a murder, and the method is an unusual one…just how unusual, the reader will only learn at the end. While investigating, Hal encounters a beautiful young woman. Is she the perpetrator? Is she a future victim? More bodies pile up, and Hal finds himself in a strange relationship he never expected. There is poison, and there is poison…the kind that kills your body, the kind that damages your soul, and perhaps other kinds, too. This is a very good entry in the series!

Marilyn Hollis is drop-dead gorgeous and financially independent, thanks, she says, to her wealthy father in Texas. When a man she is dating is poisoned to death, Detective Steve Carella and his associates from the 87th Precinct come calling on Ms. Hollis. Shes sorry to hear the news, but informs the detectives that the victim is only one of the men that she dates. She is very open-minded and free-spirited and expects the same sort of attitude on the part of her beaus.

As almost always happens early on in these books, the detectives are stumped. They prowl through the victims life but cant find anyone who might have wished him harm. Then a second man in Marilyn Holliss life comes to an untimely end as does a third. Sensing a pattern here, the detectives hone in on Ms. Hollis and those around her, looking for the perpetrator.

Detective Hal Willis, in particular, hones in on the lovely Ms. Hollis and before long, in violation of what we hope would be department regulations and certainly in violation of common sense, Willis moves in with her, even though shes a suspect in an ongoing investigation. Willis insists that Marilyn is an innocent victim in all of this and couldnt possibly be guilty of anything. Steve Carella is not so sure, but Willis seems to be beyond reason in this matter.

This is another good entry in the 87th Precinct series and its fun to watch it all play out. Fans of the series will certainly want to look for it.

Even though this book was written back in the 70’s it still reads fairly current and is a good read. A man is poisoned and as Carella and Willis investigate Willis finds himself falling for one of the suspects, a beautiful former prostitute. As more men drop dead with ties to the woman suspect, Carella and Willis start feeling a little friction as Willis believes she is innocent and Carella thinks she still bears investigating. Another good book in this series.

McBain does disturbing well. This one was predictable at many times, but still enjoyable to read. Maybe I need something else before the next volume, but if you’re reading the series, don’t skip this one.

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