Hark! The 87th Precinct Podcast

Hark! It's an 87th Precinct Podcast bonus episode!

In fact, it's the last ever bonus episode. And everything went fine, yessir, no technical hitches or anything (*nervously runs finger around collar, eyes darting about the room*). 

We explore as always the original UK and US covers of the books and those of our own editions and some international versions before getting into the films, television and music from the year of release - in this case, 2005. Paul, Morgan and Stevo have made their picks from the year as well. Sort of.

See you soon for a concluding episode looking back at our scores and reflecting on the series - thanks for sticking with us.

Fare thee well!

Hark! It's an 87th Precinct Podcast. In fact, it's the last (except our bonus episode) of the main series of this podcast as we arrive at the final book in the saga of the boys of Grover Avenue. It's Fiddlers. The corpses are piling up and the squad have to figure out what links the killings, whilst navigating their own matters of love, loss and family.

Does McBain leave us on a high? Find out within as we investigate not only the book itself, but the other things released by McBain/Hunter during the final year of his life and after that. 

Thank you so much for sticking with us and keeping us motivated to do this project. We truly appreciate it. So, until the bonus episode arrives, we'll merely say...

Fare Thee Well!

Hark! It's an 87th Precinct bonus extra minipod!

Before we approach the final book in the official series of the 87th Precinct, we need to divert down a side-track to look at the book TRANSGRESSIONS - ten novellas selected and edited by Ed McBain. The book includes a novella from the author, set in the 87th Precinct, called Merely Hate, so we can't ignore it.

In this brief episode Paul will outline the other authors in the book and a little about this short(-ish) story, whilst you wait for us to bring you our last official episodes! 

Until then, 

Fare Thee Well.

Hark! It's an 87th Precinct Podcast bonus episode!

This is the bonus for our show all about the 54th (of 55!) novel in the series, Hark!

As usual we take a look at the cover designs for the book then settle back into the usual nonsense from the year of publication - in this case it's 2004. Prepare yourself for the Dave Mathews Band, Look and Read and some sequels. 

See you soon for the concluding story in the series - FIDDLERS.

Fare thee well.

Hark! It's an 87th Precinct Podcast.

It's 2004 and we're finally examining the book that we named the podcast after... HARK! Our old frenemy, The Deaf Man, is back and this time his scheme is more baffling than ever. We dig into this, the penultimate entry in the canon. Nearly there, folks!

We outline some of the events in 2004 and you can, of course, join us in the bonus episode for more from that year. Join us soon for the FINAL book in the series, Fiddlers.

Fare thee well.

Hark! It's an 87th Precinct Podcast Bonus episode!

This is the bonus episode accompanying our look at The Frumious Bandersnatch. You know the drill by now... we look at the book cover designs from the States, the UK and around the world then dig into the music, film and TV of the period of the book's writing/publication. 

We've not got many more of these to do as we're onto Book 54 of 55 soon. Thanks for listening!

Fare thee well.

Hark! It's an 87th Precinct Podcast.

This is our show all about 2004's book, The Frumious Bandersnatch. McBain once again takes on the creative industries and the squad's first kidnapping since King's Ransom. Is the author eating his cake and having it too, with how he discusses the difficult topics in the book? 

Featuring our first ever live Musical Illustration, we try and get across our feelings over this entry to the canon. 

We'll back soon for book number 54 - our namesake: Hark!

Fare thee well.

Hark! It's an 87th Precinct Podcast bonus episode!

Merry christmas and happy holidays to you all. This is the bonus episode to accompany our look at McBain's comic tour-de-force Fat Ollie's Book. We go through some contemporary reviews (forgot to do them in the main episode - sorry!), then take the opportunity to explore the year 2002, even the book was published in '03, and in particular the Christmas music charts. It's our Christmas Office Party!

Thanks for keeping along on the journey with us this year. Only three more books to go!

Fare Thee Well.

Hark! It's an 87th Precinct podcast.

It's 2002/03 and Ed McBain has written probably the most overtly comic novel in the entire series of the 87th Precinct. Follow us as we tag along with Fat Ollie Weeks to see if he can find (a) a murderer, (b) his book and (c) love and redemption?

Oh, we forgot to look at the contemporary reviews of the book in this episode, so watch out for them in our Christmassy Bonus Episode coming soon. Then it's onto book 53, The Frumious Bandersnatch. 

Fare Thee Well.

Hark! It's an 87th Precinct Podcast bonus episode.

Having slogged through the grim world of 2001's terrorism, money laundering and drugs in the 51st book of the series, we retire to our safe space of the bonus episode to take a look at the book cover designs and then our usual run down of the charts, movies and television of the period.

What were your favourite things of 2001? Let us know on the usual social media places.

Until next time - Fat Ollie's Book - we will say simply,

Fare Thee Well.

Hark! It's an 87th Precinct Podcast.

It's 2001 and, shortly before everything changed, McBain publishes his 51st novel in the series, which takes in drugs, money and international terrorism. It's strange to read back this story which feels so relevant to the period. A dense tome, populated by assassins, burglars, the secret service and much, much more - we try our best to tackle everything that goes on in this story.

Paul also offers up some info on another attempt to make the 87th Precinct into a TV series and we look at some contemporary reviews. Pop along for the bonus episode soon, then we'll be back with 2002's FAT OLLIE'S BOOK.

Fare thee well.

Hark! It's an 87th Precinct podcast bonus episode.

The year is 2000. The millenium has ticked over and we're still not flying in personal rockets to the moon. However, we have finished reading the 50th novel in McBain's series, The Last Dance. As usual we look at the book covers of the UK and US editions, as well as some other international versions, then delve into the charts, movies and TV of the year to recall what life was like for us as we entered the future space year 2000!

We'll be back soon with our main episode on Book 51 - Money, Money, Money.

Fare thee well.

Hark! It's an 87th Precinct podcast

It's the 21st century and Ed McBain has just released the 50th book in the 87th Precinct series. It's The Last Dance and we're back to the theatre again for a tangled tale of drugs, murders, intellectual property rights and homonyms.

Is it a worthy celebration for the 50th tale or a mess of bits and pieces? Find out what we think here. As usual our bonus episode looking at the year in more context will be along soon.

Fare Thee Well.

Hark! It's an 87th Precinct Podcast Bonus Episode.

We've looked into the 49th novel of the series, The Big Bad City, in our main episode so now it's time for our usual examination of the book covers of the original editions in the US and UK, as well as some other overseas versions. Then it's time to trawl through the music, movies and television of 1999 for some context of the period.

See you soon for Book 50 - The Last Dance.

Fare thee well.

Hark! It's the 87th Precinct Podcast!

We're back, after a slightly longer than usual break, with a look at the 49th book of the series - the last of the Twentieth Century - The Big Bad City. Otherwise known as Nuns and Cookies? We speculate on the relevance of the title, McBain's approach to writing about popular music as well as looking what the author was up to and what was going on in the world in 1999.

Join us soon for the bonus episode, then it's onto the year 2000 and book number 50 - THE LAST DANCE! Thanks for listening.

Fare thee well.

Hark! It's an 87th Precinct Podcast bonus episode.

This is the bonus material for our examination of 1997's 'Nocturne'. We look at an increasingly poor selection of book cover designs and then dig into what was in the cinema, on television and in the charts in the year it was released. As usual we then offer up our picks from the period as well.

See you soon for book 49 - The Big Bad City.

Fare Thee Well.

Hark! It's an 87th Precinct Podcast.

McBain returns, after a break from the series in 1996 for reasons we outline, to bring us this tale of terrible things happening at nighttime. This is a dense book with stories that are in turns tragic, comic, graphic and upsetting.

This is our first podcast 'together' since the pandemic hit and we're a little giddy with excitement, especially when Stevo gets hold of the 1997 TV Guide containing the story 'Reruns' (see our last extra episode!) and then Paul gives us a round-up of everything going on in McBain/Hunter's life during this period.

We'll return soon with our bonus episode, then it's onto book 49 - The Big Bad City.

Fare Thee Well.

Hark! It's an 87th Precinct podcast bonus episode.

This is the bonus attached to our review of Book 47 - the theatrical whirlwind that is 'Romance'. As usual this episode takes in the original book cover designs in the UK and US with some international editions thrown in for good measure, before we did into the Movies, TV and Music of 1995 and offer up our own pick.

Stay tuned for a TWIST ENDING! Line of Duty's got nothing on us! See you soon for Nocturne!

Fare thee well.

Hark! It's an 87th Precinct podcast.

We've reached 1995. McBain has reached the 47th book in his long running series and he's decided that it's theatre-land's turn for a mystery. There's a lot more autobiographical and bibliographical referencing in this book than you might know and we lay out the author's own history with the stage as well as trying to get to grips with this play-within-a-book murder mystery.

Join us soon for our bonus episode and then onwards, to 1997, and book 48, Nocturne.

Fare thee well.

Hark! It's an 87th Precinct podcast bonus episode.

This is the bonus episode to accompany our look at 1993's Mischief. We take a look at the covers of the US and UK releases and also investigate an Italian and Japanese edition. Please smell along at home.

Then it's into our round up of 1993 in music, film and television and our personal picks from the year. Keep listening to hear Paul tell you all about two more Evan Hunter/McBain books he's read as well.

See you soon for book 47 (46 was the Christmas story!) - Romance.

Fare Thee Well.

Hark! It's an 87th Precinct Podcast!

The year is 1993 and after last year's pretty straightforward offering (Kiss), Mr McBain brings us the exact opposite! Lots of story threads! Loads of cops! Hardly any Steve Carella! And.... THE DEAF MAN IS BACK.

Join us as we try and untangle this dense mix of torment, abandoment, murder, riots and music. Keep listening to hear extracts from contemporary reviews of the book and McBain's answers to a questionnaire from the period.

We'll be back soon with the bonus episode then we skip the christmas book (see our December episode!) and jump straight to book 47 - Romance.

Fare thee well.

Hark! It's an 87th Precinct Podcast bonus episode.

Of course, we begin as usual with our look at the original US and UK book covers - and an international edition! Then we get stuck into a pretty self-indulgent look at 1992. We reach a watershed moment in the podcast, which Paul almost misses and then we talk about 'Gamesmaster' for too long.

Join us again soon for Ed McBain's Mischief (book 45) and more of this daftness for 1993.

Fare thee well.

Hark! It's an 87th Precinct Podcast.

We've reached book 44 and the year 1992 and McBain's offering for the year is KISS. Courtroom drama, a triangle of distrust and betrayal and a few digs at the real world. Is McBain back to his best with Kiss? Find out what we think in this episode! We also look at a whole bunch of other Hunter/McBain/Pseudonymous projects that emerge in 1992 and make fun of Dan Quayle along the way. Join us soon for our bonus episode and then after that we'll be back with MISCHIEF. Fare thee well.

Hark! It's an 87th Precinct Podcast bonus episode.

Following on from our look at 1991's Widows, we explore 1991 in general. Eyes on music, cinema and TV as usual. We also spoil the ending of 'The Brittas Empire', so you've been warned. Of course we have our usual look at the original designs of the book covers and check out the editions we're reading from too.

Thanks for listening and see you soon for book 44 - Kiss.

Fare thee well.

Hark! It's an 87th Precinct Podcast.

Happy new year everyone. Join us on our January adventure through the 43rd book in McBain's series - the multi-crimed Widows. Bodies are piling up all over the city and Carella's family life is changed forever.

We take our usual look through some significant events of 1991 and then pick apart this somewhat schizophrenic novel. Spoilers ahoy, as always.

Thanks for listening and we'll see you again for the bonus episode and 'Kiss' soon.

Fare thee well.

Ho Ho Hark! It's an 87th Precinct Christmas party episode!

Whilst we're counting it as an official entry in the 87th Precinct books canon (book number 46), the Christmas miniature story And All Through The House is offered here out of sequence as our Christmas treat to you. We take a moment away from stuffing our faces with Turkey, Pigs in Blankets, Potatoes and Pudding to tell you all about the publication history of the book and also answer some listener questions and reflect on Christmasses past.

See you in the New Year for the rest of the season! Thanks for listening, getting involved and being part of the McBain fun over this bizarre year. Fare thee well!

Hark! It's an 87th Precinct podcast bonus episode.

Following on from our main episode's examination of the satantic tale, Vespers, we explore the covers of the editions as they were originally issued in the US and UK - worthy of note now editions on both sides of the pond are coming from new publishers.

Then, of course, we dig into 1990. A new decade and a year we remember all too clearly. Music, Films, TV and our personal picks for the year. Thanks for joining and we'll see you again soon for book 43 - Widows.

Fare thee well.

Hark! It's an 87th Precinct Podcast.

We enter a new decade and McBain begins it in dark, despairing mode, with the story of a murdered priest, drugs, hitmen and recollections of confessions. We learn all about the folk to whom the book is dedicated, explore what was going on in McBain/Hunter's life in 1990 and look at some contemporary reviews of the book as well.

Keep your eyes open for our bonus episode soon, before we bring you a Christmas treat and then it's on to Book 43 - Widows.

Fare thee well.

Hark! It's an 87th Precinct Podcast bonus episode.

This is the accompanying thingy for our main episode all about 1989's Lullaby - murder, guns and therapy. Such larks.

We begin by looking at the original releases of the book in the US and the UK, which is of interest as we see new publishers arrive and old publishers producing their last editions, plus a bonus edition of The Mugger as well. Then, as usual, we get stuck into 1989 in film, TV and music and proffer up our personal picks from the year.

Thanks for joining us. See you soon for Vespers. Fare thee well.

Hark! It's an 87th Precinct Podcast.

1988 was untroubled by any McBain 87th Precinct books, so we're now in 1989 with the 41st entry into the series with Lullaby. Domestic murders, burglaries, city-wide drugs and gang warfare and therapists. It's all here. 

As usual, we mention a few key 1989 landmark moments and there's plenty going on in the life and near-death of the author as well. Then we get stuck into the book and explore some contemporary reviews.

Join us again next time for the bonus episode and then it's onto Book 42, Vespers.

Fare thee well.

Hark! It's an 87th Precinct Podcast bonus episode.

Seen as we looked at 1986 in the last episode, we're catching back up to 1987 this time with a look at the TV, Music and Films that were around - including our personal picks from the year. Paul also reveals a family story about Dudley Moore!

We open with our usual look at the book covers from the original US and UK editions and those that we've got as well.

See you soon for LULLABY.

Hark! It's an 87th Precinct Podcast.

It's the second of the books in the series to come out in 1987 and this time McBain has firmly targeted the Halloween market with the 40th entry in the series. We try and unpack this bumper book of Halloween horrors - which is a new read for two of us. Also, listen out for a cameo appearance from Stevo's cats.

Paul also fills us in on some interesting info discovered whilst researching the dedicatee of the book and we take a quick look at other stuff going on in 1987 as well. Join us soon for the bonus episode and then book 41, Lullaby.

Fare thee well.

Hark! It's an 87th Precinct Podcast Bonus Episode.

So, here's to Golden Days and Purple Nights! In this bonus we explore the origins of this phrase (let us know if you know anything about it) before we get into our usual book cover exploration, book-huffing and general tomfoolery.

Although Poison came out in early 1987, we're still focusing on 1986 in the episode (mainly so Paul can talk about his favourite film). See you soon for the next book in the series - TRICKS.

Fare thee well.

Hark! It's an 87th Precinct Podcast.

We've arrived into 1987 - a year in which two 87th Precinct books appear - so we spend some of this episode explore McBain/Hunter's activities in 1986 to get us up to date. Then it's time to get stuck into Poison - a remarkable and quite harrowing character study - but is it genuine 87th Precinct material?

Paul also fills everyone in on the hidden true story in Evan Hunter's 1966 novel The Paper Dragon as well.

See you soon for the bonus episode and then the next book - Tricks. Fare thee well.

Hark! It's an 87th Precinct podcast bonus episode.

Following our run-down of the Deaf Man's schemes in our main episode, we turn our attention to the designs of the original UK/US releases and Paul introduces a new fifth design into the scheme! Then prepare yourself for some epic book-huffing before settling into the 1985 nostalgia fest of music, movies, television and our personal picks from the year.

Thanks for joining us for these lockdown episodes. Hopefully we'll be face-to-face again before too long. Next book: Poison.

Fare Thee Well!

Hark! It's an 87th Precinct podcast. We're in 1985 and who better to come along to mark the halfway point of the decade but the 87th Precinct's nemesis, The Deaf Man? Making his fourth appearance in the series, he returns full of schemes and anger. How will the boys from Grover Avenue cope this time?

Along the way we discuss some key cultural, political and technological points from 1985. Paul offers his 'McCartney' theory for the book and we look at some contemporary reviews of the novel as well. As always, we appreciate any ratings, reviews or shares of the episode you can give us.

Next up is book 39 - Poison. Until then, fare thee well.

Hark! It's an 87th Precinct Bonus Episode.

Following on from our discussion of the dark and difficult book 'Lightning' we take our usual gander at the original book cover designs and then get stuck straight into as much 1984 ephemera as you can shake a stick at. We've reached a point in the series publication year where we actually remember a lot of things coming out, so apologies for the ongoing transition into a very specific nostalgia account!

We offer up our picks of 1984 movies and albums as well and Paul adds some important Quincy based clarity.

See you soon for Eight Black Horses. Fare thee well.

Hark! It's an 87th Precinct Podcast.

This episode is all about the 37th book in the series - a brutal and dark tale of serial criminals. We discuss if this is McBain at his most difficult - violence against women, issues of race and much more. Along the way, we also discuss where Evan Hunter was in his career, including some of his notable failures (published and otherwise) and look again at his disgust at the success of Hill Street Blues.

We'll be back soon with our look at the original publication designs, our editions and more 1984 context in our bonus episode.

Fare thee well.

Hark! It's an 87th Precinct Podcast bonus episode.

Join us as we dip nose-deep into our varying copies of McBain's 1983 epic, ICE as well as exploring the original book cover designs for the UK and US releases. Then we drift into our usual look at music, movies and TV and proffer some personal picks from the year. Apologies for minimal McBain content in these current Bonus episodes, but they're intended as a nice distraction for us, as much as you, during the rather bizarre period in which they're being recorded.

See you all soon for 'Lightning'. Fare thee well.

Hark! It's an 87th Precinct Podcast.

So McBain took a year off in 1982, but in 1983 he returned to the precinct with Ice - a longer novel and one that is usually considered in the top tier of the series. Will we agree? It's a tale of murder, murder, murder, drugs and fraud (and murder). We catch up with the newly divorced Bert Kling and meet an old friend in Eileen Burke.

Find out what we think in this new episode which also takes in looming nuclear disaster, just to cheer you all up. Thanks to everyone who's contributed or commented. See you soon for the bonus episode and then onto book 37 - Lightning.

Fare thee well.

Hark! It's an 87th Precinct podcast bonus episode.

1981. An alcoholic cop steps out of his car. He's reached the island. The place he could make a difference. He pulls his brown leather jacket close about him. Jim Bergerac has arrived.

In this episode we revel in our usual book cover review and huffing, the music, films and TV of 1981 and offer up our own personal choices of records and movies from the year for you. Stevo is called away on an urgent errand and a listener question inspires a interesting thought - can you create a jukebox to accompany the books, year by year?

We'll be back soon for book 36, ICE. Fare thee well.

Hark! It's an 87th Precinct Podcast!

And we begin with an apology - no backup recording means Paul's mic is terribly distorted. Sorry, but you're going to have to suffer the Dalek delivery in this episode.

We're back in 1981 and what we posit is the start of a new 'season' of 87th Precinct adventures. It's hot. There's a corpse. There's betrayal. There's lust for revenge. There's a drugs bust. Everything is happening in this fascinating tale of trust destroyed in so many ways. We hope you enjoying our study of the many 'easter eggs' McBain has slipped into the book. Keep your ears open for a guest appearance from one of Stevo's cats and an old friend...

See you soon for the bonus episode and then we'll be back with ICE soon! Fare Thee Well.

Hark! It's an 87th Precinct Podcast.

This is the podcast all about 1980's spooktacular story, Ghosts. Has McBain gone mad or is he just showing off to Stephen King? Find out as we follow along as Carella hooks up with a Medium whilst investigating two deaths at an apartment block. Poor old Steve is about to have one of the weirdest Christmases ever.

This is our first podcast recording done 'remotely' and we hope it sounds okay. Learned a few lessons whilst doing it, but at least we know we can keep bringing you this stuff in this tricky time. We really hope you're all well and don't forget you can always get in touch with us via FB, Twitter, Instagram or Email.

See you soon for the bonus episode and then the next book in the series, HEAT.

Fare thee well.

Hark! It's an 87th Precinct Podcast bonus episode!

Firstly - sorry, this goes on a bit and it also gets quite silly and pretty self-indulgent. What, a podcast self indulgent? Who'd have thought it, eh? However, we do explore the covers of the UK/US original editions of the 1979 novel CALYPSO and Stevo achieves a new world-huffing-speed record. There's lots and lots of chat about 1979 in music, films and television. Then everything goes really weird for a bit, then we stop.

Join us soon for the next book in the series, Ghosts. Fare thee well!

Hark! It's an 87th Precinct podcast.

Book 33 in the sage takes up to the end of the 1970s. It's 1979 and Calypso singer King George Chadderton has been shot. So has his manager. And a wannabe singer. And a Locksmith. And things aren't looking too good for that dog either. Gulp. Carella and Meyer try to unravel this mystery across many precincts.

In this episode we have a look around the world of 1979, explore mythological influences on the story and Paul becomes crippled by incredulity at the concept of a Calypso album by someone you wouldn't expect. Join us in the bonus episode soon for book covers and more.

We'll be back soon with book number 34 - Ghosts. See you then and Fare Thee Well.