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A review by andrew61
Cop Hater by Ed McBain
4.0
This book oozes atmosphere with some brilliantly descriptive writing so I felt as I turned the pages that I was watching one of those 1950's black and white police procedural films . Thus as the unnamed American city (very much like New York) is gripped by a heat wave I could see the heat rising off the pavement and the perspiration on the detectives shirts as tempers and passions rise.
The story (first of a 50+ series) opens with the murder of a detective from the 87th division , and we meet the remaining characters in the division who have to investigate. I loved the intricacies of an investigation which had no DNA or profiling but allowed us to see forensic reports on the calibre of gun and bullet and how shoe prints constructed from a heel in a dog poo reveal the build and gait of the assailant.
The portrayal of the female characters does not stand up to close scrutiny with some particularly lascivious descriptions which for a modern day audience sit a little uncomfortably however this book was written in 1956 so i will be curious to see whether this remains a constant theme.
To some extent it reminded me a lot of the work of James Ellroy and I wonder whether Ed McBain was an influence on him but whilst Ellroy at times drifts into his own world of language I felt this was more true to the life of a beat detective in a rapidly changing America.
Race is slightly touched on in the context of a Hispanic gang although perhaps little has changed in that the police tolerate the gangs for a quiet existence. I also liked the opportunistic newspaperman.
So overall an enjoyable read even if I had to leave some of my 21st century sensibilities at the door but high class pulp crime fiction that will have me moving to book 2 soon.
The story (first of a 50+ series) opens with the murder of a detective from the 87th division , and we meet the remaining characters in the division who have to investigate. I loved the intricacies of an investigation which had no DNA or profiling but allowed us to see forensic reports on the calibre of gun and bullet and how shoe prints constructed from a heel in a dog poo reveal the build and gait of the assailant.
The portrayal of the female characters does not stand up to close scrutiny with some particularly lascivious descriptions which for a modern day audience sit a little uncomfortably however this book was written in 1956 so i will be curious to see whether this remains a constant theme.
To some extent it reminded me a lot of the work of James Ellroy and I wonder whether Ed McBain was an influence on him but whilst Ellroy at times drifts into his own world of language I felt this was more true to the life of a beat detective in a rapidly changing America.
Race is slightly touched on in the context of a Hispanic gang although perhaps little has changed in that the police tolerate the gangs for a quiet existence. I also liked the opportunistic newspaperman.
So overall an enjoyable read even if I had to leave some of my 21st century sensibilities at the door but high class pulp crime fiction that will have me moving to book 2 soon.