The Heckler (87th Precinct Mysteries) (Mass Market Paperback)

by Ed McBain (Author) "SHE CAME IN like a lady, that April..." (more)
Key Phrases: deaf man, wiring box, ferry slip, John Smith, Meyer Meyer, Steve Carella (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Review
The San Diego Union-Tribune McBain is one of the best mystery/suspense/thriller writers of our era. -- Review

Product Description

"There are crazy people all over, you know that, don't you?"

Spring was intoxicating the city air, but the harassing anonymous telephone calls planting seeds of fear around town were no April Fool's joke. Crank calls and crackpot threats reported to the 87th Precinct by a respected businessman were not exactly top priority for detectives Carella and Meyer -- until a brutal homicide hits the papers. Connections are getting made fast and furious, and there's a buzz in the air about the Deaf Man, a brilliant criminal mastermind. Now, the 87th Precinct is buying time to reveal the voice on the other end of the line -- as the level of danger rises from a whisper to a scream....

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Mass Market Paperback: 288 pages
• Publisher: Pocket (March 1, 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0743463072
• ISBN-13: 978-0743463072
• Product Dimensions: 6.6 x 4 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 4.8 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #679,054 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

  Popular in this category: (What's this?)

  #56 in

  Books > Mystery & Thrillers > Authors, A-Z > ( M ) > McBain, Ed

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

11 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars First Bow for the Deaf Man, July 24, 2000

By	Brian D. Rubendall (Oakton, VA) - See all my reviews (TOP 100 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)

This review is from: The Heckler (Hardcover)

"The Heckler" is the 87th Precinct Mystery which features the first appearance of the elusive and recurrent McBain villian known only as the Deaf Man. In this installment, you learn why this mastermind of evil has a particular affinity for the "boys of the 87th," particularly Detective Steeve Carella, who excells at thwarting his nefarious schemes (but never quite catching him). This is one of the best examples of early 87th Precinct writing from McBain. For those who love police procedurals, there are none better.

8 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Outstanding Book, June 25, 2003

By	E. Clinton (Chicago, IL USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

As the other reviewers noted, this is the first appearance of the Deaf Man the infamous villian who haunts the 87th Precinct and Detective Steve Carella. This book has a very clever plot and keeps the reader on edge until the ending. The Deaf Man is one of the most interesting characters in McBain's books because he is such an enigma.
McBain gets right to the point. He does not waste any words at all on description. As a reader I have always found his books impossible to put down. Indeed, description would be superfluous.

7 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The 87th Meets Its Moriarty, August 18, 2000

By	Larry Eischen (Joliet, IL United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Heckler (Hardcover)

Someone is making threatening phone calls to various upright citizens. The 87th Precinct meets the Deaf Man for the 1st time in this exciting procedural. This mastermind always hatches a convulted scheme to pull off his crimes and the 87th is usually roped in. We also get Bert Kling trying to find the vicious thug behind the brutal beating of a beautiful woman. This is among the tops in the early entries in the series.