When the son of wealthy Douglas King's chauffeur is kidnapped and the ransom for the boy could ruin King's biggest business deal ever, King is faced with a difficult choice and the detectives of the 87th Precinct race against time to rescue the boy. Reissue.
King's Ransom (87th Precinct)
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Book Description
Editorial Reviews
Amazon.com Review
Stephen King and Nelson DeMille on Ed McBain
I think Evan Hunter, known by that name or as Ed McBain, was one of the most influential writers of the postwar generation. He was the first writer to successfully merge realism with genre fiction, and by so doing I think he may actually have created the kind of popular fiction that drove the best-seller lists and lit up the American imagination in the years 1960 to 2000. Books as disparate as The New Centurions, The Friends of Eddie Coyle, The Godfather, Black Sunday, and The Shining all owe a debt to Evan Hunter, who taught a whole generation of baby boomers how to write stories that were not only entertaining but that truthfully reflected the times and the culture. He will be remembered for bringing the so-called "police procedural" into the modern age, but he did so much more than that. And he was one hell of a nice man. --Stephen King
Way back in the mid-1970s, when I was a new writer and police series were very big, my editor asked me to do a series called Joe Ryker, NYPD. I had no idea how to write a police detective novel, but the editor handed me a stack of books and said, “These are the 87th Precinct novels by Ed McBain. Read them and you’ll know everything you need to know about police novels.” After I read the first book--which I think was Let’s Hear It for the Deaf Man--I was hooked, and I read every Ed McBain I could get my hands on. Then I sat down and wrote my own detective novel, The Sniper, featuring Joe Ryker. My series never reached the heights of the 87th Precinct series, but by reading those classic masterpieces, I learned all I needed to know about urban crime and how detectives think and act. And I had a hell of a time learning from the master. Years later, when I actually got to meet Ed McBain/Evan Hunter, I told him this story, and he said, “I would have liked it better if my books inspired you to become a detective instead of becoming my competition.” Evan and I became friends, and I was privileged to know him and honored to be in his company. I remain indebted to him for his good advice over the years. But most of all, I thank him for hundreds of hours of great reading. --Nelson DeMille
--This text refers to the Paperback edition.
I think Evan Hunter, known by that name or as Ed McBain, was one of the most influential writers of the postwar generation. He was the first writer to successfully merge realism with genre fiction, and by so doing I think he may actually have created the kind of popular fiction that drove the best-seller lists and lit up the American imagination in the years 1960 to 2000. Books as disparate as The New Centurions, The Friends of Eddie Coyle, The Godfather, Black Sunday, and The Shining all owe a debt to Evan Hunter, who taught a whole generation of baby boomers how to write stories that were not only entertaining but that truthfully reflected the times and the culture. He will be remembered for bringing the so-called "police procedural" into the modern age, but he did so much more than that. And he was one hell of a nice man. --Stephen KingWay back in the mid-1970s, when I was a new writer and police series were very big, my editor asked me to do a series called Joe Ryker, NYPD. I had no idea how to write a police detective novel, but the editor handed me a stack of books and said, “These are the 87th Precinct novels by Ed McBain. Read them and you’ll know everything you need to know about police novels.” After I read the first book--which I think was Let’s Hear It for the Deaf Man--I was hooked, and I read every Ed McBain I could get my hands on. Then I sat down and wrote my own detective novel, The Sniper, featuring Joe Ryker. My series never reached the heights of the 87th Precinct series, but by reading those classic masterpieces, I learned all I needed to know about urban crime and how detectives think and act. And I had a hell of a time learning from the master. Years later, when I actually got to meet Ed McBain/Evan Hunter, I told him this story, and he said, “I would have liked it better if my books inspired you to become a detective instead of becoming my competition.” Evan and I became friends, and I was privileged to know him and honored to be in his company. I remain indebted to him for his good advice over the years. But most of all, I thank him for hundreds of hours of great reading. --Nelson DeMille To read about how Ed McBain influenced other mystery and thriller writers, visit our Perspectives on McBain page.
For a complete selection of 87th Precinct novels available from Thomas & Mercer, visit our Ed McBain's 87th Precinct Booklist.
--This text refers to the Paperback edition.
About the Author
Ed McBain was one of the pen names of successful and prolific crime fiction author Evan Hunter (1926–2005). Debuting in 1956, the popular 87th Precinct series is one of the longest running crime series ever published, featuring more than 50 novels, and is hailed as "one of the great literary accomplishments of the last half-century." McBain was awarded the Grand Master Award for lifetime achievement in 1986 by the Mystery Writers of America and was the first American to receive the Cartier Diamond Dagger award from the Crime Writers Association of Great Britain.
--This text refers to the
Paperback
edition.
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
13 of 13 people found the following review helpful
By Mac Blair
Format:Mass Market Paperback
I know of no one else who can pack so much action into such a short period of time. This is book ten and I am trying to read them in order. The story in nearly all the books take place in a day or two. The books are short and make for a quick read. They are very enjoyable. A boy is kidnapped, but it is the wrong boy. They were supposed to get the son of Douglas King, a very wealth man, but they got the son of his chauffeur instead. King has all his money tied up in buying controling interest in a shoe company and if he pays the ransom he loses the shoe company. The men from the 87th are trying to find who took the boy but if King does not pay they think the boy will be killed. Every thing moves at a very fast pace, will King do what is right and pay up? Will Carella and company find the boy? Makes for a good read.
10 of 12 people found the following review helpful
Format:Mass Market Paperback
King's Ransom seems like a very unlikely source of material for Japanese director Akira Kurosawa, better know for his samurai epics. However, Kurosawa pulled it off brilliantly, making one of his best films. The source book, by Ed McBain, is solid and well written -- and exciting read. However, it lacks the depth and the staying power of High and Low. The story, as told by McBain, is a straightforward detective story. There are no larger issues contemplated than whether Douglas King should pay the ransom for his chauffer's son, mistakenly kidnapped in place of his own son. Kurosawa, in contrast, turned the story into an indictment of Japanese society with its rigid views of where everyone fits in the caste system. We understand Douglas King's motivation, but he never generates the sympathy we feel for Toshiro Mifune's equivalent character in High and Low. It's a good book, but unlike High and Low, it doesn't really stay with you afterwards.
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful
By Kathleen
Format:Kindle Edition|Amazon Verified Purchase
Once again I'm reminded why Ed McBain's work was so loved. I honestly feel connected to every cop in the 87th squad and am so glad McBain was so prolific! Once again I'm starting at the beginning and working my way through all 55 of the 87th Precinct series. I dread reaching the end. McBain left quite a legacy. Read the 87th Precinct books. You'll become addicted!
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
By Grammashe
Format:Kindle Edition|Amazon Verified Purchase
I was unaware when I purchased this book that it was an "Older" book. as I began to read the story the technology they used as detectives and perpetraters was from another era. The razzel dazzel of hi tech found in more contemporary stories was missing.
This turned out to be a plus. The characters, their thoughts and personalities took over the story rather than the technology involved in the "hunt".
Read it and enjoy another era.
This turned out to be a plus. The characters, their thoughts and personalities took over the story rather than the technology involved in the "hunt".
Read it and enjoy another era.
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
By me
Format:Kindle Edition|Amazon Verified Purchase
I really enjoyed the book. I couldn't put it down for very long. The characters were excellent and the story line was very interesting.
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
By kara
Format:Kindle Edition|Amazon Verified Purchase
I enjoyed reading the book on my Kindle. I always enjoy his mysteries. The characters are well developed and I feel I know each of them personally. It is fun to read the interactions between them and their personality quirks. I recommend this book.
Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase
Doug King, a wealthy industrialist, is putting together a secret deal that will effectively give him control of the company where he has been working for most of his life. To make the deal, he's had to scrape together every last dime he has and that he can borrow. Now he's got $750,000 and is ready to make his move.
Just as he's about to put his plan into motion, however, a kidnapper calls King and tells him that the kidnapper and his partner have King's young son, Bobby. If King wants his son back alive, he needs to pay $500,000. The kidnappers will phone with instructions later.
King and his wife are naturally panicked and call the cops. Steve Carella and other detectives from the 87th Precinct spring into action and are busy setting traps on King's phone lines and doing the other things that the police would normally do in such a case when Bobby walks through the door after playing outside.
It turns out that the kidnappers have made a critical mistake. Instead of grabbing Bobby, they have grabbed his playmate, the son of King's humble chauffer. The kidnappers don't care; they still want the five hundred grand. Doug King would have been willing to pony up the money for his own son, but he's not so sure about ransoming back the chauffer's kid, because if he does, he will not have the money he needs to complete his big business deal.
While Carella and the other detective try to track the kidnappers and rescue the boy, Doug King must wrestle with his conscience and decide what to do. It makes for an entertaining tale with a complex moral dilemma at its center. The result is one of the better early entries in this long-running series.
Just as he's about to put his plan into motion, however, a kidnapper calls King and tells him that the kidnapper and his partner have King's young son, Bobby. If King wants his son back alive, he needs to pay $500,000. The kidnappers will phone with instructions later.
King and his wife are naturally panicked and call the cops. Steve Carella and other detectives from the 87th Precinct spring into action and are busy setting traps on King's phone lines and doing the other things that the police would normally do in such a case when Bobby walks through the door after playing outside.
It turns out that the kidnappers have made a critical mistake. Instead of grabbing Bobby, they have grabbed his playmate, the son of King's humble chauffer. The kidnappers don't care; they still want the five hundred grand. Doug King would have been willing to pony up the money for his own son, but he's not so sure about ransoming back the chauffer's kid, because if he does, he will not have the money he needs to complete his big business deal.
While Carella and the other detective try to track the kidnappers and rescue the boy, Doug King must wrestle with his conscience and decide what to do. It makes for an entertaining tale with a complex moral dilemma at its center. The result is one of the better early entries in this long-running series.
Format:Kindle Edition|Amazon Verified Purchase
I liked it because it does not have a lot of foul words. I like crime mysteries but some have such bad language I cannot read it. I enjoyed it so much I bought the whole set of 87th precinct books.
Most Recent Customer Reviews
4.0 out of 5 stars
Love mcBain
It doesn't matter that the stories are dated. They are timeless. I will look for more of his books to read. Quick and exciting story lines.
Published 2 months ago by Kathi Williams
5.0 out of 5 stars
another one for the precinct
This was a new author for me. Had trouble putting it down to find out how the plot twists would end.
Published 2 months ago by Roberta Lipitz
4.0 out of 5 stars
Master of the Police Procedural in the era of Dragnet!
Master of the Police Procedural in the era of Dragnet! If you like series, Ed McBain wrote about 50 of these 87th precinct novels. Read more
Published 3 months ago by MARTY A. KOWALSKI
4.0 out of 5 stars
Nice
I have just started reading this book and so far I like it very much for a police type book.
Published 3 months ago by larveteran
3.0 out of 5 stars
Some intrigue
If you want to give this book a chance, skip the first page. There are more descriptive (and 'over the top') metaphors per square inch on that first page than ever seen on planet... Read more
Published 3 months ago by Joe Karlya
5.0 out of 5 stars
Kindle product
This is the first book I have purchased with my new Kindle Fire. I am enjoying the book and love the Kindle.
Published 3 months ago by Richard Anderson
4.0 out of 5 stars
A unique story
This story starts off a bit slow, but then gets quite spell-binding with a unique story line with unusual twists. I intend to read more books in this series.
Published 3 months ago by Andy Don
4.0 out of 5 stars
Very good
I was very happy I picked this book. It was hard to put it down. Mysteries like this keep me going. The beginning is a real shocker and keeps your attention.
Published 3 months ago by RENEE REKUC
1.0 out of 5 stars
Worst book I have read in a long time
Simplistic story line, very predictable. I put it down after reading a few chapters. Some people may enjoy this type of writing, I certainly don't.
Published 3 months ago by Henk
4.0 out of 5 stars
Good read
This book had suspense, as well as good vs evil. Hard sometimes to sort out the bad guys from the good, as some had both elements. Definitely recommend.
Published 4 months ago by Christine E. Kaun
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