This is the 21st book in the 87th Precinct series of police procedurals by Ed McBain. I really liked it. There are two cases in the book: an assault on a girl by a stalker investigated by Bert Kling, and the murder of the host of a variety show on live television investigated by Steve Carella and Meyer Meyer (what a name!). In neither case are there the typical hysterical movie cop types of things going on. Just plain methodical police work. I also really liked the personal bits about the various detectives. Again, nothing movie-like like bad guys taking the family hostage. Small things like Steve Carella watching the variety show with his deaf and mute wife when the host, Stan Gifford, bites it. The nice bit is Gifford doing a pantomime, so Carella gets his wife to watch that cause it’s something on the T.V. that she can watch without missing things that only the hearing can notice.
It’s pulpy, but good.
Unfortunately, I can’t find a scan of the cover online. And my copy of the book is mutilated, so I can’t make a good scan either. In fact, I think this is the first review which will have neither a link to Amazon (the book is out of print), nor a cover image. Found a small one at least.
Title: Eighty million eyes
Author: Ed McBain (Evan Hunter)
Cover creator: Ellis
Series: 87th precinct; 21
Imprint / publisher: Dell
Format: Mass market paperback
Length: 158 p.
Publication date: 1967
Subject: 87th Precinct (Imaginary place) — Fiction
Subject: Police — United States — Fiction
LC classification: PZ4.H945 Eg
