Tricks

Written by Ed McBain

Narrated by Dick Hill

One night. One shift. No rest. Featuring the 87th Precinct’s entire cast of characters, this Halloween takes them into the darkest corners of depravity the city has to offer. And sometimes, surviving is the greatest treat of them all.

From a liquor store hold-up ending with a dead owner and four costumed “kids” making off with the money to the pieces of a man showing up around the city, the Day of the Dead is turning the streets into a carnival of violence and murder. Meanwhile, a magician disappears in a stunning final act, and Detective First Class Eileen Burke poses as a hooker to lure in a serial killer. The question is, will the detectives all live to see the dawn of November?

Newsweek declares bestselling author Ed McBain “has virtually reinvented the police procedural.” Interweaving rich characters, taut plotting, and sharp dialogue, Tricks is a multi-character masterpiece.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Brilliance Audio
• Release date: Nov 27, 2012
• ISBN: 9781455873944

Ed McBain

Ed McBain, a recipient of the Mystery Writers of America's coveted Grand Master Award, was also the first American to receive the Diamond Dagger, the British Crime Writers Association's highest award. His books have sold more than one hundred million copies, ranging from the more than fifty titles in the 87th Precinct series (including the Edgar Award–nominated Money, Money, Money) to the bestselling novels written under his own name, Evan Hunter—including The Blackboard Jungle (now in a fiftieth anniversary edition from Pocket Books) and Criminal Conversation. Fiddlers, his final 87th Precinct novel, was recently published in hardcover. Writing as both Ed McBain and Evan Hunter, he broke new ground with Candyland, a novel in two parts. He also wrote the screenplay for Alfred Hitchcock's The Birds. He died in 2005. Visit EdMcBain.com.

Reviews for Tricks

[stahl2ricco · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

“It’s Halloween night, and hell has opened its gates on the 87th Precinct.”The bad guy in this one is spreading body parts around the precinct, like pieces of a jigsaw puzzle - a very bloody jigsaw puzzle. Are the pieces from the same body? In another plot line, a group of eleven-year-old kids are robbing liquor stores and shooting the owners, saying “Trick or treat!” as they run in and out.Carella gets shot, again. (how many times has he been shot in this series?) And it looks like Kling is losing a woman, again. These two detectives are just abused. A good book all around, and a nice rebound from the previous book in the series, which I didn't like. The wrap up of all the story lines, the last 15 pages or so, is really enjoyable! Definitely a treat - NOT a trick!

[bekkil1977 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

"Tricks" finds the boys at the 87th on Halloween dealing with midgets (his word, not mine. I know it's "little people" or "dwarves") robbing convenience stores and cops getting shot. Also, Det. Eileen Burke is dealing with the trauma of her-on-the-job rape, and is acting as a hooker decoy to catch a rapist. Very good stuff.

[dickmanikowski · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

This is the first 87th Precinct novel I've run across in a long time that was new to me, and it was a pleasant surprise.

[kevmalone · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

"Genero?""Midgets?""Four pieces?"The first 2/3rds of this book is devoted to a series of set-pieces typical of McBain that force these consecutive responses from Detective Hal Willis when receiving a midnight update on the happenings of a Halloween night in Isola's 87th precinct.In true McBain style, the reminder of the book neatly resolves issues, arrests the guilty and makes the reader feel a little smarter for getting to the solution first; This episode of the long running novel series features most of the familiar faces, with a lot of time being given to Detective Andy Parker for a change. There's a cathartic coming of age for one of our heroes, jeopardy for another two and a major decision made by a fourth. I read the majority of the series a long time back and only recently discovered that this book represented a hole in my reading. I found the story to be a little more graphic than others I recall, with less of the "police procedural" feel with which McBain made his name. Apart from that it's more of the same: the dialog and characterizations are still there and my patented "McBain drinking game" - one shot every time he mentions high heels would have had me paralytic if I'd read this in a single sitting.If you like the 87th precinct novels - this will be fine for you. If you don't or are neutral: this won't change your mind.2.5 stars