Doll

A beautiful model, Tinka Sachs, is murdered, slashed repeatedly in a frenzy of killing, while her tiny daughter hides in the next room, talking to her doll. Detectives Steve Carella and Bert Kling of the 87th precinct, are in charge of the investigation and get a good description of the man who visited Tinka on the night of her murder, from a one eyed doorman, nicknamed Cyclops. Carella and Kling get into an argument about Kling's brusque interrogating technique, which results in Kling going off in a huff, leaving Carella to continue with the investigation alone for that night. Because of being on his own, Carella is captured, handcuffed to a radiator in the suspect's apartment and when an incinerated body, carrying Carella's police warrant card is discovered in a burned out car, his family and workmates are convinced that the body is his. It's a fast, good read, full of meticulous police work, without frills or fuss...a typical McBain book.

It would be nice if some cared enough to quote prof reviewers who actually cared to read the work unlike Ingram's stupid mistake of saying it was Bert Kling who disappears. It was Steve Carella. After 50 some books one would think they could get it right finally. The work is classic McBain. It gives you the feel for police work. Slow where it should be and fast where it should be. He takes us into being part of the team not just a entertained reader. Perhaps that is why he has so many books published. We become a member of the 87th. It is spare writing designed for maxium impact. Never boring except when police work is indeed boring and that only briefly when emotions arise like "TELL US. Quit hedging around and tell us" rises in interviews with witnesses and perps.Steve's disappears and is presumed dead but... well you read the book. I won't snitch.Shame the original Ingram they quoted didn't bother to read it. It is worth it. Ah well their loss not mine or yours if you pick it up.

In a previous book in this excellent procedural series, Detective Bert Kling lost his girl to a gunman. In this entry, he still is dealing with his grief and his attitude has him close to being transferred. In an effort to help his friend, Steve Carella volunteers to work with Kling on the case of a murdered model. Because of friction, Carella is taken (presumed dead) by a mystery woman who begins to hook him on heroin. This is a fine entry in the series, but I prefer those that focus on several cases and feature more of the 'gang'. But, hey, any McBain is hands down better than any procedural by anyone else!

Doll was the first book I've read so far and a short one. I'm experimenting with unread authors and McBain is one of them that I've really enjoyed. Although, I knew who was the killer, but the characters made the book exciting and the fast-paced action was overwhelming. I wasn't too keen on the drug use, but considering the time that this book was written--at the height of hardcore drug use, one couldn't expect a cleaner book.I strongly recommend McBain. I had to buy several books the same day I bought 'Doll' because McBain was rated "top" comparing to those we already know about. My curiosity paid off.