Sadie When She Died

Great vintage 87th Precinct novel by the master of the police procedural. In this outing, the boys of the 87th investigate the murder of an attorney's wife. When the lawyer comes home and discovers his wife is dead, he proclaims himself delighted. A petty thief confesses to the crime, but Steve Carella still thinks the husband did it. If you like police procedurals, you will love this book. One of McBain's best. Reviewer: Liz Clare, co-author of "To the Ends of the Earth: The Last Journey of Lewis & Clark"

I've read most of the 87th Precinct series, and while the worst ones are always at least above-average, the best ones are a rare excursion into perfection (esepcially for the crime/mystery genre, which, although I love it, is vulnerable to substandard, schlocky stuff). "Sadie" is the best of the best, McBain's most taut, surprising, and intricate little gem. Read it, if only to understand its cryptic title.

Who was Sadie? Gerald Fletcher calls police and reports he came home and found his wife, Sarah, dead from a knife stabbing. There is even a confesed killer, Ralph Corwin. Carella does not think Corwin was the killer and sets out to prove it. There are many twist and turns. Kling is beaten up by some men. He does not know why or who. Is this connected to the murder? It is a good case of police work and running tips down. McBain writes so you can feel like you are there and can see the action. Who was the killer? Will Kling find out who beat him up? The ending has a surprise twist to it, at least to me. If you like a good mystery with lots going on you will like this one.

I loved this story, the twists and turns and the final conclusion. A real page turner.

This is early McBain, from 1972, and all the boys from the 87th precinct are here in top form! (Why can't I meet a guy like Steve Carella?!) Like all of his police procedurals, it's a very entertaining and breezy read. Suspense, humor, and crackling dialogue are all served up in equal doses. The book's jacket says, "What could be easier? He had a confessed killer, clear fingerprints, and a witness. Everything was sewed-up tight. Or was it?" Bad vibes and his keen cop's instinct sends Detective Carella on a mission to prove promiscuous Sadie wasn't killed by the number one suspect, but by somebody very close to her. YOU CAN'T GO WRONG WITH MCBAIN! I've loved him for years -- and his books written under his real name -- Evan Hunter -- are also wonderful.