Mugger

And you will thank Clifford back for this exciting, fast-paced early entry in Ed McBain's 87th Precinct series of police thrillers.A mugger is brutalizing the women of the 87th Precinct, stealing their purse, punching them up, and taking his leave with a dandyesque bow and the immortal words: "Clifford thanks you." The detectives of the 87th have no sense of humor where this sort of thing is concerned, especially when one apparent victim is found lying dead on a riverside embankment.While the series actually began with "Cop Hater," this second book, published in 1956, is where the series, and its mythical city of Isola, begins to take shape. McBain takes time out to describe the demographics of the 87th, the dance clubs, the stay-at-home wives who rake each other over in their washing-line gossip sessions like so many Mesdames Defarge.Some nice time-outs, too, like one early on about the essence of urban loneliness. "Loneliness doesn't respect the calendar," he writes. "Saturday, Tuesday, Friday, Thursday - they're all the same, and they're all grey."Steve Carella, the de facto hero of the 87th series, is away on his honeymoon for this one, and the reins are taken, for maybe the only time in the series, by a patrolman rather than a detective. Bert Kling is still nursing his injury from "Cop Hater" when an old friend pays him a visit, asking him to talk to his sister-in-law. That he does, and when the sister-in-law turns up dead the next day, he finds himself investigating the mysterious circumstances of her life. Why was a beautiful woman so sad, why did she visit a strange dance club and sit zombielike on the sidelines despite the many invitations to dance, why did she turn up a corpse on the other side of the city?Since Kling is just a beat cop, he is limited in what he can do, but he does manage to meet one woman who may have some answers, particularly for his own lonelyheart condition. Claire Townsend is one of several recurring characters to make her first appearance here, along with Dets. Meyer Meyer and Eileen Burke and two favorites of mine, the clueless Homicide dicks Monoghan and Monroe.The mystery moves along at McBain's signature pace, with the detectives setting up dragnets and working around the clock. There is plenty of action, and nice detours like with a sunglasses manufacturer who explains the intricacies of his trade, and the difference between "fronts" and "temples." As with so many of his books, McBain makes you feel less like a bookreader and more of an eavesdropper on a world every bit as vibrant and lived-in, if not more so, than your own.It's a quick read, but if it's your first 87th book, five will get you ten it won't be your last.

He uses the darkness of the city night as his cloak. He watches with a deep sense of patience. He silently, quickly steps up to the women, assaulting them violently. It is their money he is after...For he goes by the name of Clifford, and he is the Mugger. His method is always the same. After snatching his victim's purse, he bows from the waist and politely says "Clifford thanks you Madam." With several cases of muggings apperently commited by the same man, the detecives of the 87th Precinct go full tilt in bringing this man to justice. Detecives Hal Willis and Roger Hallivand head the case with what they have. Hal Willis is short in size, but don't let that fool you. He is a master of judo and knows how to use it. Roger Hallivand is a bull of a man, easily clearing the six foot mark. He speaks with his fists instead of words. Together, these two detecives use all they have to try to crack this case. Finally, a very attractive girl is found murdered, in which all evidence of the murder points toward the Mugger. The dead girl happened to be related to a friend of Bert Kling, who is a cop working in the 87th Precinct. Although he isn't a detecive, but instead a patrolman, Kling is weary. However, he is still convinced to seek out the killer by the victim's sister. He reluctantly agrees, and starts his own investigation. However, because he isn't a detecive and cannot offically investigate the crime without stepping on toes, Kling runs into trouble alng the way...Will the crafty Mugger ever be caught? Will Kling solve the murder? Will Kling ever be promoted to detecive? A very short and satisfying read. A true thriller. The second book in the acclaimed 87th Precinct series will keep you on edge. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!

This is only the second McBain book I have read. It is very , very good. I am going to try to find them to read in order. Have a long way to go I know. The Mugger is about Bert Kling, who is a partolman. He is searching for a mugger named Clifford. He is doing this in his off duty time. Then a young girl Kling has met is killed, was it by the mugger or not????? The ending is great is all I will say about that. The book is fairly short, easy to read and will hold you attention. I would recommend it to anyone who likes a good mystery.

This entry in the 87th series spotlights Bert Kling before his promotion to detective. A mugger wearing cheap sunglasses has been targeting women in the precinct. When the sister of a friend is found murdered with all clues pointing to the mugger, Kling investigates and gets embroiled in the hunt for the purse snatcher. Noticeably absent in this novel is Steve Carella, who is usually McBain's focal point.

I LIKE THE WAY HE STARTED OUT, HE GOT MY ATTENTION RIGHT AWAY AND IT WAS SO FAST PACED THAT I FINISHED IT IN RECORD TIME. I READ A LOT OF HIS BOOKS AND I WAS HOOKED SINCE THE FIRST BOOK, I'M STILL READING HIS BOOKS AND IT LOOKS LIKE THERE'S NO STOPPING ME.