Welcome, Maryann Miller, to Birds and Books. It’s been a while since I’ve read an Ed McBain mystery. Maryann reminded me of what McBain does with subplot that adds a deeper dimension to the characters. That’s what I am attempting to do with the current mystery I’m writing. It’s time to dust of an 87th Precinct mystery for a jolt of inspiration.
The first time I read Cop Hater, the first book in the 87th Precinct series by Ed McBain, I was hooked on police procedural stories with an ensemble cast. All of the characters in the stories are unique, and McBain had a deft way of playing against stereotype. I loved the way he interwove the officers’ personal lives with the main plot of each book, so it was like episodic television in print. The crime(s) always took center stage, but McBain often connected some aspect of the investigation to something in a subplot that added another dimension to the characters and the stories.
Prior to starting this series, I’d been reading a lot of John D. McDonald’s Travis McGee books, and right away I noticed a difference in style. McDonald wrote long passages of introspection, which I did enjoy as I connected with the McGee philosophy, but McBain wrote at a faster pace, with bits of introspection dropped in. Since I didn’t have a lot of time to read, I appreciated that the stories moved along quickly.
I’ve always had an interest in law-enforcement, so after reading several of the 87th Precinct books, I decided to try my hand at writing a police procedural. In addition to all the research I did, I studied the books as a primer on how to write unique characters and set a rhythm for the pacing.
The 87th Precinct series is one of the longest running crime series in literary history, and for a long time it was kind of a secret that McBain was the alter ego of Evan Hunter. Back then, publishers preferred to keep author names and pen names separate. When I found out, it was a nice surprise because I’d enjoyed many of the books by Hunter, too.
Open Season, the first book in the Seasons Mystery Series, introduces Dallas detectives Sarah Kingsly and Angel Johnson, unwilling and unlikely partners. Embroiled in a serial murder case, the detectives must come to terms with public and personal racial unrest as they track a serial killer who has his own race card to play. Published first in hardback, now available as an e-book and as a paperback.
“Try this debut mystery for its open treatment of current urban problems, clean prose, and realistic depiction of women working together. For readers who enjoy Robin Burcell and fans of police procedurals.” Library Journal
“Miller spins a tight tale that’s a cut above the average police procedural in this first of a new series introducing Dallas police detective Sarah Kingsly.” Publisher’s WeeklyBIO
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Hi Maryann! I too loved Ed McBain's 87th Precinct series (I always thought the TV show, Barney Miller, was based on it). To a lesser extent, McBain's Matthew Hope series. I also read every Travis McGee. I'm adding your new book to my to-read list on Goodreads! Thanks for a great post.
Hi Judy, I thought about you when I received Maryann's post. I was hoping you'd stop by. I am so enjoying this blog series. I'm getting a lot of ideas from reading what inspires others. I know McBain was your inspiration, too.
Judy, I think you may be right about the influence of the 87th Precinct series on Barney Miller. There was always a fair amount of humor in the Precinct stories. I often wondered, too, if McBain's series was a model for the early TV shows like Hill Street Blues that had that ensemble cast with the personal stories as subplots that carried from episode to episode.
And thanks for your kind words about the post. I do hope you enjoy Open Season.
Thanks so much for having me as a guest, Kathleen. It is so nice to find other fans of the 87th Precinct series.
I'm slowly getting roped into police procedurals, but only if I really like the characters. For me, characters are more important than trying to figure out a plot. However, if their reasoning doesn't' make sense, I draw the line.
I agree, Morgan. I love character driven plots!
I really like a book with strong characters over a complicated plot. For me, I have to really connect with one or more of the characters to care about solving the crime.