"Delightful police procedural"

"Sonny Sanson", an alias he used for this job to mean "I am without sound" has the gun pointed at the heart of his former associate Gloria. He demands she give to him whatever is left from the illegal drug sale. Gloria apologizes for her betrayal of him and cooperates, but Sanson is disinterested. Quoting Macbeth he shoots her twice in the chest before tying her to her bed just as she did to him.

The Deaf Man is back and has begun his quest for vengeance. Next target is the 87th Precinct especially Steve Carella, but others will do. This time he taunts his opponents with Shakespearean citations or anagrams that have the cops struggling to decipher. Steve knows that this cat and mouse game is going bad for the police who do not know whether their dangerously brilliant opponent is even deaf. If he only had to stop a delusional homicidal genius Steve would be okay, but he also must pay for the double weddings of mom and sis, which is why he is in a panic.

The latest Ed McBain police procedural is the usual delightful tale that mixes the personal troubles of the members of the 87th with minor cases and a major investigation. The story line is fast-paced as the cops misinterpret many of the Deaf Man's clues and there are many personal insights into the characters as the audience observes goings on such as Steve having cardiac arrest over weddings more so than his deadly chess opponent and the continuation of Fat Ollie's book as well as other wonderful subplots that fit perfect together in Mr. McBain's latest winning police procedural.

Harriet Klausner

Reviewed by Harriet Klausner
Posted August 14, 2004