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Ed McBain's police procedurals are among the very best in the genre, and "Nocturne," the latest "Novel of the 87th Precinct" is no exception. But, it is the first time I've heard the illustrious Mr. McBain read, and his distinct New York accent is ideally suited to the task.
As always, there's a lot going on. First, we have the murder of an 85-year-old woman living in a shabby apartment who was once a world-renowned concert pianist. Then there's a triple-header -- a young white hooker, hooked on crack, her black pimp and a crack-purveying buddy of his. The characters and suspects, as well as the cops we've come to know from the 87th, Carella, Hawes and company, are as authentically drawn as the big-city surroundings. I just wish McBain would call New York, New York, not "Isola," a fictitious megatown with the identical population and geography -- but I love him all the same.
Sukey Howard reports on spoken word audio each month. Don't miss her audio book reviews on CNN's "Sunday Morning."
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