Book Review: Fiddlers

Reviewed By: Pat Reid - RAM

Fiddlers     Amazon US HC Amazon Canada HC
Ed McBain
Class/Genre:   Mystery   Police Procedural
Series: 87th Precinct # 55
Harcourt Books, 2005, 257 pps.

“They fiddled with my life.” This is the reason the killer gave for killing six people. Six people from various walks of life and with no obvious connection were shot and killed. All were shot with a glock and the murders became known as The Glock Murders.

Members of the 87th Precinct were stumped. They didn’t consider these acts those of a serial killer. Nothing seemed to fit together. Not all of the murders happened in the 87th Precinct but First Man Up rule was called in to play and the 87th wound up involved with all the murders. The only exception was the priest who was found in the 88th. Fat Ollie decided to take that investigation on himself.

The detectives spend many hours checking into the background of the victims until they finally come up with a connection that eventually leads them to an arrest. Each victim had a connection with the murderer at some point in his life. Each victim had left a mark that couldn’t be erased in the murder’s mind by age or distance. Finally he set out to pay them back for fiddling with his life.

I very much enjoyed this book and will miss reading about the adventures of McBain’s characters. Fat Ollie is falling in love. Carella if having problems with his teen-age daughter. I wish I could read another book of the 87th and see if Fat Ollie’s love interest leads to marriage.

Pat Reid - RAM

Reprinted with permission. Do Not repost without permission from the author, Pat Reid - RAM

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