Book Overview
A young woman stops at the grocery store after work, but she never makes it home--at least not all the way. She is stabbed to death in front of her building, her groceries strewn across the cold... This description may be from another edition of this product.
Format:Hardcover
Language:English
ISBN:0670338060
ISBN13:9780670338061
Release Date:May 1980
Publisher:Viking Books
Length:212 Pages
Weight:0.68 lbs.
Customer Reviews
3 ratings
McBain At His Best With This One!
Published by Thriftbooks.com User , 18 years ago
If you are a fan of the 87th Precinct potboilers by Ed McBain, then this is a MUST READ for you. The police procedural has never been done better by anyone. Period. This story has Steve Carella and Cotton Hawes confronted with a double murder scenario right off the bat on Page 1. They must try and make sense of a couple of very brutal murders, the musings of a psychic/medium who seems to be eerily prescient with her psychic "takes" on the proceedings, and a number of sidebar issues that include a major blizzard which has been blanketing the city at Christmastime. This is one of those wonderful 189 or so page mysteries that you can truly read in one sitting and come away saying to yourself, "What a great way to spend the afternoon." The writing is taut, parsed-down and authentic. The characters are bitingly realisitic and well-drawn throughout. If you have never read an 87th Precinct novel (and there are over 40!), then this one comes about mid-way in the series and is a good place to start!! Excellent story, charcters and crackerjack writing, I highly reccommend GHOSTS for your mystery reading short-list.
Rarely a book makes the hair stand up on my neck
Published by Thriftbooks.com User , 21 years ago
Ghosts only fault was that it was too short. Most of McBain's is too short for me. He is excellent at evoking the feelings a cop has in certain situations for the reader. You aren't being entertained you actually become part of the 87th's squad. Ghosts shows insight into Steve's personality. It is never blatently described instead it is like watching something happen to a friend and partner. The scene with the house and the ghosts sent chills up my spine. Sitting here typing I am feeling the same chills. It was an intensely uncomfortable scene well written to bring those feelings to life for the reader. You were not reading a story about Ghosts instead you were walking thru the house with Steve and it was happening to you and your partner. I am extremely hard to do this too. I usually laugh at Steven King and the rest. I wasn't laughing here. The impact in that short scene was perfect. The writing transported you there.Now perhaps I have a different view because I have worked in law enforcement but if you really want to know what it is like, take a look.
Find this Book
Published by Thriftbooks.com User , 25 years ago
I found this book in a used book store a while back. Just got around to reading it. Its one of the most enjoyable books I have read. Find this books. Tell the kids not to bother you for a few hours and read it. Great book for a rainy weekend.
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