Hail, Hail, The Gang’s All Here (1971) is the 25th novel in the 87th Precinct series. By this time, McBain had his template for the series perfected and the cast of characters developed. I liked this mystery when I first read it decades ago, and liked it even more when I reread it for this post. McBain shows a “typical” day for the cops of the 87th Precinct. Meyer Meyer has to deal with a ghost. Parker gets shot.
This was the fifth of the series I read (I’ve read them all, of course), back in my first binge in 1973, when I was reading them as fast as I could find them and not caring if they were out of order. (This hurt me later when Bert Kling’s confusing love life kept popping up.) I remember liking it a lot too. Lazy Andy Parker is my least favorite member of the 87. Too bad he never killed him off.
Jeff, I’m with you on Andy Parker. McBain gave the 87th Precinct a wide gamut of characters–good and bad, lazy and effective, funny and serious.
I’d say you have this one covered, George. I shall read Hail Hail next. Thanks for the intro.
Matt, I consider HAIL, HAIL THE GANG’S ALL HERE! one of the best examples of the ensemble concept in the whole 87th Precinct series.
This was the first one in the series I read (about two months ago) and I found it very confusing. There are 13 characters introduced into the narrative in the first dozen pages, and since I didn’t know who any of them were, I was completely at sea. Definitely not one for the beginning or early reader of the series! Beyond that it was, as you say, a typical day, which didn’t bring that much depth to any one piece of the story. I see you didn’t not rate it. I’d give it a C rating, at best.
Rick, the cops in the 87th Precinct are very familiar to me. Like Jeff Meyerson, I’ve read the whole series. McBain concentrated on plots in the early books and less on character development.
I have yet to find a McBain book I don’t like.
Ernie, it was a Sad Day when I read the last of the 87th Precinct books. Great series!