I read this about 25 years ago and really liked it, so was looking forward to a reread when it turned up in an omnibus I bought for a couple of 87th Precinct novels I needed. Sadly it wasn’t as good as I remembered, it’s fun, and the denouement is great, but I found it a bit confused in the middle and somewhat unbelievable throughout. ( )

“He did not know this goddamn city where everyone seemed to be either a cop or a crook and all of them seemed to be crazy.”

Michael Barnes is in NYC on business, and in the first few chapters, he is accused of stealing a ring, had his wallet emptied, has his rental car stolen, is held up at gun point, and is a suspect in a murder! AND, everyone he runs into seems to be named Charlie!

It's a crazy, almost slap-sticky romp as Michael tries to prove his innocence and find out who is behind the set up. LOTS of funny dialogue! Intermixed with lots of flashbacks to his time in Vietnam, which aren't funny at all. But, like all McBain books I've read, the mix works, and the book is very enjoyable!

"Mom? he would say. I'm alive, Mom."
"I'm alive again." ( )

One of the few McBain noverls I've read that doesn't feature Matthew Hope or the detectives of the 87th Precinct. Not all that good from a McBain perspective, but it was still well worth reading. ( )

Ganska rörig historia om en apelsinodlare från Florida som blir indragen i mordhistoria. Knappast någon av McBains bättre. ( )