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In ‘Money, Money, Money’, McBain does that thing he sometimes does where he tries to weave a different style of book into one of his 87th Precinct mysteries. In ‘Ghosts’ it was supernatural horror, this time around it’s the kind of geopolitical thriller that was big in the 90s. For my money (lol), he makes a better fist of it this time around, but the shift in focus does feel a little jarring at times.
The first third or so of the book is a delight, with loads going on, including burglaries, a naked woman literally thrown it the lions and a random Secret Service agent. It’s wonderfully bewildering and I thoroughly enjoyed the feeling that McBain was deliberately messing with my head, combining a number of disparate elements that felt like they couldn’t be related, and yet clearly were.
As the book progresses, and the camera zooms out to give you a broader view, it works less well. The 87th Precinct suddenly feels like just a small part in a much larger world. I found it slightly odd, the sense that the walls surrounding this fictional place that I love were getting smashed down and reality was creeping in. There’s also a sub-plot about Arab terrorism that works to an extent, but feels somewhat less liberal in its outlook than you normally expect from McBain. On the other hand though, he tackles government abuses of power in a way that really works.
Those criticisms aside, it’s a cracking read. The complexities of the plot are handled with aplomb, it’s gripping, funny and compellingly readable. Fat Ollie is back and starting to thinking about starting as a career as a writer (a thread that will be picked up again in the next entry in the series, ‘Fat Ollie’s Book’). He’s as entertaining as ever, and has some brilliant banter with Carella. McBain also examines mortality, with Carella the most fragile we’ve ever seen him. This was at a time in McBain’s life when he was struggling with various health problems that would kill him a few years later. With that hindsight it’s a poignant read at times.

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2.75 stars. IMHO, while this book had its moments, invariably revolving around Fat Ollie Weeks, who saves Steve Carella's life not once, but twice, the plot was very far fetched. The basic plot revolved around some seemingly unrelated murders and thefts, involved Mexican drug smuggling and counterfeit $100 bills. The conspiracy part of the plot, the Arab terrorists, and involvement of the Secret Service was a real stretch although the sensational murder by ice pick and lion eating was pretty clever. Also, there was little involvement by the rest of the 87th Precinct. ( )

I think this is the longest beginning of an 87th Precinct book where none of the detectives appear, not till page 41 (Cotton shows up very briefly on page 21)!

The story has a little bit of everything - drugs, burglary, counterfeit money, the Secret Service, terrorists, and a book publisher! And a woman gets eaten by lions! And Fat Ollie Weeks, who has a reprehensible personality, and beliefs that are totally opposite of mine, but I find that I really like when he's in these stories!

This is one of the best 87th Precinct books I've read to date, which is crazy considering it is the 51st of the series! Quite an achievement by the author! Now, on to the next! ( )

This was a really good one, involving counterfeiters, drug deals, conspiracies, and a small time burglar tying it all together. Ollie and Carella are partnered together after a lion in a park that straddles the 87th and 88th precincts mauls a woman. Since she was discovered in between the two, they have to work the case together. Turns out the woman is an ex-marine named Cassandra Ridley, and she flies planes from Texas to Mexico, delivering counterfeit money for very real drugs. A book publisher is a front for a drug ring, and their salespeople are actually dealers. Ollie saves Steve's life not once but twice during the course of their investigation that threatens to bring down the multi-billion dollar drug/counterfeit ring. ( )

Book on CD read by Ron McLarty

This is book # 51 (!) in the 87th Precinct series of police procedurals, set in a fictious large city “back East,” and featuring the detectives of the 87th Precinct. In this novel seemingly unconnected murder victims are ultimately tied together in a conspiracy involving drug-dealing and counterfeiting.

This is the first book by McBain that I’ve read, and it will not be the last! Fast-paced, intricate plotting and colorful characters make for a quick and enjoyable read, despite the high body count. It may be Christmas but the criminals are busy, and so are the police.

I loved that Detective Ollie Weeks is taking piano lessons, and wants to write a novel. And that Steve Carella is nearly eaten by a lion! I was interested from page one to the very end.

Ron McLarty does a great job reading the audio book. I particularly liked his voices for “Fat Ollie” and Will Struthers (burglar and hero). ( )