Book Review: ‘Killer’s Payoff’ by Ed McBain
by Rob Smith, Jr. on Sep.25, 2020, under Books
Killer’s Payoff by Ed McBain
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
It’s been a while since I visited the 87th Precinct. About 20 years. That visit I didn’t like. This one I do.
Being a strict procedural, this book is never boring. The structure of the plot is perfect to scatter elements of the story for the police officers to track and assemble theories and answers. McBain uses many literary tricks sprinkled throughout to draw the reader in and through the tale.
Establishing the characters is done mostly through actions and less narrative. Writers ability to do this takes a great deal of focus and organization to do this in various parts of a book that can add up to a completing profile by the reader. This is a crackerjack job.
The settings are also extremely well written as both urban and rural and wooded areas are all part of the story. McBain is weakest describing the outdoor areas. I love how McBain can write of various structures in the city he created and each have a separate distinction. So very impressive.
Sadly, there was an obvious and required move to be made by the police that wasn’t written in. That told me what had happened early in the book and I knew eventually where the story would end up.
Bottom line: i recommend this book. 8 out of ten points.
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