Hard-boiled noir from one of the masters
I am a long-time fan of Ed McBain's. His 87th Precinct novels are superb, but it is easy to forget the great quality of his standalones. This hard-boiled novel from early in his career has trademark McBain touches: brisk efficient plotting, witty terse dialogue, and fluid nuanced prose. My only criticism is that it falls a little too perfectly into the noir framework: down and out private eye suspected in a murder who falls for the beautiful femme fatale. However, it is all done with the great McBain professionalism and polish, so accomplished for so early in his long career. It makes me miss him even more. If you have enjoyed any or all of the Hard Case Crime line, then this is one more for you to savor.