Fat Ollie's Book: A Novel of the 87th Precinct [Hardcover]

The disreputable, bigoted, dirty-mouthed but oddly likable Ollie Weeks, a walk-on in Ed McBain's popular 87th Precinct series, gets a book of his own here: not just the mystery of who killed a popular mayoral candidate a few days before the election, but the one Ollie, improbably, is writing. Pity the schmuck who lifts Ollie's only copy of his manuscript from his car--not only is its author in desperate need of what he's sure will be his ticket to fame and fortune, but the befuddled miscreant somehow believes that the caper recounted in Ollie's book is a real one, and that he's in possession of a blueprint for the crime that will allow him to cash in on it. This is a fast, funny read from the master--like a valentine to his fans while they wait for his next big one. --Jane Adams

Even when MWA Grand Master McBain (aka Evan Hunter) isn't in top form, he is very good and such is the case with this 87th Precinct novel, which really belongs to Det. Oliver Wendell Weeks of the 88th Precinct. Fat Ollie, of the gross appetite and the even grosser ignorance of political correctness, played a surprisingly heroic role in the last 87th Precinct novel, Money, Money, Money (2001). Now he claims star billing and repayment of a debt owed by Det. Steve Carella. Two major crimes occur at almost the same time: the shooting of Councilman (and possible mayoral candidate) Lester Henderson as he is getting ready for a rally and the theft of the just completed manuscript of Ollie's first novel, Report to the Commissioner. Ollie enlists Carella's help (Henderson lived in the 87th) and pursues both the murderer and the thief. McBain's broad humor is much in evidence as he pokes fun at detective novels and their readership through excerpts from Fat Ollie's ponderous book. On the other hand, Ollie's outrageous bigotry, like that of TV's Archie Bunker, never seems to hurt or offend anyone and palls over an entire novel. Still, McBain creates wonderfully strange characters, like the transvestite hooker who latches on to Ollie's book, and crimes that are somehow ingenious, stupid and utterly convincing.CWA's highest award, the Diamond Dagger.
Copyright 2002 Reed Business Information, Inc.

After Isolda's leading mayoral candidate, Lester Henderson, is murdered in the 88th Precinct, Ollie Weeks catches the case. While he's sniffing out the crime scene, someone steals the only manuscript of his first mystery novel-all 36 or so pages of it-from his police vehicle. Now, as fans of the 87th Precinct novels know, Ollie saved Steve Carella's life twice in Money, Money, Money, and Henderson lived in the 87th Precinct. Ollie, then, asks help of Carella, who, with Bert Kling, follows up leads and solves the murder. Meanwhile, the man who stole Ollie's book is looking for $2.7 million worth of missing diamonds and Detective Olivia Wesley Watts, not realizing that both are figments of Ollie's literary imagination. Only McBain can write like this, maintaining tension as he shows Ollie in the mundane acts of eating, trying to get somewhere with a young rookie cop, and worrying about the loss of his book. The complex plotting, clear presentation of characters and their foibles, empathy for human beings, and sense of humor are priceless. One would never know that this is the 52nd book in a series, for it is as fresh and vibrant as all the rest. For all popular fiction collections.
--Jo Ann Vicarel, Cleveland Heights-University Heights P.L., OH
Copyright 2002 Reed Business Information, Inc.

City councilman Lester Henderson is dead. He was shot at a rehearsal for a speech in which it was assumed he would officially announce his candidacy for mayor. Fat Ollie Weeks, whose success as a homicide detective has been built on the "better-lucky-than-good" premise, catches the emergency call. Ollie blunders his way through preliminary crime-scene questioning, antagonizing witnesses, potential suspects, and his fellow officers with his standard combination of bigotry, presumption, and arrogance. But even as he turns the investigation over to the evidence technicians, his focus shifts. The only copy of his beloved manuscript, a police procedural called Report to the Commissioner, is missing. Ollie unofficially abdicates his responsibilities in the Henderson murder so he can concentrate on the recovery of his manuscript. Meanwhile, the junkie who stole it thinks it's a real police report that details an upcoming drug deal, and he begins to plan a rip-off. This is the 50-plus entry for the 87th Precinct crew, and none has been funnier. The excerpts from Ollie's novel will bring tears of laughter to readers' eyes as McBain skewers the inherent conceits of the procedural genre as well as bad writers everywhere. Wonderful entertainment. Wes Lukowsky
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

NATIONAL PRESS 'Simple, clever and very funny.' ****THE MIRROR 'The fact that his novels, like this one, are intricately plotted and beautifully structured demonstrate his mastery of the crime form... That a book so late in a series can be so light and lively is a tribute to McBain's skills... Fat Ollie's Book demonstrates, once again, that he is himself a consummate professional'THE OBSERVER 'As usual with McBain, the plots are complicated, the dialogue fast and funny, and the entertainment value immense.'DAILY MAIL 'There is nothing and no one around guaranteed to give the same sharp excitements, the same steady delight'LITERARY REVIEW ''The plot is adroitly conceived, the writing as pacy as ever, and the characterisation as finely honed.' GOOD BOOK GUIDE THE OBSERVER - major review by Peter GuttridgeDAILY MAIL - reviewTHE GUARDIAN - major review by Mark LawsonTHE MIRROR - reviewSUNDAY TELEGRAPH - review by Susanna YagerHELLO - reviewFOCUS - reviewCRIME TIME - reviewJACK - reviewBOOKS - reviewGOOD BOOK GUIDE - reviewTHE OLDIE - review REGIONAL PRESS REVIEWS: YORKSHIRE EVENING POSTEASTERN DAILY PRESSSOUTH BUCKS BURNHAM & IVOR EXPRESSSUNDAY MERCURY (BIRMINHAM)HUDDERSFIELD DAILY EXAMINERBIRMINGHAM POSTTHE SCOTSMAN 'The outcome is clever, but the greatest pleasure is the skill of the narrativeMORNING STAR - Mat CowardHAM & HIGHWOOD & VALEDRIFFIELD POST w --This text refers to an alternate Hardcover edition.

Irritating though he was, Lester Henderson had it all when he strode up to rehearse his keynote address in the darkness of a downtown theatre. Widely tipped to be the next mayor and possessing a nice line in catalogue-casual daywear, Henderson stood four-square facing his glorious future. But five shots later and his lifeblood was seeping away. He had been gunned down by persons unknown from stage-right...At that point he became Ollie Weeks' problem. But this savage crime is suddenly overshadowed by a deed even more repugnant. Ollie's life work is his novel. Honed by countless rejection letters, it is finally ready to be released to the general populace. But then the one and only manuscript disappears, leaving Ollie to head off in pursuit of the thief. A thief who is convinced that Ollie's work contains the secret location of a hoard of hidden diamonds... --This text refers to an alternate Hardcover edition.

Ed McBain is one of the most illustrious names in crime fiction. In 1998, he was the first non-British author to be awarded the Crime Writers' Association/Cartier Diamond Dagger Award and he is also holder of the Mystery Writers of America's coveted Grand Master Award. --This text refers to an alternate Hardcover edition.

Detective "Fat Ollie" (Oliver Wendell Weeks) can win samba contests, play piano, and eat with both hands while talking. This amusing and fast-paced cop story meanders through a cast of characters, including a sexy rookie cop/love interest and a transvestite junkie hooker. As for the eponymous book, Fat Ollie has penned a chronically bad detective novel that has been stolen, and he pursues this "read herring" along with a murder case and a mega-bundle of drugs. Voice actor Ron McLarty creates funny, easily visualized characters. From gravelly, Brooklyn-tinged Ollie to the calm Latino "switch-hitting hooker," McLarty breathes comic life into his characters. Good fun, lots of laughs--Fat Ollie rocks! D.J.B. © AudioFile 2003, Portland, Maine-- Copyright © AudioFile, Portland, Maine --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.