Hark! It's an 87th Precinct Podcast bonus episode.

This is the accompanying thingy for our main episode all about 1989's Lullaby - murder, guns and therapy. Such larks.

We begin by looking at the original releases of the book in the US and the UK, which is of interest as we see new publishers arrive and old publishers producing their last editions, plus a bonus edition of The Mugger as well. Then, as usual, we get stuck into 1989 in film, TV and music and proffer up our personal picks from the year.

Thanks for joining us. See you soon for Vespers. Fare thee well.

Hark! It's an 87th Precinct Podcast.

1988 was untroubled by any McBain 87th Precinct books, so we're now in 1989 with the 41st entry into the series with Lullaby. Domestic murders, burglaries, city-wide drugs and gang warfare and therapists. It's all here. 

As usual, we mention a few key 1989 landmark moments and there's plenty going on in the life and near-death of the author as well. Then we get stuck into the book and explore some contemporary reviews.

Join us again next time for the bonus episode and then it's onto Book 42, Vespers.

Fare thee well.

Hark! It's an 87th Precinct Podcast bonus episode.

Seen as we looked at 1986 in the last episode, we're catching back up to 1987 this time with a look at the TV, Music and Films that were around - including our personal picks from the year. Paul also reveals a family story about Dudley Moore!

We open with our usual look at the book covers from the original US and UK editions and those that we've got as well.

See you soon for LULLABY.

Hark! It's an 87th Precinct Podcast.

It's the second of the books in the series to come out in 1987 and this time McBain has firmly targeted the Halloween market with the 40th entry in the series. We try and unpack this bumper book of Halloween horrors - which is a new read for two of us. Also, listen out for a cameo appearance from Stevo's cats.

Paul also fills us in on some interesting info discovered whilst researching the dedicatee of the book and we take a quick look at other stuff going on in 1987 as well. Join us soon for the bonus episode and then book 41, Lullaby.

Fare thee well.

Hark! It's an 87th Precinct Podcast Bonus Episode.

So, here's to Golden Days and Purple Nights! In this bonus we explore the origins of this phrase (let us know if you know anything about it) before we get into our usual book cover exploration, book-huffing and general tomfoolery.

Although Poison came out in early 1987, we're still focusing on 1986 in the episode (mainly so Paul can talk about his favourite film). See you soon for the next book in the series - TRICKS.

Fare thee well.

Hark! It's an 87th Precinct Podcast.

We've arrived into 1987 - a year in which two 87th Precinct books appear - so we spend some of this episode explore McBain/Hunter's activities in 1986 to get us up to date. Then it's time to get stuck into Poison - a remarkable and quite harrowing character study - but is it genuine 87th Precinct material?

Paul also fills everyone in on the hidden true story in Evan Hunter's 1966 novel The Paper Dragon as well.

See you soon for the bonus episode and then the next book - Tricks. Fare thee well.

Hark! It's an 87th Precinct podcast bonus episode.

Following our run-down of the Deaf Man's schemes in our main episode, we turn our attention to the designs of the original UK/US releases and Paul introduces a new fifth design into the scheme! Then prepare yourself for some epic book-huffing before settling into the 1985 nostalgia fest of music, movies, television and our personal picks from the year.

Thanks for joining us for these lockdown episodes. Hopefully we'll be face-to-face again before too long. Next book: Poison.

Fare Thee Well!

Hark! It's an 87th Precinct podcast. We're in 1985 and who better to come along to mark the halfway point of the decade but the 87th Precinct's nemesis, The Deaf Man? Making his fourth appearance in the series, he returns full of schemes and anger. How will the boys from Grover Avenue cope this time?

Along the way we discuss some key cultural, political and technological points from 1985. Paul offers his 'McCartney' theory for the book and we look at some contemporary reviews of the novel as well. As always, we appreciate any ratings, reviews or shares of the episode you can give us.

Next up is book 39 - Poison. Until then, fare thee well.

Hark! It's an 87th Precinct Bonus Episode.

Following on from our discussion of the dark and difficult book 'Lightning' we take our usual gander at the original book cover designs and then get stuck straight into as much 1984 ephemera as you can shake a stick at. We've reached a point in the series publication year where we actually remember a lot of things coming out, so apologies for the ongoing transition into a very specific nostalgia account!

We offer up our picks of 1984 movies and albums as well and Paul adds some important Quincy based clarity.

See you soon for Eight Black Horses. Fare thee well.

Hark! It's an 87th Precinct Podcast.

This episode is all about the 37th book in the series - a brutal and dark tale of serial criminals. We discuss if this is McBain at his most difficult - violence against women, issues of race and much more. Along the way, we also discuss where Evan Hunter was in his career, including some of his notable failures (published and otherwise) and look again at his disgust at the success of Hill Street Blues.

We'll be back soon with our look at the original publication designs, our editions and more 1984 context in our bonus episode.

Fare thee well.