Reading order · 54 books · 1956 to 2005 · Set in the fictional Isola, New York
87th Precinct Books in Order
The 87th Precinct novels follow the detectives of a police station in Isola, an invented city very like New York. Steve Carella, Meyer Meyer, Bert Kling, Cotton Hawes and their colleagues share the cases, which often run side by side. The series helped define the police procedural.
As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
Series facts
The reading order
Every 87th Precinct book in publication order. Choose a title for its cast and summary.
54 books · Set in the fictional Isola, New York
- 1Cop Hater1956With Steve CarellaIn a summer heatwave, detectives of the 87th Precinct are being shot one by one, and Steve Carella hunts the killer.Buy on Amazon
- 2The Mugger1956With Bert KlingA mugger is terrorising women in the precinct, bowing to his victims as he robs them, and then one of them is found dead.Buy on Amazon
- 3The Pusher1956A young drug addict is found dead, an apparent suicide, and the detectives follow the trail to the dealers.Buy on Amazon
- 4The Con Man1957Con men are preying on lonely women, and a body found in the river has a strange tattoo.Buy on Amazon
- 5Killer's Choice1958A woman who worked at a liquor store is shot dead, and the detectives find she lived many different lives.Buy on Amazon
- 6Killer's Payoff1958Blackmailer Sy Kramer is murdered gangland style, and the detectives must find which of his many victims paid him off for good.Buy on Amazon
- 7Lady Killer1958A note warns that the Lady will be killed at eight o’clock tonight, and the detectives have twelve hours to work out who she is.Buy on Amazon
- 8Killer's Wedge1959A woman with a gun and a bottle of nitroglycerine holds the squadroom hostage, waiting for Steve Carella to come back.Buy on Amazon
- 9'Til Death1959Steve Carella’s sister is getting married, and someone is planning to kill the groom.Buy on Amazon
- 10King's Ransom1959Kidnappers mean to take a rich man’s son, but grab his chauffeur’s son by mistake, and still demand the ransom.Buy on Amazon
- 11Give the Boys a Great Big Hand1960A severed hand is found in a bag in a park, and the detectives must find the rest of the victim.Buy on Amazon
- 12The Heckler1960A mysterious criminal known as the Deaf Man plans a daring crime and taunts the squad with clues.Buy on Amazon
- 13See Them Die1960A killer is holed up in an apartment building, and the whole neighbourhood watches the siege.Buy on Amazon
- 14Lady, Lady, I Did It!1961A gunman opens fire in a bookshop, killing four people, among them someone close to the squad.Buy on Amazon
- 15Like Love1962A girl’s leap to her death and two bodies found together look like suicides, but Carella and Hawes suspect murder.Buy on Amazon
- 16The Empty Hours1962A wealthy young woman is strangled in a slum apartment, and her cancelled cheques reveal a hidden life, in three linked novellas.Buy on Amazon
- 17Ten Plus One1963A sniper is killing apparently unconnected people across the city.Buy on Amazon
- 18Ax1964A building superintendent is found dead in a basement with an axe in his head.Buy on Amazon
- 19He Who Hesitates1964A man from out of town wanders the city, wondering whether to go to the police about something he has done.Buy on Amazon
- 20Doll1965A woman is found murdered, and when Bert Kling goes missing on the case the whole squad searches for the truth.Buy on Amazon
- 21Eighty Million Eyes1966A comedian collapses and dies on live television.Buy on Amazon
- 22Fuzz1968The Deaf Man demands money from the city, or he will start killing officials.Buy on Amazon
- 23Shotgun1969A dangerous killer is loose, and Carella’s team must stop him before he strikes again.Buy on Amazon
- 24Jigsaw1970Pieces of a cut-up photograph point to the hiding place of a stolen fortune.Buy on Amazon
- 25Hail, Hail, the Gang's All Here!1971Across one day and one night shift, the men of the 87th handle a sprawling range of cases.Buy on Amazon
- 26Sadie When She Died1972A woman is stabbed to death in her apartment, and her husband seems delighted.Buy on Amazon
- 27Let's Hear It for the Deaf Man1973The Deaf Man sends the squad a series of clues about his next crime.Buy on Amazon
- 28Hail to the Chief1973Six bodies are found in a ditch, and the detectives are drawn into a war between teenage gangs.Buy on Amazon
- 29Bread1974The murder of a warehouse watchman leads the detectives to a fire, a death and a slum redevelopment deal all tied together by money.Buy on Amazon
- 30Blood Relatives1975A teenage girl says she saw her cousin murdered.Buy on Amazon
- 31So Long as You Both Shall Live1976Bert Kling’s new bride vanishes on their wedding night, and he must stand aside as the squad races to find her.Buy on Amazon
- 32Long Time No See1977A blind man is murdered, and then his wife.Buy on Amazon
- 33Calypso1979Calypso singer George Chadderton is shot dead on a rain-soaked street, and Carella and Meyer investigate.Buy on Amazon
- 34Ghosts1980A double murder at Christmas leads Carella into a case where the supernatural seems to brush against police work.Buy on Amazon
- 35Heat1981Kling investigates a questionable suicide while his marriage falters and an ex-convict with a grudge hunts him.Buy on Amazon
- 36Ice1983A diamond dealer is found dead and a show-business scam unfolds as the 87th fights to protect a city gripped by fear.Buy on Amazon
- 37Lightning1984A killer is leaving young women hanging from lampposts, and the squad must also track a repeat offender who has returned.Buy on Amazon
- 38Eight Black Horses1985The Deaf Man returns with a new scheme.Buy on Amazon
- 39Poison1987A man is found poisoned and the clues point to a woman Detective Hal Willis is falling for, so he sets out to clear her.Buy on Amazon
- 40Tricks1987On Halloween the precinct faces a liquor store robbery, body parts turning up across the city and a magician who has vanished.Buy on Amazon
- 41Lullaby1989A wealthy couple return home on New Year’s morning to a double murder, and Carella and Meyer pursue the killer as gang warfare escalates.Buy on Amazon
- 42Vespers1990A Catholic priest is murdered near a satanic church, and the trail leads to an unexpected Easter Sunday conclusion.Buy on Amazon
- 43Widows1991A woman is found slashed to death in her penthouse, leading to the lawyer she was involved with and the women in his life, while Carella hunts his father’s killer.Buy on Amazon
- 44Kiss1992Emma Bowles believes someone is trying to kill her and turns to a dangerous protector, while a dedicated cop tries to save her.Buy on Amazon
- 45Mischief1993Graffiti artists are being murdered, and the Deaf Man sets up a larger crime at a rock concert.Buy on Amazon
- 46Romance1995Bert Kling investigates the slaying of an actress in a Broadway production.Buy on Amazon
- 47Nocturne1997The murder of an old woman reveals she was once a famous concert pianist who vanished, while Fat Ollie Weeks chases a case of his own.Buy on Amazon
- 48The Big Bad City1999A dead girl with an unusual past makes the tabloids, a cookie-leaving thief strikes, and a detective is stalked by the man who killed his father.Buy on Amazon
- 49The Last Dance2000An old man’s hanging leads Carella and Meyer into Isola’s theatre district, where they uncover a musical with a dark connection.Buy on Amazon
- 50Money, Money, Money2001At Christmas a stash of money draws a pilot, a thief and federal agents into a chase, while the detectives deal with a body found in the zoo’s lion enclosure.Buy on Amazon
- 51Fat Ollie's Book2002With Oliver "Fat Ollie" WeeksA mayoral candidate is shot during a theatre rehearsal, and Fat Ollie’s novel manuscript is stolen by a thief who thinks it reveals hidden diamonds.Buy on Amazon
- 52The Frumious Bandersnatch2004Pop singer Tamar Valparaiso is kidnapped from her album launch on a yacht, and the 87th races a countdown to find her.Buy on Amazon
- 53Hark!2004The Deaf Man sends anagram and Shakespeare-laced clues hinting at his next scheme.Buy on Amazon
- 54Fiddlers2005Victims over fifty are being shot, seemingly at random, and the detectives must find what they share before another body turns up.Buy on Amazon
Do you need to read them in order?
Read in any order. Starting with Cop Hater and reading in publication order follows the squad’s lives.
Who appears in which book
The series’ main characters, book by book. Lead means the book is told around them; minor covers cameos.
| Book | Steve Carella | Bert Kling | Oliver "Fat Ollie" Weeks | Meyer Meyer | Teddy Carella | Arthur Brown | Cotton Hawes | The Deaf Man |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 Cop Hater | LLead | ·Minor | MMajor | ·Minor | ||||
| 2 The Mugger | ·Minor | LLead | MMajor | ·Minor | ||||
| 3 The Pusher | MMajor | MMajor | MMajor | ·Minor | ||||
| 4 The Con Man | MMajor | MMajor | MMajor | ·Minor | ·Minor | |||
| 5 Killer's Choice | MMajor | MMajor | MMajor | ·Minor | ·Minor | MMajor | ||
| 6 Killer's Payoff | MMajor | MMajor | MMajor | ·Minor | ·Minor | MMajor | ||
| 7 Lady Killer | MMajor | MMajor | MMajor | ·Minor | ·Minor | MMajor | ||
| 8 Killer's Wedge | MMajor | MMajor | MMajor | ·Minor | ·Minor | MMajor | ||
| 9 'Til Death | MMajor | MMajor | MMajor | ·Minor | ·Minor | MMajor | ||
| 10 King's Ransom | MMajor | MMajor | MMajor | ·Minor | ·Minor | MMajor | ||
| 11 Give the Boys a Great Big Hand | MMajor | MMajor | MMajor | ·Minor | ·Minor | MMajor | ||
| 12 The Heckler | MMajor | MMajor | MMajor | ·Minor | ·Minor | MMajor | MMajor | |
| 13 See Them Die | MMajor | MMajor | MMajor | ·Minor | ·Minor | MMajor | ||
| 14 Lady, Lady, I Did It! | MMajor | MMajor | MMajor | ·Minor | ·Minor | MMajor | ||
| 15 Like Love | MMajor | MMajor | MMajor | ·Minor | ·Minor | MMajor | ||
| 16 The Empty Hours | MMajor | MMajor | MMajor | ·Minor | ·Minor | MMajor | ||
| 17 Ten Plus One | MMajor | MMajor | MMajor | ·Minor | ·Minor | MMajor | ||
| 18 Ax | MMajor | MMajor | MMajor | ·Minor | ·Minor | MMajor | ||
| 19 He Who Hesitates | MMajor | MMajor | MMajor | ·Minor | ·Minor | MMajor | ||
| 20 Doll | MMajor | MMajor | MMajor | ·Minor | ·Minor | MMajor | ||
| 21 Eighty Million Eyes | MMajor | MMajor | MMajor | ·Minor | ·Minor | MMajor | ||
| 22 Fuzz | MMajor | MMajor | MMajor | ·Minor | ·Minor | MMajor | MMajor | |
| 23 Shotgun | MMajor | MMajor | MMajor | ·Minor | ·Minor | MMajor | ||
| 24 Jigsaw | MMajor | MMajor | MMajor | ·Minor | ·Minor | MMajor | ||
| 25 Hail, Hail, the Gang's All Here! | MMajor | MMajor | MMajor | ·Minor | ·Minor | MMajor | ||
| 26 Sadie When She Died | MMajor | MMajor | MMajor | ·Minor | ·Minor | MMajor | ||
| 27 Let's Hear It for the Deaf Man | MMajor | MMajor | MMajor | ·Minor | ·Minor | MMajor | MMajor | |
| 28 Hail to the Chief | MMajor | MMajor | MMajor | ·Minor | ·Minor | MMajor | ||
| 29 Bread | MMajor | MMajor | MMajor | ·Minor | ·Minor | MMajor | ||
| 30 Blood Relatives | MMajor | MMajor | MMajor | ·Minor | ·Minor | MMajor | ||
| 31 So Long as You Both Shall Live | MMajor | MMajor | MMajor | ·Minor | ·Minor | MMajor | ||
| 32 Long Time No See | MMajor | MMajor | MMajor | ·Minor | ·Minor | MMajor | ||
| 33 Calypso | MMajor | MMajor | MMajor | ·Minor | ·Minor | MMajor | ||
| 34 Ghosts | MMajor | MMajor | MMajor | ·Minor | ·Minor | MMajor | ||
| 35 Heat | MMajor | MMajor | MMajor | ·Minor | ·Minor | MMajor | ||
| 36 Ice | MMajor | MMajor | MMajor | ·Minor | ·Minor | MMajor | ||
| 37 Lightning | MMajor | MMajor | MMajor | ·Minor | ·Minor | MMajor | ||
| 38 Eight Black Horses | MMajor | MMajor | MMajor | ·Minor | ·Minor | MMajor | MMajor | |
| 39 Poison | MMajor | MMajor | MMajor | ·Minor | ·Minor | MMajor | ||
| 40 Tricks | MMajor | MMajor | MMajor | ·Minor | ·Minor | MMajor | ||
| 41 Lullaby | MMajor | MMajor | MMajor | ·Minor | ·Minor | MMajor | ||
| 42 Vespers | MMajor | MMajor | MMajor | ·Minor | ·Minor | MMajor | ||
| 43 Widows | MMajor | MMajor | MMajor | ·Minor | ·Minor | MMajor | ||
| 44 Kiss | MMajor | MMajor | MMajor | ·Minor | ·Minor | MMajor | ||
| 45 Mischief | MMajor | MMajor | MMajor | ·Minor | ·Minor | MMajor | MMajor | |
| 46 Romance | MMajor | MMajor | MMajor | ·Minor | ·Minor | MMajor | ||
| 47 Nocturne | MMajor | MMajor | MMajor | ·Minor | ·Minor | MMajor | ||
| 48 The Big Bad City | MMajor | MMajor | ·Minor | MMajor | ·Minor | ·Minor | MMajor | |
| 49 The Last Dance | MMajor | MMajor | ·Minor | MMajor | ·Minor | ·Minor | MMajor | |
| 50 Money, Money, Money | MMajor | MMajor | ·Minor | MMajor | ·Minor | ·Minor | MMajor | |
| 51 Fat Ollie's Book | MMajor | MMajor | LLead | MMajor | ·Minor | ·Minor | MMajor | |
| 52 The Frumious Bandersnatch | MMajor | MMajor | ·Minor | MMajor | ·Minor | ·Minor | MMajor | |
| 53 Hark! | MMajor | MMajor | ·Minor | MMajor | ·Minor | ·Minor | MMajor | MMajor |
| 54 Fiddlers | MMajor | MMajor | ·Minor | MMajor | ·Minor | ·Minor | MMajor |
Characters in the 87th Precinct books
8 characters from Ed McBain’s chart, with the number of 87th Precinct books each appears in.
| Character | Books | First in this series |
|---|---|---|
| Steve CarellaDetective of the 87th | 54 | Cop Hater 1956 |
| Bert KlingYoung patrolman, later detective | 54 | Cop Hater 1956 |
| Oliver "Fat Ollie" WeeksDetective of the 88th | 7 | The Big Bad City 1999 |
| Meyer MeyerPatient, bald detective | 54 | Cop Hater 1956 |
| Teddy CarellaSteve's deaf wife | 54 | Cop Hater 1956 |
| Arthur BrownDetective | 51 | The Con Man 1957 |
| Cotton HawesRed-haired detective | 50 | Killer's Choice 1958 |
| The Deaf ManMaster criminal who taunts the squad | 6 | The Heckler 1960 |