Tuesday 22 August 2017

For Illustrative Purposes - Killer's Wedge

Here, as discussed in the bonus episode, are the covers of the editions of Killer's Wedge that we have. Left to Right, Paul's copy is the 1978 Penguin Edition, Stevo's is the 1979 Penguin and Morgan's is the 2007 Allison and Busby edition (featuring shattered glass, which in no way relates to the story).


Earlier editions focused, quite reasonably, on the most important non-cop character, Virginia Dodge, although the difference between her portrayal on the original hardback (L) and the paperback (R) perhaps tells you something about the different approaches/markets the editions were aimed at!


And at least one edition (Signet) doesn't bother to play with the main-plot at all, but goes straight in for a spoiler about Carella's discovery/showdown/fistfight from his B-Plot "Locked Room" mystery:


Still, they're all better than the currently available Thomas and Mercer edition (Amazon), to the extent I'm not even going to link to the image. Remember - buy second-hand! Support independent booksellers! Enjoy the thrill of the book hunt!

Monday 21 August 2017

Ed McBain's Killer's Wedge - Episode 8, Bonus: We're Not Graphologists

Hark! It's the 87th Precinct Podcast Bonus Episode!
Hello and welcome to the sound of three men comparing the letter 'r' for your listening pleasure! In this episode we follow up on the last episode discovery of artist Theo Ramos's name in Stevo's book (have a look at artuk.org/discover/artists/ram...theodore-b-1928 for some examples of his work) and we take a further look at the 87th Precinct TV episode, Lady In Waiting (2 October '61), and revel in the intense eye-acting work of Constance Ford. Also, if you're not from the UK and you've never heard of Art Attack, How? or Neil Buchanan's "Marseille" - don't worry about it. You're probably better off.
We'll be back soon with the matrimonial catastrophe that is Ed McBain's "'Til Death" ('59)! Please, if you're enjoying these, a review on Apple Podcasts would be super-appreciated and allow us to reach a wider audience. Feel free to comment, contribute or critique at Hark87Podcast on social media, or email us at Hark87Podcast@gmail.com - bye!

Monday 14 August 2017

La Soupe Aux Poulets (1963)

La Soupe Aux Poulets ('63) ("Chicken Soup") was a French film adaptation of Ed McBain's Killer's Wedge ('59) http://m.imdb.com/title/tt0054329/ - The posters look like paperback crime novel covers, with hints of French New Wave cinema added in. 


Monday 7 August 2017

Ed McBain's Killer's Wedge - Episode 8: Supernatural Elephant

Hark! It's the 87th Precinct Podcast - Killer's Wedge!
Here we are again with the next story in the fabulous Police Procedural series and we've finally reached 1959 and the eighth book in the 87th Precinct series, Killer's Wedge.
Along the way we talk about the TV episode from the adaptation in 1961, explore the Locked Room Mysteries of John Dickson Carr and draw parallels to a Transformers comic from 1984 and reveal what the S.I. unit of Desk Name-Plate measurements is.
Join us soon for the Bonus episode to accompany this story and then in the next podcast for Ed McBain's 'Til Death!

Thursday 3 August 2017

Columbo and the 87th Precinct - Lady Killer

What's that? You want to know if there are any links between Columbo and the 87th Precinct TV episode based on "Lady Killer", the last book we looked at on the podcast? Well, gosh, yes there is!


  • Playing psychiatrist, Dr Daniels (not in the book), is Harlan Warde, who is bumped-off & dumped in the sea in Ransom For A Dead Man
  • Vito Scotti, as Stool Pigeon "Donner" (not "Fats" in the ep!), was in 6 episodes of Columbo between '73 and '89.
  • Penny Santon, playing Mrs.Annuci, appeared in two episodes of Columbo in the Nineties... firstly, Death Hits The Jackpot in ’91 then she appeared again, in '94 in "Undercover", the story based on Ed McBain's 87th Precinct novel, "Jigsaw" (1970).