Ed McBain's Eight Black Horses - Book 38: Professor Hair

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.

Side-Pod - The Birds: Oh My Giddy Aunt *THWACK*

Hark! It's an 87th Precinct Sidepod!

Join Paul and his special guest, Herbert West of the Doctor Who Podcast “Trial Of A Timelord”, as they discuss Alfred Hitchcock’s 1963 film “The Birds”.

In the late fifties and early sixties, Hitchcock and Evan Hunter crossed paths a few times in the course of the making of the TV series “Alfred Hitchcock Presents…” and this led to Hitch inviting Hunter to adapt the 1952 short story by Daphne Du Maurier into the screenplay for his next horror/thriller movie. The journey was not necessarily an easy one and we take a deep dive (from up in the sky – beak sharpened and pointed at your eyes) into what made this film a success, a failure or simply a cinematic curiosity, depending on your point of view (if you’ve got any eyes left after the dive-bombing).

Along the way we hear an interesting theory about how horror and police procedurals work, learn about the magical German device known as the Trautonium and find out what magpies get up to on the winter holidays.

If you want to know more about Hitch and Hunter’s relationship, Evan’s book “Me and Hitch” is a fascinating read, but we’ll put more on the blog about it for you to follow up!

Find “Trial Of A Timelord” on Twitter and Podbean – and why not start with the Paradise Towers episode, eh?

Fare thee well!