Author Evan Hunter, Ed McBain 87th Precinct detective series, dies

[cynatnite]

I got hooked on his stuff after reading 'Blackboard Jungle'. Great writer and sad to see go.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20050708/ap_en_ot/obit_hunter

HARTFORD, Conn. - Evan Hunter, a prolific writer whose gritty Ed McBain 87th Precinct detective series pioneered the police procedural genre and laid the groundwork for a generation of TV cop dramas, has died at the age of 78.

Hunter, whose earlier work included "The Blackboard Jungle," died Wednesday in Weston of cancer of the larynx, said his agent, Jane Gelfman.

Writing as Ed McBain, his 87th Precinct series grew to more than 50 titles as it tracked a detective squad in a mythical city bearing a strong resemblance to Hunter's hometown of New York City.

The series basically invented the police procedural genre, which demonstrates the activities of an entire police squad as they investigate crimes. It is a sub-genre of mystery and crime fiction, which focus on individual detectives who concentrate on one crime.

[freeplessinseattle]

1. I loved his books! Wish I'd had the chance to meet him

One of my favorite writers, been a long time since I've read one of his books, but I used to go through a several of his books in the summer. He injected a reality into his stories, helped by researching with NY cops on the beat. His other books written under Evan Hunter touched a deeper chord, The Blackboard Jungle is a classic.

What a sad day today.


*why did the yahoo people pick a photo from 1976? I know I've seen more recent ones. Maybe they wanted to show him "in his prime" but still, a 30 year old photo seems like they didn't try very hard.

He is a legend:

"The series basically invented the police procedural genre, which demonstrates the activities of an entire police squad as they investigate crimes. It is a sub-genre of mystery and crime fiction, which focus on individual detectives who concentrate on one crime.

The form has since become popular in both novels and on television, including "Hill Street Blues" and "NYPD Blue"

[madfloridian]

2. I also loved his Matthew Hope series set in Florida.

I could almost recognize some of the towns he wrote about.

http://www.nytimes.com/books/00/01/30/specials/mcbain-cinderella.html