The Frumious Bandersnatch: A Novel of the 87th Precinct

From Publishers Weekly

Amazingly, MWA Grand Master McBain remains as fresh and sharp-edged as ever in his 53rd 87th Precinct novel (after 2003's Fat Ollie's Book), which takes on the culture of celebrity. Bison Records' self-styled impresario Barney Loomis runs into a snag in his effort to catapult his newest performer, Tamar Valparaiso, to stardom. As Tamar is lip-synching the provocative video of her first album aboard a rented yacht, two men in Saddam Hussein and Yasir Arafat masks snatch her before a stunned audience. With his usual expert pacing, McBain alternates the action among a number of characters, including the kidnappers and Tamar; series stalwart Steve Carella, who must endure political maneuvering within a Joint Task Force of police bigwigs and FBI agents; and misogynist Ollie Weeks and his new amour, Det. Patricia Gomez. McBain injects enough humor to leaven the underlying tragedy-the fate of a vulnerable, talented young woman. Although it's soon obvious who's behind Tamar's kidnapping, we don't read McBain for surprising denouements but for his true-to-life dialogue, skill at defining characters and effortless transitions. The Lewis Carroll theme provides an extra level of enjoyment. Copyright 2003 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From AudioFile

Fat Ollie (aka Detective Oliver Wendell Weeks) resurfaces in this witty offering by wordmeister McBain. Take an up-and-coming MTV diva, add a dumb-and-dumber kidnapping team, chop coarsely with a police and federal task force with egos bigger than their intellects, and you have a rousing crime tale replete with inner-city oddballs. Ron McLarty voices them with enough joie de vivre for two readers. McLarty is one of those rare actors who can truly inhabit a voice and a character, which makes for real listening pleasure. Audio quality is clean; direction, writing, and performance top-notch-so why not join Fat Ollie for this buffet? D.J.B. © AudioFile 2004, Portland, Maine-- Copyright © AudioFile, Portland, Maine --This text refers to the

Audio CD edition.