Ed McBain wrote roughly one novel a year, which might lead some readers to dismiss him as a hack writer. Yet what sets him apart from the average crime novelist is his distinctive style, carefully constructed plots, and convincing portrayal of police work.
At the beginning of each novel, McBain includes a disclaimer stating that the place, characters, and events are fictional, while the police procedures are real. This brief statement reflects one of the the defining characteristics of the 87th Precinct series: its attention to the everyday workings of a police station and the routines of detectives investigating a case.
In Like Love, a young man and a woman apparently die by suicide after inhaling gas. However, the detectives are not convinced that the case is as straightforward as it first appears. Steve Carella, Cotton Hawes, Meyer Meyer, and Bert Kling begin questioning the woman's husband, her mother, the young man's brother, and other people connected to the victims.
As the investigation unfolds, McBain demonstrates his ability to turn a seemingly ordinary case into an engaging police procedural, built around interviews, evidence, and the gradual reconstruction of events. There is nothing particularly revolutionary about the premise, but the strength of the novel lies in its execution.
Like Love is classic McBain at the height of his powers: economical, well constructed, and grounded in the convincing routines of police work. Another solid entry in the 87th Precinct series.
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