📖 About 87th Precinct

87th Precinct is a series universe written by Ed McBain. The complete collection runs to 55 books across 1 series, published between 1956 and 2005.

The main series is Publication Order of 87th Precinct Books with 55 books. It opens with Cop Hater (1956) and currently runs to Fiddlers (2005).

Series included on this page:

🎯 Where to Start with 87th Precinct

New readers should begin with the first book of the main series in publication order: Cop Hater (1956), book 1 of Publication Order of 87th Precinct Books. Reading in publication order lets the world and characters develop the way the author intended, and it avoids spoilers that later books may contain.

Each of the 1 series on this page is expandable — click a series heading to see every title it contains, in order, with a direct link to buy the book on Amazon.

📚 87th Precinct Books in Order

Publication Order of 87th Precinct Books
55 books
1
Cop Hater book cover1Cop Hater1956Buy on Amazon
The Mugger book cover2The Mugger1956Buy on Amazon
The Pusher book cover3The Pusher1956Buy on Amazon
The Con Man book cover4The Con Man1957Buy on Amazon
Killer's Choice book cover5Killer's Choice1957Buy on Amazon
Lady Killer book cover6Lady Killer1958Buy on Amazon
Killer's Wedge book cover7Killer's Wedge1958Buy on Amazon
Killer's Payoff book cover8Killer's Payoff1958Buy on Amazon
King's Ransom book cover9King's Ransom1959Buy on Amazon
'Til Death book cover10'Til Death1959Buy on Amazon
Give the Boys a Great Big Hand book cover11Give the Boys a Great Big Hand1960Buy on Amazon
The Heckler book cover12The Heckler1960Buy on Amazon
See Them Die book cover13See Them Die1960Buy on Amazon
Lady, Lady, I Did It! book cover14Lady, Lady, I Did It!1961Buy on Amazon
The Empty Hours book cover15The Empty Hours1962Buy on Amazon
Like Love book cover16Like Love1962Buy on Amazon
Ten Plus One book cover17Ten Plus One1963Buy on Amazon
Ax / Axe book cover18Ax / Axe1963Buy on Amazon
He Who Hesitates book cover19He Who Hesitates1965Buy on Amazon
Doll book cover20Doll1965Buy on Amazon
Eighty Million Eyes book cover21Eighty Million Eyes1966Buy on Amazon
Fuzz book cover22Fuzz1968Buy on Amazon
Shotgun book cover23Shotgun1968Buy on Amazon
Jigsaw book cover24Jigsaw1970Buy on Amazon
Hail, Hail, the Gang's All Here! book cover25Hail, Hail, the Gang's All Here!1971Buy on Amazon
Sadie When She Died book cover26Sadie When She Died1972Buy on Amazon
Let's Hear It for the Deaf Man book cover27Let's Hear It for the Deaf Man1973Buy on Amazon
Hail to the Chief book cover28Hail to the Chief1973Buy on Amazon
Bread book cover29Bread1974Buy on Amazon
Blood Relatives book cover30Blood Relatives1975Buy on Amazon
So Long as You Both Shall Live book cover31So Long as You Both Shall Live1976Buy on Amazon
Long Time No See book cover32Long Time No See1977Buy on Amazon
Ghosts book cover33Ghosts1980Buy on Amazon
Calypso book cover34Calypso1980Buy on Amazon
Heat book cover35Heat1981Buy on Amazon
Ice book cover36Ice1983Buy on Amazon
Lightning book cover37Lightning1984Buy on Amazon
And All Through The House book cover38And All Through The House1984Buy on Amazon
Eight Black Horses book cover39Eight Black Horses1985Buy on Amazon
Poison book cover40Poison1987Buy on Amazon
Lullaby book cover41Lullaby1989Buy on Amazon
Vespers book cover42Vespers1989Buy on Amazon
Tricks book cover43Tricks1989Buy on Amazon
Widows book cover44Widows1991Buy on Amazon
Kiss book cover45Kiss1992Buy on Amazon
Mischief book cover46Mischief1993Buy on Amazon
Romance book cover47Romance1995Buy on Amazon
Nocturne book cover48Nocturne1997Buy on Amazon
The Big Bad City book cover49The Big Bad City1998Buy on Amazon
The Last Dance book cover50The Last Dance1999Buy on Amazon
Money, Money, Money book cover51Money, Money, Money2001Buy on Amazon
Fat Ollie's Book book cover52Fat Ollie's Book2002Buy on Amazon
The Frumious Bandersnatch book cover53The Frumious Bandersnatch2003Buy on Amazon
Hark! book cover54Hark!2004Buy on Amazon
Fiddlers book cover55Fiddlers2005Buy on Amazon

❓ Frequently Asked Questions

How many 87th Precinct books are there?
There are 55 books in the 87th Precinct collection, organised into 1 series and published between 1956 and 2005.
What is the first 87th Precinct book?
The first book is Cop Hater, published in 1956.
What order should I read the 87th Precinct books in?
Most readers use publication order, which is the order the books were originally released. A chronological order is also provided on this page for readers who prefer to follow the internal timeline of the story.
Who wrote the 87th Precinct books?
The 87th Precinct books were written by Ed McBain.
Is the 87th Precinct series finished?
The main series, Publication Order of 87th Precinct Books, has 55 books so far. The most recent title listed on this page gives the current end point of the series.
When did the 87th Precinct series start?
The earliest title in this collection was published in 1956, and the most recent in 2005.