At a Glance
Ed McBain (website) is the pseudonym for the American author Evan Hunter, who passed away in 2005. He is best known for his Matthew Hope series and the 87th Precinct series where his main character, Detective Steve Carella featured quite often. In addition the author has written several standalone novels under various aliases between 1952 and 2005.
Born in New York in October 1926 as Salvatore Albert Lombino, he legally changed his name to Evan Hunter in 1952. He served in the Navy and went on to serve in World War II, where he discovered his love for writing. His first works were short stories which got published years later, once he became a well known writer.
Before becoming a full time writer he held various jobs, including a short 17 days as a teacher in the Bronx Vocational High School – experience which was translated to paper in his book Blackboard Jungle, where he used the same school setting.
His first novel is Cop Hater, published in 1956 was also the first book in the 87th Precinct series.
Many of his novels haven been turned into movies, including Blood Relatives and Without Apparent Movive, which has been made into French films, and King’s Ransom which has been made into the movie High and Low in 1963.
The book Buddwing (which he published under the name Evan Hunter) was made into a film drama called Mr. Buddwing in 1966.
The author has passed away in July 2005 at the age of 78. While he is greatly missed ever since, his work has been a great contribution to the crime mystery genre overall.
Here are the Ed McBain books in his series and his stand alone novels in publication order. You can also find all the Ed McBain books on Amazon.
87th Precinct Series In Order Of Publication
1. Cop Hater, 1956
2. The Mugger, 1956
3. The Pusher, 1956
4. The Con Man, 1957
5. Killer’s Choice, 1957
6. Killer’s Payoff, 1957
7. Killer’s Wedge, 1959
8. Lady Killer, 1958
9. ‘Til Death, 1959
10. King’s Ransom, 1959
11. Give the Boys a Great Big Hand, 1960
12. The Heckler, 1960
13. See Them Die, 1960
14. Lady, Lady, I Did It!, 1961
15. The Empty Hours, 1962
16. Like Love, 1962
17. Ten Plus One, 1963
18. Ax, 1964
19. He Who Hesitates, 1964
20. Doll, 1965
21. Eighty Million Eyes, 1966
22. Fuzz, 1968
23. Shotgun, 1969
24. Jigsaw, 1970
25. Hail, Hail, the Gang’s All Here, 1971
26. Let’s Hear It for the Deaf Man, 1972
27. Sadie When She Died, 1972
28. Hail to the Chief, 1973
29. Bread, 1974
30. Blood Relatives, 1975
31. So Long As You Both Shall Live, 1976
32. Long Time No See, 1977
33. Calypso, 1979
34. Ghosts, 1980
35. Heat, 1981
36. Ice, 1983
37. Lightning, 1984
38. And All Through the House, 1984
39. Eight Black Horses, 1985
40. Poison– 1987
41. Tricks, 1987
42. Lullaby, 1989
43. Vespers, 1990
44. Widows, 1991
45. Kiss, 1992
46. Mischief, 1993
47. Romance, 1995
48. Nocturne, 1997
49. The Big Bad City, 1999
50. The Last Dance, 2000
51. Money, Money, Money, 2001
52. Fat Ollie’s Book, 2002
53. The Frumious Bandersnatch, 2003
54. Hark!, 2004
55. Fiddlers, 2005
Matthew Hope Series In Order Of Publication
1. Goldilocks, 1977
2. Rumpelstiltskin, 1981
3. Beauty & The Beast, 1982
4. Jack & The Beanstalk, 1984
5. Snow White & Rose Red, 1985
6. Cinderella, 1986
7. Puss in Boots, 1987
8. The House that Jack Built, 1988
9. Three Blind Mice, 1990
10. Mary, Mary, 1991
11. There Was A Little Girl, 1994
12. Gladly The Cross-Eyed Bear, 1996
13. The Last Best Hope, 1998
Standalone Novels by Ed McBain
The April Robin Murders (with Craig Rice), 1958
The Sentries, 1965
Where There’s Smoke, 1975
Guns, 1976
Another Part Of The City, 1986
Downtown, 1991
Driving Lessons, 2000
Learning to Kill, 2005
Transgressions, 2005 (edited by Ed McBain)
Women In Jeopardy, 2005
Alice in Jeopardy, 2005
Standalone Novels as Evan Hunter
A Matter of Conviction, 1959
Mothers And Daughters, 1961
Buddwing, 1964
The Paper Dragon, 1966
A Horse’s Head, 1967
Last Summer, 1968
Sons, 1969
Nobody Knew They Were There, 1971
Every Little Crook And Nanny, 1972
Come Winter, 1973
Streets Of Gold, 1974
The Chisholms: A Novel Of The Journey West, 1976
Walk Proud, 1979
Love, Dad, 1981
Far From The Sea, 1983
Lizzie, 1984
Criminal Conversation, 1994
Privileged Conversation, 1996
Candyland, 2001
The Moment She Was Gone, 2002
Standalone Novels Written Under Other Aliases
Cut Me In, 1954 (as Hunt Collins)
Tomorrow And Tomorrow, 1956 (as Hunt Collins)
Rocket To Luna, 1953 (as Richard Marsten)
Danger: Dinosaurs!, 1953 (as Richard Marsten)
Runaway Black, 1954 (as Richard Marsten)
Murder In The Navy, 1955 (as Richard Marsten)
Vanishing Ladies, 1957 (as Richard Marsten)
The Spiked Heel, 1957 (as Richard Marsten)
Even The Wicked, 1958 (as Richard Marsten)
Big Man, 1959 (as Richard Marsten)
I Like ‘Em Tough (short stories), 1958 (as Curt Cannon)
I’m Cannon – For Hire, 1958 (as Curt Cannon)
Doors, 1975 (as Ezra Hannon)
Scimitar, 1992 (as John Abbott)