So Nude, So Dead

Ed McBain is the pseudonym of Evan Hunter who has created an entire series of 87th Precinct novels under his pen-name. Hunter's breakthrough success came with his book The Blackboard Jungle (1954) which inspired him continue writing. Cop Hater was published in 1956 and established a new standard in police fiction, observed in television programs to this day. Note that McBain's novels do not have one single hero but rather, an entire squad room full of them who come and go from novel to novel. Also, the same villains often recur in his novels. Although the city setting for the books is meant to be vague, it seems quite clear to most that it is New York.

Several of McBain's novels have been made into films. In addition to American adaptations, Akira Kurosawa's High and Low is based on an 87th Precinct novel (King's Ransom), as is French director Philippe Labro's 1972 film Without Apparent Motive, based on Ten Plus One. The fictional precinct also inspired its own television series. Evan Hunter has written under a number of pseudonyms and has been regularly honored for his work.