Legend has it that the classic long-term police show 'Hills Street Blues' was based upon the 87th Precinct novels or at least the success of detailed accurate gritty characters and situations.
The books are sequential and build on the events in the previous books, whilst it is not essential to have read the first books, it certainly helps. It is worth while to search them out via second hand book stores or on line. ai have been reading 87th Precinct books for over 40 years, so I can easily move between early and late novels in the series. Grabbing this book with two novels in it and with no back stories - because McBain doesn't waste words on giving you essential information you would have read in a previous novel - this means you may not like these two stories, but they are typical of the series and excellent for fans. ( )