Evan Hunter, a prolific writer whose gritty Ed McBain 87th Precinct detective series pioneered the police procedural genre and laid the groundwork for a generation of TV cop dramas, has died at the age of 78.
Hunter, whose earlier work included “The Blackboard Jungle,” died Wednesday in Weston, Conn., of cancer of the larynx, said his agent, Jane Gelfman.
Writing as Ed McBain, his 87th Precinct series grew to more than 50 titles as it tracked a detective squad in a mythical city bearing a strong resemblance to Hunter’s hometown of New York City.
The series basically invented the police procedural genre, which demonstrates the activities of an entire police squad as it investigates crimes. It is a subgenre of mystery and crime fiction, which focus on individual detectives who concentrate on one crime.
The form has since become popular in both novels and on television, including “Hill Street Blues” and “NYPD Blue.”
“Hill Street Blues,” the first TV police procedural with a large ensemble cast, bore a strong resemblance to the 87th Precinct novels in form, tone and spirit. The producers of the series, however, never acknowledged that, leaving McBain feeling angry and bitter.
“I think he was the best police procedural writer around,” said friend and novelist Elmore Leonard. “I think an awful lot of people must have learned from him, and if they didn’t, they were nuts, because he was good. He was very good.”
Associated Press
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