Big Man — Ed McBain

The lives of two New York toughs spin out of control when a routine burglary spirals into a cop killing in this thriller by the author of the 87th Precinct series.
 
Robbing the cars is Jobbo's idea. Frankie just goes along because it's too hot to do anything else, and he can't resist easy money. They walk along the East River, reaching into open windows and taking whatever they find. Mostly, it's just junk, until Jobbo picks up the .45. It's fully loaded, with the safety off, and Frankie is holding it when the cops come around the corner.
 
The police open fire, and Frankie shoots back. What else is he supposed to do? Before he knows it, both cops are down, and he and Jobbo are running to meet their connection: the Big Man. With the gun in his hand and two fallen cops at his back, Frankie has a shot at becoming a “big man” himself, unless the law catches up with him first.
 
A stunning portrait of urban crime, Big Man is vintage Ed McBain. A Mystery Writers of America Grand Master and the creator of the 87th Precinct series, McBain knew the dark side of New York better than anyone else, and in the city's shadows, there's no creature more terrifying than the Big Man.