EIGHT BLACK HORSES

The original assigned topic for this week was "favorite read of 2017." That's an easy one for me: Eight Black Horses by Ed McBain.

• Hardcover: 250 pages
• Publisher: Arbor House; 1st edition (July 1, 1985)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0877956812
• ISBN-13: 978-0877956815

You can get it for your Kindle for $3.99. I almost did. Instead, I took it down from my top shelf and read the hardcover. It wasn't the best book I'd read this past year, but it was the most treasured, my favorite because of what it meant to me. I'd purchased the hardcover in 1999 at a Bouchercon in Milwaukee. It was the first mystery convention I attended. I was writing fantasy and science fiction back then, but I adored mysteries and the convention was an hour and a half drive away. I met Michael Connelly there, and Beverly DeWeese ... I would go on to coauthor a SF novel with her husband, Gene, The Cauldron. 

At that Bouchercon I loaded my days attending panels, stopping in the dealer's room to acquire books. Books. Books. BOOKS. I'd went to the convention on a budget, carefully figuring for hotel, meals, a few books, and money for gas for the trip home.

There were soooooooooo many books. And so many of the dealers back then would take neither check nor credit card; I hadn't counted on that. Cash only the signs said. I bought paperbacks for Michael Connelly to sign, assorted books that looked nifty, including Zero Minus Ten and The Facts of Death by Raymond Benson. I met Raymond at a Madison, WI, Bouchercon a few years later, published him in one of my anthologies, and regularly read his stellar prose. His The Secrets on Chicory Lane was a marvelous read of 2017. 

Back to Eight Black Horses. I was slowly building a library of Ed McBain books ... paperbacks 'cause they fit my budget unless I found hardcovers on sale tables. But this hardcover was perfect and shiny, though it had been released fourteen years before. And it was signed. And I wanted it. And the seller only took cash. I had enough to get the book, with two dollars to spare. The convention lasted only one more day, I could skip meals until I got back home.

I put the book on a high shelf, a prize, Eight Black Horses signed by the Ed McBain, who I would later correspond with over a shared background in SF. I hadn't read it in all these years because ... well, it was a prize. I didn't want to risk bending the pages or getting pug hair inside (as happens with many of my books since pug hair is everywhere in my house).

I had recently thought about that Kindle version, or picking up a paperback so I could say I'd read ALL of McBain's 87th Precinct novels.

But my big dog Jake died right before Thanksgiving.

The dog was two and a half years old and took up a good bit of my heart. He was worthy of eight black horses.

• It was a reminder that we are all finite, that everyone dies.
• That you should use the good dishes everyday. (I do)
• That you should not save the beautiful sweater for a special occasion. (I am wearing it now)
• That if you want to write mysteries instead of fantasy and science fiction, you should indeed do just that, no matter the publishing risk. (I have embraced that notion)
• That you should not avoid reading a signed hardcover first printing of Eight Black Horses.

It was a very good book. Not McBain's finest. As I'd mentioned, not the best book I'd read in 2017. But it was my favorite read, my prize unwrapped.

Eight Black Horses came down from the shelf after my big dog died, and I read it in three days.

Live in the now,  my dogs teach me.

I will gift Eight Black Horses to one of my friends, with instructions it not be set untouched on a high shelf and a warning that there will be several pug hairs in it. I still have one more unread McBain to tackle before the year is out, a short story collection my friend C.A. Verstraete gave me for Christmas.

Read in the now, my dogs teach me.

It has been my great pleasure to be a part of this mystery writers' group. I intend to check in with them, read their blogs, pick up their books. Michael A. Black's recent mystery was one of the most enjoyable reads of this past year. And next in my stack is one by Camille. In fact, I think I have books waiting for me that were written by all the LadyKillers; their blogs so enticed me I had to pick up their tales. I will read them one after the next, no books "saved for later."

Read in the now.

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Comments

[Christine Verstraete]

Merry Christmas to all. And enjoy that book!

[Michael A. Black]

Sorry to hear about Big Jake, Jean. Your blog shows us all what's really important in life. It's been a pleasure being on The Ladykillers with you.

[Steve Rouse]

Unlike a good book, a life can only be experienced once. So happy that you had all those hours of play and cuddle with Jake. Memories to stay in your heart forever. Maybe he could be in one of your stories, too... Like Wrinks! Thanks for all you writing and all you insights!

[Staci]

You have shared some valuable wisdom in your post. I feel like opening up that pack of note cards that I always think are too nice to use and for once, I will actually use them.

[Carole Price]

What a lovely post, Jean. Beautiful Jake . . . I teared up when I read he had passed away. I am guilty of saving clothes, china, jewelry for only special occasions. Not any more. I'm no spring chicken.

[Ann]

Wonderful post, Jean.
I'm pulling out my grandmother's china NOW and will be using one of the bowls for breakfast tomorrow.
So sorry to hear of Jake's passing... but as you say, it's all a valuable lesson. Just a very difficult one that we all keep learning over and over throughout life.
Looking forward to following your personal blog in the new year and cheering you on in your writer's journey! Thanks for being a member of the LadyKillers!

[Jean Rabe]

thanks for your comments. I'm gonna miss this, but I will blog more often on my page. And I've signed up for your newsletters.