Eight Black Horses

Yesterday I reread "Eight Black Horses" by Ed McBain. One of my favorites, because it features the 87th's nemesis, the Deaf Man. The detectives start receiving first photocopies of different seemingly unrelated items: police hats, horses, pigs, etc. Then, after Christmas, each day for each of the 12 days of Christmas, they start receiving the actual items (the Deaf Man shots and kills 8 black horses in the police stable as a way of sending them, you see). On the 12 and last day, he has planted a bomb to go off in the squad room while all 12 detectives are there (12 roasted pigs, get it?). Through sheer luck his plan is foiled, and the Deaf Man escapes to torment another day.