A Matter of Conviction

Name: A Matter of Conviction
Price: 1.99 USD
Availability: InStock
Rating: 4.1 (34 reviews)
Author: Ed McBain

by Ed McBain

Historical Fiction Thriller

4.1 (34)

$1.99Deal75% off peak

Last checked: Jul 14, 2026

Price history: $1.99 – $7.99

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Price range: $1.99 – $7.99

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Perfect for you if...

You appreciate crime fiction that treats its urban setting as a character, not just a backdrop.
You value legal procedurals that explore systemic racial tension rather than sidestep it.
You're drawn to protagonists who are decent people facing impossible choices in broken systems.

Maybe not for you if...

You prefer crime stories where the mystery is the point. The outcome here is known from page one.
You want escapism and hope. This is bleak, tight-jawed realism about how cities fail their people.
You need likeable characters. Hank Bell is principled but not warm, and the supporting cast reflects the moral complexity of the era.

About this book

A racially charged murder case tests a district attorney in this legal thriller by Ed McBain, author of the 87th Precinct series. After an intense heat wave, storms move toward New York City as three boys carrying knives cross into Spanish Harlem looking for a fight. When they spot their intended victim, they surround him and fatally stab him. The attackers escape as rain falls on the victim's body. The killing triggers widespread panic threatening the city. Prosecuting the case falls to Hank Bell, a Harlem-born district attorney committed to his civic duty. As the case becomes unstable, Hank must prevent the city from descending into chaos. This novel, which inspired John Frankenheimer's film The Young Savages, examines a city on the edge of disorder.

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Price History

Kindle price over time. Green zones = periods when the book was free.

$1.99 – $7.99

Currently on sale at $1.99 — 75% off peak. Price has dropped 32 times over the last 5 years. Goes on sale roughly every 31 days. Typically stays discounted for 133 days.

Sales Rank

Amazon sales rank: lower number = better selling book. #1 is the bestseller.

Currently around #67K in the Kindle store — a steady mid-list seller.

Rating & Reviews

Purple line = star rating over time. Blue area = total review count growth.

Currently 4.1★ from 34 reviews

Review activity has been quiet recently. Rating has climbed from 3.9 to 4.1. Recent readers are rating it higher.

Sale Prediction

Actual Predicted

This book is currently discounted at $1.99. It typically returns to around $7.99.

Prices shown in USD from Amazon US. We continuously pull new data to improve tracking. If dates look old, it usually means there has been no significant change since the last data point.

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