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Three Blind Mice
When three immigrants are found dead in a grisly tableau, a Florida attorney defends the man who insists he’s innocent…though he’s thrilled to see the trio slaughtered.
Publisher's Summary
Publisher's Summary
293 pages, Hardcover
First published July 1, 1990
About the author
Ed McBain
673 books678 followers"Ed McBain" is one of the pen names of American author and screenwriter Salvatore Albert Lombino (1926-2005), who legally adopted the name
Evan Hunter
in 1952.
While successful and well known as Evan Hunter, he was even better known as Ed McBain, a name he used for most of his crime fiction, beginning in 1956.
He also used the pen names John Abbott, Curt Cannon, Hunt Collins, Ezra Hannon, Dean Hudson, Evan Hunter, and Richard Marsten.
While successful and well known as Evan Hunter, he was even better known as Ed McBain, a name he used for most of his crime fiction, beginning in 1956.
He also used the pen names John Abbott, Curt Cannon, Hunt Collins, Ezra Hannon, Dean Hudson, Evan Hunter, and Richard Marsten.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 36 reviews
April 26, 2020
This his ninth appearance, the Calusa, Fla., lawyer takes on a ``hopeless case,'' defending Stephen Leeds, arrested for murder. The victims were three Vietnamese tried but found not guilty of raping Leeds's wife, Jessie. Every bit of evidence ties the crimes to Leeds, who had publicly sworn to avenge his wife's abuse, but Hope believes in his client and works diligently to free him. The dangerous search for clues to the killer absorbs the lawyer--and the reader. Small discoveries become significant when Hope piles them into a mountain of evidence
March 24, 2024
Entirely solid and entertaining mystery from McBain. It’s gripping throughout and the solution is both unexpected and credible.
February 25, 2014
Okay, okay, okay. I'll change it to four stars only because I round up and yeah, it's a 3 1/2 star book.
Not, in my estimation as good as some of its preceding Matthew Hope adventures, but pretty good mystery.
And no, as usual, I didn't get the whodunit until the end when it was revealed. So what else is new? One reason I love mysteries is because I like to solve them before the end which, of course, I never do.
Not many more to go in this Ed McBain series; there are 13 total and I'll be reading number 10 next, Mary, Mary. All of the 13 in the Hope series are titles of nursery rhymes or fairy tales which I think is quite clever.
Almost as clever as the Travis McGee series named for colors i.e. Darker Than Amber. Oh...my...Travis...here I go swooning again in a quick review for Matthew Hope. For shame. No, I have no shame when it comes to Travis.
Not, in my estimation as good as some of its preceding Matthew Hope adventures, but pretty good mystery.
And no, as usual, I didn't get the whodunit until the end when it was revealed. So what else is new? One reason I love mysteries is because I like to solve them before the end which, of course, I never do.
Not many more to go in this Ed McBain series; there are 13 total and I'll be reading number 10 next, Mary, Mary. All of the 13 in the Hope series are titles of nursery rhymes or fairy tales which I think is quite clever.
Almost as clever as the Travis McGee series named for colors i.e. Darker Than Amber. Oh...my...Travis...here I go swooning again in a quick review for Matthew Hope. For shame. No, I have no shame when it comes to Travis.
August 12, 2014
A good one. I like the Matthew Hope novels quite a bit. This one involves a triple homicide early in the book, three men who had been accused and then acquitted of a violent rape. I was surprised by the villain, so that's a good thing. As with many of the Hope novels, the ending seemed to come a bit easily, but I didn't mind just because I enjoy the overall stories and the characters a lot.
Read
October 4, 2012Everyone has a series, either about cops, lawyers or the medical profession. This is my series. I love these books.
February 3, 2014
Classic McBain = fabulous book. Loved it. Wish he was still with us and writing more novels.
May 20, 2026
Three blind mice,
Three blind mice
See how they run,
See how they run
They all ran after the farmer's wife
Who cut off their tails with a carving knife
You've never seen such a sight in your life
As Three Blind Mice...
Whenever one hears "Three Blind Mice", they automatically think of the tune (also called "Hot Cross Buns") a child first learns to play on the piano or the introductory instrumental to several Three Stooges shorts. Unfortunately, that isn't the case here.
In Ed McBain's edition, there are TWO cases represented here. In the first one, Jessica Leeds, the wife of a wealthy farmer, is viciously raped on December 21st, four days before Christmas. Her assailants are a trio of Vietnamese immigrants who'd recently moved to a subdivision in Calusa, Florida known as "Little Asia". (it should also be pointed out that on the same day, Charles Abbott--the chauffeur from "The House That Jack Built--was brutally beaten by four thugs and sent to the hospital for several weeks.)
Yet it almost takes seven months before the Leeds' trial is set. After three grueling weeks and 1260 pages of transcript, all three men are acquitted of the crime on Friday, August tenth. Jessica's husband Stephen, upon hearing the verdict, threatens in a fit of rage and in front of over a hundred witnesses to kill the three men who raped his wife. But Stephen will soon realize that "the best laid plans of mice and men often go awry" (Robert Burns, "To a Mouse" 1785)
Four days later on Tuesday morning, August 14, all three immigrants are found brutally murdered and butchered inside their small house on Tango Avenue. They were killed late on Monday night, and Stephen Leeds's wallet was found near the bodies. He is soon arrested at his home by Detectives Morris Bloom and Cooper Rawles. Leeds is denied bail by a judge, and now the second case begins.
On Thursday, August 16th, Jessica Leeds retains Matthew Hope as her husband's attorney. But it looks like a "sure thing" for the prosecution. With Hope as the defense lawyer, it bothers Matthew's long-time friend Detective Bloom and angers his law partner Frank Summerville. Stephen's outburst from last Friday's verdict and his wallet found at the murder scene makes him the likely suspect.
Though Matthew has won two or three similar "sure things", he's now up against local State Attorney Skye Bannister. The rumor that's presently circulating is that Skye has much "bigger fish" to fry--something that could rocket his political career up north to Tallahassee. Upon hearing this rumor makes Matthew more determined to win this case.
But he soon learns that once again the odds are stacked against him. Matthew finds out when he goes to the S.A.'s office for the witness list on Friday morning the 17th that Skye won't be prosecuting the Leeds case. Instead, he's turned it over to a new Assistant S.A. named Patricia Demming. She and Matthew met the night before when her red Volkswagen accidentally rear-ended his brand-new, smoky-blue Acura Legend parked at his curb during a downpour. And throughout the rest of the book, Ed McBain does a running gag where the two attorneys bumping into one another--usually when one or both are soaking wet.
Matthew has one of his associates research Patricia Demming. She graduated from high school at 16 and has an Ivy League education and law degree. Before coming to Florida, she practiced in both Los Angeles and New York. When she was in LA, Demming's courtroom candor earned her the nickname the Wicked Witch of the West. And with any slip-ups, she's known to "go straight for the jugular."
Matthew knows he's got his work cut out for him. Patricia is not looking for silver shoes or Ruby Slippers--she wants to win the Leeds case, which Skye is desperately trying to sweep under the rug. Yet the readers may wonder why there were no comments about Demming either melting in the rain or told to "be gone before someone drops a house on her"?! (I know I would.)
Besides suspposedly leaving his wallet at the crime scene on Tango Avenue, witnesses come forward to say that they'd seen Stephen Leeds on the night of August 13th. He was wearing a yellow hat and jacket, and driving his wife's red Maserati with the vanity plates "JESSIE 1". Charlie Stubbs, who runs the Riverview Marina where Leeds keeps his boat, said that Steve phoned him at nine o'clock that night saying he'd be taking his boat out for a "moonlight spin" and not to be "alarmed" if he sees that. Then there are the two Vietnamese witnesses (and neighbors) where one saw Leeds enter the victims' house while the other saw him run towards a dark-blue or green car. But Leeds claims that he was home in bed early and never left his house that night.
The plaintiff has a private investigator named Frank Bannion helping on their side. Bannion meets with Sherry Reynolds, a barmaid at the Kickers restaurant, who saw Leeds get into a car that she identified as a green Oldsmobile Cutlass Supreme though she didn't see the license plate.
On the defense, Matthew enlists P.I. Warren Chambers to assist with the case. After hiring a Vietnamese translator named Mai Chim Lee, she and Hope question the victims' two neighbors. Tran Sum Linh allegedly saw Leeds pull up in a car by their house and enter. Trinh Mang Duc supposedly saw Leeds running for the car. While unable to identify the car or its color, Trinh read the license-plate number, one that doesn't "exist" in Florida.
Reading the daily papers, Stephen Leeds knows that the press has already found him "guilty" of the three murders. He realizes that the local State Attorney Skye Bannister wants this open-and-shut case "swept under the rug". Matthew thinks with all the bad press that Leeds gets that he'd need a change of venue for his impeding trial. The verdict of the three acquitted (and now dead) men still lingers in the air.
Matthew asks Leeds about his brother-in-law Ned Weaver who manages the farm. Ned is a paroled felon, released the previous summer. He served nine years for a bank robbery where he shot and wounded an armed guard. Though Ned was only convicted of that crime, since he was thirteen, he has a history that's longer than his tattooed arm. Yet Stephen doesn't think that Ned murdered the three immigrants due to them having a strained relationship.
Things go from bad to worse. Shortly after Matthew and Mai Chim interview Trinh Mang Duc, he is found murdered and mutilated similar to his three former neighbors. Both Detective Bloom and the S.A.'s office deem it a "copycat" crime. Then P.I. Frank Bannion is found dead in a drainage ditch. Unlike the four immigrants, his skull was crushed with a blunt instrument.
Now both the plaintiff and defense realize that the real killer is out there. Maybe there's even an inside source that leaks out information?! Matthew is now determined to find these links and get Stephen Leeds the freedom he promised him. But will he be able to locate the Olds with its "nonexistant" license plate so he can find a killer's lair. One who may have Tran Sum Linh or Sherry Reynolds on their hit list?!
Ed McBain provides another page turner with "Three Blind Mice". If you're able to, try to watch the 2001 film adaptation starring Brian Dennehy as Matthew Hope. Though Dennehy played numerous cops in film from the corrupt sheriff in "First Blood" to Leo McCarthy in the two "F/X' movies, he didn't seem to cut it as the Florida attorney Matthew Hope. Reading these books, one could envision Brian Dennehy as Matthew's friend Detective Morris Bloom. Now that would've made a great series!
Rating: ****
Three blind mice
See how they run,
See how they run
They all ran after the farmer's wife
Who cut off their tails with a carving knife
You've never seen such a sight in your life
As Three Blind Mice...
Whenever one hears "Three Blind Mice", they automatically think of the tune (also called "Hot Cross Buns") a child first learns to play on the piano or the introductory instrumental to several Three Stooges shorts. Unfortunately, that isn't the case here.
In Ed McBain's edition, there are TWO cases represented here. In the first one, Jessica Leeds, the wife of a wealthy farmer, is viciously raped on December 21st, four days before Christmas. Her assailants are a trio of Vietnamese immigrants who'd recently moved to a subdivision in Calusa, Florida known as "Little Asia". (it should also be pointed out that on the same day, Charles Abbott--the chauffeur from "The House That Jack Built--was brutally beaten by four thugs and sent to the hospital for several weeks.)
Yet it almost takes seven months before the Leeds' trial is set. After three grueling weeks and 1260 pages of transcript, all three men are acquitted of the crime on Friday, August tenth. Jessica's husband Stephen, upon hearing the verdict, threatens in a fit of rage and in front of over a hundred witnesses to kill the three men who raped his wife. But Stephen will soon realize that "the best laid plans of mice and men often go awry" (Robert Burns, "To a Mouse" 1785)
Four days later on Tuesday morning, August 14, all three immigrants are found brutally murdered and butchered inside their small house on Tango Avenue. They were killed late on Monday night, and Stephen Leeds's wallet was found near the bodies. He is soon arrested at his home by Detectives Morris Bloom and Cooper Rawles. Leeds is denied bail by a judge, and now the second case begins.
On Thursday, August 16th, Jessica Leeds retains Matthew Hope as her husband's attorney. But it looks like a "sure thing" for the prosecution. With Hope as the defense lawyer, it bothers Matthew's long-time friend Detective Bloom and angers his law partner Frank Summerville. Stephen's outburst from last Friday's verdict and his wallet found at the murder scene makes him the likely suspect.
Though Matthew has won two or three similar "sure things", he's now up against local State Attorney Skye Bannister. The rumor that's presently circulating is that Skye has much "bigger fish" to fry--something that could rocket his political career up north to Tallahassee. Upon hearing this rumor makes Matthew more determined to win this case.
But he soon learns that once again the odds are stacked against him. Matthew finds out when he goes to the S.A.'s office for the witness list on Friday morning the 17th that Skye won't be prosecuting the Leeds case. Instead, he's turned it over to a new Assistant S.A. named Patricia Demming. She and Matthew met the night before when her red Volkswagen accidentally rear-ended his brand-new, smoky-blue Acura Legend parked at his curb during a downpour. And throughout the rest of the book, Ed McBain does a running gag where the two attorneys bumping into one another--usually when one or both are soaking wet.
Matthew has one of his associates research Patricia Demming. She graduated from high school at 16 and has an Ivy League education and law degree. Before coming to Florida, she practiced in both Los Angeles and New York. When she was in LA, Demming's courtroom candor earned her the nickname the Wicked Witch of the West. And with any slip-ups, she's known to "go straight for the jugular."
Matthew knows he's got his work cut out for him. Patricia is not looking for silver shoes or Ruby Slippers--she wants to win the Leeds case, which Skye is desperately trying to sweep under the rug. Yet the readers may wonder why there were no comments about Demming either melting in the rain or told to "be gone before someone drops a house on her"?! (I know I would.)
Besides suspposedly leaving his wallet at the crime scene on Tango Avenue, witnesses come forward to say that they'd seen Stephen Leeds on the night of August 13th. He was wearing a yellow hat and jacket, and driving his wife's red Maserati with the vanity plates "JESSIE 1". Charlie Stubbs, who runs the Riverview Marina where Leeds keeps his boat, said that Steve phoned him at nine o'clock that night saying he'd be taking his boat out for a "moonlight spin" and not to be "alarmed" if he sees that. Then there are the two Vietnamese witnesses (and neighbors) where one saw Leeds enter the victims' house while the other saw him run towards a dark-blue or green car. But Leeds claims that he was home in bed early and never left his house that night.
The plaintiff has a private investigator named Frank Bannion helping on their side. Bannion meets with Sherry Reynolds, a barmaid at the Kickers restaurant, who saw Leeds get into a car that she identified as a green Oldsmobile Cutlass Supreme though she didn't see the license plate.
On the defense, Matthew enlists P.I. Warren Chambers to assist with the case. After hiring a Vietnamese translator named Mai Chim Lee, she and Hope question the victims' two neighbors. Tran Sum Linh allegedly saw Leeds pull up in a car by their house and enter. Trinh Mang Duc supposedly saw Leeds running for the car. While unable to identify the car or its color, Trinh read the license-plate number, one that doesn't "exist" in Florida.
Reading the daily papers, Stephen Leeds knows that the press has already found him "guilty" of the three murders. He realizes that the local State Attorney Skye Bannister wants this open-and-shut case "swept under the rug". Matthew thinks with all the bad press that Leeds gets that he'd need a change of venue for his impeding trial. The verdict of the three acquitted (and now dead) men still lingers in the air.
Matthew asks Leeds about his brother-in-law Ned Weaver who manages the farm. Ned is a paroled felon, released the previous summer. He served nine years for a bank robbery where he shot and wounded an armed guard. Though Ned was only convicted of that crime, since he was thirteen, he has a history that's longer than his tattooed arm. Yet Stephen doesn't think that Ned murdered the three immigrants due to them having a strained relationship.
Things go from bad to worse. Shortly after Matthew and Mai Chim interview Trinh Mang Duc, he is found murdered and mutilated similar to his three former neighbors. Both Detective Bloom and the S.A.'s office deem it a "copycat" crime. Then P.I. Frank Bannion is found dead in a drainage ditch. Unlike the four immigrants, his skull was crushed with a blunt instrument.
Now both the plaintiff and defense realize that the real killer is out there. Maybe there's even an inside source that leaks out information?! Matthew is now determined to find these links and get Stephen Leeds the freedom he promised him. But will he be able to locate the Olds with its "nonexistant" license plate so he can find a killer's lair. One who may have Tran Sum Linh or Sherry Reynolds on their hit list?!
Ed McBain provides another page turner with "Three Blind Mice". If you're able to, try to watch the 2001 film adaptation starring Brian Dennehy as Matthew Hope. Though Dennehy played numerous cops in film from the corrupt sheriff in "First Blood" to Leo McCarthy in the two "F/X' movies, he didn't seem to cut it as the Florida attorney Matthew Hope. Reading these books, one could envision Brian Dennehy as Matthew's friend Detective Morris Bloom. Now that would've made a great series!
Rating: ****
February 28, 2018
Three Vietnamese immigrants have been acquitted of rape, but McBain makes it reasonably clear at least early on that they were guilty. When the three men are murdered in a manner most nasty, few in the Florida community that is the setting for this book are saddened by the deaths.
But the husband of the woman whom the three raped loudly insisted in the final moments of their trial that he would kill them. Naturally, when they are murdered, he is the first and only suspect.
Defense attorney Matthew Hope is convinced of the man’s innocence, and he sets out to prove that someone else killed the immigrants. But before he can succeed, an aging Vietnamese immigrant will be murdered because of what he knows about the case. It is a case that will be fraught with misunderstandings, many of them cultural and linguistic in nature.
I’m rapidly souring on McBain’s writing. This book includes a good bit of stuff that is juvenile and superfluous. McBain describes one character’s fantasies about where he would like to lick another character. It didn’t enhance much the knowledge you really needed to solve this, and I can’t figure out why a guy with McBain’s obvious talent felt the need to include that stuff in his book. I was fascinated to learn things I never knew about the Vietnamese alphabet; but I had to wade through a good bit of silliness to get there.
But the husband of the woman whom the three raped loudly insisted in the final moments of their trial that he would kill them. Naturally, when they are murdered, he is the first and only suspect.
Defense attorney Matthew Hope is convinced of the man’s innocence, and he sets out to prove that someone else killed the immigrants. But before he can succeed, an aging Vietnamese immigrant will be murdered because of what he knows about the case. It is a case that will be fraught with misunderstandings, many of them cultural and linguistic in nature.
I’m rapidly souring on McBain’s writing. This book includes a good bit of stuff that is juvenile and superfluous. McBain describes one character’s fantasies about where he would like to lick another character. It didn’t enhance much the knowledge you really needed to solve this, and I can’t figure out why a guy with McBain’s obvious talent felt the need to include that stuff in his book. I was fascinated to learn things I never knew about the Vietnamese alphabet; but I had to wade through a good bit of silliness to get there.
September 2, 2014
If you're a hard core mystery buff, this may not be your book, but if you're like me, and pick one up now and again, and are looking more for a novel of escape and, well, brain candy, this is a lot of fun. As fun as murder and wrongly accused suspects can be ;-)
Ed McBain is probably better known for his 87th Precinct novels than his Matthew Hope series. Matthew Hope is a partner in a law firm in Calusa, FL, located on the "other west coast" – the west coast of Florida, not far from where I used to live. And maybe that's one reason I really enjoyed the book; it was a bit like going home and visiting old friends, though I never knew any of those folks.
We have our requisite murders, the wrong person arrested, the district attorney who wants a fast settlement of the trial for political reasons, and a dogged attorney who wants the right person arrested and justice found. Yes, this is McBain, perhaps not at his best, but still writing page-turners. Romance, murder, tangled webs—a great bed-time mystery that is fun, but will not give you nightmares when you turn out the light. I'm looking forward to reading other Matthew Hope books.
Ed McBain is probably better known for his 87th Precinct novels than his Matthew Hope series. Matthew Hope is a partner in a law firm in Calusa, FL, located on the "other west coast" – the west coast of Florida, not far from where I used to live. And maybe that's one reason I really enjoyed the book; it was a bit like going home and visiting old friends, though I never knew any of those folks.
We have our requisite murders, the wrong person arrested, the district attorney who wants a fast settlement of the trial for political reasons, and a dogged attorney who wants the right person arrested and justice found. Yes, this is McBain, perhaps not at his best, but still writing page-turners. Romance, murder, tangled webs—a great bed-time mystery that is fun, but will not give you nightmares when you turn out the light. I'm looking forward to reading other Matthew Hope books.
May 2, 2019
Fast pace -- good character development. It kept me guessing until the last page! Very good read!
June 1, 2013
Three Vietnamese men are brutally murdered after being acquitted of raping a white woman. McBain takes us on an exciting journey unraveling the truth as attorney Matthew Hope prepares his defense of the rape victim's husband who is accused of the murder. This book was an interesting, enjoyable read. It has some good twists but at times is quite predictable. This is the first Ed McBain book I've read after and I'm glad I finally decided to give him a try. I like his easy flowing style. I predict that this won't be the last Ed McBain book I read.
September 11, 2018
This book was so good. The cover drew me in. (My book cover had three Mice hanging by their tail over a knife, very creepy). My expectations were completely blown over. This book was gripping and clever. Not one moment that I wanted to rush. It was murder mystery and one of the best I have read.
February 14, 2019
This is not a 87th precinct novel so I wasn't sure since most of my Ed McBain books I have read were. But I was so wrong. This was a good book. Good character development, good plot, and he got me again. Loved the book.
August 23, 2018
Liked the main man.
February 16, 2019
Good mystery!
July 12, 2020
Matthew Hope, Southwest Florida’s answer to Perry Mason, has another innocent client to save. This time, it’s a rich farmer who is accused of murdering the three Vietnamese refugees who escaped conviction for raping his wife. In the meantime, various characters cast their male gazes on good looking women (some of whom don’t mind the attention), our hero’s tennis game improves, and it rains every hot and humid afternoon. Can our hero get his client freed? Or will the pretty new DA win her first big case?
This seems to be typical series entry, where the character’s lusts and loves get as much attention as the crime plot and we get paragraphs dripping with humid atmosphere. There is something sour about the way McBain portrays the feelings men have for women. (The phrase “objectification of women” comes to mind). The mystery itself and the way it is unraveled is pretty good. The dated 90s atmosphere may mean this isn’t for everyone.
This seems to be typical series entry, where the character’s lusts and loves get as much attention as the crime plot and we get paragraphs dripping with humid atmosphere. There is something sour about the way McBain portrays the feelings men have for women. (The phrase “objectification of women” comes to mind). The mystery itself and the way it is unraveled is pretty good. The dated 90s atmosphere may mean this isn’t for everyone.
October 14, 2024
A grotesque murder scene in the Chinatown district of Calusa, Florida starts "Three Blind Mice" (1990) and private eye slash lawyer Matthew Hope is hired by the accused murderer to defend him. The accused had good reasons for wanting the three Asian men killed, them having been arrested but not convicted for assaulting his wife, and a lot of coincidental evidence points to him as the killer, but he convinces Hope he is not the one.
Hope and his pals get around quite a lot with the ladies and that seems to be about half the book, descriptive exploits, some related to the mystery and a lot of rape content that goes too far. I solved the mystery early (you will, too) so it wasn't very surprising or interesting. Also, the narrative sections from the killer's perspective don't actually fit for the guy that we find out is the killer.
Verdict: A simple murder mystery made more complicated by narrative disconnects.
Jeff's Rating: 1 / 5 (Bad)
movie rating if made into a movie: R
Hope and his pals get around quite a lot with the ladies and that seems to be about half the book, descriptive exploits, some related to the mystery and a lot of rape content that goes too far. I solved the mystery early (you will, too) so it wasn't very surprising or interesting. Also, the narrative sections from the killer's perspective don't actually fit for the guy that we find out is the killer.
Verdict: A simple murder mystery made more complicated by narrative disconnects.
Jeff's Rating: 1 / 5 (Bad)
movie rating if made into a movie: R
August 20, 2025
Picked it up hoping for an interesting police procedural; disappointed for the following reasons:
1. The book is gross and creepy in its descriptions of female characters. Women are described mainly in terms of their anatomy. The central female character is a rape victim, and there is a detailed description of this rape that, in this context, made me suspect that the author described it at length for reasons of titillation.
2. The book deals with grave topics - murder, racism, rape - but it has a strangely jocular and light tone that contrasted poorly with these issues.
3. I found it unbelievable that Matthew Hope, the completely forgettable protagonist of this series, would take on Leed's unwinnable case, especially since Hope proclaims to everyone he meets that he only defends the innocent
4. The book is deeply repetitive. How many times do we need to be told we're in Calusa, Florida?
Overall, disappointing and dated. I will be avoiding this author in the future.
1. The book is gross and creepy in its descriptions of female characters. Women are described mainly in terms of their anatomy. The central female character is a rape victim, and there is a detailed description of this rape that, in this context, made me suspect that the author described it at length for reasons of titillation.
2. The book deals with grave topics - murder, racism, rape - but it has a strangely jocular and light tone that contrasted poorly with these issues.
3. I found it unbelievable that Matthew Hope, the completely forgettable protagonist of this series, would take on Leed's unwinnable case, especially since Hope proclaims to everyone he meets that he only defends the innocent
4. The book is deeply repetitive. How many times do we need to be told we're in Calusa, Florida?
Overall, disappointing and dated. I will be avoiding this author in the future.
August 22, 2023
I actually really enjoyed this book. I say "actually" because of the excessive use of slurs and the persistent descriptions of woman's legs and breasts. Written in the 1990's though, there was some pretty progressive content in this book, regarding my above gripes, that I think is worth exploring. It's interesting to see how social issues were conceptualized then versus now. The writing style was fantastic. The dialogue was near perfect. He wrote it in a way that felt natural. For example, they interrupt one another, there was a good flow to conversations, character's each had a unique voice. I thought the mystery and the big reveal was surprising and well done. Overall, I had a lot of fun with it. Not my all time favorite, but definitely worth checking out if you're looking for a good detective novel. Trigger warnings for SA.
June 15, 2019
This was a fun mystery to read! I often have trouble understanding mysteries, but this one I could easily follow. I liked the discussion of the relationships of various Americans & Vietnamese citizens in the book.
October 2, 2020
I had heard about Ed McBain from a Ken Bruen novel and decided to read one of his novels. I will highly recommend the crime procedure angle the author adheres to. I won’t spoil the story but it will entertain and enlighten about some events around the Vietnam War period.
December 27, 2019
Fun detective yarn with an interesting cast of characters.
February 10, 2020
I had saw the movie and missed the last part, and I never knew who done it, so I had to read the book, and I enjoyed it too, read it in 2 hours
July 22, 2021
Third in a row in the "Matthew Hope" series. Not compelling me to continue in the series. This one is about a farmer accused of murder. Vietnamese are involved.
October 26, 2023
Book about three murdered Vietnamese men in Florida.
July 11, 2024
Good for pool reading. About what I expected for this genre written when it was.
October 16, 2025
Solid 3.5 ⭐
Quick, fast paced read.
Quick, fast paced read.
September 20, 2010
i think this was the first mcbain story i read. picked up a used hardcover over at the book worm...book world...whatever, over by the d-q...
simple straight-forward story telling, nothing fancy, nothing sweet and smarmy...
"the old man was standing by the sidewalk railing some ten feet from the street lamp, looking out over the boats in their marina slips. on one of the boats, someone was playing a ukulele. the instrument sounded tinny on the night, something from another time and place, like the old man himself. there were lights on many of the boats. the lights reflected in the black water. there were soft voices on the night. the ukulele kept plinking its notes onto the sticky night air. the old man stood listening in seeming fascination, his head bent. then, at last, he turned away from the railing and began moving away from the lamppost..."
action, dialogue, scenes/settings, the action unfolds. i'm trying to remember if there is/was some sort of twist ending...sometimes those are okay, sometimes not....but i don't recall. a good read.
simple straight-forward story telling, nothing fancy, nothing sweet and smarmy...
"the old man was standing by the sidewalk railing some ten feet from the street lamp, looking out over the boats in their marina slips. on one of the boats, someone was playing a ukulele. the instrument sounded tinny on the night, something from another time and place, like the old man himself. there were lights on many of the boats. the lights reflected in the black water. there were soft voices on the night. the ukulele kept plinking its notes onto the sticky night air. the old man stood listening in seeming fascination, his head bent. then, at last, he turned away from the railing and began moving away from the lamppost..."
action, dialogue, scenes/settings, the action unfolds. i'm trying to remember if there is/was some sort of twist ending...sometimes those are okay, sometimes not....but i don't recall. a good read.
January 30, 2016
As with other murder mysteries in Ed McBain's Matthew Hope series, Attorney Hope has committed to representing a client who seems to be the murderer with no hope of acquittal. In this particular case, Stephen Leeds is accused of murdering the three men who raped his wife. The murderer was seen wearing a rain coat and hat exactly like Mr. Leeds'. His wallet was found at the scene of the crime. Both his wife's distinctive car and his power boat were seen in questionable circumstances surrounding the crime.
September 10, 2015
Just happened to choose this book at a thrift store. Never heard of the author. Am I ever glad I chose it!!!! This might have been my first, but it certainly won't be my last. Actually I got two more yesterday at the library. I think I'm on to something good!!!!
Displaying 1 - 30 of 36 reviews