Rumpelstiltskin

Matthew Hope #2

by Ed McBain

When Victoria Miller and her backing band, Wheat, broke out with a string of gold records in the sixties, the sultry chanteuse seemed shy of crowds, refusing to perform in public. Years after her last success, Victoria makes her stage debut, but the magic is long gone, and shortly after that, so is she—the victim of a brutal murder. Victoria’s six- year-old daughter, Allison, is missing too, but nobody’s come forward for a ransom. The only clue is a mysterious call—I’ll be stopping by to collect—but who’s collecting, and what? Even if Allison could be found, lawyer Matthew Hope can’t seem to locate Victoria’s missing will with Allison’s guardianship. And when Victoria’s old producer comes forward, claiming Victoria wasn’t quite the natural talent she’d seemed to be, Matthew’s left wondering who gave her the golden touch and why they’d take it back right now.

Part of Ed McBain’s masterful Matthew Hope series, Rumpelstiltskin finds the good-hearted lawyer in a plot where everyone’s a suspect, and all debts are paid in full.

Genres: Mystery, Fiction, Crime, Detective, Legal, Murder Mystery, Novels

289 pages, Kindle Edition

First published June 26, 1981

About the author

"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.

Reviews

[Cathy DuPont · Rating 3 out of 5]

When I started this series, not knowing it was a series at all, I read in this order: First read in the series was #4, then #5, then #1 and lastly, this book #2, Rumpelstiltskin. Therefore I was already familiar with attorney Matthew Hope and his personal situation, divorced with a lovely 13 year old daughter, dating but unattached.

When I entered Rumpelstiltskin on Goodreads, I noticed that my buddy Jim Thane had read it and had given it three stars. When I emailed him he said he couldn’t believe he gave it only three stars because the main character, Matthew Hope, was one of his favorites. Now I know now why Jim gave it only three stars, which was what I offered. And I just love ole Matthew Hope, too, in part because he's quick witted (funny) which I really enjoy in some characters. McBain draws all his characters clearly and seldom puts in so many characters that the reader loses track of who's who, which to me, is a good thing.

Ed McBain was born in New York City as Salvatore Albert Lombino and wrote under the pen names Evan Hunter, Hunt Collins, Curt Cannon, Dean Hudson, Richard Marsten, Ezra Hannon, and John Abbott. I have no idea why so many pen names. Under his pen name Ed McBain he created the 87th Precinct series (police procedural series) which has gotten mixed reviews from my GR friends.

However, Rumpelstiltskin was something entirely different and unexpected compared to the the three Matthew Hope books I had already read. In my opinion, it deserved nothing higher than three stars. So, Jim, you were spot on from where I stand.

All my friends know I am far from being a prude. I seldom, if ever, say anything negative, about sex scenes in books, their description, nothing. However, four and one-half pages (paperback thank goodness) devoted entirely to the reason why a woman would have head hair the color of red or russet and her pubic hair, blond, is simply a bit more than needed or necessary for the story. It was not pertinent in any way that I could see except to take up space. (May have to eat my words in the next in the series, and if so, I will.)

However, the real reason it got three stars from me is because of the ending. It was so contrived, like McBain wasn’t sure who the bad guy was and just banged out (in 1981, banged out on typewriter) some silly, nonsensical ending. So Jim, in my mind, you were not off in your three stars.

James L. Thane, a Goodreads author, should know a good book since he’s written a dynamite of a book, No Place to Die, which I really enjoyed and happily gave four stars. Check it out...it was better than this book by a nationally published author.

My hope is the next Matthew Hope, Beauty and the Beast, makes up for these three stars.

[David Highton · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed this much more than the first in the Matthew Hope series, with a female singer murdered and her daughter abducted not long after Hope has left her bed at 3am. A number of leads based on a lucrative trust deed and a twist in the tail of the plot at the end.

[K · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars.
I continue to enjoy the Matthew Hope series, and remain convinced that McBain is one of the best when it comes to writing believable, fluid dialogue. It’s one of the hallmarks of his 87th Precinct series, and it shows clearly here as well.

I am enjoying this character and his life in Calusa, Florida. His relationship with Detective Bloom has been interesting to follow, as have his relationships with various women following his somewhat messy divorce.

A hallmark of McBain novels is his habitually repeated use of “boilerplate” paragraphs. These often include descriptions of characters that frequently appear within a series, which would be all right if one wasn’t reading each of these books. Otherwise, the repetition becomes obvious and seems unnecessary. Another characteristic that is sometimes annoying and in this case, a flaw, is McBain’s tendency to pad stories with superfluous details. Clearly serving as filler, adding a little to the plot, these sections distract from the overall enjoyment of the story.

Complaints aside, Rumpelstiltskin manages to entertain, albeit to a lesser degree than previous entries in the series that I’ve read. The plot is good, if a little far-fetched, and the central characters, enjoyable. Putting aside the padding, things develop and move fairly quickly toward the conclusion. If you’re new to this series, begin elsewhere, but fans will probably wish to include this one eventually.

[Antonella Imperiali · Rating 3 out of 5]

È soltanto nei film che la gente uccide per un’eredità. Nella vita reale si tratta più spesso di mariti e mogli e figli.

Un buon giallo classico.
Ed McBain ci ha abituato bene con le storie del famoso 87° Distretto e con il suo Steve Carella che si muove con tutta la squadra in una New York un po’ rimaneggiata ma riconoscibilissima; qui siamo in un ambiente totalmente diverso, in Florida, ci sono mare e isole, e ci sono l’avvocato Hope e l’agente Bloom che non sono da meno di fronte al crimine.
Buona la trama, buona la costruzione, buoni i dialoghi, personaggi ben caratterizzati, ambientazione niente male.
McBain si è rivelato ancora una volta un ottimo narratore: 3,5/5⭐️
Ho messo in wl gli altri della serie, spero di trovarli e di leggerli... prima o poi.


N.B.: Letto nell’edizione Il Giallo Mondadori - n. 1827 del 5 febbraio 1984 - pag. 184, non censita su GR.


🇺🇸 LdM - USA: Florida
🌎 LdM - Sfida 2023: USA
📚 Biblioteca

[Joe Nicholl · Rating 1 out of 5]

I've read maybe half the 87th Precinct novels from every era, some are better than others but over all I've liked each & every one of them....Hard to pick a fave, maybe King's Ransom. IDK But I've really enjoyed them and will continue reading those I've missed. So, a year a go I thought I'd read a stand-alone by McBain...I did this because I really enjoy John D. MacDonald's stand-alones, in fact I like them better than the Travis McGee novels...If you haven't read The Crossroads or End of the Night you must if you're a lover of noir-ish crime-fiction....Anyways, from McBain's stand-alones I picked out Downtown, a zany caper set in the Wall Street area of NYC during the snowy week between Christmas & New Years. It had some high points but over-all not that entertaining...it was just Okay. Soooo, recently I thought I'd try out a Matthew Hope novel...I started with Book #2, Rumpelstltskin, because I found a cheap copy at a used book store...which turned out to be unreadable due to yellowed pages. So I downloaded the Kindle edition for $1.99....I must say that the book flowed along smoothly and was an easy read....I read it in three sittings...BUT...outside of that I was major-league disappointed...I thought the book was VERY poorly written, like McBain kicked it out in a week and didn't go back and edit. Quickly, here's only a few of the issues I had with Rumpelstltskin....No emotion or empathy when former rocker Vicki was murdered...LONG passages of subjects that had NOTHING to due with the story like the color of Dale's pubic-hair (yes, you read me right), and, the endless description of New Orleans, and more....also annoying were characters that were not established, including Matthew Hope and his daughter...Hope switching from lawyer to P.I. and back again...-Well, I could go on, Rumpelstltskin is not a very good book...I'm going to stick with the 87th Precinct and leave it at that....1 outta 5 Stars...

[Curlyhair · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another good read , with a good central character.

[Gerald Kinro · Rating 4 out of 5]

Former Sixties rock star Victoria Miller finally relents and performs on stage. She no longer has it. Ten she is murdered, brutaly. Her six-year-old daughter Allison is missing. So who is to benefit? Matthew hope comes forward, trying to solve it all. She is the beneficiary of a huge sum in a trust set up by her father. If she does not survive, Allison gets it all.

This one rocks. I felt the tension and emotion that Hope and his characters emitted. This one is well structured with clues artfully placed throughout the story. characters are real and interesting. Hope’s horniness also helps keep the ball rolling.

[Eric · Rating 2 out of 5]

"What goes up must come down
Spinning Wheel got to go 'round
Talkin' 'bout your troubles
It's a cryin' sin
Ride a painted pony
Let the Spinning Wheel spin..."

--Blood, Sweat & Tears, "Spinning Wheel" (1968)


Ed McBain gives us the second Matthew Hope mystery. Despite its title, his version gives very few references to the Brothers Grimm fairy tale. Nor does it come close to those classic "Fractured Fairy Tales" narrated by Edward Everett Horton on TV. Instead, McBain's "Rumpelstiltskin" is a riveting tale involving sex, drugs and rock 'n roll.

Attorney Matthew Hope is now 37 and divorced from his ex-wife Susan after 14 years. Their daughter Joanna is now 13. While Susan has custody, Matthew only sees Joanna every other weekend and during half of her vacations. He wishes for more time with his daughter.

The Hopes' divorce became final the previous June. Yet Matthew refused to date anyone for the first six months after the decree was issued. It's now January and a New Year. Matt finally meets Victoria Miller who's also a divorcee and has a six-year-old daughter Allison Konig.

Vicky Miller was the lead singer of a 1960's hard-rock band dubbed Wheat due to the towheaded (blond) trio of musicians. (Vicky and her daughter both have long black hair.) Despite the band's mediocre talent and their producer at Regal Records not wanting them to perform live, Wheat earned three gold records for each of their albums within three years. However, there was a missed opportunity for a fourth gold record for their song "Frenzy" from their debut album of the same name.

But Vicky quit the band in 1968 in the midst of Wheat's recording their fourth album. She married Regal Records owner Tony Konig and became pregnant shortly after their wedding. It was a miscarriage though Allison Konig was born a few years later. Wheat soon broke up after Vicky's departure, and the trio of musicians went their separate ways.

Now--after the dissolution of Wheat a dozen years earlier--Vicky Miller plans her musical comeback. With Allison now six and a first grader, Vicky feels that the time is now ripe. She sings for three nights at a local Calusa club called the Greenery. But instead of singing songs from Wheat's three albums, Vicky sings songs from the Big Band and swing eras. She tanks big time. Calusa's local music critic Jean Riverton pans her first performance, the Greenery's owner Jim Sherman wants to fire her and Dwayne Miller, Vicky's widowed father, threatens to disinherit her.

Due to spending that weekend with his daughter, Matthew Hope can only attend Vicky's third and final show on Sunday, January 13. (Allison remains at home with her sitter.) Though Matthew tries to reassure Vicky that she'd done well, he despises her evening performance. But upon returning to Vicky's house on Citrus Lane, things go from bad to worse. While Matthew waits outside for Vicky, the sitter tells her about three phone calls that put her on edge. Vicky tries to persuade Matthew to remain at her home until the next morning. But he worries about Allison catching him there, so he finally leaves around three-thirty.

The next morning a Calusa police officer arrives at the law offices of Summerville and Hope. Matthew is brought to the local police station. There he learns that Vicky was found brutally murdered in her home a few hours ago by her maid. Vicky was beaten to death and her daughter Allison was abducted from the house. Though Matthew was the last to see Vicky alive and briefly considered the prime suspect, Detective Morris Bloom clears him of any wrongdoing.

Now Matthew is determined to find Allison and bring Vicky's killer to justice. He feels partly responsible for all that happened. Matthew finds out from Charlene, the sitter who lives across from Vicky, that an unknown man phoned the house three times on Sunday while he and Vicky were at the Greenery. The third time the man told Charlene that he'd be stopping by later to "collect".

Detective Bloom also believes that a man committed the fatal assault on Vicky. When he and Matthew question her father Dwayne and her former husband (and Allison's father) Tony Konig, both men deny anything to do with the murder and kidnapping. And yet both of them are large enough to have done these heinous acts. Melanie Simms, a waitress who worked at the Greenery during Vicky's final shows, tells Matthew that the club's owner Jim Sherman killed Vicky. She accidentally overheard Jim tell Vicky that she'd be "dead" (fired) if her shows tanked. While there's a lot of finger-pointing all around, each "suspect" named seems to have an alibi. Bloom himself gets rankled with Matthew for trying to get involved in this case.

But Matthew soon finds out that Vicky named him as Executor to her estate. She'd written her Last Will and Testament on January fourth around the time she first met him. Matthew also learns that Vicky was supposed to receive a fortune from her father Dwayne on January 22nd when she'd turn thirty-five. Since she died over a week before and depending on who survives her, the money could go to either Allison or Tony Konig 0r even revert back to Dwayne himself. Matthew only wants to have Allison found safely and to bring this murderer and kidnapper to justice as soon as possible. Then maybe Vicky could given a gift and finally be at rest.

Somehow I didn't enjoy reading this so-called "fairy tale" the second time around. I thought that the dialogue was around 40 to 60 pages too long. Ed McBain's previous work "Goldilocks" was "just right"--around 180 pages. But at least McBain made a few references to the Brothers Grimm version of "Rumpelstiltskin". But all in all, it wasn't as good a read as I previously thought. I hope that changes with his next two Matthew Hope novels I want to read.

Rating: **-1/2

[Elmer Foster · Rating 3 out of 5]

Geez, do I give McBain more credit than he deserves because of the 87th Precinct series, or what?

I have nearly all of the Matthew Hope series on my TBR shelf. Needed a palette cleanser after Beloved, enter Rumplestiltskin, which did its job as designed.

McBain is trying to create someone else to write about outside of NYC, in this case located in Calusa, Florida, by way of Chicago, Illinois, in the form of lawyer Matthew Hope (where Hope is still legal-adjacent to McBain's arguable forte - criminal activities.) Hope is the everyman attorney that gets caught up in several nefarious ongoings. In this case, the death of his friend and sexual partner.

The plot is paper thin, not well developed, and feels like one of the usual trio of crimes in an 87th novel. The remainder of the book's pages are filled with extraneous details on cityscapes like New Orleans, or why women choose their hair color, or... well you get the point. By the time Hope susses out suspects, everyone's alibi checks out except the killer's which gets a late-stage revisit to close out the story. McBain just tacks on a lame excuse for the deaths incurred with little resolve or sympathy for those involved. At no time did the story reach any tension or depth.

Instead, we get Hope interviewing suspects against police advice, hunting down a will, then a trust, all while bedding a fellow attorney met along the way. Did I mention him being a single parent trying to dole out parental sex advice to his young teenage daughter, sprinkled among the pages? Well, there is that aspect, which had more gravitas than the plot.

This one is better than the first, but not stellar. The story felt dated, there is little technology or relevance to the larger world. Just a sad capture of human nature. More time was wasted on emphasizing the correct usage of Miranda-Escobedo, Rights Warning Statements than anything else involved. Unsure how I should feel about that other than wistful for the early 87th stories.

Surely McBain fans will find this title. I'll leave it at that.
Thanks for reading and Merry Christmas to all.

[Rob Smith, Jr. · Rating 2 out of 5]

I'm putting my finger on what I dislike this series. I really don't like the main character, Matthew Hope. Considering the swath of characters throughout the 87th Precinct series, is Hope the real McBain hiding in the 87th crowd?

I know my initial dislike of McBain's tourist view of Florida. That screams through this second book. McBain's attempts narratives of various settings through Florida, but misses every time. He didn't understand natural settings intertwined with the commercial, typical of the out-of-stater using a state for a setting, though he was supposedly living here.

At one point in this book, McBain nails his problem. A singer is criticized for singing songs out of her league. McBain was out of his league writing of Florida. He more than understood, lived and could incredibly grasp in writing his version of New York City. He loved the place. He did not love, maybe even hated, Florida.

It seems McBain also didn't care for Southerners. Though, he makes an exception of New Orleans in this book. He writes Southerners with accents and not his main character with a Chicago accent, as it is overtly pointed out at length the character came from more than once.

That length of his Chicago connections is also a part of the problem with this book. Another is many. many pages of a side character's sexual issues, then more pages of other nonsense that seems McBain must've been forced to add to page length. He doesn't go to such wasted lengths in the 87th series. What's with the main character's and others drug use? Did McBain think this appealed to readers around 1980? Florida's 1980s drug nightmare was barely beginning at that time. The worse was yet to come.

The crime is rather simple and straight forward. The solving, as resolved in the end, should've taken a couple hours by a good detective, instead of the drawn out stuff of this book.

I was going to read the rest of the series, but think my first conclusion many years ago was correct and I'll stop here.

Bottom line: I don't recommend this book. 3 out of ten points.

[Marco Camillieri · Rating 3 out of 5]

È un Ed McBain più maturo quello dei romanzi con protagonista Matthew Hope; impossibile non notare il netto stacco tra le prime avventure dell'87° distretto che ne caratterizzano gli esordi e questa serie di racconti che arriverà a metà carriera. Un'evoluzione che è possibile appurare in maniera ancor più efficace nel riuscitissimo Grande città violenta.
Se all'inizio il buon Salvatore Lombino (come chi è? Ed McBain!) sembrava muoversi quasi timidamente, evitando metafore, divagazioni e sovrapposizioni narrative, in seguito prenderà sicurezza nei suoi mezzi, non sempre con esiti esaltanti - e questo, chiaramente, può dipendere dal lettore. In questo romanzo le divagazioni non mancano, ci sono momenti onirici, qualche metafora forzata; non sempre questo va a vantaggio del ritmo e della fluidità. Matthew Hope, poi, è un personaggio simile a Carella ma per certi versi più bidimensionale e vicino a stereotipi di genere da cui invece l'investigatore dell'87° distretto in qualche modo si distaccava.
Se non si fosse capito, non è tra i titoli di Ed McBain che consiglio di più ma resta un buon thriller con una discreta tensione e un finale tutto sommato imprevedibile, per quanto non privo di qualche forzatura.

[Eoghan Whelan · Rating 3 out of 5]

I hadn't read anything by McBain in several years and had previously only read from his 87th Precinct series so I wasn't entirely sure what to expect other than some pulpy hard boiled crime-related malarkey and that's exactly what I got. The story was a bit contrived, the twists a bit obvious and the finale a bit bland and anti-climactic but it was entertaining enough and has some of the more ludicrous descriptions of sexual behaviour I've ever read. I was going to give it just two stars but the super tacky cover of this particular edition combined with the most hilarious sex scene I (or several of my friends with whom I had to share it) have ever read (beginning on page 193 and climaxing on page 194 for those who are interested) compel me to give it that extra star.

[Jeff Tankersley · Rating 1 out of 5]

Private eye Matthew Hope is questioned as a person of interest when his girlfriend ends up dead and her daughter kidnapped, with him being the last person to see the victim alive. Hope himself is dealing with the aftermath of a divorce and dealing with a teenage daughter while working with his partner and the local cops to figure out what his murdered girlfriend was up to.

Verdict: I'm an Ed McBain fan but "Rumpelstiltskin" (1981) is a boring mystery that has a lot of exposition, details about how the local rock & roll industry worked back in the day, generational wealth being tied up in trusts and legal wrangling I didn't care a bit about, and gratuitous adult content that didn't add to the story at all.

Jeff's Rating: 1 / 5 (Bad)
movie rating if made into a movie: NC-17

[Mark Woods · Rating 3 out of 5]

One of the few Matthew Hope books I have read, despite being a big fan of the 87th precinct series, this is an okay read and pretty much your standard crime thriller.
Matthew Hope, attorney, is a vastly different character than any in the 87th books - a bit of a womaniser, and often not always that likeable - and as such, is a bit harder to warm to.
I enjoyed it, and will read more in this series, but can’t help thinking these books are unlikely to ever hold as big a place in my heart as McBain’s 87th books still do.
Pretty much your average run-of-the-mill crime thriller with very few unsurprising or unexpected twists.

[Robert James · Rating 4 out of 5]

The second Hope book isn't quite as good as the first book in the series. My issue is that a little girl has been kidnapped but the grandfather and the father don't seem to be too upset about it. The grandfather takes a fishing trip. Who would do that? Of course, McBain fills the book with great characters and Hope has his aha moment that ties the mystery in a tight little bow even though he is a little slow in putting it all together. A nice and pleasant read from one of the Masters.

[Gordon Popular · Rating 3 out of 5]

Another good story in the Matthew Hope series. A very entertaining read. One of the good passages was, "The doors on the other buildings, I now noticed were all painted different colors. This was school for the gifted, but it was apparently necessary to color-code the doors so that the students could find their classrooms." Also I found out that the Tamiami Trail was redneck for to Miami. Towards the end you understand the meaning of the title. Recommended.

[Kevin Duncan · Rating 2 out of 5]

A 100 page story stretched to over twice that size by unnecessarily explicit sexual content that does nothing to advance the story. Also, a protagonist who beds a new woman mere days after his latest lover is murdered isn't my idea of a hero. Not to mention the times he ignores people who are supposedly important to him while he thinks about evidence in the murder. I
won't revisit Matthew Hope in the future.

[Jason Reed · Rating 3 out of 5]

Diminishing returns

I've read all 55 books in the 87th Precinct series and enjoyed them.

After 2 books, I've figured out why I'm not enjoy these books in kind. Matthew Hope is a jackass. Self-absorbed, egotistical, and uncaring of the people in his life unless they meet one of his needs.

Maybe there will be character development of maybe not. My fingers are crossed.

[David Macpherson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Mathew Sleeps with a one time rock star and then she is murdered. One nice thing is that he was never fingered as the killer. We went right to the investigation, which sped things along. It is a strange combination of breezy mystery and sex comedy. The two pieces don't always gel, but it still was a hell of a lot of fun. McBain is a great writer and this seems like a relaxed series.

[Viktor · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ok

Nothing earth-shaking here. A by-the-book lawyer story. There's an interminable section about pubic hair and the genetics of red hair that has nothing do with the story. It goes on so long that is has to be a gag.

[Keith Astbury · Rating 4 out of 5]

More than decent crime yarn, though occasionally Ed goes into too much detail in regards to law and, on one occasion, pubic hair colour! The role that Matthew Hope, a lawyer, has in the investigation also becomes increasingly far-fetched, but it's an enjoyable read all the same x

[Brian O'Leary · Rating 3 out of 5]

Carried by the lead character hope

[Josh · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ed McBain was the shit!

[Jeff J. · Rating 3 out of 5]

#2 in the Matthew Hope series. Not as good as the first, but I’m sufficiently intrigued by the protagonist to continue the series.

[Flapidouille · Rating 3 out of 5]

He's done better! This seems to be an earlier McBain, better go for the later pieces.

[Parke Guthner · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hope for the best.

The way McBain gets into the relationships of Matthew Hope is a work of art. I wish there were lots more.

[Christopher W. · Rating 3 out of 5]

Way more raunchy than the first one. Good story, could have done without so much graphic stuff

[Mikel Pfeiffer · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good ol'reliable McBain! I'm warming up to the Matthew Hope series and they way McBain slyly weaves the fairy tale into a modern day drama of law and ethics. This one also has a lot to do with the music business and a has been singer. McBain doesn't play it too hip and that made me like the story more.

[Laura Noto · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a book on tape.
Summary-
This is a mystery novel written for adults. I listened to this book on tape. It is an interesting version of Rumpelstiltskin. It is about a singer named Victoria who is murdered. She was a famous recording star in the 60s and now she is trying to make it big again in the 80s when she is beaten to death. In the same night her daughter is kidnapped. A lawyer named Matthew Hope (the narrator) was with her the night she was murdered and he follows the case as many different suspects come out of the woodwork. Victoria’s father, ex-husband, band mates, agent, and the club owner where she performed are all questioned. Many people had ideas of what happened, but there were no true leads until later in the story when Victoria’s daughter was found dead. Through the process of his detective work Matthew Hope grows closer to his own daughter, meets and begins a relationship with another lawyer, and manages to uncover details from Victoria’s murder that find the killer. It turns out to be her former agent, who was also her lover at one point, and the father of her child.
This book is recorded on a total of 8 tapes. Throughout the first 4 tapes I was very confused about why this book was called Rumpelstiltskin at all. It wasn’t until the 7th tape that they tell the story of Rumpelstiltskin, and the 8th tape that the true details come out. Victoria’s agent had made her into a star. He turned the “straw” of her band, called Wheat, into 3 gold records. After the first record Victoria repaid him by being his lover. After the second gold record, she became pregnant with his child, but then had a miscarriage. After the third gold record, Victoria married someone else. She had an affair with her agent and became pregnant with his child again. When the agent called the house 6 years later and found out that she was going to start singing again he wanted to “collect” the child that was his. At the end of the book a detective and Matthew Hope refer to the agent as a dwarf, like the traditional Rumpelstiltskin.
Response-
I feel like this book was interesting and entertaining. There were a few parts of the book that were not relevant to the plot, but I feel like that was the author’s style. I was interested to read this book because I was curious to find out how a children’s fairy tale could become a large mystery novel. I enjoyed listening to the story; however I would have liked it better if it was read by a different person. The reader of the story was a little monotone and I found myself thinking about other things a few times while listening to the story. I would probably recommend this book to someone who enjoyed mysteries, figuring out puzzles, or thinking about and solving familiar problems in new stories.

[Cathy Ryan · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was my first Matthew Hope mystery, actually my first of any of Ed McBain's books. A good story coupled with an excellent narration made for an enjoyable listen. And although several references dated the story a little it didn't really detract. I like Matthew Hope and the tongue in cheek humour, the characters are rounded and believable. In essence it's a good old fashioned whodunit.
I have to say though, it seemed a little odd and unnecessary to spend so much time discussing the whys and wherefores of pubic hair colour.