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Matthew Hope #5
Snow White & Rose Red
Sarah Whittaker had stunning good looks, youth, money, social standing. Everything, that is, but her freedom. Sarah Whittaker was currently residing, against her will. in a luxurious private sanatorium. In the State of Florida, Sarah Whittaker was a certified paranoid schizophrenic. That's what the doctors, the courts, and her widowed mother said. It was not what Sarah said - and that was why she had called Matthew Hope. Would he act as her attorney and fight for her freedom? And would he fight for the $650,000 left to her by her father and now controlled by her mother?
Hope probed the story of a mother driven by hate to confine her only child to a mental institution and decided that Sarah was telling the truth. He took the case - and in so doing was led into a hall of mirrors in which reality blurred into murder, mutilation, and the greatest danger Hope had ever known.
Hope probed the story of a mother driven by hate to confine her only child to a mental institution and decided that Sarah was telling the truth. He took the case - and in so doing was led into a hall of mirrors in which reality blurred into murder, mutilation, and the greatest danger Hope had ever known.
248 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published January 1, 1985
71 people are currently reading
311 people want to read
About the author
Ed McBain
715 books672 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 39 reviews
February 28, 2013
Ed McBain is probably best known among crime fiction fans for his 87th Precinct series, but over a twenty-year stretch from 1978 to 1998, he also wrote a series featuring an attorney named Matthew Hope who lived in Calusa, Florida. Hope mostly dealt with routine issues like divorces and real estate closings, but every once in a while he got tangled up in a juicy murder case and whenever that happened, McBain stepped in to tell the tale.
In this case, Matthew is called by a young woman named Sarah Whittaker, the only child of a very wealthy man who has recently died. Shortly after the death of her father, Sarah's mother had her committed against her will to a mental hospital. The mother, the family attorney and a psychiatrist they have drummed up claim that Sarah is delusional and suicidal and that they have committed her for her own good. Sarah insists that she is perfectly sane, that there is a conspiracy against her, and that her mother is really after the $650,000 that her father left to Sarah. She wants Matthew to spring her from the asylum.
The young woman seems perfectly sane to Matthew, but he is the careful sort and investigates further before taking any precipitous action. Meanwhile, Matthew's friend, Calusa detective Morris Bloom, is knee-deep in a homicide case. The body of a young woman has surfaced out of the swamp after apparently being there for six months or so. The victim had been shot in the throat and her tongue had been cut out, all of which suggests foul play.
Matthew and Bloom commiserate with each other as they each pursue their respective investigations. In the meantime, Matthew has to deal with his troublesome ex-wife and with a particularly brash and sexy woman who wants to cook him fried chicken and jump his bones, although not necessarily in that order.
This is an entertaining book in an enjoyable series that doesn't take itself too seriously. Fans of the 87th Precinct novels might want to give Matthew Hope a try.
In this case, Matthew is called by a young woman named Sarah Whittaker, the only child of a very wealthy man who has recently died. Shortly after the death of her father, Sarah's mother had her committed against her will to a mental hospital. The mother, the family attorney and a psychiatrist they have drummed up claim that Sarah is delusional and suicidal and that they have committed her for her own good. Sarah insists that she is perfectly sane, that there is a conspiracy against her, and that her mother is really after the $650,000 that her father left to Sarah. She wants Matthew to spring her from the asylum.
The young woman seems perfectly sane to Matthew, but he is the careful sort and investigates further before taking any precipitous action. Meanwhile, Matthew's friend, Calusa detective Morris Bloom, is knee-deep in a homicide case. The body of a young woman has surfaced out of the swamp after apparently being there for six months or so. The victim had been shot in the throat and her tongue had been cut out, all of which suggests foul play.
Matthew and Bloom commiserate with each other as they each pursue their respective investigations. In the meantime, Matthew has to deal with his troublesome ex-wife and with a particularly brash and sexy woman who wants to cook him fried chicken and jump his bones, although not necessarily in that order.
This is an entertaining book in an enjoyable series that doesn't take itself too seriously. Fans of the 87th Precinct novels might want to give Matthew Hope a try.
March 22, 2020
In this Matthew Hope novel, Ed McBain capitalizes upon his prodigious skills in using dialogue to convey a story. Mr. Hope becomes hopelessly embroiled in the twisted mind of a client who has been committed under the Baker act. Having apparently attempted suicide, Sarah has been committed to a mental hospital by her mother. However, Sarah seems perfectly sane to Hope, and McBain’s clever use of dialogue instills doubt in the reader’s mind as well. Is this young, beautiful woman telling the truth about being held under false pretenses? Is she correct when she claims that her mother is simply doing this to collect the $650,000 left to her by her father? Matthew believes in Sarah‘s story, and begins the process of having her re-evaluated by independent mental health professionals.
It does seem rather unlikely that all of the psychiatrists, aides, and doctors who have seen Sarah are all in cahoots with Sarah‘s mother. Nevertheless in his clever manner, McBain sets the story in such a way as to make both scenarios plausible. Is Sarah insane, a true paranoid schizophrenic? Or is she trying desperately to have someone believe in her long enough to facilitate an independent psychiatric evaluation?
Meanwhile Detective Bloom is trying to get to the bottom of a rather mysterious murder involving a beautiful young woman, who has had her tongue cut out. Of course the reader can bet that somehow the two situations will intersect at some point in the book.
Matthew Hope continues to be a likable character, and McBain freely develops this divorced attorney who seems to have no shortage of attractive females interested in him. This book contains some mild sexual references and scenes, but nothing too shocking. McBain did a good job of using those scenes to offer a playful counterpoint to the dark and rather twisted story that is slowly revealed as Hope delves deeper into Sarah’s world. All in all a very entertaining book.
It does seem rather unlikely that all of the psychiatrists, aides, and doctors who have seen Sarah are all in cahoots with Sarah‘s mother. Nevertheless in his clever manner, McBain sets the story in such a way as to make both scenarios plausible. Is Sarah insane, a true paranoid schizophrenic? Or is she trying desperately to have someone believe in her long enough to facilitate an independent psychiatric evaluation?
Meanwhile Detective Bloom is trying to get to the bottom of a rather mysterious murder involving a beautiful young woman, who has had her tongue cut out. Of course the reader can bet that somehow the two situations will intersect at some point in the book.
Matthew Hope continues to be a likable character, and McBain freely develops this divorced attorney who seems to have no shortage of attractive females interested in him. This book contains some mild sexual references and scenes, but nothing too shocking. McBain did a good job of using those scenes to offer a playful counterpoint to the dark and rather twisted story that is slowly revealed as Hope delves deeper into Sarah’s world. All in all a very entertaining book.
October 14, 2018
The Matthew Hope books are great, different but just as well written as the 87th Precinct. Hope is engaged by and then captivated by a beautiful girl committed to a mental institution by her mother. A parallel investigation by Hope's friend Morris Bloom into a body found in the water gradually makes progress and leads to an ending which is tense even though somewhat predictable
November 9, 2018
OMG! WTH made anyone think that Terry was anything but dumb as a box of rocks. I mean Matthew, our hero thought she was honest and forthright because she said what she was thinking. That being the case she thought some pretty stupid stuff. After reading the time she spent with Matthew at the police department I couldn’t believe the author wrote such an idiot. THEN when she was at Matthew’s, holy shit, she said the stupidest things. She was so caught up in how much she liked green and she had green undies on and does he like her heels and does he think she’s too tall now and does he want her to take her heels off, she didn’t want to though because she thought they were sexy. Later when they went to bed she told him she would take everything off except her heels and her panties because, once again, she thought they were so sexy. It just went on and on like this, page after page. If Matthew thought she was “refreshing” then he was an idiot, too.
Anyway, Matthew, a lawyer, went to a mental institution to talk to Sarah who said her mother had had her committed because she wanted to control the $650,000 Sarah’s father left her. Matthew thought he’d fallen in love with her the first time he looked at her. However, that didn’t stop him from doing the dirty with Terry, pretty much a complete stranger, that same night. Anyway, Matthew got all the information he could gather from all those who think Sarah’s exactly where she should be BUT she seemed fine to Matthew for the 2 hours they were visiting. Little did he know.
The story was not all that great and Terry just made it sillier. This will be my last book by Ed McBain. Yeah, I don’t usually read books from 1980’s but I thought I’d give it a try since Luke Daniels was narrating it. Oh, and it was an abrupt and stupid ending.
The sex was fade-to-black, thank God, and the F-bomb was used 10 times.
As to the narration: Considering this was narrated in 2012 Luke Daniels did a fantastic job. His voices were spot-on. But, I gotta say, at the end when the loony-tune was talking, talking, talking, her voice sounded just like a woman. Not just a woman but a really insane woman. It was truly the best narration I’ve ever heard, and since I have 913 books in my audible library I can say that with some kind of knowledge.
This was a free read and free listen. If nothing else get the audio, go to chapter 14 and listen until the end. It’s amazing!
Anyway, Matthew, a lawyer, went to a mental institution to talk to Sarah who said her mother had had her committed because she wanted to control the $650,000 Sarah’s father left her. Matthew thought he’d fallen in love with her the first time he looked at her. However, that didn’t stop him from doing the dirty with Terry, pretty much a complete stranger, that same night. Anyway, Matthew got all the information he could gather from all those who think Sarah’s exactly where she should be BUT she seemed fine to Matthew for the 2 hours they were visiting. Little did he know.
The story was not all that great and Terry just made it sillier. This will be my last book by Ed McBain. Yeah, I don’t usually read books from 1980’s but I thought I’d give it a try since Luke Daniels was narrating it. Oh, and it was an abrupt and stupid ending.
The sex was fade-to-black, thank God, and the F-bomb was used 10 times.
As to the narration: Considering this was narrated in 2012 Luke Daniels did a fantastic job. His voices were spot-on. But, I gotta say, at the end when the loony-tune was talking, talking, talking, her voice sounded just like a woman. Not just a woman but a really insane woman. It was truly the best narration I’ve ever heard, and since I have 913 books in my audible library I can say that with some kind of knowledge.
This was a free read and free listen. If nothing else get the audio, go to chapter 14 and listen until the end. It’s amazing!
June 6, 2014
For genre study we were supposed to read an Ed McBain from his 87th precinct series but I starting reading this before I realized this is from his Matthew Hope series. Both are mysteries. Anyway, it was enjoyable for me because it's not graphic, gory, gritty or too dark. There were some seedy elements as in most books that deal with murder; in this there were strippers and a visit to a strip club. There was some ridiculousness when Matthew Hope meets a secretary at a lawyer's office who immediately comes on to him (while she's working) and tells him she's not wearing panties because it's too hot (she's at work).
Overall this was pretty fun because the narrator Matthew states right away that he fell in love with this girl who is accusing her mother of conspiracy against her. She's in the mental institution. Is she crazy or not?
The other librarians tell me that Ed McBain's books are sexist and dated. This one took place in the 80's, but his 87th precinct series starts in the 50's; they say that only old white guys would like it; but I enjoyed this Matthew Hope one so...maybe I would recommend to mystery readers.
Overall this was pretty fun because the narrator Matthew states right away that he fell in love with this girl who is accusing her mother of conspiracy against her. She's in the mental institution. Is she crazy or not?
The other librarians tell me that Ed McBain's books are sexist and dated. This one took place in the 80's, but his 87th precinct series starts in the 50's; they say that only old white guys would like it; but I enjoyed this Matthew Hope one so...maybe I would recommend to mystery readers.
September 1, 2019
Cheguei a meio do livro e já sabia exactamente como acabaria. Suponho que este tipo de livro não envelhece bem: a partir do momento em que alguma reviravolta impressiona, começa a ser usada repetidamente em todas as histórias até se tornar o cliché, e quem vai ler o original (ou próximo deste) 20 anos depois já não é minimamente surpreendida. Isto dando a este livro o benefício da dúvida de ter sido de facto um dos originais.
Fora a história em si, o resto do livro também é uma montanha de clichés, desde a mulher 10 anos mais nova que se apaixona pelo protagonista sem qualquer razão, a todos os personagens masculinos comentarem as mamas de todas as mulheres que vêem. Só não odiei porque dá um certo entretenimento ler algo tão previsível e imaginar que foi escrito com um toque de sátira.
Fora a história em si, o resto do livro também é uma montanha de clichés, desde a mulher 10 anos mais nova que se apaixona pelo protagonista sem qualquer razão, a todos os personagens masculinos comentarem as mamas de todas as mulheres que vêem. Só não odiei porque dá um certo entretenimento ler algo tão previsível e imaginar que foi escrito com um toque de sátira.
January 1, 2020
I really liked this work and finished it in 48 hours, a rare feat for me. The novel is about a woman who is locked away in an insane asylum, certified as a paranoid schizophrenic, who writes an attorney because she is sane and is being kept locked up so that her parents can control money she recently inherited. I never saw the twists that were coming, so I really enjoyed the premise and the unveiling of the plot. I also really liked McBain's use of documents in the text to advance the plot. The only reason the book does not get five stars is because towards the end it leaves all possibility behind. I can not believe what actually happens could happen.
May 3, 2022
Couldn't get through it, too male gazey
January 3, 2021
A solid mystery novel - not outstanding, but it's fast paced and will keep you reading until the end. This is the story of Matthew Hope, a lawyer who takes the case of a young lady committed to a mental facility by her mother. The young lady maintains that she's completely sane - Matthew believes her and is trying to get her out. I liked the direction of the story, and this is my 1st experience with this author and I liked how he made the characters memorable ... not always likeable ... but certainly memorable. I would have to say I had to stretch that Matthew could be that dumb to be so open with a client - but overall, not a bad book.
May 21, 2025
Matthew Hope continues to keep you entertained. This one will keep you guessing until the end. Matthew's client this time is a women who says she was committed to Pysch hospital against her will. She sounds normal and Matthew believes her so is sent down the rabbit hole. One of the better lines is; "Watching Mark sigh was rather like watching a whale spouting". Highly recommended.
August 13, 2017
Keeps you on edge.
This was an exciting novel that held your interest right from the start. I have read almost all of the 87 th precinct series and I am glad that this book is from another series on a lawyer named Mathew Hope.
This was an exciting novel that held your interest right from the start. I have read almost all of the 87 th precinct series and I am glad that this book is from another series on a lawyer named Mathew Hope.
July 2, 2019
First Ed McBain book I've read, and it was better than I expected. Psychological-thriller / detective mystery combined. Practically a page-turner throughout, except a long-winded ranting explanation at the end, after the climax.
June 27, 2021
This is what I think of when I hear economic prose. This is a leanly-written, hardboiled romp that pulls no punches. I admittedly saw the ending coming a mile away BUT the prose is so good, I didn't care. I will definitely be checking out more books by the late Evan Hunter (aka Ed McBain).
August 25, 2021
A quick and easy read set in Florida. 2 cases seemingly unconnected wrap together. I guessed the way this one was going fairly early but it was still enjoyable as it reached its conclusion. If you like crime thrillers, this series hits the spot.
October 24, 2017
A series still being carried by the leading character and not much else.
May 2, 2018
Book all about betrayal , heartbreak, and family and
This was a very interesting book. And what a parent will do to protect their child. And how manipulative a person can be.
This was a very interesting book. And what a parent will do to protect their child. And how manipulative a person can be.
September 12, 2020
#5 in the Matthew Hope series. Hope is hired by a patient at a mental hospital to help gain her release. A slow boil, but the climax was riveting.
July 22, 2021
"Matthew Hope mysteries" was on the list I carried around. I'd read other Ed McBain but I think this was the first "Matthew Hope." About a lawyer hired by a crazy woman. Sadly, only OK. But quick!
January 1, 2022
V téhle sérii asi nebudu pokračovat. Raději se zase vrátím k 87. revíru.
March 30, 2023
Not really my cup of tea. It’s neither a particularly good crime story, nor a satisfactory solution in my view. Just too contrived, violent and sleazy.
January 18, 2024
Book has it all. Psycho, mystery, Murder and family drama with a bit of sex thrown in for good measure. Maybe Mathew Hope should try not crossing ethical boundary line with clients
March 17, 2024
It was strange right before the end. I knew she did it as soon as Matthew hope started asking the mother questions.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 27, 2025
Our hero Matthew Hope comes across as a bit of a dope (and a dupe) in this one, allowing himself to be manipulated by a character with some decidedly mixed motivations.
July 22, 2016
I found this to be an aggravating book. The main character, Sarah Whittaker who has been committed to a nuthouse against her will, has contacted a lawyer, Matthew Hope, to affect her release. Her behavior is annoying but I guess if you're in the looney bin, you probably have a few personality quirks. On the other hand, Matthew, who falls instantly in love with Sarah, is a mild mannered guy. He believes her story and immediately heads out, like a white knight, to discover the truth about Sarah's guardian and her supposed delusions.
The second storyline involves a beautiful young woman who has been murdered and the investigation into who she is and how she died must somehow connect with Sarah but you don't find out how until the last few chapters of the book.
There are lots of extraneous babble and even a character who serves no purpose whatsoever. Terry (a secretary in the police department) attaches herself to Matthew and works her way into his life. She really is a fruitcake and should be committed. Maybe she was introduced for comic relief or to show how an insane person really acts. I'm not sure but the various scenes with Terry were aggravating as hell.
Anyway, if I had not been listening to this on tape, I'm sure I would have put it down unfinished. Though I'm glad I continued because it is an interesting story with twists and turns that keep you guessing from start to finish.
The second storyline involves a beautiful young woman who has been murdered and the investigation into who she is and how she died must somehow connect with Sarah but you don't find out how until the last few chapters of the book.
There are lots of extraneous babble and even a character who serves no purpose whatsoever. Terry (a secretary in the police department) attaches herself to Matthew and works her way into his life. She really is a fruitcake and should be committed. Maybe she was introduced for comic relief or to show how an insane person really acts. I'm not sure but the various scenes with Terry were aggravating as hell.
Anyway, if I had not been listening to this on tape, I'm sure I would have put it down unfinished. Though I'm glad I continued because it is an interesting story with twists and turns that keep you guessing from start to finish.
October 22, 2016
I have yet to read a truly bad Ed McBain novel. But this was not one of his better ones.
It had an interesting dual plotline, but it seemed as if McBain had two stories not quite big enough to support a book of its own so he blended them into one.
It lacked the taut pacing of every other McBain book I’ve ever read. Partly, that was due to long passages of exposition by several characters (what a friend calls, ‘Well, Bob, as you know…’ dialog) making it drag in places. There were several places, too, where the narrative rambled. Normally, McBain does this so masterfully, it’s a joy to read. But in this book, it just didn’t work.
There also weren’t any ‘edge of your seat’ tension-inducing moments in this book until the very end. One just past the middle of the book could have presaged a real danger to Matthew Hope, but it petered out before anything became of it. And another at the end just fell flat.
McBain usually keeps me guessing (or at least unsure) about some aspect of the plotline throughout the book. Here, I figured out most of it by the ¾ mark.
Compared to other books he’s written, McBain’s heart didn’t seem to be in this one, as if he wrote it simply because his publisher demanded one and he cranked this mediocre number out.
This e-book too was loaded with punctuation errors, and many sentences had capitalized words in the middle of them.
It had an interesting dual plotline, but it seemed as if McBain had two stories not quite big enough to support a book of its own so he blended them into one.
It lacked the taut pacing of every other McBain book I’ve ever read. Partly, that was due to long passages of exposition by several characters (what a friend calls, ‘Well, Bob, as you know…’ dialog) making it drag in places. There were several places, too, where the narrative rambled. Normally, McBain does this so masterfully, it’s a joy to read. But in this book, it just didn’t work.
There also weren’t any ‘edge of your seat’ tension-inducing moments in this book until the very end. One just past the middle of the book could have presaged a real danger to Matthew Hope, but it petered out before anything became of it. And another at the end just fell flat.
McBain usually keeps me guessing (or at least unsure) about some aspect of the plotline throughout the book. Here, I figured out most of it by the ¾ mark.
Compared to other books he’s written, McBain’s heart didn’t seem to be in this one, as if he wrote it simply because his publisher demanded one and he cranked this mediocre number out.
This e-book too was loaded with punctuation errors, and many sentences had capitalized words in the middle of them.
January 30, 2016
A bit more off-the-wall than the other books I've read in this series. Matthew Hope, attorney, is contacted by Sarah Whittaker who is currently residing in a luxurious private sanatorium. She has been committed involuntarily as a paranoid schizophrenic. That is not what Sarah says. She has been committed so that her mother, who has inherited billions of dollars on her own, wants to get her hands on Sarah's measly $650,000. In talking to her mother, her mother's attorney and the doctors of Knott's Retreat their story sounds more like a fairy tale than Sarah's, so who is telling the truth and should Attorney Hope assist Sarah in overturning her commitment.
November 4, 2014
I enjoyed this book. I have never read Ed McBain before - though I had heard of him - so I was not entirely certain what to expect. Something like Raymond Chandler, but not as good I guess. As it turns out this was a pretty good police thriller. Not so much a mystery as by around two thirds of the way through it was fairly clear who had done what to who, when and why. More an adventure I think with some twists and turns in the plot. The characters were mostly well drawn and the plot bounced along pretty well. I'll give McBain another go.
April 4, 2010
Was her daughter a certified paranoid schizophrenic or wasn't she? She claims that her mother and two well-paid psychiatrists had schemed to commit her, and that the reason was to gain control over her size-able inheritance? Can this young, wealthy, gorgeous, witty, and bright young lady convience her lawyer to get her out of this institution? A quick, read with a few twists, just how I like them!
May 13, 2014
Saw the ending coming a mile away. The book was worthwhile nevertheless--downloaded it from archive.org during a dull spell at work and the time passed quickly. McBain has a great ear for dialog, provides good description, and knows his pacing--the exchange between the dry cleaning guy and the cops was classic. Recommend.
August 28, 2009
so far, so good!! I really liked the book, except for the ending, which was a surprize, but got a bit dirty, which I don't like. But is a great read, and I think I would enjoy reading another one by this author.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 39 reviews