The Last Best Hope

by Ed McBain

Book Overview

Matthew Hope mystery.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0446606731
• ISBN13: 9780446606738
• Release Date: January 1999
• Publisher: A Time Warner Company
• Length: 291 Pages
• Weight: 0.35 lbs.
• Dimensions: 7.3" x 0.8" x 4.3"

Customer Reviews

Matthew Hope meets Steve Carella at last.

Ed McBain tried to tie his two best selling series together with this novel set both in Matthew Hope's Calusa Beach and in the world of the 87th Precinct. While I'm not sure if he completely succeeded I do think this noirish story of a swinging married couple, their young girlfriend (for lack of a better term), their involvement with a murderous ex con, a scheme to steal a priceless art object, and an unsolved murder or two make this still a vintage exciting McBain novel. The friendship that detective Steve Carella and lawyer (kind of PI) Matthew Hope strike up long distance over the phone seems entirely believable and adds some sympathetic empathy for two of the longest suffering "good guy" crime fighters in modern day mystery fiction. I was glad to see these two each find a sympathetic ear.The story itself is a little raunchier in terms of sex than previous McBain's, but I don't think it detracts from the story. Indeed it seems kind of essential in explaining the actions and motivations of some of the characters. I could definitely see the book being cast as a noir type of film with one wondering to the end what the outcome will be.One last note, it isn't necessary to have read any of the other Matthew Hope or 87th Precinct novels before having read this one. It stands on its own well enough, but I do think that it might be helpful to have at least a little bit of a previous acquaintance with Hope and Carella. If nothing else it helps to show the reasons these two would feel a connection with each other. However, once again it isn't necessary for one to enjoy the novel.Without giving away the ending, the title implies that this might be the last Matthew Hope novel. I certainly hope not, I for one would love to see a follow up where Hope visits Carella and the 87th Precinct in the big city. I'll certainly keep my hopes up. No pun intended.

Hoping for More Hope

This most recent Matthew Hope novel is the best in the series. Ed McBain, mystery master, has developed a story involving personal agendas, a dead body washing ashore, and a complicated theft. It also features McBain's other protagonist, Steve Carella, in a crucial role. I've always enjoyed this series. McBain does a solid job with his Florida setting. His Hope series is great! I'm hoping for more!

I hope it's NOT the LAST

I am a big fan of the murder mysteries series genre: Sue Grafton's Kinsey Milhone, J. McDonald's Travis McGee, Robert B. Parker's Spenser... As teens, my brother and I devoured as many of McBain's "87th Pct" books as we could get our hands on. I hadn't read anything by this author in awhile when I stumbled on "The Last Best Hope" last year. I couldn't put it down -- especially after one of the 87th Pct detectives showed up! I'm only sorry that I didn't know about Matthew Hope before -- I've got a whole lot of reading to catch up on!

hope it is not the last -maybe enter :regret and love.

once again better then before.please give us more:there still are several not yet mentioned fairy caracters:what about little tumb,now here must be something mcbain can do with.still preferring his books about others:for ex.:horse's head,downtown,every crook and nanny,buddwing,sentries or even he who hesitaded.please keep writing !look out for his big bad city-in audio and in paperback,and for some new hunter books.j.p.engels

Great work by a master storyteller

In Florida, Jill Lawton hires private investigator Matthew Hope to locate her missing spouse, Jack. Nine months ago, Jack left Jill (don't say a word) to looking for work as a graphic designer in the north. He never came back to Jill, who assumes that he abandoned her. She wants to find him, divorce him, and collect alimony from him. Matthew follows Jack's trail which takes him to New York's 87th precinct. Matthew enlists the help of detective Steve Carella (star of McBain's 87th precinct series), but soon learns that Jack is apparently dead. However, Matthew has uncovered some discrepancies in the man's death that leads him back to his own hometown of Calusa. The local museum is about to unveil a Greek antiquity that has the attention of several folks, which may or may not include Jack. It is up to Matthew to thwart a robbery and uncover motives and identities without being killed during the climatic melee. Ed McBain, recognized as one of the all time greats, has written is best novel in several years with THE LAST BEST HOPE. Readers will enjoy Matthew meeting Steve, but in a lesser novel that would be a diverging gimmick. In this book, it is fun to watch them interact. However, what makes this fiction an earl contender as one of the best robbery novels of the year are the constantly changing loyalties and the fact that no one knows the rules to the game that they all are participating in, with their lives as the ante. After four plus decades of writing, Mr. McBain stil remains one of the best talents in today's writing field of stars. Harriet Klausner