Matthew Hope Books in Order

The Recommended Reading Order for Matthew Hope

For readers diving into the sun-drenched, crime-ridden streets of Calusa, Florida, the best way to experience Matthew Hope’s journey is in publication order. Because the series develops Matthew’s personal life, his legal career, and physical health chronologically, reading the books in sequence ensures you do not miss key character milestones—most notably his survival of a near-fatal shooting and subsequent coma.

Here is the complete publication order of the Matthew Hope novels:

1. Goldilocks (1977/1978) – Matthew investigates a brutal family homicide that interrupts a divorce case.
2. Rumpelstiltskin (1981) – A case involving a murdered rock star and a custody battle over a young girl.
3. Beauty and the Beast (1982) – Hope defends a scarred veteran accused of murdering his beautiful wife.
4. Jack and the Beanstalk (1984) – A snap decision to defend a young man accused of murdering a key witness.
5. Snow White and Rose Red (1985) – Matthew is hired to release a woman from a mental institution, only for her to end up dead.
6. Cinderella (1986) – A case involving a dead model and a conspiracy reaching back to the Vietnam War.
7. Puss in Boots (1987) – A murder investigation centered on the adult film industry.
8. The House That Jack Built (1988) – Hope defends a man accused of killing his brother on a Florida estate.
9. Three Blind Mice (1990) – Matthew defends a Vietnamese immigrant accused of murdering three men.
10. Mary, Mary (1991) – A retired schoolteacher is accused of murdering three children and burying them in her garden.
11. There Was a Little Girl (1994) – A crucial turning point where Matthew is shot in a drive-by and ends up in a coma.
12. Gladly the Cross-Eyed Bear (1996) – Hope recovers from his coma and tackles a copyright dispute that leads to murder.
13. The Last Best Hope (1998) – The final novel, featuring a direct crossover with Steve Carella of the 87th Precinct.

Publication Order vs. Chronological Order

Unlike some crime series with convoluted timelines, prequels, or retrospective collections, the Matthew Hope series progresses in a straightforward linear chronological timeline that mirrors its publication order. The narrative spans from the late 1970s through the late 1990s, charting the physical and emotional evolution of the protagonist.

Reading out of order is highly discouraged due to several major overarching storylines:

• Matthew's Personal Evolution: Matthew starts the series as a recently divorced attorney who has relocated from New York City to Calusa, Florida. Over the course of thirteen books, his romantic interests, friendships, and legal reputation shift significantly.
• The Coma Arc: In There Was a Little Girl (1994), Matthew is shot and hospitalized in a deep coma. The narrative of this eleventh book is unique, as his close associates—including investigator Warren Chambers—must solve the case while Matthew lies unconscious. The twelfth book, Gladly the Cross-Eyed Bear (1996), deals heavily with his physical rehabilitation, memory gaps, and the emotional aftermath of the shooting. Reading these out of order spoils the suspense of whether Matthew survives and recovers.

The 87th Precinct Crossovers and Connections

While Matthew Hope operates under the sunny skies of Florida, his creator, Ed McBain (the primary pen name of Evan Hunter), is world-renowned for his gritty, urban 87th Precinct police procedural series set in the fictional metropolis of Isola. Despite their contrasting settings, the two series share a literary universe:

The Ultimate Crossover: The Last Best Hope (1998)

The final book in the series, The Last Best Hope, serves as a grand finale for Matthew Hope and a direct crossover with the 87th Precinct. The plot begins in Florida when Hope is hired to track down a missing husband and an ancient Greek artifact. The search eventually leads him north to Isola, where he teams up with detective Steve Carella. This book is a must-read for fans of both series, seamlessly blending McBain's legal thriller and police procedural styles.

Guthrie Lamb's Appearance

Another subtle crossover occurs in Gladly the Cross-Eyed Bear (1996), which features an appearance by Guthrie Lamb, a private investigator character whom McBain had introduced decades earlier in his writing. These connections reward long-term readers of Evan Hunter's extensive bibliography.

What to Know Before You Start

Before embarking on the Matthew Hope series, it helps to understand the unique tone and stylistic decisions McBain employed:

• The Fairy-Tale Motifs: A hallmark of the series is that every book title is derived from a classic fairy tale or nursery rhyme. While the books are gritty, hard-edged crime dramas rather than cozy stories, the fairy-tale titles reflect themes of innocence lost, monstrous behavior, and moral struggles.
• Calusa, Florida: The series is set in a fictionalized version of Florida's Gulf Coast, largely modeled after Sarasota (where Evan Hunter lived for many years). The setting plays a critical role in the series, providing a sharp contrast to the cold, concrete streets of Isola.
• Legal Drama meets Detective Work: Matthew is first and foremost an attorney, not a police officer or a licensed private eye. However, because his clients are often wrongfully accused, he is routinely forced to act as an investigator alongside his trusted contacts, Warren Chambers and Morris Bloom.