Barry R. (buggyrme) reviewed Gladly the Cross Eyed Bear (Matthew Hope, Bk 12) on + 160 more book reviews
A woman invents a cross-eyed toy bear. Someone tries to steal her idea. People get killed and accused. This is also a legal story about how her lawyer defends her in multiple cases.
Ross M. (Parrothead) reviewed Gladly the Cross Eyed Bear (Matthew Hope, Bk 12) on + 533 more book reviews
Hero/narrator Matthew Hope, recovered from gunshots and a coma (There Was a Little Girl, 1994) and, true to his earlier resolve, practicing only civil law in (fictional) Calusa, Fla., represents the plaintiff in a suit involving the eponymous teddy bear, named after a mis-heard line in a hymn ("Gladly the cross I'd bear"). Young toy designer Lainie Commins is suing her ex-boss, toy manufacturer Brett Toland, for copyright and patent infringement, contending that his cross-eyed bear is a direct steal from hers. When Brett is found shot to death on his yacht, Lainie is arrested and charged with murder. She persuades Hope to represent her even as, we later learn, she commits the first legal sin, lying to her lawyer. From mansions to shacks and yacht club to sleazy venues for lingerie "models," McBain gives us a tour of Gulf Coast Florida that's seldom grand. Unable to reach his usual investigators (the main subplot has PI Warren Chambers urging his colleague Toots Kiley to kick her crack cocaine habit cold turkey), Hope hires 60-something Guthrie Lamb, an old-style PI with major male chauvinist traits. McBain, as he has for more than 40 years, keeps his readers riveted through this entire, satisfying tale.
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY REVIEW
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY REVIEW
Jackie S. (gmajackie) -
Kind of fun mystery. A book I would return to if I wanted a change of pace, Easy read.
Mary M. (leakey387) reviewed Gladly the Cross Eyed Bear (Matthew Hope, Bk 12) on + 132 more book reviews
this book has lots of twist and turns
ED MCBAIN/EVAN HUNTER
Matthew Hope mystery. Lainie Commins hires Matthew to represent her in a copyright infringement suit against Etta and Brett Toland, toy company tycoons she worked for. Soon however Lainie is charged with murder and Matthew must figure out what really is going on.
