Baltimore Blues
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4.0 • 47 Ratings
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- $12.99
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- $12.99
Publisher Description
'A very special kind of twisted genius.' SARAH HILARY
'A natural storyteller at the height of her powers.' LEE CHILD
A TESS MONAGHAN MYSTERY
Meet Tess Monaghan - ex-Baltimore Star reporter and accidental PI - as she investigates cases of murder, corruption and injustice in Charm City . . .
Until her newspaper, The Baltimore Star, crashed, Tess Monaghan was a first-rate reporter who knew her home town intimately - from historic Fort McHenry to the crumbling projects of Cherry Hill. Now gainfully unemployed, she's willing to do any freelance job to pay the rent - including a bit of unorthodox snooping for her rowing buddy Darryl 'Rock' Paxton.
In a city where someone is murdered almost every day, attorney Michael Abramowitz's death should be just another statistic. But the lawyer's notoriety and his trysts with Rock's fiancée, make the case front page news - and make Rock the chief suspect. . .
'Anyone that likes mysteries, even a little bit, should read this book and the rest in the series!' 5* reader review
'Loved it. Fast pace, big surprises!' 5* reader review
'Very engaging. . .unpredictable.' 5* reader review
PRAISE FOR THE TESS MONAGHAN SERIES
'Tess is a heroine with a nose for what she is not being told, and she is never content with half the story. These Baltimore novels are effective thrillers, because they are stories about wanting to know what happens next.' Times Literary Supplement
'Whip smart female protagonist, gritty Baltimore setting. Loved Tess!' 5* reader review
'Readers won't be able to resist Tess, who, like one of Baltimore's famous crabs, sports a tough shell that hides a sweet centre.' BOOKLIST
'Digestible, fun, tense' NPR
'In this series, Lippman has developed sturdy tales, wry humour, and snappy dialogue wrapped around an insider's view of Baltimore.' SUN-SENTINEL
'Tess, is a ballsy, free-spirited woman who thinks on her feet and has a commanding physical presence. . . Highly recommend' 5* reader review
'What fun! I discovered a new (to me) mystery series. Tess Monaghan is a terrific main character.' 5* reader review
'I really have fallen in love with Tess Monaghan. These mystery novels well deserve the awards Lippman has won.' 5* reader review
APPLE BOOKS REVIEW
The first book in the Tess Monaghan series by bestselling American novelist Laura Lippman is a sharp, suspenseful mystery. Our protagonist—a scrappy, bookish ex-newspaper reporter in dire need of some income—comes to the defense of her friend Darryl “Rock” Paxton, who’s been falsely accused of murder. As Tess hunts for the real killer, Lippman takes us on a tour of a Baltimore that’s as gritty and charming as Tess’ deadpan humour.
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
Downsized ex-reporter Tess Monaghan spends her days working part-time at the bookstore owned by sexy Aunt Kitty and trying not to fall into the disgustingly polluted Patapsco from her city-owned boat. When rowing buddy Rocky pays her what looks like a fortune to follow his fiance, the trail leads to murder with Rocky the prime suspect. "Uneven" is the word for this first novel-hometown and newspaper backgrounds are alive from page one, but characters are cartoons until chapter 15 (out of 30) when Tess investigates the victim. Suddenly the story perks up to a believable pageturner. If Lippman continues the promise of the second half of Baltimore Blues while adhering to advice attributed to Elmore Leonard to cut out the parts people won't read, mystery fans can anticipate an engrossing series.
Customer Reviews
It's ok
Not a terrible book but the ending is a little confusing. It all rushes out together with little build up or suspense. It can be forgiven though as it is her first book.
The story is good enough to keep you interested til the end. Worth a try.