Today, I am reviewing Baltimore Blues by Laura Lippman for TLC Book Tours. As always, I am provided with a copy of the book in exchange for my honest review.
About the book (from the publisher): When a former Baltimore reporter must solve the murder of a notorious attorney, she discovers Charm City is rife with dark, sordid, and dangerous secrets.
In a city where someone is murdered almost every day, attorney Michael Abramowitz’s death should be just another statistic. But the slain lawyer’s notoriety makes the case front page news in every local paper except the Star, which crashed and burned before Abramowitz did.
A former Star reporter who knows every inch of this town – from historic Fort McHenry to the crumbling projects of Cherry Hill – now-unemployed journalist Tess Monaghan also knows the guy the cops like for the killing: cuckholded fiancé Darryl “Rock” Paxton. The time is ripe for a career move, so when rowing buddy Rock wants to hire her to do some unorthodox snooping to help clear his name, Tess agrees.
But there are lethal secrets hiding in the Charm City shadows. And Tess’s own name could end up on that ever-expanding list of Baltimore dead.
My review: The publishers are rereleasing this first book in the popular Tess Monaghan series in preparation for the release of the latest book in the series, Hush Hush, which will be published later this month. I’ve reviewed one other Lippman book, After I’m Gone (a stand alone novel), and liked it very much, so I was quite happy to read this first Tess Monaghan book.
After I’m Gone introduced me to Lippman, who I had most definitely been aware of but had not yet had the pleasure of reading. As I look back at that review, I see that I wrote: “I look forward to starting the Tess Monaghan series.” Someone must have heard me, because here I am with the opportunity to review the first book in the series.
Tess, a former reporter at loose ends, trying to put together an income by working in her aunt’s bookstore as well as doing work for another relative, finds a rhythm to her days of unemployment by rising early, grabbing a scull and rowing. She often encounters her friend Rock during these early morning rows. The publisher’s blurb is a wee bit misleading, as Tess’s friend Rock initially hires her to follow his girlfriend because he’s worried about her frequent absences. He figures Tess has time on her hands and has a reporter’s instinct to follow clues, so she might be able to figure out what is going on. When things go wrong and the girlfriend’s co-worker is found murdered with Rock arrested as a suspect, Rock’s lawyer hires Tess as part of his investigative team.
From there? I won’t give away any of the plot. Lippman writes wonderfully rich characters, and this novel is full of them. As a lifetime resident of Baltimore, Tess is surrounded by friends and family who figure prominently in Tess’s daily life. She also knows the city like the back of her hand. In this book, as in After I’m Gone, the city of Baltimore is a character in itself. Lippman clearly knows and loves that city, and it shows on every page. It is vividly and lovingly portrayed.
Boy, does Lippman know how to write a mystery! She is skilled in plotting and maintaining a level of tension that builds until the final pages. She knits together all the various threads of the storyline in a way that makes absolute sense, but still results in surprises. And don’t we all want to be surprised when we’re reading a mystery? Baltimore Blues is seamless and gripping. As I found with After I’m Gone, you can’t put it down.
Tess is a wonderful character; strong, funny, insecure, self-depricating, dogged and inventive in her pursuit of answers. I believe there are eleven novels in this series so far. Hush Hush (which I will also be reviewing) will be the twelfth. I can’t wait to read the rest of them – in order. In Tess Monaghan and her family and friends, Lippman has given us a bevy of wonderful characters that we want to meet up with again. And again.
About the author: Since her debut in 1997, Laura Lippman has been heralded for her thoughtful, timely crime novels set in her beloved hometown of Baltimore. She is the author of twenty works of fiction, including eleven Tess Monaghan mysteries. She lives in Baltimore, New Orleans, and New York City with her family.
Good news! One of you will be the lucky winner of a copy of Baltimore Blues. If you’re interested, leave a comment on this post and I will pick a winner on Friday evening. Good luck! (US Residents only.)
By the way, the winner of a copy of Cain and Abe by James Grippando is Linda of A la Carte. Congratulations!
Just added: News on Just Let Me Finish This Page!
Happy Tuesday.
Sounds like a great book. Please put my name in the drawing! Doris
Oh boy! Another mystery series I can begin! Looking forward to this one!
Sounds like a good read Claudia, and Lippman is an author I have wanted to read. Thanks for the opportunity! PS Thought of yet another fabulous movie: Jiro Dreams of Sushi (believe you can catch it on Netflix if you haven’t seent it yet). Hope you are not snowed in and hope you are feeling better.
This sounds like a really good read to me, as I trust your opinion on such things. Also,I found Baltimore to be an intriguing place, too. We lived there for about six months in the early nineties, when cruising the world on a small sailboat, trying to escape the winter. We left the boat to freeze over in the inner harbor and took refuge at the old Belvedere Hotel. With no car, we haunted the downtown areas on foot and just fell in love with the gritty, but somehow magnetic architecture and (back then) sort of crumbling history of the place.
Claudia, your review was wonderful! I’d like to have a copy!! Sounds like a real page turner!
Hope you’re well. My daughter and granddaughters leave today for their Florida home. Although the reason for their unexpected trip was so sad, it was good to be with them. This happened to be the week my sister and I had planned on driving down but I could not due to work constraints, so it was destiny to be with them at this time.
XXOO P.
Sounds like a great mystery! Your reviews are always so interesting, though!
I have not read anything by this author, but this sounds like a great mystery!
Thank you for the review and introducing me to a new acthor. Will be adding her books to mt reading list.
I’d love to have another good book for my collection Claudia. Having a laid back day today on my 60th birthday. Looking forward to a slumber party with some gals in my family on Fri. night to celebrate and breakfast out on Sat. It’s pretty cool this morning here but a beautiful sunny day. Hope you’re on the mend.
Oh goody….sounds like a very interesting series! You can throw my name in the hat. Thanks as always for the opportunity! ;)
Sounds like a fun mystery read!
It sounds like a great read, Claudia. My daughter and SIL lived in B’more for about 2 years and just loved it there. As you said, the location becomes a “character” in a book when the author truly loves and understands the locale.
Claudia, just got an email “alert” from NYTimes that Harper Lee is releasing her 2nd novel this summer. Maybe the rest of the world knew of this…… I didn’t!! What news (at least to me)!
I think I’d enjoy this a lot – I seem to be getting much enjoyment from some Netflix crime offerings these chilly nights – but still enjoy snuggling with a good book even more. If you will add my name to the drawing I’d truly appreciate it Claudia, you’ve tweaked my interest in reading this author’s books.
Hope you are feeling better – I’m struggling with a big decision regarding my surgery – now waiting for a second opinion appointment. . . . . . which I hope will be soon.
Love, Mary
Adding this author to my list! I’m excited to win ‘Kane and Abe’!!
hugs,
Linda
I love mysteries, though my favorites are written by British authors. Thanks for the give-away opportunity.
Claudia, I opened my news feed and rushed over here immediately to tell you to check the news if you haven’t seen it already–Harper Lee–and I won’t give more away!! I’m so excited! And this series by Laura Lippmann sounds intriguing also! This first book is definitely going onto my “read soon” list. Linda
I would love a copy of this book! I have read most of her previous books and this sounds like it is going to be a good one, too! Thanks, Claudia! Hope you and Don are staying warm and inside and you are feeling better.
Hugs,
Deb
Sounds intriguing and how nice to get in on the first in a series. I’m always one that finds the middle book in a series and it drives me bananas! Would love to have a copy.
Sounds like a great book
Did you see the Harper Lee news? How exciting is that:)
Hope you get to feeling much better.
Terri
Sounds like a great read. If a book you review sounds interesting to me , I always go to Amazon and put it on my wish list. I just keep a running list of any book I hear about and then make a larger order when I need to.
Thanks for the review. pam
I’m gonna wait before I buy in case I win, but I am certainly gonna put this on my to-read list. I’ve never anything by this author but I love murder and suspense with a little romance here and there, or rather a romance that we think is going to happen and never does. Sound like a good read.
Just wondering if you have seen this?
http://abcnews.go.com/Entertainment/wireStory/harper-lee-published-july-28687808
Sounds like a great book, would love to read it.
I hope you’re feeling a bit better today.
This sounds like a great mystery!
I hope you are feeling better Claudia.
Sounds like a good mystery and one I would enjoy. Thanks for the opportunity to enter the giveaway.
I really enjoy your reviews and so should the authors. Another great book to add to my list, but hopefully I will win a copy. Thanks for the chance.
I love Laura’s books, and this one sounds like a another good one. Thanks for having this giveaway.
I’ve read all of Laura’s books after having discovered them soon after she published her first one. I have enjoyed every one of them and would highly recommend them to you and all of your readers. They’re authentic crime novels and so true to the old Baltimore. I can’t wait to read her new one! PS-I initially checked them out of our military libraries (when my husband was active duty Army and we moved all over the world) when we were too poor to buy books but our libraries were very well stocked. I’ll always appreciated that we could access any book via our library for ourselves and especially our children who are still great readers. Our son is a veterinarian and our daughter is a high school biology teacher-no doubt their love of reading has helped them in their chosen professions.
Claudia
I love your book reviews. Time is too short to read bad or boring books. Thanks for saving me time! (Sorry you have to read some of them)
Thanks, Terry
Sounds like a good series, Claudia. Thanks for a chance to win the first book!
I live outside of Baltimore and love the city! I used to work in the city for one of the old grand department stores, which sadly are no more. My son is part of the Baltimore Ukrainian dance group so we spend quite a bit of time in the city.
I’d love to read a book that is based in Charm City and I always enjoy a good mystery.
your book reviews are always so reliable. I will stop by the library and pick up some LIppman books. If you say they’re a good read, I find it’s true. Thanks
I have not read any of Laura Lipmman’s books. I am always excited to discover a” new to me” author. Thank you for the heads up on this series.
Another addition to my must read list! Even without your insightful review, I’d read it for the title. (“The Blues Brothers” is one of my favorite movies)
jane-in-tx
I’m glad that your first experience with Lippman went so well! Now you have the rest of the series to catch up on. :)
Thanks for being a part of the tour!