Award-winning and New York Times bestselling author Laura Lippman’s Tess Monaghan—first introduced in the classic Baltimore Blues—becomes involved in a complicated investigation that will force her to question her loyalties.
For Tess Monaghan, the unsolved murder of a young federal prosecutor is nothing more than a theoretical problem, one of several cases to be deconstructed in her new gig as a consultant to the local newspaper. But it becomes all too tangible when her boyfriend, Crow, brings home a young street kid who’s a juvenile con artist and who doesn’t even realize he holds an important key to the sensational homicide.
Tess agrees to protect the boy’s identity no matter what, especially when one of his friends is killed in what appears to be a case of mistaken identity. But as she soon discovers, her ethical decision to protect him has dire consequences. And with federal agents determined to learn the boy’s name at any cost, Tess finds out just how far even official authorities will go to get what they want.
It isn’t long before Tess finds herself facing felony charges. To make matters worse, Crow has gone into hiding with his young protégé. So Tess can’t deliver the kid to investigators even if she wants to. Now her only recourse is to get to the heart of the sordid and deadly affair while they're all still free...and still breathing.
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"Fairly riveting. PI Tess and her boyfriend Crow become involved with a 14-year-old scam artist from the ghetto, who turns out to know key information about a federal prosecutor who was murdered. Very tight, great characters, a great plot."
— Pbwritr (4 out of 5 stars)
“Intelligently written suspense tale.”
— Belfast Telegraph“Highly satisfying and surprising…Strongly recommended.”
— Library Journal“Lippman lets each character contribute a piece to the whole, which makes the story richer, and there’s some nail-biting suspense as Tess faces off against what she thinks are the big guns of government.”
— Booklist" Tess is my least favourite of heroes. She's rude, spoiled, not very bright, and a bully. I mostly fast-forward through her endless dialogues, just catching enough so I can still follow the overall plot. I much prefer Lippman's stand-alone novels. That said, I give this audiobook 3 stars because the narration is fantastic. "
— Danna, 1/16/2020" Another Tess Monaghan book. I really enjoyed this but I think I'm slowing down on Tess. Too much of a good thing? Maybe. "
— Gillian, 2/20/2014" Loved the characters! Great plot - fun listening in the car "
— Kathy, 2/12/2014" I'm a huge Laura Lippman/Tess Monaghan fan. Read the whole series starting with Baltimore Blues. Enough said. "
— Jennifer, 2/9/2014" It was a great story, but it had way too much swearing in it. "
— Elise, 2/9/2014" good thriller, solid plot w/o ridiculous coincidences. I read this out of sequence, so will have to go get the first Tess Monaghan and start the series. "
— Martha, 1/22/2014" I've come to the conclusion that Tess Monaghan is a Mary Sue, which--okay. I can deal with that. This book reads a lot like an episode of The Wire told from the perspective of the white middle class--some of the situations the black characters find themselves in could be directly lifted from the show. I continue to dislike Tess's thoughtless, headstrong way of tumbling into things and also her general lack of empathy and sensitivity to those around her. What amuses me is that the book--through Crow's eyes, sometimes, and sometimes through the narrator's--asks us again and again to adore her. Regarding the boyfriend: who over the age of twenty-five really wants a boyfriend whose job is to "book bands" at her father's bar and who is an "artist"? Please. But hey! At least he's a MILLIONAIRE. What I'm saying here is that this is cliche-ridden writing, and these aren't even my favorite cliches, so it doesn't work for me. But okay--I like how feminist Lippmann is, and the fact this book shows privileged white people trying to step outside of their privilege and help others, which is a mission I can't disagree with. "
— Beth666ann, 1/16/2014" I admit it took me a while to get into the groove with this one, but about half way through, I couldn't put it down. It was nice to get inside Crow's head for a change. "
— Annette, 1/9/2014" This book didn't seem to have the suspense level that some of her other books have had. "
— Lisa, 1/5/2014" Could not even finish this one. It dragged on til I was exhausted. "
— Kate, 12/27/2013" I picked up this murder mystery because I knew it would be light, and it was set in Baltimore. It was okay; kind of like if Mary Engelbreit tried to write an episode for The Wire. "
— Denise, 12/26/2013" Not my favorite mystery writer. Too many twists and turns and mundane activity. "
— Leslie, 12/9/2013" I love Tess. "
— Kathleen, 12/6/2013" This was my first read by Laura Lippman! I enjoyed it! I really enjoyed her familiar settings of good ol' Charm City!! Can't wait to pick up another one! "
— Christina, 11/10/2013" Have read most if not all of the books in the Tess Monaghan series, and always enjoy Laura Lippman's writing. I read her standalone novels as well. "
— Eileen, 9/30/2013" Among the best Lippman books I've read. Lippman is light reading, but this book's plot was less two-dimensional than most of her stories. It's a quick read. "
— Amanda, 5/29/2013" I've grown very fond of Laura Lippmann lately, and I plan to continue reading my way through her Tess Monaghan series, as winter approaches. "
— Cheryl, 2/23/2013" Still enjoying the series (even though I'm reading the book in completely random order)! "
— Julie, 12/7/2012" My one real beef with this book is the resolution - if my boyfriend was hiding money from me, bringing criminals into the house, and then taking off unannounced to parts unknown, he would be coming "home" to find the locks changed, regardless of how justified he felt these actions might be. "
— Liz, 9/4/2012" This had a great story line and characters. I thoroughly enjoy the Baltimore setting and all the details of the city. When Tess's boyfriend Crow brings home a runaway and trouble begins. "
— Kristin, 8/28/2012" The second half of this book was better than the start, but it wasn't my favorite. (I've read Lippman's "I'd Know You Anywhere," and thought it was much better.) I did like the references to Baltimore and the surrounding areas, but it wasn't enough to make me want to read more. "
— Kate, 7/4/2012" Good quick read...mystery "
— Kaitlyn, 5/20/2012" This is the first book that I've read by this author, and I really enjoyed it. I would like to read more by her. "
— Katie, 2/22/2012" Very pleased to find Ms Lippman in plein form. Clever plotting and writing, a real page-turner. The plot just keeps twisting and untwisting in surprising ways. The insights into the life of a disadvantaged Baltimore teen add depth and twists of their own. "
— Susan, 1/31/2012" So-so book. Easy read; somewhat entertaining. Some of the writing was clearly to build on the series rather than to develop this story in itself. "
— Cindi, 8/10/2011" Tess in a heck of a mess, targeted by FBI and DEA "
— Helen, 5/30/2011" Crow is a drip. I liked the story even though he was in it too much. "
— Julie, 5/17/2011" this book was so awesome! "
— Michele, 4/8/2011" Tess in a heck of a mess, targeted by FBI and DEA "
— Helen, 3/31/2011" This was your typical Laura Lippman book but with a slight twist. The title of the book definitely plays into the storyline. That's what made it so interesting. "
— Jill, 3/30/2011" aaudio -- a case of saving the street kid form the long arm of corrupted law "
— Irene, 3/29/2011" I have mixed feelings about this book. The story has potential but is written such that it seems somewhat fragmented. Some sections are suspenseful yet others are predictable. I'm not sure I would have liked the book if I hadn't been listening to it rather than turning pages. "
— Sharon, 3/6/2011" Another strong entry in the Tess Monaghan series. I like the addition in this one, of shifting POV in some scenes to Crow. He's an interesting character, and it's good to hear more from him sometimes. "
— Tinav, 2/24/2011" Have read most if not all of the books in the Tess Monaghan series, and always enjoy Laura Lippman's writing. I read her standalone novels as well. "
— E.M., 1/28/2011" Not enough of Tess in this one for me, but it was interesting to hear from Crow for a change. "
— E, 1/6/2011" Lippman uses Baltimore as her base. Punctuates her novel with modern jargon. Recalls songs, novels and situations from the recent past to embellish her piece.<br/> "
— Hapzydeco, 12/15/2010" Not as good as her non-series novels, but a decent enough novel that has a second act that really lags. "
— Tim, 10/6/2010" Listened to audio edition. Read - listened when available - most of Lippman's books with total enjoyment. "
— Doreen, 9/1/2010Laura Lippman is a New York Times bestselling novelist who has won more than twenty awards for her fiction, including the Edgar Award—and been nominated for thirty more. Since her debut in 1997, she has published almost two dozen novels, a novella, a children’s book, and a collection of short stories. Her books have been translated into over twenty languages. Laura lives in Baltimore with her husband, David Simon, and their daughter.
Linda Emond is an award-winning actress of stage, film, television, and audiobook narration. Her performances on Broadway earned her nominations for the Tony Award in 2003 and 2012 and for the Drama Desk Award in 1997 and 2002. She was awarded the Joseph Jefferson Award for her roles in plays at theaters in Chicago. Her film credits include roles in Julie & Julia, Dark Water, and Across the Universe, among others. Her television credits include such series as Elementary, The Good Wife, and Law & Order: SVU, as well as movies such as A Dog Named Christmas. She has narrated dozens of audiobooks, winning four Earphones Awards and being named a finalist four times for the prestigious Audie Award. In 2011 she was named by AudioFile magazine as a Best Voice in Mystery & Suspense for her reading of Flash and Bones.