Book: The Girl in the Green Raincoat by Laura Lippman
Finished: February 2011
Pages: 158
From Publisher's Weekly:
[ Originally serialized in the New York Times Magazine, Lippman's Tess Monaghan novella turns the intrepid Baltimore PI's at-risk late-pregnancy bed rest into a compellingly edgy riff on Hitchcock's Rear Window. Lovingly tucked up on her winterized sun porch, Tess marshals her forces--doting artist boyfriend Crow, best friend Whitney Talbot, middle-aged assistant gumshoe Mrs. Blossom, and researcher Dorie Starnes--to probe the disappearance of a chic blonde green-raincoated dog walker she'd been watching from her comfy prison. Tess also takes in the missing woman's abandoned green-slickered Italian greyhound from hell, a miniature canine terrorist whose anti-housebreaking vendetta offers comic relief from Tess's threatened pre-eclampsia, her obsessive unraveling of a complex scam, and her last-trimester spats with Crow about their future. Though postpartum Tess turns alternately weepy and shrill, that condition won't last, and this entertaining romp leaves plenty of hints of detective-mother exploits to come.]
My Thoughts:
This is my first Lippman book and I must say it was a fun little romp. Although I am not a fan of the heavy duty mystery genre, this one was just right. A little bit of mystery, a little bit of danger, and a whole lot of character! These are the same things that have endeared the Maisie Dobbs series to me. Being only 158 pages, it didn't take me long to read it, and it was a nice break from some of the heavier books I had going at the same time.
I definitely will be looking for more Tess Monaghan stories in the future. How about you? Have you read anything by Lippman? Did you enjoy it? Can you recommend anything by her to me?
I keep seeing this one. I didn't realise it was a bit of mystery. Sound like a cosy mystery. Something I really would like to read soon.
ReplyDeleteI'm not a huge fan of mystery myself but Lippman sure has made a ame for herself, hasn't she? She's everywhere!
ReplyDeleteI've grown very fond of Scandinavian crime fiction lately. Crime Fiction is not my cup of tea but when a handsome, Norwegian writer is writing them... I can't help but read 'em and they are sooooo good. I am hearting Jo Nesbo in a big way.
I almost checked this book out from the library for Readathon and now I wish I had! I did go ahead and add it to my Goodreads To-Read list so I don't forget it next time! Too many books, no time-turner handy so that I can read them all!
ReplyDeleteI've read several Lippman books, but this one was my first Tess Monaghan book. I read it on my Kindle, and it was definitely a quick and fun read. Loved it!
ReplyDeleteGlad you enjoyed it, too.