Baltimore Blues

From 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. Copyright 1996 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From AudioFile Lippman's sleuth, Tess Monaghan, has had several outings by now, but this is her first (1997). It was important to establish her character firmly and to involve her in a plot exciting enough to make readers come back for more. Deborah Hazlett backs Lippman's success vocally. She shows Tess as resourceful, emotionally steady, feisty, and clear thinking as the unemployed reporter investigates the murder of a controversial defense lawyer. Other characters, as well as the portrayal of the city of Baltimore, enrich the plot and, in most cases, the audio version. Hazlett's narration sounds a bit reportorial at times, a style that is perhaps a reflection of Tess's vocation and that of Lippman herself. J.B.G. © AudioFile 2007, Portland, Maine-- Copyright © AudioFile, Portland, Maine --This text refers to the Audio CD edition.