In Big Trouble (Tess Monaghan Mysteries) [Mass Market Paperback]

Laura Lippman (Author)

Book Description

Series: Tess Monaghan Mysteries | Publication Date: September 1, 1999

Join the world of New York Times bestselling author Laura Lippman's Tess Monaghan in the Shamus and Anthony Award-winning fourth book in the acclaimed series

In Big Trouble

Tess Monaghan has learned the hard way how to survive on the streets of Baltimore—first as a fearless investigative reporter and lately as a PI. But a new case is about to take her way out of her element.

What begins with a tantalizing shard of a newspaper headline—"In Big Trouble"—above a photograph of an old boyfriend will end far away in another world, where people dress and talk differently . . . and rich people's games can have lethal consequences. Here where the sun is merciless—and curiosity can kill faster than a rattler's bite—Tess is going to have to confront her past and, hopefully, live to tell about it. For the answers she seeks about a man she thought she knew may be somehow linked to a murderer who two-steps to a very deadly drummer.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

When Baltimore PI Tess Monaghan receives an envelope postmarked Boerne, Tex., containing a photo of Crow, her former musician boyfriend, and a scrap of newspaper headline reading "in big trouble," a day's outing to visit Crow's parents in Charlottesville, Tex., turns into a road trip to unknown territory. Tough and street savvy in her hometown, the former reporter feels lost in the land of the Alamo. Crow seems to have disappeared with a mysterious blonde singer, and as Tess searches for them, she encounters a wall of family secrets behind which may lie the reason for the body count rising around her. Lippman's (Charm City) colorful charactersAespecially the proprietor of Tess's temporary no-tell motel, and homicide detective Al GuzmanAadd amusement to this gripping mystery. (Sept.)
Copyright 1999 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Review

"Smart, sassy and wildly funny." -- The San Antonio Express-News

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Product Details

• Mass Market Paperback: 352 pages
• Publisher: Avon; First edition (September 1, 1999)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0380798476
• ISBN-13: 978-0380798476
• Product Dimensions: 6.8 x 4.2 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 5.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (25 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #194,590 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Laura Lippman was a reporter for twenty years, including twelve years at The (Baltimore) Sun. She began writing novels while working fulltime and published seven books about "accidental PI" Tess Monaghan before leaving daily journalism in 2001. Her work has been awarded the Edgar ®, the Anthony, the Agatha, the Shamus, the Nero Wolfe, Gumshoe and Barry awards. She also has been nominated for other prizes in the crime fiction field, including the Hammett and the Macavity. She was the first-ever recipient of the Mayor's Prize for Literary Excellence and the first genre writer recognized as Author of the Year by the Maryland Library Association. Ms. Lippman grew up in Baltimore and attended city schools through ninth grade. After graduating from Wilde Lake High School in Columbia, Md., Ms. Lippman attended Northwestern University's Medill School of Journalism. Her other newspaper jobs included the Waco Tribune-Herald and the San Antonio Light. Ms. Lippman returned to Baltimore in 1989 and has lived there since.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

14 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Lippman Does it Again, May 25, 2000

By 

New Momma (USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: In Big Trouble (Tess Monaghan Mysteries) (Mass Market Paperback)

Tess Monaghan shines in Lippman's new novel, IN BIG TROUBLE. Tess is portrayed, as always, as a completely believable and yet extremely strong female character. Finding her ex-bofriend Crow, and solving the murders that surround him, make for a very interesting and entertaining read. Lippman's writing style also lends to the enjoyment of this book. I highly recommend it; however, if you've never read Lippman you should probably start at the beginning of the "Tess" series.

8 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Well Done, August 30, 2001

By 

nobizinfla "nobizinfla" (Windermere, Florida USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: In Big Trouble (Tess Monaghan Mysteries) (Mass Market Paperback)

"In Big Trouble" is very well written, carefully plotted and full of good characters.
As I am reading the Tess Monaghan series in order, this is my 4th Laura Lippman read. This is easily her best mystery in the whodunit and plotting categories. Lots of red herrings and plenty of possible suspects.
It is her first one that takes place outside of Baltimore, and that was a minus for me. Having lived in Baltimore, I find her a great voice for that great city. Her books give me my Baltimore fix...so with 95% of the action Texas I was disappointed.
That said, this is a strong work and well worth reading. It truly shows how the author has grown as a mystery writer.
So, if Texas locations are what you like, this is a spectacular read.
I look forward her "The Sugar House" shortly.

7 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The best of the series (so far!), September 6, 2001

By 

Kristin Brown (Leesburg, VA United States) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: In Big Trouble (Tess Monaghan Mysteries) (Mass Market Paperback)

I love that Lippman is willing to let her characters learn from life. Maybe it's because I'm close to both Tess's age (30) and place in life (what do I do when I grow up?), but I really liked this book. As with previous books, I do think Lippman tends to throw in one too many unexpected surprises toward the end, but it doesn't keep the reader from enjoying the good story or the excellent characterizations. For those of you who read this series for Baltimore, don't let the Texas setting throw you off - Lippman's love of geography is just as evident here as in previous Tess books. A good read!