Customer Reviews

In big trouble (A Tess Monaghan mystery)

5 star:		(8)
4 star:		(12)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

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.

"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.

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!

This is a complex plot about relationships. Crow has left Tess and taken his band (Poe White Trash) to Texas. Now his parents contact Tess because he is no longer in contact and they are worried. Tess has also received a message with an indication that he is in trouble. The search should be simple. She has a recent photo and is looking for a performing musician. But the trail is initially cold, and things are complicated by Tess finding an overripe body, someone of interest to the police in connection with a cold case from 20 years earlier. Tess loses her lunch and decides that she will never eat another Moon Pie.

Tess eventually tracks down Crow, playing at local clubs with a new band, but it drawn into the cold case which involves the new woman in Crow's life. There is a complex web of relationships related to the woman's family and dating back to a triple murder 20 years earlier. Tess finds a second overripe body, also a man of interest to the local police. Police use some forensic entomology (maggots can be used to establish a time of death).

There are a few surprises as the novel moves towards a climax. There are questions about a past kidnapping, and questions about who was responsible for the various murders. And there are questions about motives including sex, money, and revenge.

As the novel ends, Tess is in a tenuous renewal of her relationship with Crow, her aunt Kitty has become involved with Tyner, a wealthy man is charged with murder but has a high powered attorney and social connections, a young woman is charged but her attorney is claiming insanity, and Esskay has been spoiled with pork rinds and pizza. Tess does finish reading Don Quixote.

The plot is somewhat slow reading with lots of background color. There are language, some sex (actual or by reference), and some violence. At best, I would give it a PG-13 rating. Some scenes are not for the squeamish.

It's a shame to see some of the kvetching about Tess leaving her beloved Baltimore for other climes. Lippman wisely chose as a place she once worked as a newspaper reporter -- Texas. Having worked on a daily in Texas myself (and as a big fan of the city of San Antonio), I can tell you that Laura's depiction of this wonderfully quirky city and its inhabitants is dang near perfect. As with other Monaghan stories, it's as much about Tess as it is about the mystery to be solved ... and there few more interesting main characters in the genre today. Well done, Laura!

Ms Lippmann has a graceful, lovely style. Not as hardboiled as most of my reading choices, I'd classify this as a cozy, but a good read nonetheless.

In this entry, Tess is GTT -- gone to Texas. This mystery plays out on the streets of San Antone and Austin to great comic effect. Having lived in both Texas and Baltimore, it is a special hoot to read about Tess's doings with the characters and the cuisine of the Lone Star State. Tess is a big strapping gal let loose in a big strapping state. Unfortunately, as with other Tess stories, the plot is a bit weak compared with the characters. That said, this is a very enjoyable read.

Since I started reading the Tess Monaghan mysteries three weeks ago, I can't put them down. They just keep getting better.
In Big Trouble leaves the Baltimore setting and moves to Texas where everything is always bigger: bigger characters, bigger plots, bigger romance, bigger crime and mystery!

This is my favorite in the series, even though it takes place outside of Baltimore and Crow is missing for much of the story. Tess in Texas is as funny, irreverent, and clever as she is in her own Charm City. In her search for Crow she meets several strange characters (who are not caricatures), gets tripped, tricked, but never loses her good humor and determination. The resolution is excellent because it's not contrived and it's not easy, either. An engrossing and satisfying read. It's too bad Crow is only a figment of Laura Lippman's imagination!

I have read all the Tess Monaghan mysteries in order, and while this one was good, it wasn't the best. It was strange having Tess out of Baltimore, and I felt some of the plot points in the story were just too contrived. And worst of all, I just plain didn't like Tess as much in this book. She did some dishonest, unkind and even borderline sleazy things that weren't justifiable, in my opinion. Tess gets away with way too much, and needs to be brought down a notch or two.