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Laura Lippman
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In Big Trouble (Tess Monaghan Novel, 4) Mass Market Paperback – September 1, 1999

by Laura Lippman (Author)
4.0 4.0 out of 5 stars 186 ratings
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  1. Anthony AwardWinner, 2000
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“[Laura Lippman] is quite simply one of the best crime novelists writing today.”

—Tess Gerritsen

 

New York Times bestselling author Laura Lippman burst onto the crime fiction scene with her critically acclaimed suspense series featuring Baltimore p.i. Tess Monaghan. In Big Trouble is classic Tess, a case that draws the intrepid investigator from Charm City to Texas to help an ex-lover in peril. Lippman’s novels have won the Edgar, Agatha, Anthony, Shamus—every major award, in fact, given for American mystery fiction. In Big Trouble is a prime example of the storytelling artistry that has won Laura Lippman the admiration of critics and peers alike, from Tess Gerritsen to Harlan Coben (“I love her books”).

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  1. Print length
    352 pages
  2. Language
    English
  3. Publisher
    William Morrow Paperbacks
  4. Publication date
    September 1, 1999
  5. Dimensions
    4.19 x 0.88 x 6.75 inches
  6. ISBN-10
    0380798476
  7. ISBN-13
    978-0380798476
  8. See all details
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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

Product details

  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ William Morrow Paperbacks; Reprint edition (September 1, 1999)
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Mass Market Paperback ‏ : ‎ 352 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 0380798476
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0380798476
  • Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 6.4 ounces
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 4.19 x 0.88 x 6.75 inches
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.0 4.0 out of 5 stars 186 ratings

About the author

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Laura Lippman

Laura Lippman

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Since her debut in 1997, New York Times bestseller Laura Lippman has been recognized as one of the most gifted and versatile crime novelists working today. Her series novels, stand-alones and short stories have all won major awards, including the Edgar and the Anthony, and her work is published in more than 20 countries. A former Baltimore Sun journalist, she has written for the New York Times, the Wall Street Journal, the Washington Post, O, The Oprah Magazine, Real Simple, Glamour and Longreads. "Simply one of our best novelists, period," the Washington Post said upon the publication of the ground-breaking What the Dead Know. She lives in Baltimore and New Orleans with her family.

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Website: www.lauralippman.com

Facebook: www.facebook.com/lauralippman/

Instagram: www.instagram.com/lauramlippman/

Twitter: www.twitter.com/LauraMLippman

Customer reviews

4 out of 5 stars
186 global ratings

Customers say

Customers enjoyed the book's readability and clever plot. They found it a great summer read with action and drama.

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ReadabilityPlot
4 customers mention "Readability"4 positive0 negative

Customers enjoy the book's readability. They find it an excellent, factually accurate read and a great summer book.

"...In Big Trouble" is another great read by Lippman, and although some readers may not be too happy she stepped foot outside of Baltimore, I think it..." Read more

"...If you like the series, this one is worth reading." Read more

"...It's a great summer book and reads nice and smooth...." Read more

"Very good book" Read more

3 customers mention "Plot"3 positive0 negative

Customers enjoy the clever plot and action-packed stories. They appreciate seeing Tess grow as a character.

"...This book was packed with action and drama...." Read more

"...Not only are all the stories great, but you actually get to see Tess grow as an adult and, of course, as a character...." Read more

"...the beginnings of her development of this character within a very clever plot." Read more

Top reviews from the United States

Annette San Roman
4.0 out of 5 stars No big trouble for Lippman
Reviewed in the United States on September 23, 2010
Verified Purchase
"In Big Trouble" brings Tess outside her native Baltimore to Texas, where she gets tangled in a long-standing mystery and a family's tangled web of deceit. It was interesting to see how Lippman would write without using the comforts of Baltimore, but she did it extremely well. This book was packed with action and drama. I love Tess more with each and every book I read from Lippman and came to admire this strong and capable woman. I enjoy watching Tess grow and develop as a character. "In Big Trouble" is another great read by Lippman, and although some readers may not be too happy she stepped foot outside of Baltimore, I think it proved to others that Lippman can write about other places other than in her comfort zone, Baltimore.
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LollyPop
5.0 out of 5 stars Tess Monaghan at her best!
Reviewed in the United States on May 12, 2011
Verified Purchase
You must read Laura Lippman's Tess Mongahan novels. Not only are all the stories great, but you actually get to see Tess grow as an adult and, of course, as a character. Lippman allows you to see Tess's faults and how her decision-making can sometimes turn in a bundle of trouble that sometimes backfires on her. I like Tess a lot in this story because she comes to a lot of major decisions about her myself which needed to be made. Tess is no wilting lily, she's one tough lady, so learn a lot about the City of Baltimore and purchase these books.
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Periwinkle
3.0 out of 5 stars Not one of the best
Reviewed in the United States on January 14, 2011
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I enjoyed this book, but not as much as the earlier ones. If you like the series, this one is worth reading.
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Fred Camfield
4.0 out of 5 stars Gone to Texas
Reviewed in the United States on January 14, 2007
Verified Purchase
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.
3 people found this helpful
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RFDIII
5.0 out of 5 stars Enjoyable change of pace for Tess AND Laura
Reviewed in the United States on July 23, 2006
Verified Purchase
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!
3 people found this helpful
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Juli
4.0 out of 5 stars Typical Lippman, excellent read, factually accurate
Reviewed in the United States on June 12, 2008
Verified Purchase
The thing I like about Laura Lippman is that she does her research. The way she describes San Antonio is wonderfully accurate, down to the names of streets, places and historical facts. Coupled with her gift to tell a really great story with out giving "too much information".

It's a great summer book and reads nice and smooth. I've no doubt you'll enjoy it as much as I did, particularly if you're already a Tess Monaghan fan.
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Sheila T. Jackson
5.0 out of 5 stars Persistence
Reviewed in the United States on February 15, 2021
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PI Tess Monaghan leaves Baltimore in search of former beau Crow and finds a missing part of herself in the process.
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Suncoast
2.0 out of 5 stars Not worth the trouble
Reviewed in the United States on March 31, 2015
For some time I have been meaning to sample one of Laura Lippman's books about Tess Monaghan, first an investigative reporter and now a "fearless" private investigator. I was disappointed.

Tess is a strange PI who really doesn't know what she is doing and stumbles around (trailing her pet Greyhound with her) doing silly things that accidentally lead her to solving a case. I really didn't connect with the character, the writing or the plot and only finished this book by flipping the pages and thinking that things would improve - which they didn't.
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Top reviews from other countries

Kindle Customer
5.0 out of 5 stars A Very Sympathetic P. I.
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on July 11, 2015
Verified Purchase
Tests Monaghan, ex reporter and now private investigator in Baltimore, is completely forced out of her comfort zone when she receives a photo of her close friend, Crow, underneath a sign stating In Big Trouble.. Packing her bag, plus her greyhound, Esskay, she drives to Texas to rescue him. Unfortunately, Crow is less than grateful and disappears again. An involving and fascinating story of old crimes and family secrets. Loved it and hope to read more about Tess, a very sympathetic P.I.
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wiganjean
5.0 out of 5 stars WELLIE GOOD
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on December 13, 2016
Verified Purchase
These are a gift for Christmas but \i am hoping they will fit. Excellent product delivered when stated.
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