In Big Trouble (Tess Monaghan Book 4)

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.

These are a gift for Christmas but \i am hoping they will fit. Excellent product delivered when stated.

"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.

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.

I enjoyed this book, but not as much as the earlier ones. If you like the series, this one is worth reading.

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!