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BOOK
ILLUMINATIONS
From Merrimon Book Reviews
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The Girl in the Green Raincoat
by Laura Lippman
Must read for Lippman fans!
When
complications arise in Tess Monaghan's pregnancy, she suddenly becomes
housebound. While she might be under doctor's orders to remain
immobile, her mind is far from inactive. From outside her window,
she watches a woman in a green rain coat walk her Italian
greyhound. Every day Tess watches the same pattern. Then
one day she sees the dog running loose with the owner nowhere in
sight. With her inquisitive mind, naturally Tess must investigate
and determine the whereabouts of the missing woman. Enlisting the
aid of her crew, Mrs. Blossom included, Tess discovers that this woman
is not the only one to go missing. The more clues she discovers,
the more dangerous the case becomes. Will Tess be able to solve
the mystery of the woman in the green raincoat?
THE GIRL IN THE GREEN RAINCOAT, originally published in The New York
Times Magazine, is now presented in book form for fans of Laura Lippman
and her character Tess Monaghan. Laura Lippmann creates a
fantastic tribute to Hitchcock's REAR WINDOW in this short novel,
fantastic both for the similarities and the differences. Laura
Lippman brings humor and modern details to this classic tale.
Even better, Tess herself is conscious of the eerie coincidence between
her circumstances and the film. Laura Lippman never sacrifices
her own characters or story. REAR WINDOW is a framework for her
mystery, but in the end, Laura Lippman creates her own mystery with a
unique style that Tess Monaghan fans will recognize. Indeed, for
Hitchcock and Laura Lippman fans, this fine balance is the best of two
worlds!
THE GIRL IN THE GREEN RAINCOAT is a smart, humorous mystery rich in
details yet lively in pace. As in her past works,
characterization and setting are key. THE GIRL IN THE GREEN
RAINCOAT is probably best read by those who are familiar with the
characters from previous books although one need not have read all the
books in the series to enjoy this glimpse into Tess Monaghan's
pregnancy or the mystery. For those who have read one or two Tess
Monaghan mysteries, like myself, THE GIRL IN THE GREEN RAINCOAT reminds
a reader of the joy of reading a Laura Lippman mystery.
While light-hearted in pace and tone, the mystery also has a richness
that prods a reader's intellect with its humor while also entertaining
-- a delightful mix. Several surprising twists and turn keep a
reader guessing about the mystery until the fast-paced, on-edge
resolution. If you are a Laura Lippman fan, this book is a
must. If not, pick up a longer mystery alongside one. Laura
Lippman mysteries are delightful change of pace for mystery
readers. Mystery plotting, characterization, setting, and the
author's ability to combine humor and richness of style give the Tess
Monaghan series a delightful uniqueness in the mystery genre.
Publisher: William Morrow
(January 18, 2011)
A Tess Monaghan Mystery
Author
website
Reviewed by Merrimon,
Merrimon Book Reviews
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