From the TBR Pile: Blog tour: Baltimore Blues by Laura Lippman

Author: Luara Lippman
Publisher Harper
Date of publication: First published in 1997, reissued in 2011

Discover the first novel in New York Timesbestselling author Laura Lippman’s outstanding Tess Monaghan series! When a former Baltimore reporter must solve the murder of a notorious attorney, she discovers Charm City is rife with dark, sordid, and dangerous secrets.

In a city where someone is murdered almost every day, attorney Michael Abramowitz’s death should be just another statistic. But the slain lawyer’s notoriety—and his taste for illicit midday trysts—make the case front-page news in every local paper except the Star, which crashed and burned before Abramowitz did.

A former Star reporter who knows every inch of this town—from historic Fort McHenry to the crumbling projects of Cherry Hill—now-unemployed journalist Tess Monaghan also knows the guy the cops like for the killing: cuckolded fiancé Darryl “Rock” Paxton. The time is ripe for a career move, so when rowing buddy Rock wants to hire her to do some unorthodox snooping to help clear his name, Tess agrees.

But there are lethal secrets hiding in the Charm City shadows. And Tess’s own name could end up on that ever-expanding list of Baltimore dead.

In anticipation of the 12th Tess Monaghan book coming out this summer, Harper is promoting the first book in the series, Baltimore Blues. I have had this book on my TBR list for a long time, so this blog tour was great incentive to read it. I enjoyed the mystery part of the book. It definitely kept me guessing as whether or not Rock was guilty.

I really didn't care for Tess in the beginning. I thought she was kind of a slacker. I have little respect for someone who just floats by. But, as she began to use her reporter skills to start taking apart the case, I began to like her more and more. She is definitely a character I could come to love. I have the next book, Charm City on my MP3 player, so keep an eye out for it in a Throwback Thursday post soon!

About the author:

Since her debut in 1997, Laura Lippman has been heralded for her thoughtful, timely crime novels set in her beloved hometown of Baltimore. She is the author of twenty works of fiction, including eleven Tess Monaghan mysteries. She lives in Baltimore, New Orleans, and New York City with her family.

Connect with Laura on her website, Facebook, or Twitter.

Purchase Links

Amazon | IndieBound | Barnes & Noble

Laura’s Tour Stops

Tuesday, January 20th: No More Grumpy Bookseller

Wednesday, January 21st: she treads softly

Thursday, January 22nd: Kritters Rambling