last update January 14, 2008

Wanda C. Keesey, reviewer

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Charm City
By Laura Lippman
PUB William Marrow
ISBN:  978-0061210037

Tess Monaghan made the move from journalist to private investigator, but finds her newspaper days aren’t quite behind her.  She’s hired to find out who released a story before it was set to be printed.

Her life and her city both seem to be experiencing dubious growth.  Her Uncle Spike is beaten when he tries to stop a robbery.  After he slips into a coma, Tess finds out that her uncle has left her the task of caring for a greyhound dog. While in the local politics, a local big shot promises the city a basketball team, this is under minded when he is discredited by the untimely released news article.  Events don’t get better when he is found dead, an apparent suicide.

There’s more to her uncle’s attack than is first apparent.  Someone is stalking Tess, looking for something.  What and why are just parts of the story.

Laura Lippman has managed to insert humor, adventure, and tension in this novel.  All loose ends are neatly tied up, and with a sigh, the cover can be closed.

Review by Wanda C. Keesey (author Lost In The Mist release May 2008)