Mystery Crime Books

Being an Anne Perry fan I was disappointed in this mystery. It is the 8th in the Pitt series, and by far the least interesting. I don't know if I didn't like it because there wasn't much about Charlotte and Thomas and their children or what. Perry just seemed to rattle on with too many details. I hope the 9th book is better.

The customer "reviews" of this book are plot summaries which will spoil a potential reader's enjoyment. This is the best Anne Perry I've read so far (I've read about ten.) As usual, it exposes Victorian crimes against the poor and rebellion against one's own class by a few of the wealthy. But, in addition, Perry this time crafts several middle of the night, suspenseful horror scenes.

I'm often let down by Perry's endings. Not enough analysis/explanation is provided, and only the principals are allowed to react to the denouement.

I would like to see a chronological listing of her books. If you read them out of order, too much about earlier happenings is revealed. I knew, for example, that ____ could not have been the murderer in this book because he is alive and well in a LATER book which I had already read. Also, another character's death (from an earlier book) is referred to repeatedly.

I still love the Victorian settings and a glimpse into the rigid lifestyle and the grinding poverty of that time.

George March, Lord Ashworth, married Emily Ellison, Charlotte Pitt's sister. While the Ashworths are visiting his extended family, he dies from poison in his morning coffee. As he was the only one in the family who drank coffee, it obviously wasn't an accidental death. The Marches are ready to close ranks against Emily, who had been seething at George over his gratuitous attention toward a cousin's wife at the opera the night before. As far as they're concerned, she's just a woman scorned, and an outsider--so better she hang than one of them. But do you think Charlotte will stand for that for one minute? Not a chance. . . The Marches are what 100 years later we refer to as a dysfunctional family. Some things never change. . .have fun reading

In the first mystery in the Pitt series, the Ellison family lost a daughter to the Cater Street Hangman. Since that time friends have suffered unspeakable tragedies, and now Emily Ellison March, Lady Ashworth, is suspected of murdering her husband George by putting belladonna in his morning coffee. Families with this kind of luck need to have someone married to a police detective!

If you are reading the stories chronologically, you will have followed the relationship of George and Emily through several novels. While I was initially sad to think his good-natured presence would be missing from future stories, I have to confess that there was little spark between the two. Maybe a change of pace is what Emily (and Perry's loyal readers?) need.

Charlotte (Emily's sister) and Thomas Pitt continue to develop as characters and sleuths in this story. Charlotte is even beginning to learn a bit of judicious caution and investigative skills! While the solution to the mystery was not entirely surprising, the twists and turns of the plot take the reader into some interesting and unforgettable aspects of late Victorian England. I highly recommend this book, and even if this is the first one you read you will enjoy getting to know the characters.

I have been reading the Pitt series in order from the beginning, and this is the best one yet. They are all good reading, but this one in particular offers the classic English mansion who-done-it feel. I highly recommend this series, but do read them in order. A complete ordered list can be found on the author's website, anneperry.net.

Bought this for my son so he could read something else besides Star War books. Growing up I bought and read every one. I never looked back.

These three novels are great fun. The publisher also deserves credit for an attractive product at a bargain price. I read all three novels within a few weeks, and then did the same with volume two. Anyone who likes these books will also enjoy reading Raymond Chandler. It's a close contest, but I liked Chandler even a little better. Chandler's main character (Phillip Marlowe) spends less time boasting than Spillane's (Mike Hammer), and is also more real-life in his need to make a living. But you are cheating yourself if you don't read them both.

Back in the day when I was teaching university literature courses, I would annually shock some English department colleagues by suggesting to students that Raymond Chandler was a better writer than F. Scott Fitzgerald. I smile to think of their reactions today if I were teaching a course in American literature, in which I would spend serious time reading and discussing Mickey Spillane and his unforgettable character, Mike Hammer.

Spillane was never a trickster or sensationalist. He was a hard worker and a born storyteller who knew more about pacing and dialogue than most writers will ever know. He got readers to pay attention and turn the page, and he left the always wanting more. Even today, I dream of another new Hammer novel or two turning up somewhere in the dusty bottom drawer of a roll-top desk.

But even if they don't, I'll revisit Spillane/Hammer every few years, probably for the rest of my life. So many books are made for one reading, and that's it. Not these. Spillane succeeded in creating an iconic American character, a deeply flawed rebel with an unbreakable will and unwavering sense of what is right and good in life. The author and his main character were always true to themselves, and we're the beneficiaries of that truth.

Staying with these two is not tough to do; it's easy!

--Robert McDowell, The Poetry Mentor (www.robertmcdowell.net), author of POETRY AS SPIRITUAL PRACTICE, July 15th, 2008, from Free Press.

It had been around fifteen or twenty years since I had last read a Mickey Spillane book before I had started the Mike Hammer Collection Volume 1. Back then, it had been the first Hammer book, I, the Jury. Over the years, I had forgotten almost all about the book except the very end. Rereading it and the other two novels in this edition, I figured out that this was appropriate: Spillane ends his stories with exclamation points, not periods.

This omnibus edition contains the first three Mike Hammer novels: in addition to I, the Jury, there is My Gun is Quick and Vengeance is Mine. As with the other books, I, the Jury doesn't waste much time with exposition. By the end of the first page, we already have a dead body, in this case, Jack Williams, Hammer's best friend. Almost immediately, Hammer makes a vow: he will kill Jack's murderer. The bulk of the novel is Hammer's investigation, a combination of legwork, intuition, deduction and intimidation, with a little romance added into the mix. It is, in a way, a routine tough guy private eye story, with some decent writing and a memorable ending.

My Gun is Quick - the longest of the three novels - moves a little more slowly, with the first death not occurring until the eighth page. In this case, it is a prostitute trying to get out of the business and who briefly befriended Hammer. The investigation again takes Hammer into the seedy side of New York City, and unlike the first novel, Hammer takes a real beating this time. Eventually, however, he will get to administer his own violent sort of justice.

Vengeance is Mine! has a corpse not only on the first page, but in the first sentence. The trouble for Hammer is that the man was killed with the detective's gun while the hero was drunkenly unconscious. This leads to Hammer losing his license, but that doesn't stop him from finding the killer, in this case entangled with a modeling/call-girl outfit and an illegal casino.

Outside of Hammer, there are really only two recurring characters. Pat Chambers is a homicide captain who is Hammer's friend and tolerates Hammer's behavior because he delivers the goods. He is able to keep Hammer on a leash, but it is a long one and occasionally it doesn't work. Velda is Hammer's beautiful secretary, who adores her boss. Hammer knows he should marry her, but at the same time he can't keep away from all the other beautiful women who fall for his hard attitude.

Mike Hammer, however, is the center of each story, a narrator with barely restrained rage. He is often a bully, but he also has a sense of fairness and is more tolerant than many fictional detectives of this era, even having a love affair with a prostitute in My Gun is Quick. In I, the Jury, Spillane is still honing Hammer's voice, but by the second novel, he has Hammer perfected. This is not great art - I doubt even Spillane would have claimed that - but it is solid entertainment and really hard boiled fiction in the classic vein.

Fine writing by a fine author. Pictures appeared in my mind with his use of words and always enjoyed each story. No one else like Spillane - not ever.

Ever since my wife brought me "Hard Candy" while in the hospital I have been hooked on Andrew Vachss' writing.
While many writers in this genre get tedious with their characters after a while, Vachss keeps his main man Burke refreshingly alive and different with each new novel!
I make it the top choice each year for Christmas, birthday and Father's Day when asked what I want the reply is always "See if there is a new Vachss book out there first, if so , that's what I want! I have read them all and am looking forward to his new one coming out in December 2008!
Enjoy!
Christopher J.Whedon

Vacchs' Burke books keep getting better! Like the characters themselves, the stories mature with each passing book. This one is terrific, especially the cliffhanger ending! So ... when's the next one?!

I also found this book a bit difficult to get through. Has a lot of sermonizing in it that takes away from the plot. However, I think Burke fans will love it anyway. If you haven't read the other Burke novels, it would be difficult to follow. Love the idea of what Burke and his family do to child molesters, doesn't even matter that they're running cons. Look forward to the next one.

This is the weakest of all the Burke novels. What is little more than a short story has been extended by the author, Vacchs, into a work that is 1/3 story and 2/3 polemics. I agree that abusers and destoyers of children all are of the lowest of the low in society and should be persecuted and prosecuted until they are removed from our world and locked away forever.

What I do not agree with is an author who creates a work of supposed fiction and then spends most of the work providing factual details to support his agendas. All that Vacchs says, as author, belongs in a nonficton work which should include additional information exploring Vacchs' ideas for dealing with child abusers; he has extensive knowledge and experience from which we all could benefit. But, he ought not to pack it into a so-called "novel."

I was expecting something of the caliber of Flood, which came out in 1985, and all of the subsequent novels. Terminal Burked me, blind-sided me, drawing upon Vacchs's name and reputation to entice me into entering the novel. I just wish I weren't hammered so hard by the author. Instead, I wish I would have been finessed by Burke, making the author's points through his actions.

Andrew Vachss is a man with a mission.

That mission is to open up the world of child abuse and to make the world a better place by cleansing it of the people that commit the horrible crimes.

Vachss's books are reads that need to be read but sometime you need a bath afterwards, especially if you are a soul who is innocent and just likes to read good crime writing.

This book is difficult to read as the characters are complex and have evolved over the course of many years to be who they are. The storyline is convoluted but the main story is not the "crime" or the "mystery", it is the social commentary that Vachss is giving us.

Good writer, great cause, difficult book to read, unless you are a long-term fan (like myself).

Hamish Macbeth, the young, not overly ambitious constable of the remote village of Lochdubh in the far north of Scotland has decided that it is about time he checked the far reaches of his beat, the even more remote village of Drim. He discovered that the normally peaceful little village was in a turmoil due to the arrival of an 'incomer', a handsome, charming, young man. All the women of the village thought him a welcome addition and all their husbands wanted to send him on his way. When did just aburptly pack up and leave in the middle of the night Drim returned to normal sleepy ways but Hamish stirred into action. He did not believe that the interloper had actually left, at least not on his own.

This is the tenth installment of the long running 'Hamish Macbeth' series. While each is a stand alone story it would be more enjoyable to read them more or less in order. As with most cozy mysteries the attraction is in the characters and the backstories more than the mystery, although this one has a few twists that might keep the reader guessing. Hamish's on again off again romance with Priscilla is of more interest to fans of this series than 'who dun it'.

DEATH OF A CHARMING MAN is a pleasant way to spend a few hours. Those familiar with the series will enjoy dropping in on the good constable and catching up on village life. Those new to the series will probably be looking for other books to find out more about this delightful place.

Don't read this book yet if you haven't read any others in the series. At least go back to Death of a Glutton and follow that with Death of a Travelling Man before taking on Death of a Charming Man. But if you can go to the beginning, Death of a Gossip, that would be best.

At the end of Death of a Travelling Man a false rumor spreads that Hamish and Priscilla Halburton-Smythe are engaged. Faced with everyone believing so, Hamish and Priscilla agreed to a sort-of engagement . . . just to see how things go. Hamish is wildly happy, and Priscilla is pleasantly open to the experience.

At the start of Death of Charming Man, Priscilla's well-organized ways are driving Hamish a bit batty as a new electric cooker is installed to replace his old wood-burning stove at the police station. Matters are made worse by Superintendent Daviot's wife who is out searching for homes that Hamish and Priscilla can buy in Strathbane. Hamish wants to stay in Lochdubh and live in the police station with Priscilla (without the cooker).

Wanting relief from all this, Hamish heads on Drim (a dreary place on his beat) to meet the new English arrival, a gorgeous young man named Peter Hynd who knows how to turn on the charm. There's something about Hynd that bothers Hamish. Those concerns grow when Hynd begins flirting with all of the middle-aged women in Drim who turn a bit batty themselves over the attention. Hamish is less pleased when Hynd invites Priscilla for dinner and later makes trouble over wanting to buy her scarf.

Matters are made worse in the Hamish-Priscilla relationship when the receptionist at the Tommel Castle Hotel decides to thrust herself on Hamish and create a scandal. Finally, Hamish warms Priscilla up a bit when police business intrudes.

When Peter Hynd leaves Drim, the men cheer and the women weep before going back to the old ways. Hamish is suspicious that there's foul play involved but cannot prove anything. An apparently accidental death follows that makes Hamish even more suspicious. But he's alone in his concerns. Feeling abandoned, Hamish takes his vacation to sleuth on his own. Before the book ends, Hamish finds that he's met his match in more than one way in this entertaining mystery.

Hamish Macbeth fans will find this to be one of the top books in the series. The development of the Hamish-Priscilla relationships is very find. The portrayal of the Peter Hynd character is well done. The villagers in Drim become interesting as well. The mystery is a challenging one, and most people probably won't get it until M.C. Beaton drops two clues to get you on the right track. The ending is full of interesting humor in which M.C. Beaton makes fun of her typical Hamish Macbeth endings.

Savor this one. It's very fine.

always a pleasure to read..find a comfy spot and enjoy. love hamish and his love of the country

As with all MC Beaton's Hamish Macbeth stories, it is is the nature descriptions which are so particularly charming. You think you are in the Scottish Highlands with the constant change of weather and the few remarkably lovely days, the stern mountains and the Loch which can be silvery smooth or roaring with fierce waves. All this surrounds Hamish, the lovable and astute detective who wants to live nowhere else but in Lochdubh. I want to take my next vacation in the Highlands (hope I won't get murdered.) Keep writing Mrs. Beaton we love your books.

This book is a crucial book in the series because of what happens in Hamish's personal and professional life as a result of his uncovering this mystery. Hamish is sleuthing on his own in the small neighbouring village of Drim. He's the only one that thinks that murder most foul has been committed there. He puts his professional life on the line to first of all prove that murder was done, and then to show who actually committed it. Hamish is his usual laconic, endearing self. No wonder that the books of Hamish Macbeth have started a cult of followers over here across the pond from where MC Beaton and her fictional characters live. As in other books there is a sense of despair but a true sense of warmth as well. Her books in this series in particular are prime examples of black comedy. And her characterizations are absolutely wonderful with each outing.

I first discovered Stephanie and her crazy friends and family in book eleven and fell in love. When I realized it was part of a series I broke open my piggy bank to get the rest of them. I just finished "Hot Six" and while the charecters aren't as full out nutty as they become by book eleven, they are developing very nicely. The fixes Steph gets into are pretty predictable in "Six" but good fun none-the-less. Steph is fun to hang out with on a warm summer day at the beach or a cold winter evening in front of a fire. My piggy bank gave up it's contents for a smart investment.

Deep into the series, it is still going strong. As always Stephanie is likable in her hapless way, and you find yourself rooting for her, and not being surprised when she survives impossible situations.

The story equals any of the previous books, except perhaps for the first. Moving Ranger form ally to ally/skip was a great idea. While I love the Mazur character, her sub-plot was a little un-interesting. This however doesn't greatly take away from the overall story.

Thank you so much. The CD came before the anticipated date and it was in great condition.

I have truly enjoyed this series of books! Even reading them out of order is fine! Would buy more books from this author.

ok, I admit it, I am hooked on Janet Evanovich's books. Her style, her characters, even if the story is not always deeply intricate (whose is?), I find myself engaged, and hoping I don't finish the book too soon.
Can't wait to read more!!
Ramona

There is no such thing as a bad Ross MacDonald novel, but while this is good, it isn't typical of his best work. MacDonald's Lew Archer novels are correctly judged to be the great successor works to the great stories and novels of Dashiell Hammett and Raymond Chandler. Together the three writers constitute the Great Triumvirate of the American hardboiled school. While MacDonald doesn't write prose quite as brilliant or memorable as his two predecessors, he created characters of greater depth and complexity. He also wrote a larger quantity of great novels than either Hammett or Chandler.

Despite all this, THE DROWNING POOL does not stand out very far from what Hammett and Chandler had achieved and it did not really put on display MacDonald's later innovations. If there is a theme running through MacDonald's best books like THE CHILL or THE INSTANT ENEMY or THE MOVING TARGET is it this: "The sins of the fathers will be visited unto the second and third generations." In almost all of his mature novels Lew Archer starts off investigating some incident in the present that ends up having roots 20 or 30 or 40 years earlier. His novels always puts me in mind of Yeats's "Leda and the Swan," where the rape of Leda by Zeus in the form of a swan inevitably leads to the tragedy of the Trojan war: "A shudder in the loins engenders there/The broken wall, the burning roof and tower/And Agamemnon dead." There is an intricate causality in the Archer novels. Things happen not because of anything happening right here and now, but in almost foreordained fashion because of actions in a previous generation. THE DROWNING POOL has a smidgen of this, but not much. The causality developed here is the later view of causality in embryonic form.

The amazing thing is that even though this is not quite as breathtaking as later MacDonald novels, it is still absolutely first rate. Ironically, this is one of his best-known novels, even if it isn't one of his very best. The reason is easy to identify: it was made into a movie starring Paul Newman. In fact, though MacDonald is clearly one of the Big Three hardboiled writers, unlike Hammett and Chandler -- both of whose novels have been turned into several great films -- MacDonald's books simply do not lend themselves to conversion to movies. Paul Newman did play Lew Archer as Harper in two movies, but they were not of the same quality as the best films based on Hammett and Chandler books. HARPER was a film version of THE MOVING TARGET, so both the title and the main character underwent a name change. Unbelievably, MacDonald's best book -- and one of the two or three greatest hardboiled novels ever written -- THE CHILL has never been made into a movie. The film that is closest to the world of Lew Archer has no connection to any novel by MacDonald, Roman Polanski's CHINATOWN, which is much closer to MacDonald in spirit than to either Hammett or Chandler.

Still, this is must read MacDonald. His books would get better, but that isn't to say that this isn't a good, even a great, novel.

Of all the classic heroes in hard-boiled fiction (Spade, Marlowe, etc.) I've always found Lew Archer to be my favorite. Maybe it's because MacDonald does such a superlative job illustrating Archer's flaws, doubts and shortcomings. Rather than some iron-jawed superhero, he's a compellingly complex person whose battered conscience ultimately makes him more heroic. Many readers consider The Drowning Pool to be the best Archer book and it's hard to argue that contention. If pressed, I might rank The Way Some People Die just a little bit higher, but both books are so good it's stupid to quibble. I haven't read The Barbarous Coast yet, but look forward to diving in soon.. and afterward I might have to revise my opinion regarding Archer's best case once again.

A different Lew Archer here than THE BLUE HAMMER Lew Archer. The tone is in TDP is more gritty and hardboiled. Lew is less the romantic toward the ladies he meets. I like Macdonalds' writing in TDP. A less polished and more direct style has its appeal. There's less psychological development of the characters, more emphasis on plot.

I hesitate to call this a classic because some people consider "classics" as dull and out-dated. And there's nothing dull or out-dated here (well, maybe that paying $10 to be driven from Las Vegas to L. A. is a bit out of date).

Archer's hired to discover who sent his client's husband a letter accusing her of infidelity. Introduced to the family and friends at a party as a Hollywood agent, he is sensitive to the growing tension and explosive atmosphere. The reader knows of course that somebody's going to be murdered, but these early chapters are among the most skillfully written to build suspense that I've ever read.

Written in 1950, the inclusion of a homosexual couple was quite daring although there is not graphic description, and isn't significant enough a factor of the plot to either offend or attract a reader.

Read this and I'm sure you'll find it on your own list of crime classics.

In this skillfully written tale of murder and intrigue, Ross MacDonald manages to "out Chandler" Raymond Chandler. It's Southern California, circa 1950, and hardboiled detective Lew Archer finds himself traversing the same landscapes Chandler's Philip Marlowe does in The Big Sleep, High Window and The Long Goodbye.
The plot of The Drowning Pool is complex enough to be interesting without being convoluted or forced. Greed, blackmail, homosexuality and family dysfunction all play roles in advancing the nicely paced narrative. Thrown in for good measure are seductive women, a number of action scenes and a Lolita like teenager named Cathy.
MacDonald's very descriptive prose is quite effective. And there's plenty of memorable dialogue. My personal favorite: "Your reminiscences fascinate me. May I take notes?"
You'd be hard pressed to find a more satisfying example of noir crime writing. An enthusiastic 5 stars.

I've read four in this series and this is the best one. I recommend it. Sometimes you have to trick white folks into reading about Africa. This does the trick. I love the humor and dialog and philosophizing. And I'm in love with Precious Ramotswe, a most precious lady.

Second book in The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency series.

Newly engaged Precious Ramotswe continues to solve local mysteries as she negotiates her relationship with master mechanic Mr. J.L.B. Matekoni. Watching them decide where to live, the matter of the engagement ring, and the surprise arrival of two foster children is gently humorous and true to life.

Absolutely wonderful. I especially recommend the audio version.

This was the first book in this series that I have read. I thoroughly enjoyed it. The plot is exciting but relaxing to enjoy, and there are so many subplots that make it truly fun. The gentle, eye-opening descriptions of a truer Africa were fascinating to me. I heartily recommend this book!

In this second book in the No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency series, Mma Ramotswe is newly engaged to her friend Mr. J.L.B. Matekoni. Her fledgling detective business in Gaborone, Botswana, is doing well, and she takes on several new cases, including those of a cheating wife and a son who disappeared under mysterious circumstances. She also learns that her secretary, Mma Makutsi, has some detecting talents of her own.

What is quickly becoming one of my favorite aspects of the books is the subtle ways the author provides small morsels of cultural information to the reader. Although chances are small I'll ever be fortunate enough to visit myself, I feel like I'm slowly getting to know Botswana.

Loved it! This author writes with clarity and passion such that I find myself immersed in his work. Truly a don't miss!

Nero Wolfe leaves his home in each and every one of these stories - perhaps that's why A&E picked up "Poison A La Carte." Was it easier or cheaper to produce than "Too Many Cooks?"

There are a lot of similarities - the Ten for Aristology stages a dinner at which a murder occurs. Wolfe has to defend Fritz's innocence - a very tricky set of circumstances.

"Method Three for Murder" is not all that cryptic. When you're accused of something, there are three optionsL stand mute, tell the complete truth, or lie without embellishment. Remember: for methods one or two, you never have to remember what you said...

"The Rodeo Murder" prefigures "Death of A Dude" (1969) in that Lily Rowan's extensive land in Montana is the base of operations for some cowboys with personality limitations.

These are good stories, all, but you do sense that Stout's milking the cow pretty hard...

Three stories of Nero Wolfe and Archie Goodwin. Three murders to solve, two meals, a taxi cab with a lady driver who isn't its owner and lots of cowfolk. The stories are all delightful to a Nero Wolfe fan and are all linked by a very rare event. In each story Mr. Wolfe leaves his house! True, sometimes there was a good meal involved, but it is still rare to see him outside his brownstone. He has also been known to leave it because of flower related affairs, but you know how he hates cars, thinks they're death traps. And he might be right.
Anyway, if you are a fan, buy it. If you're not a fan, buy it anyway. Get three stories for the price of one and become a fan of the greatest detective of all time!

The cases herein occur in April 1958 and August-September of 1960.

"Poison a la Carte" - Adapted for A&E's 2nd Nero Wolfe season. Lewis Hewitt talked Wolfe into loaning Fritz to the Ten for Aristology for an evening - an elite group of gourmets who have a special dinner every April 1st, marking the birthday of Brillat-Savarin (Fritz keeps a bust of the great gastronomist in his room). Archie, attending as a friend of the cook and to keep an eye on Wolfe, passes the time by collecting the names and phone numbers of the twelve beautiful girls serving dinner (actresses hired for the occasion). But when someone serves poison to 'theatrical angel' Vincent Pyle, he of the nasty reputation for sexual harassment in the theater world, Wolfe's client is Fritz Brenner - for no fee, although he and his friends from Rusterman's who were assisting would be willing to ante up if Wolfe would let them - they take exception to being used as cat's-paws. Good story, but even Wolfe and Archie can't solve it by pure deduction - be prepared for a charade. :)

"Method Three for Murder" - Archie has quit (or Wolfe has fired him) for effect in an argument about 30 - 40 times, but never in front of company. Archie's almost serious this time, when he stalks out of the brownstone after a post-dinner quarrel, only to find Mira Holt parked out front with a cab containing only the murdered body of Phoebe Arden. Mira borrowed the cab from its real driver, Judith Bram, and came to hire Wolfe for help after finding the victim. Archie takes her on. After the cops show up, Wolfe stomps out to the front step to find out what's going on, and Archie takes Wolfe on as a partner. :) The title refers to Archie's advice to Mira that there are 3 methods for coping with police questions: 1) stand mute, 2) the complete unvarnished truth, or 3) a simple basic lie with no trimmings. Very good story, and the puzzle gives the reader a fair chance.

"The Rodeo Murder" - Some of the characters later reappear in _Death of a Dude_, working at the Bar JR (Lily's ranch in Montana). She's throwing a party in her penthouse for various competitors in the World Series Rodeo (being held at Madison Square Garden), and since she's serving blue grouse cooked by Felix of Rusterman's, Archie persuades Wolfe to accept an invitation. When one of the few other guests who isn't a cowboy or cowgirl - rodeo promoter Wade Eisler - is found murdered via lasso, Lily takes exception to the violation of hospitality and engages Wolfe to catch the killer. Unfortunately, Eisler had a caveman approach to women and was dumb enough to apply it even to girls who were crack shots and could catch and rope struggling calves, so nobody else is terribly eager to see the killer caught.

I will try to read more of her only because it took me
3 chapters to figure out who did what. Will never be a PD James.

In Lippman's latest installment of the Tess Monaghan series, Tess has taken on a new gig as consultant to the local newspaper, where her job duties are to train reporters in investigative techniques, using three recent cases as paradigms. One of the cases Tess plans to focus on is the murder of a local federal prosecutor. When Tess's significant other, Crowe, befriends a homeless street kid, Tess inadvertently learns the young man has information about who killed the prosecutor. In an effort to inform the authorities without identifying her source, Tess sets up an interview between the young man and a reporter. Although she promises Crowe she will do everything she can to protect the young man's identity, federal agents insist she reveal her source. When Tess doesn't cooperate, they begin to threaten her family and hint at filing felony charges against her. Crowe goes into hiding with the young man, unaware that two federal agents have honed in and are after them, not to bring them in but to kill them.

The Tess Monaghan series remains a constant bestseller in PI series to date. Tess is a strong character, a young woman with an edge. To counterbalance her cynicism is her mate, laidback and amiable Crowe. Lippman excels at characterization, and with No Good Deeds allows the reader a deeper look into Crowe's persona and background. And, as always, spending time with Tess is a bonus. This must-read moves at a fast pace and has plenty of interesting characters.

This is the third Tess Monaghan novel I've read and I don't think it compares well with Ms. Lippman's earlier work. Crow is an annoying character. It is hard to understand how Tess even tolerates him. While reading it I kept thinking how two-dimensional he is. A 1960s hippie-wannabe who doesn't seem to understand how the world works. It also bothered me that by the end of the book there were still a couple of unresolved plot twists. Ms. Lippman is an excellent writer and her style and pacing kept me interested enough to move through the book in a single sitting. Because of her writing ability I'm looking forward to reading her latest novel, "What the Dead Know." At least I know I won't have to put up with Crow in that one. (It is a stand alone book, not part of the Monaghan series.

I think Laura Lippman is a terrific writer, and I love Tess and this entire series. However, the one character I've never been able to stand is Crow, so I didn't really enjoy a book that was mostly about him.

I thought it was out of character for Tess to not question Crow about all his money via the disposable cellphone, and moreso to not be upset to find out he'd been keeping it from her considering her own financial problems. I also couldn't understand why she'd be putting herself and her family at so much risk for someone she didn't even know (who tried to take advantage of her) and a guy she was slowly finding out she barely knew and might not be able to trust.

As with all her books, this one was well-written and hard to put down. I just wish I didn't have to suffer through the annoying Crow to enjoy it.

When PI Tess Monoghan and her boyfriend, Crow befriend (a little unwillingly on Tess's part) Lloyd, a tough, black teenager from the ghettos of Baltimore, they put in motion a series of events which are connected with murder, drug dealing and extortion by people who should know better. Lloyd is living on the streets in a hand to mouth fashion, getting money for food from begging, scams and from skirting around the edges of a criminal element which uses young boys to do their dirty work. When the body of Federal Attorney, Gregory Youssef is found, Agents begin digging to find connections with drug dealers and Lloyd clearly is frightened by the name of Youssef, even though he claims never to have met him. Tess, Crow and their families are threatened when crooked Federal agents try to locate Lloyd and so are forced to go into hiding and to call in favours from family and friends, to remain alive. It's an exciting, pacy read which fans of Tess Monoghan will thoroughly enjoy.