No Good Deeds
by Laura Lippman
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other reviews (showing 1-20 of 178)
recommends it for:
mystery fans, Tess Monaghan fans, Laura Lippman fans
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...more
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Read in April, 2008
I've come to the conclusion that Tess Monaghan is a Mary Sue, which--okay. I can deal with that. This book reads a lot like an episode of The Wire told from the perspective of the white middle class--some of the situations the black characters find themselves in could be directly lifted from the show. I continue to dislike Tess's thoughtless, headstrong way of tumbling into things and also her general lack of empathy and sensitivity to those around her. What amuses me is that the book...more
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Read in March, 2008
I think Laura Lippmann is overrated. Her writing can be clunky. In this book, which contrasts well-meaning white characters with a young man who is African-American and in trouble with the law, the clunkiness is front and center. Her characters sometimes seem made up of quirks and tics. Even the rescued grayhound has an extensive backstory and is named after a long-defunct commercial of local interest. The main character's romantic interest is a cipher, personality-wise, I think unintentionally....more
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Read in August, 2007
recommends it for:
Mystery lovers
This was an enjoyable read. I liked the characters, although the main character, Tess, seemed a little bland. Maybe she'll pick up some speed in later books written by Laura Lippman.
Although this is a mystery, there were many interesting observations about the "we" and "they" in our society. Often we are sheltered from the more desperate members of our society, and sometimes to relieve our guilt, we try to tell ourselves that they deserve their fate. The death of a ...more
Although this is a mystery, there were many interesting observations about the "we" and "they" in our society. Often we are sheltered from the more desperate members of our society, and sometimes to relieve our guilt, we try to tell ourselves that they deserve their fate. The death of a ...more
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Have you ever been disappointed in a book? The jacket and the reviews make it sound like a page turner, but inside I found a lot of unresolved story issues. Lippman does a good job of weaving Baltimore into her story, but not in handling the twists that a suspense novel should include. She hands you the villans without so much as a blink. One minute you're waiting for everything to unravel, and the next minute you're left empty thinking that was too easy. It was an easy read, but not compel...more
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I read this series mostly because it's set in Baltimore and I think it's interesting to see how a native describes the place to outsiders (although I think she often overdoes the local color). I find the main character's boyfriend really irritating. I'll read the next book in the series, whatever that is, but I think Sue Grafton does this kind of thing a lot better.
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Read in December, 2007
Tess Monaghan again is the hero of the story set in Baltimore--she and her boyfriend Crow meet up with a kid from East Baltimore, and murder and mayhem follows. I particularly like Laura Lippmann's books because they're "local" -- this one decidedly so traveled into DE and along roads I know. They even visit MY library!
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I am listening to this book on cd in my car. It is a mystery that has held my interest, making me want to drive on instead of just going home. Sometimes I have felt that the story could move along a little faster but the promise of a surprise ending is keeping me in suspence.
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Read in April, 2008
Tess, the lead charater seems to not know what she is doing as a privite eye, but that is what make her so likable, makes her seem real.She is tough and has personal standadards. the book did not have a complete surprise ending but was a very good read.
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I find the Tess Monaghan series kind of slow, plodding. I kept wondering why Tess and Crow were going to all this trouble to help Lloyd, who didn't really even seem to want their help to begin with.
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Read in July, 2008
recommends it for:
Mystery Fans
This is a light, fast read for the summer. If you happen to be from Baltimore, you'll enjoy the local references. It will hold your attention, though I don't think it is a classic.
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Read in August, 2007
Good read. Fun because it was all based in Baltimore. Not the greatest writing though. I will search out for more Tess Monoghan novels to see if any others are better.
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Read in February, 2008
I just read this on my trip to Boston. It's part of a series about a female PI, Tess Monaghan, based in Baltimore. I love the mystery genre and enjoy this series.
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Read in October, 2007
So-so book. Easy read; somewhat entertaining. Some of the writing was clearly to build on the series rather than to develop this story in itself.
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Read in January, 2008
Plus one star for use of the sentence, "Take one for the team, esophagus." Minus one star for naming the protagonist's boyfriend "Crow."
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Read in August, 2007
This is the first book that I've read by this author, and I really enjoyed it. I would like to read more by her.
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Read in June, 2008
recommends it for:
Baltimorons : )
I'm a huge Laura Lippman/Tess Monaghan fan. Read the whole series starting with Baltimore Blues. Enough said.
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I enjoyed and I have liked everything by this author. It was nice hearing more from the Crow character side.
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Classic Lippman--funny, suspenful, and filled with spot-on, wry observations about the truth of city life.
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Not my favorite mystery writer. Too many twists and turns and mundane activity.
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