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Femme Fatale
New York Times bestselling author Laura Lippman has been hailed as one of the best crime fiction writers in America today, winning virtually every major award in the genre. The author of the enormously popular series featuring Baltimore P.I. Tess Monaghan as well as three critically lauded stand-alone novels, Lippman now turns her attention to short stories—and reveals another level of mastery.
Lippman sets many of the stories in this sterling anthology, Hardly Knew Her, in familiar territory: her beloved Baltimore, from downtown to its affluent suburbs, where successful businessmen go to shocking lengths to protect what they have or ruthlessly expand their holdings, while dissatisfied wives find murderous ways to escape their lives. But Lippman is also unafraid to travel—to New Orleans, to an unnamed southwestern city, and even to Dublin, the backdrop for the lethal clash of two not-so-innocents abroad. Tess Monaghan is here, in two stories and a profile, aligning herself with various underdogs. And in her extraordinary, never-before-published novella, Scratch a Woman, Lippman takes us deep into the private world of a high-priced call girl/madam and devoted soccer mom, exploring the mystery of what may, in fact, be written in the blood.
Each of these ingenious tales is a gem—sometimes poignant, sometimes humorous, always filled with delightfully unanticipated twists and reversals. For people who have yet to read Lippman, get ready to experience the spellbinding power of "one of today's most pleasing storytellers, hailed for her keen psychological insights and her compelling characterizations," (San Diego Union-Tribune), who has "invigorated the crime fiction arena with smart, innovative, and exciting work" (George Pelecanos). As for longtime devotees of her multiple award-winning novels, you'll discover that you hardly know her.
Lippman sets many of the stories in this sterling anthology, Hardly Knew Her, in familiar territory: her beloved Baltimore, from downtown to its affluent suburbs, where successful businessmen go to shocking lengths to protect what they have or ruthlessly expand their holdings, while dissatisfied wives find murderous ways to escape their lives. But Lippman is also unafraid to travel—to New Orleans, to an unnamed southwestern city, and even to Dublin, the backdrop for the lethal clash of two not-so-innocents abroad. Tess Monaghan is here, in two stories and a profile, aligning herself with various underdogs. And in her extraordinary, never-before-published novella, Scratch a Woman, Lippman takes us deep into the private world of a high-priced call girl/madam and devoted soccer mom, exploring the mystery of what may, in fact, be written in the blood.
Each of these ingenious tales is a gem—sometimes poignant, sometimes humorous, always filled with delightfully unanticipated twists and reversals. For people who have yet to read Lippman, get ready to experience the spellbinding power of "one of today's most pleasing storytellers, hailed for her keen psychological insights and her compelling characterizations," (San Diego Union-Tribune), who has "invigorated the crime fiction arena with smart, innovative, and exciting work" (George Pelecanos). As for longtime devotees of her multiple award-winning novels, you'll discover that you hardly know her.
Audiobook
First published October 7, 2008
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About the author
Laura Lippman
114 books6,355 followersSince Laura Lippman’s debut, she has been recognized as a distinctive voice in mystery fiction and named one of the “essential” crime writers of the last 100 years. Stephen King called her “special, even extraordinary,” and Gillian Flynn wrote, “She is simply a brilliant novelist.” Her books have won most of the major awards in her field and been translated into more than twenty-five languages. She lives in Baltimore and New Orleans with her teenager.
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
April 3, 2019
Rating: 3.5 stars
Mona is a 68-year old beautiful and vain woman passing herself off as a 61-year old. Recently widowed, she lives alone in a condo with the inheritance left to her by her fourth husband. She spends her days walking and drinking chocolate concoctions at the Starbucks near her condo. One day, she is approached by a young man, Brian, who flatters her and says that she can become a movie star, which she does but not quite in the same way you'd expect...
The story shifts between Mona's inner dialogue, dialogue with people, and a third-person narrator. She is a complex character, both a survivalist and a master manipulator. Since this is a short story, it's difficult to say anything else without revealing too much. Suffice to say that I enjoyed this story like I do almost all of Laura Lippman's tales.
Mona is a 68-year old beautiful and vain woman passing herself off as a 61-year old. Recently widowed, she lives alone in a condo with the inheritance left to her by her fourth husband. She spends her days walking and drinking chocolate concoctions at the Starbucks near her condo. One day, she is approached by a young man, Brian, who flatters her and says that she can become a movie star, which she does but not quite in the same way you'd expect...
The story shifts between Mona's inner dialogue, dialogue with people, and a third-person narrator. She is a complex character, both a survivalist and a master manipulator. Since this is a short story, it's difficult to say anything else without revealing too much. Suffice to say that I enjoyed this story like I do almost all of Laura Lippman's tales.
December 14, 2023
I listened to it 2,5 years ago in a short story collection, and had rather fond memories of it. This time around- enjoyment still there!-, but I picked up on a few nuances and small bits of narrative that I would have never been able to previously.
3.5 / 5
audiobook
3.5 / 5
audiobook
April 20, 2019
This is a really short story from the author original collection and it's about a widow that get to know a film director when he mistaken her for an old movie actress.
May 31, 2021
Written well great short read!!!
July 10, 2024
A nice wicked thing. Lovely for such a short story!
January 29, 2013
This is a really fun selection of murderous tales with strong female leads.
January 19, 2015
Good collection of short stories of women who get away with murder.
August 23, 2012
short but cute
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews