Didn't like it!

[Dawn]

I have always loved Laura's books about Tess. I heard her speak and loved listening to her. I have enjoyed all of her other stand-alone books. This one I cannot force myself to finish. As someone else says, it makes me feel like I need a shower. Just can't do it. Really disappointed in Laura's choice of subject matter. It was slow going, and I kept thinking it would have some redeeming factor. But I couldn't wait that long - had to take it back to the library. Thank goodness I didn't buy it!

[Robert]

I felt the same way at first -- that need to take a shower, how every character was so icky without being especially interesting. And I wasn't even put off by the subject matter, or the idea of a less-than-likeable main character. I've thoroughly enjoyed Lawrence Block's Hit Man novels, and Donald Westlake's The Axe, but in those cases the criminal (and even sociopathic) protagonists had something intriguing about them. Here, Lippman's Helen/Heloise is just grating, hard to listen to; it wasn't even so much her criminal behavior as her outlook, her spirit, that struck me as almost intolerably toxic in the early going.

But I did push myself onward, and Lippman managed to pull off a transformation that felt convincing and (almost) redeemed the book. But I enjoyed it least of the Lippman books I've read. That first half was really hard to get through.

[Dawn]

Glad you made it through to the end and that it was better at the end. I don't think I'll try. Too any other books to read!

[Robert]

I get that. Piles and piles awaiting my attention, too! :)

[Ms. Kate]

@Robert, I see where you're coming from, but I don't find likable characters particularly interesting. Helen/Heloise was doing the best she could in a horrible situation and she wasn't concerned with being liked. I thought she was interesting even if I wouldn't want to have her as a friend. The ending though, really fell flat for me. I felt like there was too much of an attempt to redeem her and have her find some kind of resolution that was "legit." I felt like the last few pages were deeply unrealistic.

[R.]

I think it was one of Lippman's weakest books, but even her weak ones are better than some writer's best efforts.

She has a new Tess Monaghan novel coming out and I can't wait.