Charm City (Tess Monaghan Novel, 2)

CHARM CITY appeals to me even more than the murder mystery that kick-started this series, BALTIMORE BLUES, because it deals with one of my personal favorite issues: journalism ethics in a constantly-changing world. While CHARM CITY is clearly a few years behind us - they're still debating the importance of the internet, for example, while the debate is LONG over out here in the real world - it deals with the issues we all face, the philosophy of a newspaper as objective purveyor of information while also an impassioned watchdog for the people. That's not an easy line to walk. The only place CHARM CITY fails is in its predictability. Alas, I pegged the whodunit far too early. I also am bothered by some of the gender stereotypes - aside from Tess herself, the women tend to be conniving and heartless, and the men lecherous dogs. Lippman's cynicism shows a little more clearly than in BALTIMORE BLUES, alas. But even if you haven't the slightest interest in journalism ethics or the philosophy of news reporting, you'll still find CHARM CITY a fascinating whodunit. Tightly written, smart and fast-paced, I strongly recommend Lippman to any mystery fan.

Laura's done it again! With a mix of great writing, creative plotting and wonderful scene-setting, Laura has come up with a winner. Bravo!

Lippman has done the next to impossible--improve on Baltimore Blues. Not only is the story gripping and the details of Baltimore on the money (Hon), the lead, Tess, is further developed as a character by Lippman in Charm City. Strong and vulnerable at once, Tess is as rich and deep as they come. I can't wait for the next in the series.

Charm City, which is a nominee for the 1997 Edgar Award for best paperback original, is one of the top five mysteries I read in the last year. I really connected with Tess Monoghan, a young ex-journalist who is almost grudgingly turning into a private investigator. Just as fascinating are Tess's family and friends: Uncle Spike with his rampant malapropisms, the ravishing bookstore owner Kitty, Crow, a local rock star boyfriend who anybody but Tess would be protective of, and finally Esskay, a greyhound with an astounding capacity for pancakes and love. Charm City's mystery is deftly plotted, with surprising twists and turns and an ending that was richly satisfying. But the thing that puts Charm City at the top of the mystery pile is elegant writing and such a loving rendering of an aged East Coast city that the author would be getting comparisons to literary novelists such as Anne Tyler were the book straight literary fiction. Luckily for us, Lippman chose to write mystery, blending her top-notch talents with a storyline that just won't quit!

After reading Baltimore Blues by Lippman, I was anxious to read Charm City, and hoped that the same vivid descriptions contained in the first book would continue well into the second. I was not disappointed! Again, Ms. Lippman does an excellent job of bringing the wonderful city of Baltimore to life. My husband, a Baltimore native, enjoyed the book as well, stating that it was "just like being home." ENJOY!!!