Another Thing to Fall
A
Tess Monaghan Mystery
Laura Lippman
William Morrow (Hardcover)
ISBN-10: 0-06-112887-2 (0061128872)
ISBN-13: 978-0-06-112887-5 (9780061128875)
Publication Date: March 2008
List Price: $24.95
Synopsis
(from
the publisher): The California dream weavers have invaded Charm City
with their cameras, their stars, and their controversy. . . .
When private investigator Tess Monaghan literally runs into the crew of
the fledgling TV series Mann of Steel while sculling, she expects sharp
words and evil looks, not an assignment. But the company has been
plagued by a series of disturbing incidents since its arrival on
location in Baltimore: bad press, union threats, and small, costly
on-set "accidents" that have wreaked havoc with its shooting schedule.
As a result, Mann's creator, Flip Tumulty, the son of a Hollywood
legend, is worried for the safety of his young female lead, Selene
Waites, and asks Tess to serve as her bodyguard/babysitter. Tumulty's
concern may be well founded. Not long ago a Baltimore man was
discovered dead in his own home, surrounded by photos of the beautiful,
difficult superstar-in-the-making.
In the past, Tess has had enough trouble guarding her own body. Keeping
a spoiled movie princess under wraps may be more than she can
handle—even with the help of Tess's icily unflappable friend
Whitney—since Selene is not as naive as everyone seems to
think, and far more devious than she initially appears to be. This is
not Tess's world. And these are not her kind of people, with their
vanities, their self-serving agendas and invented personas, and their
remarkably skewed visions of reality—from the series' aging,
shallow, former pretty-boy leading man to its resentful,
always-on-the-make cowriter to the officious young assistant who may be
too hungry for her own good.
But the fish-out-of-water P.I. is abruptly pulled back in by an
occurrence she's all too familiar with—murder. Suddenly the
wall of secrets around Mann of Steel is in danger of toppling, leaving
shattered dreams, careers, and lives scattered among the
ruins—a catastrophe that threatens the people Tess cares
about . . . and the city she loves.
Review:
Baltimore private investigator Tess Monaghan is hired to look after the
temperamental star of a television show being filmed locally in Another Thing to Fall,
the tenth mystery in this series by Laura Lippman.
When Tess is initially offered the job of guarding Selene Waites, the
young (and definitely under drinking age) star of Mann of Steel, she
hesitates. It's not an assignment she's particularly interested in. But
it pays well and gives her the opportunity to negotiate a position on
the film crew for her boyfriend's sometime ward, Lloyd, something she
probably wants more than her fee. Though there have been a series of
incidents on the
set, they seem more annoying than threatening to Tess. Until one of the
production staff is murdered at which point Tess shifts into
investigative mode. What motive could one have for wanting the
production shut down, someone who would be willing to kill to get it
done?
If just one word could be used to describe Laura Lippman's books in
this series, it would be "entertaining". Another Thing to Fall
is no exception. Tess is a terrific character and the author
incorporates the city of Baltimore so well into these books that it
becomes as central to story as any other character.
The weakness here is the plot itself though ironically it
doesn't significantly detract from the enjoyment of the book. Much of
the time, Tess seems to be along for the ride, having not much to do
and even less to test her investigative skills. The other prinicipal
characters are arguably more interesting to read about, but, then
again, the professional and personal lives of people in the television
and movie industry provide a nearly endless stream of ideas
for novels. To her credit, Lippman capitalizes on this here with some
success. And it's worth mentioning the delightful Mrs. Blossom who
provides some of the seriously funny moments in the book. The
denouement to the mystery, however, is not unexpected and
somewhat anticlimatic.
Another Thing to
Fall is certainly entertaining and well worth reading, but
equally certainly not among the best of the series.
Special thanks to HarperCollins for providing a copy of Another Thing to Fall for this review.
Review Copyright © 2008 — Hidden Staircase Mystery Books — All Rights Reserved.
Mysteries in this series ...
Baltimore Blues
Avon Books (Mass market paperback), February 1997
ISBN-10: 0-380-78875-6 (0380788756)
ISBN-13: 978-0-380-78875-0 (9780380788750)
Charm City
Avon Books (Mass market paperback), October 1997
ISBN-10: 0-380-78876-4 (0380788764)
ISBN-13: 978-0-380-78876-7 (9780380788767)
Butchers Hill
Avon Books (Mass market paperback), July 1998
ISBN-10: 0-380-79846-8 (0380798468)
ISBN-13: 978-0-380-79846-9 (9780380798469)
In Big Trouble
Avon Books (Mass market paperback), September 1999
ISBN-10: 0-380-79847-6 (0380798476)
ISBN-13: 978-0-380-79847-6 (9780380798476)
The Sugar House
William Morrow (Hardcover), September 2000
ISBN-10: 0-380-97817-2 (0380978172)
ISBN-13: 978-0-380-97817-5 (9780380978175)
In a Strange
Place
William Morrow (Hardcover), September 2001
ISBN-10: 0-380-97818-0 (0380978180)
ISBN-13: 978-0-380-97818-2 (9780380978182)
The Last Place
William Morrow (Hardcover), October 2002
ISBN-10: 0-380-97819-9 (0380978199)
ISBN-13: 978-0-380-97819-9 (9780380978199)
By a Spider's
Thread
William Morrow (Hardcover), July 2004
ISBN-10: 0-06-050669-5 (0060506695)
ISBN-13: 978-0-06-050669-8 (9780060506698)
No Good Deeds
William Morrow (Hardcover), July 2006
ISBN-10: 0-06-057072-5 (0060570725)
ISBN-13: 978-0-06-057072-9 (9780060570729)
Another Thing to
Fall
William Morrow (Hardcover), March 2008
ISBN-10: 0-06-112887-2 (0061128872)
ISBN-13: 978-0-06-112887-5 (9780061128875)
Omnimystery keywords for Another Thing to Fall
...
Location(s) referenced: Baltimore, Maryland.