Status
Available
Call number
Series
Genres
Collection
Publication
Orion (an Imprint of The Orion Publishing Group Ltd ) (2000), 320 pages
Description
First as a reporter and then as a PI, Tess Monaghan has learned how to survive and thrive on the streets of Baltimore. But a new case will force her to confront her own past, and a man she loved and lost. It starts when she gets a newspaper photograph of her old boyfriend with a tantalizing shard of headline attached: In Big Trouble. The answers lie far from Baltimore, deep in a world of good-time music, old-fashioned ambition, and rich people's games. For Tess must find out what happened to a man she thought she knew, to a woman who may have changed him forever, and to the victims of a killer who dances to a different-and deadly-drummer.
User reviews
LibraryThing member jenforbus
This is the fourth installment in the Tess Monaghan series, and it finds Tess traveling to Texas. Tess receives a picture in the mail of her ex-boyfriend Crow. Over the picture it reads "In Big Trouble." At first Tess discards the picture and doesn't think much of it. Crow is a big boy, and he can
With each Tess Monaghan book I add to my "read" list, I like Tess more and more. She's spunky, quirky and she definitely does NOT have it altogether! A characteristic I find especially annoying is a young person who always knows the right thing to do or say and WHEN to do or say it. How many young people do YOU know like that? It takes time, experience and maturity to master that, and yet a lot of people NEVER master it. Tess's mistakes and poor judgement make her more real to me.
Then on the flip side, Tess isn't a "silly" female character. Does she do some silly things at times? Yes, but not so that her whole personality is "silly." There are a few female detectives I've read (written by female authors) whose complete personalities are silly. That factor usually deters me from wanting to read any more of the series. I believe Tess would be irritated by "silly" females, actually. And that characteristic is appealing to me.
The plot of IN BIG TROUBLE brings Crow back into the fold and gives some background to his character. I didn't find this plot to be predictable at all. At one point I remember thinking "oh Laura, PLEASE don't tell me you're going to have this happen!" And almost as if she was listening to me think that, a character asks if that scenario is true - it's not. Whew! Saved!
Probably the element I liked the most in IN BIG TROUBLE is the theme of context. I think that theme is underlying in a lot of crime fiction, a lot of mystery, but Lippman really brings it to the forefront in this novel. As the reader I was constantly questioning events and evidence because of that theme. Still didn't help me unfold the mystery early, but it DID have me thinking the whole time.
I listened to this on audio book from BBC Audiobooks America. The reader is Deborah Hazlett. She also read the previous Tess Monaghan books that I've listened to, so her voice will be forever ingrained in my mind as Tess's voice. I enjoy her readings, but there was an element in this one that bothered me a bit. In this book there were several Mexican characters. And I have to say that Hazlett's Mexican dialect didn't sound like any Hispanic person I've ever heard. That factor ended up being a little distracting to me, but not enough so that I wouldn't recommend the sound recording.
Overall, a great Tess Monaghan adventure and a great audiobook!
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take care of himself. But when she contacts his parents and learns he has cut himself off from them and they haven't heard from him in several weeks, she begins to grow suspicious. And when his parents offer to hire her to find him, she sets off with Esskay for the Alamo - hmmm, a girl and her dog on an adventure in a strange land. Sound like anything you know?With each Tess Monaghan book I add to my "read" list, I like Tess more and more. She's spunky, quirky and she definitely does NOT have it altogether! A characteristic I find especially annoying is a young person who always knows the right thing to do or say and WHEN to do or say it. How many young people do YOU know like that? It takes time, experience and maturity to master that, and yet a lot of people NEVER master it. Tess's mistakes and poor judgement make her more real to me.
Then on the flip side, Tess isn't a "silly" female character. Does she do some silly things at times? Yes, but not so that her whole personality is "silly." There are a few female detectives I've read (written by female authors) whose complete personalities are silly. That factor usually deters me from wanting to read any more of the series. I believe Tess would be irritated by "silly" females, actually. And that characteristic is appealing to me.
The plot of IN BIG TROUBLE brings Crow back into the fold and gives some background to his character. I didn't find this plot to be predictable at all. At one point I remember thinking "oh Laura, PLEASE don't tell me you're going to have this happen!" And almost as if she was listening to me think that, a character asks if that scenario is true - it's not. Whew! Saved!
Probably the element I liked the most in IN BIG TROUBLE is the theme of context. I think that theme is underlying in a lot of crime fiction, a lot of mystery, but Lippman really brings it to the forefront in this novel. As the reader I was constantly questioning events and evidence because of that theme. Still didn't help me unfold the mystery early, but it DID have me thinking the whole time.
I listened to this on audio book from BBC Audiobooks America. The reader is Deborah Hazlett. She also read the previous Tess Monaghan books that I've listened to, so her voice will be forever ingrained in my mind as Tess's voice. I enjoy her readings, but there was an element in this one that bothered me a bit. In this book there were several Mexican characters. And I have to say that Hazlett's Mexican dialect didn't sound like any Hispanic person I've ever heard. That factor ended up being a little distracting to me, but not enough so that I wouldn't recommend the sound recording.
Overall, a great Tess Monaghan adventure and a great audiobook!
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LibraryThing member Milda-TX
This was an okay story of a female detective's adventure in Texas. Tess is a character that's easy to like. Book was kinda fun for me to read because she's traveling in San Antonio and Austin.
LibraryThing member nbmars
In Big Trouble is the 4th book in the Tess Monaghan detective series. Tess, a Baltimore private investigator, receives a newspaper clipping in the mail showing a picture of her former boyfriend Crow under the headline “In Big Trouble.” She checks with Crow’s parents, and they affirm he is
In addition to the mystery plot, it is very entertaining to follow Tess’s explorations of San Antonio along with her comparisons to Baltimore. The slipped-in travelogue is one of Lippman’s strengths, as is Tess’s humor and sarcasm. Tess is impulsive, emotional, a sort-of-recovering food abuser, doesn’t do “tact” or “chit-chat,” can’t let unsolved mysteries lie, is very funny, and is fiercely loyal to friends and family.
Evaluation: The more I get to know Tess and her family and friends, the more I like them. This is a series I’ll want to keep following. This book won the Anthony and Shamus awards, and was nominated for the Edgar and Agatha awards.
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missing. They hire Tess to go to Texas to find him. In San Antonio, she gets involved in a complicated but interesting web of murder and revenge involving one of Crow’s band members, the ethereal looking Emmie.In addition to the mystery plot, it is very entertaining to follow Tess’s explorations of San Antonio along with her comparisons to Baltimore. The slipped-in travelogue is one of Lippman’s strengths, as is Tess’s humor and sarcasm. Tess is impulsive, emotional, a sort-of-recovering food abuser, doesn’t do “tact” or “chit-chat,” can’t let unsolved mysteries lie, is very funny, and is fiercely loyal to friends and family.
Evaluation: The more I get to know Tess and her family and friends, the more I like them. This is a series I’ll want to keep following. This book won the Anthony and Shamus awards, and was nominated for the Edgar and Agatha awards.
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LibraryThing member kavyen
Sadly, the story was definitely not my favorite. There were too many murders, too many assumptions and too many characters for my liking. The plot was based in Texas (and not Baltimore) and Tess manages to get away with way too many things in spite of being out-of-state without an investigator
I liked Tess in this book but I was disappointed by her abilities. I felt that she should be a pro by now and not continue to rely merely on assumptions. The change of location (based in San Antonio instead of Baltimore) had no effect on the story. But I missed Tess’s aunt and all the action back home in Baltimore.There were a lot of characters I liked and I hope to see more of them in the next books, though I cannot see the context to bring them back.
“In Big Trouble” was just there and I will rate it a 3 on 5.
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license. The plot was weak and dwelled more on the past than the current events. The climax was definitely interesting and unexpected but because of the overall effect of the story, I did not enjoy it as much as I would normally have.I liked Tess in this book but I was disappointed by her abilities. I felt that she should be a pro by now and not continue to rely merely on assumptions. The change of location (based in San Antonio instead of Baltimore) had no effect on the story. But I missed Tess’s aunt and all the action back home in Baltimore.There were a lot of characters I liked and I hope to see more of them in the next books, though I cannot see the context to bring them back.
“In Big Trouble” was just there and I will rate it a 3 on 5.
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LibraryThing member EmScape
Tess Monaghan receives a postcard regarding her ex-boyfriend, Crow, who has moved to Texas, implying that he’s In Big Trouble. With a generous retainer from his parents, she heads down to investigate, coming across a dead body in the process. Finding him may be easier than keeping him out of jail
This little road trip with Tess was a good choice for the fourth volume in the series. Tess’ private investigation firm is still growing, so she’s able to take off for a few days on this errand. The change of scenery, from dreary Baltimore to sunny San Antonio, in November no less, was pleasant for Tess and the reader. Tess proves just as resourceful in an unfamiliar town than one in which she’s got the local newspaper’s IT support on speed dial. As always, she makes mistakes and puts her foot in it sometimes, and her personal choices are a mess, but that makes her a more genuine heroine to whom the reader can relate.
Bonus points to Lippman, as well, for crafting a mystery with plenty of clues, giving the reader a feeling of having figured out ‘whodunit’ and then pulling the rug out. I never saw it coming. Good show.
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once she does.This little road trip with Tess was a good choice for the fourth volume in the series. Tess’ private investigation firm is still growing, so she’s able to take off for a few days on this errand. The change of scenery, from dreary Baltimore to sunny San Antonio, in November no less, was pleasant for Tess and the reader. Tess proves just as resourceful in an unfamiliar town than one in which she’s got the local newspaper’s IT support on speed dial. As always, she makes mistakes and puts her foot in it sometimes, and her personal choices are a mess, but that makes her a more genuine heroine to whom the reader can relate.
Bonus points to Lippman, as well, for crafting a mystery with plenty of clues, giving the reader a feeling of having figured out ‘whodunit’ and then pulling the rug out. I never saw it coming. Good show.
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LibraryThing member BookConcierge
Audio book performed by Deborah Hazlett
Tess Monaghan – former reporter, current private detective – leaves the comforts of her Baltimore home to track down an old flame whose parents’ last letter was returned “moved – no forwarding address.” Tess agrees to go to Texas to find Crow, her
I like this series. Tess is an intelligent woman who keeps herself in shape and uses her wits and her strengths to get herself out of any difficult situation in which she lands. I’m not too keen on her tendency to want to bed half the men she encounters, but mostly she avoids these temptations. I loved all the literary references – from Don Quixote to James Joyce’s Ulysses, with a smattering of Tolstoy and Larry McMurtry for color. The final reveal was a surprise, but with plenty of supporting information / clues on retrospect. I was happy to find a book set in my home town. However … when she asks for an all-night eatery for a breakfast she cannot get in Baltimore, why go to Earl Abel’s for German chocolate cake? She should have been taken to the 24-hour Mi Tierra Café for menudo! But that’s a minor irritation that only a native would notice.
The audio, narrated by Deborah Hazlett, has some problems. Hazlett doesn’t know how to pronounce half the proper names associated with San Antonio, nor is she particularly adept at Spanish. Finally, she doesn’t have enough acting ability to significantly distinguish the voices of the many characters. However, I didn’t feel I should mark this down farther for the audio performer’s faults. It’s still a good, solid mystery read.
Tess Monaghan – former reporter, current private detective – leaves the comforts of her Baltimore home to track down an old flame whose parents’ last letter was returned “moved – no forwarding address.” Tess agrees to go to Texas to find Crow, her
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only clues his last known address and a cryptic note she received that included a clipping with the headline “In Big Trouble.” She tracks him to Austin’s music scene and then to San Antonio, but she also discovers a dead body and a decades-old murder mystery. And she discovers some very colorful characters – rich, “old” money Texas family, a Mexican-American attorney who frequently speaks like a redneck, a Vietnamese landlady, and a Wisconsin transplant who loves milagros. I like this series. Tess is an intelligent woman who keeps herself in shape and uses her wits and her strengths to get herself out of any difficult situation in which she lands. I’m not too keen on her tendency to want to bed half the men she encounters, but mostly she avoids these temptations. I loved all the literary references – from Don Quixote to James Joyce’s Ulysses, with a smattering of Tolstoy and Larry McMurtry for color. The final reveal was a surprise, but with plenty of supporting information / clues on retrospect. I was happy to find a book set in my home town. However … when she asks for an all-night eatery for a breakfast she cannot get in Baltimore, why go to Earl Abel’s for German chocolate cake? She should have been taken to the 24-hour Mi Tierra Café for menudo! But that’s a minor irritation that only a native would notice.
The audio, narrated by Deborah Hazlett, has some problems. Hazlett doesn’t know how to pronounce half the proper names associated with San Antonio, nor is she particularly adept at Spanish. Finally, she doesn’t have enough acting ability to significantly distinguish the voices of the many characters. However, I didn’t feel I should mark this down farther for the audio performer’s faults. It’s still a good, solid mystery read.
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LibraryThing member DrLed
Synopsis: Crow has disappeared and his parents want Tess to find him. She's not altogether sure that is a good idea, but she travels to Texas to try her best. In San Antonio she uncovers two murders and finds that they tie to a cold case and also to a tangled family story.
Review: This was an audio
Review: This was an audio
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book and very well produced. The story was better than the first three and moved Tess farther into her character. Show Less
LibraryThing member AliceAnna
Love Tess and love Crow. Just good solid writing. And I'm proud of Lippman for doing a good job of getting the flavor of San Antonio. It didn't feel cliche. But I love her Baltimore based books. In any event, it was a well-crafted mystery with compelling, complex characters and a plot that wasn't
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predictable and formulaic. I really enjoy her books. Show Less
LibraryThing member jepeters333
First as a reporter and then as a PI, Tess Monaghan has learned how to survive and thrive on the streets of Baltimore. But a new case will force her to confront her own past, and a man she loved and lost. It starts when she gets a newspaper photograph of her old boyfriend with a tantalizing shard
Show More
of headline attached: In Big Trouble. The answers lie far from Baltimore, deep in a world of good-time music, old-fashioned ambition, and rich people's games. For Tess must find out what happened to a man she thought she knew, to a woman who may have changed him forever, and to the victims of a killer who dances to a different - and deadly - drummer. Show Less
LibraryThing member asxz
Another weak entry. Plot was OK, if preposterous, but some of the nuts and bolts writing is just weak which is depressing. Also I'm never really convinced by Tess's romantic notions and how they play out. It's all a bit sub-par and I've already ordered the next two in the series.
LibraryThing member RobertaLea
I love this series. Lippman stays true to her characters.
Awards
Edgar Award (Nominee — 2000)
Anthony Award (Nominee — 2000)
Agatha Award (Nominee — Novel — 1999)
Shamus Award (Winner — 2000)
Language
Original language
English
Original publication date
1999
Physical description
320 p.; 4.33 inches
ISBN
0752837621 / 9780752837628