BY SPIDERS THREAD (Tess Monaghan Novel) Paperback – June 29, 2205

good reading, fast moving supense, mystery story. I love the main character Tess she is believeable as the private investigator. Great ending. I have read Laura Lippman before and she is good story teller and funny too,

Tess is an interesting, relatable character and even though I don't know her background or what she has been through, I enjoyed this book. Tess is a PI and her client is an orthodox Jewish man (Mark) whose wife (Natalie) and three children have disappeared. But, it looks like Natalie left of her own volition, and took the children. Mark says there were no problems in their marriage and there was no reason for Natalie to leave. But, after looking into things, Tess realizes that there is more to it, and Mark isn't telling her the whole truth.

It's another Tess Monaghan mystery by Laura Lippman. No criticism here. I've purchased so many of her books. If you like a good story, with characters whom you learn about..... in a setting that leaves no doubt...... this Author knows Baltimore. Just one more fun read from Laura Lippman. If you don't know her, if you don't read her..... it's your loss.

I love Tess Monaghan stories, this one however, not one of my personal favorites. Tess is hired to find a missing person. The man who hired her gets in the way. (Are you surprised) There is murder, secrets, multi state travel. It is a slow paced story told very well however I think the ending was lacking,

This is one of my favorite Tess Monaghan books to date (reading through them in order). I was totally hooked from the start and could barely put the book down.Upon more reflection, the plot doesn't hold up that well. What should have been a pretty easy situation to unravel was stretched out because of the impossibly stubborn way Mark Rubin is portrayed. It's really unrealistic - but Lippman's writing was so engaging that I was able to suspend disbelief and get lost in the story.

Having lived near Baltimore for most of my 88 years, Laura Lippman brings back many memories of all the streets, places etc in Baltimore. I feel like I am right there with Tess Monaghan. Tess is hired to find Mark Rubins wife and children who have disappeared and as usual the authors stories have the unexpected twists and turns through out the mystery with a surprising end!

If a person read this book without the others before it, I think it would seem boring and predictible.(and maybe confusing because you wouldn't know the characters) This one is more a character study of Tess and her evolution as a person (which happens a little in each book) learning more about herself and her ability to love and her heritage. There really isn't any suspense since we, the readers, are aware of what's going on in the story all along. While this isn't my favorite in the series, it was another step in Tess's life.

I read the first three books in order and considered Lippman an "okay"...no..."good" writer, one whose plots were interesting and whose character, Tess Monaghan, was an interesting female. Then, by mistake, I read the eighth novel, IN A SPIDER'S THREAD, out of sequence. All of a sudden, I realized that Laura Lippman had evolved into a terrific writer and that Tess had become a vastly more interesting character. I went back and read the in-between books, and sure enough, novels four through seven improved incrementally. Now I am a true fan! Lippman is five stars!

So enjoyed this book, part of a really interesting series with the excellent Tess Monaghan as a P.I. with a heart. She is estranged from her boyfriend, Crow, and only has her faithful Greyhound to keep her company. Approached by Mark, an orthodox Jew to find his missing wife and and three children, she gradually uncovers a terrible deceit and long lasting family resentment going back years. Mark believed he knew everything he needed to know about Natalie, his wife, which turned out to be not quite correct.

This series is a winter warmer. Good for reading in bed at night when the temperature is chilly and rain splashes the windows. It plots well, the characters are believable and Baltimore is an interesting city. However, it is not a page turner. Too often it gets bogged down by the author's desire to provide authentic colour which is not necessary of great interest to international readers who may not know or care what football team is currently high in the rankings. The digressions do slow down the pace of action and give this reader an excuse to turn off the light. It is good and reliable entertainment but ultimately forgettable.

A seemingly faithful and happy Jewish wife runs away from her devoted and religious husband with her 3 kids. This she does willingly in the company of a mysterious man. The husband calls in Tess, a PI, to help find her and the children.The book is well-written, has some good lines and is also instructive on elements of the Jewish faith. Past and present prisoners make their appearances and there are references to Russian Jews in particular.With this sort of start, I must say I expected more. In the end, however, the book becomes a game of hide and find without providing a proper explanation for why a reasonably well-off wife would abscond with the person she does.In short, this is a good ride, but is not as satisfying as it could have been with a little more complexity. 7/10

Love her books. Didn't want to put it down.

This is the first book I've reading by Laura Lippman and I really enjoyed it. Believable plot and characters in a gripping story. Have now downloaded 2 more of her books onto my Kindle.