Seasonal Work: Stories Hardcover – Import, 4 January 2022

Individual stories - written well but story lines are depressing .

I write and I read lots of short stories. These are the very best. I'm 73 and fell in love with O Henry as a teenager. These stories are the best I've ever read. I want to read everything this woman has written. I love the characters and the endings.

I have read all of her books and this one was a let down. The other older book of short stories was wonderfull, “I’de know you anywhere”and that’s what I expected. Tess is still always great, but the other stories were just ok.

Lippman has written a wonderful collection of short stories. For the most part, they're akin to murder mysteries. Foul play occurs in many of them. Many of the stories have a Baltimore connection. But there's enough variation on these two features that her collection remains interesting. "Five Fires" was probably my favorite. The first-person narrator turned out to be in an entirely different situation than what she was describing. It was a really neat twist. Ditto "Just One More." There was an unexpected twist at the end that caught me by surprise. The poignancy of "Ice" made this story a standout. I'm a big fan of Laura Lippman and her Baltimore stories since I live there; her stories always resonate with me. But this collection earns its 5 stars. Recommended.

I had only read one of the stories before, however be aware they have all been published in other collaborations. Well written and enjoyable.