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The Last Place  By  cover art

The Last Place

By: Laura Lippman
Narrated by: Barbara Rosenblat
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Publisher's summary

Laura Lippman has claimed all the major prizes in mystery writing and is a New York Times best-selling author.

In this seventh novel from Lippman's acclaimed series, Baltimore investigator Tess Monaghan has her hands full with five murder cases that have gone cold. Each has a domestic violence angle, and the cases also share a disturbing connection - one that points to Tess herself.

©2002 Laura Lippman (P)2009 Recorded Books, LLC

Critic reviews

"Favors for friends don't always turn out as expected, Tess Monagham learns in this harrowing encounter with obsession involving her own past. At the urging of best friend Whitney Talbot, Tess agrees to research how police inexperienced with murder cases handle domestic-violence-related investigations. Delving into the specifics of the five deaths she's been assigned, Tess begins to sense that a simple review of the facts won't suffice and that these aren't isolated incidents. [Lippman] contrasts the methods of the privileged with the ways ordinary folk must cope and how disastrous the results can be when the monstrous invades their lives." ( Booklist)

What listeners say about The Last Place

Average customer ratings
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  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars

Silly factor

I thought the plot was worthy of a more serious treatment by both the author and the reader. Considering that the detective is supposed to be operating her own successful agency, some of her behaviors are extremely unprofessional, and even the former police officer with whom she partnered seemed unrealistically careless in his concluding actions. The treatment was just too frivolous to amount to a really satisfying crime novel. I just hate to see a good plot go to waste.

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8 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars

Very enjoyable

My only problem with this book is that, unlike the others, you need to have read/heard the first one for it to make sence. That said, I think the narrator is top-notch and the book is suspensful, full of vivid characters and it takes Tess away from Baltimore which is different and interesting.

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5 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

Lippman Does It All!

I believe I've read or listened to all of her books. She is a stellar writer. Her characters are fully-fleshed out, distinct and believable. Tess is a great character and this story holds true to form with her being funny, wise-cracking and smart. A few times I laughed out loud. The plot is a good one and the locations take the reader around Maryland where one meets some interesting, colorful people. Her writing is never forced and well, just funny...witty, like this for instance: The average Baltimore driver gave the impression of a sleepwalker who had regained consciousness behind the wheel, baffled and disoriented. If you like that kind of wit, then this book may very well be for you. Sorry, quotation marks don't come out as quotation marks on here. The narrator is superb with all the characters, but especially Tess; her inflections and wise-cracks are perfect.

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2 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    2 out of 5 stars

Maybe on the re-listen

If you could sum up The Last Place in three words, what would they be?

NOT LIKE OTHERS

If you’ve listened to books by Laura Lippman before, how does this one compare?

The pace was odd. Sometimes it would drag. Maybe if it was a shorter story!!! Odd fill in dialogue. Maybe it's me but!!! When I listen to it again it might click better.

Any additional comments?

The story sometimes dragged along. A little disconnected. Little disappointed.

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2 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    2 out of 5 stars

disappointing

I bought this because I had heard Lippman was a good writer and it was on sale here for $4.25 so I couldn't resist trying her out. I will surely avoid Barbara Rosenblat as a narrator again. She turned all the cast, especially Tess, into very flippant, shallow characters.
I really couldn't say if the book was any good or not; either it wasn't very good, or Rosenblat's narration was bad enough to bring the book down with it. If you are interested in this book my recommendation is to go buy it and read it yourself--otherwise I can't recommend it at all.

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2 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    2 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    3 out of 5 stars

Love Lippman, But not in love with this book

Would you listen to The Last Place again? Why?

I wouldn't "re-read" this Lippman book. I have enjoyed the stories of other books that I've listened to from this series, but this one leaves me wanting. The story line is convoluted and the multiple characters are so similar that it makes it hard to keep the threads of the story straight.

Would you recommend The Last Place to your friends? Why or why not?

I wouldn't recommend it for the above reasons.

What didn’t you like about Barbara Rosenblat’s performance?

Rosenblat's performance is flat and doesn't endear the reader to Tess' exuberant personality. She seems confused about the character's nature. I almost stopped getting the series because of the narrator. I hope the next one is more convincing.

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

no

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1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars

well-written and suspenseful

I really enjoyed this audiobook. Barbara Rosenblat did a fantastic job reading it. Although there was a great deal of suspense, I have to say it was one of those books that you don't actually want to finish because the journey was so enjoyable. I have since listened to two more Laura Lippman books, which I have also enjoyed. This one is well worth the time and cost.

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1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Another great listen

Excellent tale that weaves into Tess's past. Her unorthodox investigation puts her in extreme danger and has her questioning her own motives.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Always entertaining and suspenseful

Lippman does it again! The atmosphere of the book takes you to Baltimore and to the Maryland shore as though you are there .
The silky voice of Barbara Rosenblat, and her ability to make you feel all the emotions of the characters are the delicious icing on the cake.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars

Loved it!

Read Tess Monaghan series in order for best experience! I also get to look forward to watching The Wire

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