By a Spider's Thread

By: Laura Lippman

Narrated by: Linda Emond

Award-winning and New York Times bestselling author Laura Lippman’s Tess Monaghan—first introduced in the classic Baltimore Blues—must track down a missing wife and unravel the secrets in her marriage that led her to flee.

Mark Rubin's family is missing—and the police won't get involved because all the evidence indicates that his wife left willingly. So the successful Baltimore furrier turns to Tess Monaghan, hoping she can help him find his wife and three children. Tess doesn't quite know what to make of Rubin, who doles out vitally important information in grudging dribs and drabs. According to her client, he and his beautiful wife, Natalie, had a flawless, happy marriage. Yet one day, without any warning or explanation, Natalie gathered up their children and vanished.

Tapping into a network of fellow investigators spread across the country, Tess is soon able to locate the runaway wife and the children who have been moving furtively from state to state, town to town. But the Rubins are not alone. A mysterious man is traveling with them, a stranger described by witnesses as "handsome" and "charming" but otherwise unremarkable. And the deeper Tess digs, the more she suspects that the motive behind Natalie's reckless flight lies somewhere in the gap between what Rubin will not say and what he refuses to believe.

An intricate web of betrayal and vengeance is beginning to unfold. Suddenly, much more than one man's future happiness and stubborn pride are in peril. For the lives of three innocent children are dangling by the slenderest of threads.

Great Fun

I really enjoyed listening to this audiobook. The characters were well drawn and had distinct personalities. The story was compelling and kept me wanting to listen to more! I liked this one a lot more than the last John Grisham I listened to, which about put me to sleep!

Good Tess Monaghan Entry, No. 8 of 12 in series

Although the story was a little convoluted, this was an excellent entry in the series. A very good listen overall.

This was the most backstory that I remember about her partial Jewish heritage in any of the books (although I've read them over many years and not in any order). I enjoyed that in particular since I'm not very knowledgeable in that area.

I especially enjoyed the communication and networking with the "Snoop Sisters". I read and listen a lot and can't think of anything similar. Probably the Patterson Ladies' Club uses the concept, but I don't read much Patterson.

Set in 2004 so cell phone and internet technology was included, but before "social media" so no Facebook, etc. Yea!

Interesting

This book is a little different than other Tess Monaghan stories because it's a tiny bit philisophical. Tess talks with her orthodox jewish client about his missing wife, of course, and he's cleary hiding something. But she also find herself thinking about her own Jewish family. It's not as if the crime solving comes to screaching halt just to talk about jewish stuff (Faye Kellerman!) but it's an interesting spice added to an already above average missing persons case.

Couldn't quit lustening.....

A great listen. The narrator is superb. The story us intricate--many surprises along the way .... And it's always good to see what Tesser is up to

Even abridged, & despite cheesy musical interludes, Tess is still good

Another great Tess Monoghan tale, though the abridgment takes away from Laura Lippman's usual skills & seemed too "action only" oriented. I don't want the film version in a book. And you can tell some audio director slapped the production together, by the way the sloppy, cheesy musical interludes were
placed incongruously & in seemingly random spots. That aside, however, the vocal performance was pitch perfect. Linda Emon did an excellent job narrating! And as always, even abridged, Ms Lippman did an excellent job of story weaving.