No Good Deeds

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—becomes involved in a complicated investigation that will force her to question her loyalties.

For Tess Monaghan, the unsolved murder of a young federal prosecutor is nothing more than a theoretical problem, one of several cases to be deconstructed in her new gig as a consultant to the local newspaper. But it becomes all too tangible when her boyfriend, Crow, brings home a young street kid who’s a juvenile con artist and who doesn’t even realize he holds an important key to the sensational homicide.

Tess agrees to protect the boy’s identity no matter what, especially when one of his friends is killed in what appears to be a case of mistaken identity. But as she soon discovers, her ethical decision to protect him has dire consequences. And with federal agents determined to learn the boy’s name at any cost, Tess finds out just how far even official authorities will go to get what they want.

It isn’t long before Tess finds herself facing felony charges. To make matters worse, Crow has gone into hiding with his young protégé. So Tess can’t deliver the kid to investigators even if she wants to. Now her only recourse is to get to the heart of the sordid and deadly affair while they're all still free...and still breathing.

©2006 Laura Lippman; (P)2006 HarperCollinsPublishers

lose the music

Whoever thought this random jarring music added to the experience was delusional. It almost ruined the book for me. I shudder to think of listening to another one.

Bizarre Music. Why?

Laura Lippman is fabulous and you should buy the book despite my review. I just have to mention the terrible and bizarre music that is added to the beginning of each section and which continues as the first few paragraphs are read. I thought something was wrong with the book when I started it, only to realize this was deliberate. Thankfully, it’s not used enough to ruin the experience. But seriously, why?

You'd think they'd have learned by now

I love the Tess Monaghan books. They're fun and easy and I love all the details about Baltimore.
I was miffed about changing narrators, but Linda Edmond does a fine job.
HOWEVER, you'd think that after all these years they'd know not to use extra loud musical interludes. I don't mind the music (though it doesn't really add anything) but many of us listen with headphones, and the music is startling and deafening.

I don't know what it is...

I really enjoy this series. I finished this book in two days. I have been listening to these out of order, but there is no doubt in my mind that I will eventually get them all. I am going to start at the beginning. I can hardly wait for the next adventure with Tess Monaghan and friends.

I hope the producers of this Audible version DID NOT SPEND ANY BUDGET ON THE COMPLETELY SUPERFLUOUS AND GOOFY MUSIC!

Love the series. Can even handle that Barbara Rosenblat is no longer narrating. What I’m embarrassed by is the goofy music used for....hmm...what...to highlight some of the transitions in the book?! Completely absurd and non-essential!