Hardly Knew Her

By: Laura Lippman

Narrated by: Linda Emond, Francois Battiste

New York Times best-selling author Laura Lippman turns her attention to short stories and reveals another level of mastery.

Lippman sets many of the stories in this sterling anthology, Hardly Knew Her, in familiar territory: her beloved Baltimore. But Lippman is also unafraid to travel - to New Orleans, to an unnamed Southwestern city, and even to Dublin. Tess Monaghan is here in two stories and a profile, aligning herself with various underdogs. And in her extraordinary, never-before-published novella, Scratch a Woman, Lippman takes us deep into the private world of a high-priced call girl/madam and devoted soccer mom, exploring the mystery of what may, in fact, be written in the blood.

Each of these ingenious tales is a gem, sometimes poignant, sometimes humorous, always filled with delightfully unanticipated twists and reversals. For people who have yet to listen to Lippman, get ready to experience the spellbinding power of "one of today's most pleasing storytellers" (San Diego Union-Tribune). As for longtime devotees of her multiple award-winning novels, you'll discover that you hardly know her.

©2008 Laura Lippman (P)2008 HarperCollins Publishers

I Love Laura Lippman

Simple and plain. "Hardly Knew Her" is great although some stories are better than others. The only problem I had is that there was not a long enough pause between stories before moving into the next one. You want to say hummm......after each one to marinade on it a bit before being tossed into the next. I like to think about how the stories title relates to the story. What it all means. Overall enjoyable.

Pure Pleasure

This audiobook was pure pleasure from first to last! Laura Lippman was at the top of her game, developing characters and storylines fully no matter the story length. Her mysteries are satisfying, and some are outright startling! I cannot give this title and production any higher recommendation.

The Guitar Riff Interludes Have Got To Go

Stories are good if a bit predictable at times. What killed the mood for me entirely were those music interludes between stories. Ugh. I’d pay double to not have those.

Badly compiled including drafts

Laura Lippman is an excellent writer, and there is merit in many of these stories.
However they are badly compiled, with the publisher giving an ending blurb after each one ends, leading one to think the end of the end of the whole book has been reached.

Sandwiched between each story is some discordant music - I can only imagine it’s included to wake up the unfortunate customers who has purchased this book.

I wanted to return once I realized it contained drafts, but the was a “not eligible for return” notation next to its title in my purchase history.

A pity; I had so looked forward to this collection after reading Ms Lippman’s “Seasonal Work”.

Not the best Laura Lippman

I like Laura Lippman's books but this collection of short stories is not one of her best. I know Baltimore is pretty seedy but I don't want story after story about scheming hookers ,