The Last Place

By: Laura Lippman

Narrated by: Barbara Rosenblat

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)

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.

Good step by step deceive

Well written and performed sucking the reader or listener into the story until you can't put it down

Wow

Ending super suspenseful. Looking forward to the next one. Lippman is my new fave author.

Entertaining

My first by Laura Lippmann. Nicely written, well read by the ever-reliable Barbara Rosenblat and entertaining enough for me to check out more of her stuff. True to the formula that you find in most female driven detective novels, but more skillfully done than many I've slogged through. Enjoyable, not too deep, didn't insult my intelligence. Worth a credit.

Awful narration

I love the Tess Monighan books but Barbara Rosenblat makes them excruciating to listen to. She is so dry, slow, awkward pauses.

Loved it!

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

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.

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.

Not her best

I have listened and enjoyed all previous books but hope that this is not what the next books are. seemed like she had a good idea but couldn't get it down on paper. the story would have been ok if it was 1hour

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.