Tuesday, January 18, 2011

The Girl in the Green Raincoat - Laura Lippman- Review & Giveaway

I'm a big fan of Laura Lippman. I've enjoyed her last two books which were stand alones, but I was thrilled to see that The Girl in the Green Raincoat featured her recurring character - PI Tess Monaghan.

The Girl in the Green Raincoat finds Tess exactly where she doesn't want to be - sitting still. And for a very good reason. She's in the last trimester of a difficult pregnancy. Camped out in the sun room of her home, she whiles away the time watching out the window at the local dog park. She becomes fascinated by a woman who arrives at the same time every day in a green raincoat with her greyhound. Until the day when it's just the dog - trailing his leash...

Unable to get up and out herself,  Tess sends her partner Crow to corral the dog. What seemed like a simple search and rescue to return a lost dog turns into
something more. Attempts to find the girl in the green raincoat leads to a trail of crimes that Tess slowly pieces together from her bedroom. Think Rear Window.

This novella originally appeared serialized in the New York Times two years go. Once I discovered this, it explained why each chapter seemed to have a little story within the story. We get extra glimpses into the character's lives. Tess's doubts about her relationship and impending motherhood make the character even more realistic. I have always enjoyed the character of Whitney, Tess's best friend - we get to see some of her emotional make up this time around. I can't wait to see more about Mrs. Blossom, who is running the agency while Tess is laid up - she is a character just waiting to be fleshed out.  Lippman's characters are engaging, the plots believable and the dialogue witty - I love the way Tess's mind works.

For fans of Tess this is a must. I can't wait to see where Lippman takes the storyline next. For those new to this series, you may want to start with an earlier book to get a sense of the characters and the background. Now that's not to say you wouldn't enjoy this easy, one sitting read - you definitely will - but I know you'll be hunting down the rest of the series!

Read an excerpt of The Girl in the Green Raincoat. You can find Laura Lippman on Facebook too.

Thanks to Harper Collins Publishers, I have TWO copies of The Girl in the Green Raincoat to giveaway. Let's make this one open to everyone, US, Canada and international. Simply comment to be entered. Ends Sat. Feb. 12/11 at 6 pm EST.

Check out what the other stops on the TLC Book Tour think of The Girl in the Green Raincoat.


103 comments:

Misha said...

I am a huge fan of Laura Lippman and have been dying to read this book.
Thanks for the giveaway!
Misha
mishamary@gmail.com

Linda said...

I have never read anything by Ms. Lippman, but this novel sounds intriguing - love the comment re. Rear Window. Hope I can win this book. Thanks for the giveaway.
lcbrower40(at)gmail(dot)com

bermudaonion said...

I haven't read any of Lippman's work in a while, but need to get back to it. No need to enter me.

Marna said...

I am new to Ms. Lippman, and I cannot believe it has taken me this long to read her work. I will start with an earlier work , as advised, to familiarize myself with her characters but I cAnnot wait to read The
Girl in the Green Raincoat!

Harvee said...

Would love to win this mystery!

harvee44 at yahoo.com

Here's my book review and giveaway: Delirious

Susan O'Bryant said...

Your comment about Rear Window got me, too. That's one of my faves, for sure. Would love to win and read this one! Thanks for the chance.

safoga at gmail dot com

debbie said...

This is a new author for me, I would love to read her book.
twoofakind12@yahoo.com

Anonymous said...

I have meant to read this series for a while. I've enjoyed her stand alone books.

janezfan(at)yahoo(dot)com

Shirley said...

I'd love to read this new novella by Laura Lippman. My first introduction to her as an author was her book "Another Thing to Fall". Thanks for the giveaway!

riverboat38@hotmail.com

PoCoKat said...

Love Love Love Laura Lippman...would love to win this!!!

littleone AT shaw DOT ca

Susan Gourley/Kelley said...

I love reading Laura Lippman. I'd really like to do it for free.

Heather said...

I'd love to read this! Thanks for the chance to win!
ra6352 (at) gmail (Dot) com

Mystica said...

Thank you for the giveaway specially for opening it to all!!!!

Kerry said...

I've heard really good things about Lippman but have yet to read any of her work. I'd love to win a copy:

ofabookworm AT gmail DOT com

Anonymous said...

I've heard such good things about this book - would love to read it.

ladydoor1(at)gmail(dot)com

Unknown said...

I loved the one Laura Lippman book I've read and plan to read more! Please enter me in your giveaway!

Thank you for hosting this contest!

Aimala127(at)gmail(dot)com

buddyt said...

The story sounds intriguing and Rear Window has long been a favorite Hitchcock movie of mine.

Please enter me in the giveaway.

Thanks

Carol T

buddytho {at} gmail DOT com

The Many Thoughts of a Reader said...

i read about this book yesterday and it sounds really interesting!

holdenj said...

Love the Rear Window aspect of the story.
JHolden955(at)gmail(dot)com

gcpeach17 said...

I am not sure if I have ever read any of Laura Lippman's books, however the name is familiar. Please, enter me in a chnace to win this book. As simple as it sounds, I love the name of the book.

gcpeach17 at aol dot com

a real librarian said...

Thanks for the giveaway!!

areallibrarian[at]gmail[dot]com

LBC said...

Sounds interesting! Thanks for the giveaway.

LBC said...

My email is
darrowenator (at) gmail (dot) com

Pam (@iwriteinbooks) said...

Man, literally in the last 24 hours, this books has popped up EVERYwhere! I think, honestly, I have to have it. ;O)

Ann Summerville said...

I have read one other book of Laura Lippman's - she's is a great writer. I'd love to be considered for the giveaway.
Ann
cozyintexas@yahoo.com

moonsword said...

Thanks for the review...I haven't read any of her books so I appreciate the suggestion to read the earlier ones. I will definitely check out Laura's site!

Martha Lawson said...

She is a new to me author! This book sounds terrific, I'd love to be entered to win. Thanks

mlawson17 at hotmail dot com

Jonnie (JB) said...

I've never read this author but this book sounds great

dftrew(at)gmail(dot)com

Marjorie/cenya2 said...

I have never read a book by this author and I would love to start with this one.

cenya2 at hotmail dot com

Sarah said...

Thank you for the chance to win:)

foxchick0323@live.com

Ada said...

I haven't read anything by Laura Lippman but I'd love to! Thanks for the opportunity!
shoushouchic[at]gmail[dot]com

missreneer said...

This sounds like such a great read.
Thanks for the great giveaway :)

mrsjohnson1982 at yahoo dot com

sarahjunie said...

I love Laura Lippman--thanks for the giveaway! sarahjunie at gmail dot com

Ruthie said...

I've heard such good things about this book! Please enter me, thanks.

ruthiekb72ATyahooDOTcom

Anonymous said...

Love to read & this book sounds awesome!! grammypenny@frontier.com

McKim said...

Sounds like one of those books that would be great to read on a cold winter night in front of the fireplace.

Amber said...

This looks like a great book - please enter me!
Thank you for the giveaway :)
hurdler4eva(at)gmail(dot)com

littlelatina said...

I love her I'm dying to read this one. I hope I win!

Unknown said...

Your review put this book on my "want to read" list - I love exploring new authors and this one would be new to me! Thanks for the chance!
janicecrespo@gmail.com

caroltennis said...

Hope I win but if not I will see if this is available for download onto Kindle


carolmuth@insightbb.com

linett said...

I have read most of Laura Lippmans books and have loved them all, thanks

Dorte H said...

Don´t enter me as I got a review copy and reviewed it recently. I just wanted to say that it was my first Laura Lippman - and an absolutely delicious story!

Highly recommended!

Mike said...

Amazingly awesome

Bookish Mind said...

I haven't joined any giveaways yet. this is my first time...I think this is a good way to start.

Heather J. @ TLC Books said...

I didn't realized that this book was originally serialized ... something about that makes me even more interested in reading it.

I'm so glad you enjoyed it - thanks for being a part of the tour!

(no need to enter me)

Charleydog said...

Please enter my name in the giveaway for the book. Thanks!

pboylecharley AT hotmail DOT com

Andria said...

I would love a chance to win. Thank you.

Meredith said...

Sounds like a great mystery! Please enter me!

meredithfl at gmail dot com

Jessica M said...

I've been looking forward to reading this. Thanks for the giveaway opportunity!

jmartinez0415 [at] gmail [dot] com

Judy H said...

Please enter me in the contest.

headlessfowl at gmail dot com

shanaelyse said...

Love Laura Lippmann! Would love to win!

shanaelyse@gmail.com

Karen said...

Looks like a great read :)

ktgonyea at gmail.com

Unknown said...

Thanks for the giveaway! Please count me in!

chibipooh(at)gmail(dot)com

Sandra said...

I love a good mystery and this one sounds very good. Thanks for the great giveaway!
sandra.antunovic@sympatico.ca

Misusedinnocence said...

This sounds like a really interesting read! I'd love to give it a try!

misusedinnocence@aol.com

Anonymous said...

What a great contest!

sheryljeffries at verizon dot net

Katy said...

Sounds like fun!

srfbluemama[at]gmail[dot]com

Anonymous said...

This would be my first introduction to Laura Lippman, but based on the synopsis I think I would really enjoy this book! I love the thrill, mystery and unknown aspects of this book. Please accept this as my entry. Thank you!

Aliya D.
aliyadaya(at)shaw(dot)ca

lgm52 said...

I like Laura Lippman and this sounds great! Count me in!
lgm52@hotmail.com

Anonymous said...

This looks like a great read.

nowakoski@sbcglobal.net

Lisa said...

Would love to win!!

Peachesncream887(at)hotmail(dot)com

Maureen said...

It looks like a story I would enjoy.
mce1011 AT aol DOT com

clenna said...

I can't wait to read this book!

clenna at aol dot com

Anonymous said...

I would love to read The Girl in the Green Raincoat :) *Thanks* for the giveaway!
theluckyladybug[at]gmail[dot]com

Anonymous said...

I've never read this person before, but I read an excerpt and love the movie Rear Window. And Love mysteries period. So I would like to read it

clynsg said...

This sounds like a pretty good one to add to my TBR pile. But you are right--I always like to start with the first of connected books.

cgclynsg0 at gmail dot com

Anonymous said...

I have not read any books from Laura Lippman, but would love a chance. Thank you for the chance.

Cynthia at
cpharney(at)yahoo(dot)com

nfmgirl said...

Sounds fascinating! Please count me in. Thank you!

nfmgirl AT gmail DOT com

Anonymous said...

I love a good mystery--so please enter me.

suefarrell.farrell@gmail.com

Unknown said...

thank you for all these awesome giveaways


mellanhead74 at hotmail.com

Valerie Taylor Mabrey said...

thanks for the contest looks like a great read

sarirose said...

I can hardly wait for this book to come out!

Christina said...

Christina - xristya@rock.com- This book would be perfect for my niece Sarah to read (and me too)!

Graciegreen said...

Verrry interesting...

Candie L said...

Please enter me in your contest

Thank you

candieluster(at)gmail(dot)com

Rhonda said...

I enjoy a novel with a mystery element. I would like to see how this unfolds
rhondastruthers atyahoo.ca

rockymountain_brown said...

Looks awesome! My wife loves her!

Nancy said...

It sounds good. Looks like I have a new author to try out...thanks!

Melissa B. said...

Reading the description gives me chill bumps!

Cheryl (Tx_Sweetie) said...

I have never read this author but I'm adding her to my list! thanks

cmooneyfowler@gmail.com

Jenn S. said...

Sounds interesting. Would love to read it.

jas8929 at gmail dot com

Nickolay said...

What a great sounding book! Thanks for the chance

jason(at)allworldautomotive(dot)com

fatseal said...

This sounds amazing, i would love to win this!

fatseal13@hotmail.com

Anonymous said...

I would like to read Ms. Lippman!

theyyyguy@yahoo.com

thatlittlehouse said...

I'm definitely a fan of Tess and would love to win this!

nblexp ( at ) gmail (dot) com

Becca said...

Sounds like a great read...hope Im on of the two winners! Thanks! sbcashortie at hotmail dot com

Anonymous said...

I would love to read this book.
shawnac68@hotmail.com

Sarah said...

Sounds like a good read - mysteries and dogs are both dear to my heart.

Anonymous said...

Thanks, I've read the rest of the books in this series.

Erin T

lunabutterfly79@yahoo.com

Renee G said...

Would love to read this book.
rsgrandinetti@yahoo(DOT)com

susansmoaks said...

i love to read
susansmoaks at gmail dot com

dvice12 said...

This looks great

Unknown said...

It sounds like a very interesting book. I would love to read it. Thanks. garrettsambo@aol.com

Kathy P said...

Thank you for the great giveaway please count me in :)
kathypease(at)gmail(dot)com

Anonymous said...

i love a good book

jim.coyne2@verizon.net

Pamela S said...

Sounds like a great character driven mystery. I'd love to read it! Thanks.

Heather W said...

Never heard of this one but sounds very good!
Lovefool827 (at) yahoo (dotcom)

amp said...

I have heard so much about this book I am dying to read it!


apoalillo at hotmail (dot) com

esldiane@gmail.com said...

Ok, I read an exert and now I want to read more...
Thank you
Diane Baum
esldiane@gmail.com

Sand said...

This sounds like a great book!

atreau at gmail dotcom.

/\Heather/\ said...

Have never read her. Sounds good, though.
heatherpooh (hotmail)

Bakersdozen said...

I would love to read this. vidomich(at)yahoo(dot)com

Debs Desk said...

Please include me in your giveaway.
Thanks
Debbie
debdesk9(at)verizon.net