Book Review: Baltimore Blues by Laura Lippman

Baltimore Blues
Author: Laura Lippman
Series: Tess Monaghan (Book 1)
Publication: William Morrow Paperbacks (October 13, 2009)

Description: In a city where someone is murdered almost every day, attorney Michael Abramowitz’s death should be just another statistic. But the slain lawyer’s notoriety—and his taste for illicit midday trysts—make the case front-page news in every local paper except the Star, which crashed and burned before Abramowitz did. 

A former Star reporter who knows every inch of this town—from historic Fort McHenry to the crumbling projects of Cherry Hill—now unemployed journalist Tess Monaghan also knows the guy the cops like for the killing: cuckolded fiancé Darryl “Rock” Paxton. The time is ripe for a career move, so when rowing buddy Rock wants to hire her to do some unorthodox snooping to help clear his name, Tess agrees. But there are lethal secrets hiding in the Charm City shadows. And Tess’ own name could end up on that ever-expanding list of Baltimore dead.

My Thoughts: BALTIMORE BLUES begins the twelve-book Tess Monaghan series. 

When this story begins Tess is still dealing with losing her job as a newspaper reporter when her Baltimore newspaper folded. She is working part-time in her Aunt Kitty's bookstore and part-time for an uncle who works in city government. She fills the rest of her time rowing. She is sort of drifting through life including an on-again, off-again relationship with an old boyfriend who is still a reporter for the Baltimore Beacon Light - called the Blight by those in the know.

The death of Michael Abramowitz, a lawyer, causes Tess to change things in her life. Her good friend and fellow rower Darryl "Rock" Paxton is accused of the murder. It seems that his fiancé Ava who was working for Abramowitz might also have been sleeping with him. 

Rock had hired Tess to follow Ava and find out why she had changed. She was becoming distant and making excuses for not seeing him. Ava follows her and learns that she is a secret shoplifter and spends afternoons in a hotel room with Abramowitz. Tess confronts Ava who rushes right to Rock to get her side of the story in first. In her side, she is being taken advantage of by Abramowitz. Rock heads to Abramowitz's office inside of the offices the prestigious firm of O'Neal, O'Connor, and O'Neill and admits to punching Abramowitz. He insists, however, that when he left Abramowitz was not dead. 

Rock's lawyer Tyner, also a fellow rower, hires Tess to do some investigating for him. Tess expands Tyner's remit and finds herself looking into who else might have wanted Abramowitz dead. She finds lots of people including victims of rape whose rapists were successfully defended by Abramowitz, victims of asbestos poisoning who were still waiting for the settlements they won, and serial killers on death row who were also unsuccessfully defended by Abramowitz. 

This was an interesting and engaging story with a main character who is drifting through her life. She's still dealing with the grief at her lost career as a journalist even when she comes to realize that journalism was not making her happy. 

I bought this one January 27, 2025, from a BookBub newsletter. You can buy your copy here.