Charm City - (Tess Monaghan Novel) by Laura Lippman (Paperback)

About the Book

"PI Tess Monaghan is ecstatic to hear the news that business tycoon Gerard 'Wink' Wynkowski wants to bring pro-basketball back to Baltimore. But when Wink's checkered past--which runs the gamut from domestic abuse and compulsive gambling to armed robberies and even manslaughter--makes the front page of the Baltimore Beacon-Light, aka the 'Blight, his project is jeopardized. No one is more surprised at the exposae than the editors of the paper who were certain they killed the piece. Hoping to uncover who hacked into their computers, the newspaper hires Tess. But soon after the story on Wink runs, he's found asphyxiated in his garage with his cars engine running"--Page 4 of cover.

Book Synopsis

In New York Times bestselling author Laura Lippman's electrifying thriller, PI Tess Monaghan discovers she might've gotten herself into a dangerous situation for which there's no way out. . . .

PI Tess Monaghan is ecstatic to hear the news that business tycoon Gerard "Wink" Wynkowski wants to bring pro-basketball back to Baltimore. But when Wink's checkered past--which runs the gamut from domestic abuse and compulsive gambling to armed robberies and even manslaughter--makes the front page of the Baltimore Beacon-Light, aka the "Blight" his project is jeopardized. No one is more surprised at the exposé than the editors of the paper who were certain they killed the piece. Hoping to uncover who hacked into their computers, the newspaper hires Tess.

But soon after the story on Wink runs, he's found asphyxiated in his garage with his car's engine running. Suicide appears to be the cause of his death--and everyone is blaming the "Blight" for airing his dirty laundry and sending him into the downward spiral that led to his demise. But the more Tess uncovers about Wink, the more she's convinced that someone with an axe to grind wanted him dead and was willing to go as far as murdering him.

And if this all weren't enough to keep her plate full, Tess must also find the lowlifes who roughed up her uncle--the same men who are intent on getting back a prized Greyhound dog which she's currently looking after while her uncle recuperates. Now as Tess's PI skills are put to the ultimate test, she must stay one step ahead of a diabolical

From the Back Cover

Reporter-turned-p.i. Tess Monaghan loves every inch of her native Baltimore--a quirky city where baseball reigns, and homicide seems to be the second most popular sport. Business tycoon "Wink" Wynkowski wants to change all of that by bringing pro-basketball back to town--a laudable mission that's greeted with widespread cheers . . . and a muckraking front page exposé of his past in the Baltimore Beacon-Light. The "Blight's" surprised editors are sure they killed the piece. Instead, the piece kills Wynkowski, who's discovered asphyxiated in his garage with his car's engine running. Now the paper wants former newshound Tess to track down the rogue computer hacker whose prank took a human life. But there's more than cyber-crime involved here--and Tess is about to discover firsthand that trying to stay alive in Charm City is murder these days.

Review Quotes

"Both entertaining and unexpectedly touching. More Please." -- Baltimore Sun

Mystery fans can anticipate an engrosising series. -- Publishers Weekly