- Hardcover: 354 pages
- Publisher: William Morrow & Company (July 2004)
- Language English
- ISBN-10: 0060506695
- ISBN-13: 978-0060506698
- Product Dimensions: 23.1 x 16 x 3.3 cm
- Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
- Amazon Bestsellers Rank: 2,463,106 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
By a Spider's Thread: Tess Monaghan Series, Book 8
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Product Description
Review
"Brilliant." (PETERBOROUGH EVENING TELEGRAPH, 11 September )
"A clever piece of writing... hard to put down" (www.reviewingtheevidence.com, September )
"Curl up with this gripping thriller" (WOMAN'S OWN, 13 September )
"Private investigator Tess Monaghan makes a welcome return" (CHOICE, October )
"A well-constructed mystery, unique characters, and a heavy dose of wit make this a good addition to the Monaghan series. Definitely recommended." (DEADLY PLEASURES, Winter 04 )
"Lippman tells her story through four separate points of view... she has structured it extremely well, revealing only just enough background information to keep the narrative moving, then springing a whole series of surprises. None of them is predictable and yet they're all convincing. With its background themes of racism, damaged children and family bitterness, this is a most impressive novel." (SHERLOCK, Issue 64 2004 ) --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
"A clever piece of writing... hard to put down" (www.reviewingtheevidence.com, September )
"Curl up with this gripping thriller" (WOMAN'S OWN, 13 September )
"Private investigator Tess Monaghan makes a welcome return" (CHOICE, October )
"A well-constructed mystery, unique characters, and a heavy dose of wit make this a good addition to the Monaghan series. Definitely recommended." (DEADLY PLEASURES, Winter 04 )
"Lippman tells her story through four separate points of view... she has structured it extremely well, revealing only just enough background information to keep the narrative moving, then springing a whole series of surprises. None of them is predictable and yet they're all convincing. With its background themes of racism, damaged children and family bitterness, this is a most impressive novel." (SHERLOCK, Issue 64 2004 ) --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
reviewingtheevidence.com, September
"A clever piece of writing
--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
Inside This Book
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First Sentence
They were in one of the "I" states when Zeke told Isaac he had to ride in the trunk for a little while. Read the first page
Front Cover | Copyright | Excerpt | Back Cover
They were in one of the "I" states when Zeke told Isaac he had to ride in the trunk for a little while. Read the first page
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Front Cover | Copyright | Excerpt | Back Cover
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
11 of 12 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
Mark Rubin, a modern Orthodox Jew, a loving husband and father, and a wealthy furrier, believed himself the most fortunate of men. He thought he had the perfect family and a near flawless marriage. When his beautiful wife, Natalie, and their three children, Isaac, Penina and Efraim go missing, with no sign of foul play, the police back away from the case. They think Mrs. Rubin probably packed-up and left with the children, whom Mark adores. This is totally incomprehensible to him. In desperation, Rubin turns to Baltimore PI Tess Monaghan, a former reporter for the Baltimore Star. She agrees to take the case, with some skepticism. Detective Monaghan has a gut feeling her new client has not been totally forthcoming with the details. He doles out vitally important information, reluctantly, in piecemeal fashion. She initially views him as a cold, controlling man, and has a bit of difficulty working with him because of their cultural differences. He just rubs her the wrong way. Also, there are very few clues on which to base the investigation. On the other hand, Tess needs the money.
Tess' full name is Theresa Esther Weinstein Monaghan. The Weinstein part of the name comes from her mother. Tess is "half" Jewish and her interaction with the Orthodox Rubin causes issues of her own to surface. She is somewhat familiar with Jewish tradition, as she is with the Monaghan family's Christianity. While not particularly observant in either religion, she finds herself reflecting on the roles faith, culture, and religion play in her own family. She realizes the importance of understanding this aspect of Mark Rubin's life in order to succeed with the investigation. Tess' Uncle Donald recommended her for this particular job. He spent years working with Ruben in a volunteer program that instructed Jewish prisoners in rituals and traditions. Eventually, other members of the program will be called upon for their assistance in resolving the mystery.
Tapping into a national network of "sister" investigators on her PC, (the SnoopSisters), Tess soon learns the location of the Rubin family. However, it seems a fifth member has been added to the entourage, a man described by witnesses as "handsome,"
"charming" and otherwise unremarkable. Little do they know. It soon becomes apparent that underneath the illusion of family bliss lies a web of deceit. Nothing is as it seemed. Suddenly the search becomes precarious and takes on much more urgency. Lives may be at stake.
This is Tess' eighth case and she has established quite a professional name for herself. She is recognized as a professionally competent PI, but unfortunately the same cannot be said about her personal life. Tess continues to be commitment phobic. Her very cool boyfriend, Crow, is taking a break. He's out of town visiting his mom who has been quite ill. Tess also has a problem with the impending marriage of her Aunt Kitty. "By A Spider's Thread" finds her alone with her two dogs, recovering from her last case's very heavy baggage and puzzling over this new job. However, Ms. Monaghan is more than a semi-neurotic, feisty detective. The lady has depth. She has evolved into a complex, vulnerable, substantial woman of wit and some significant wisdom. This latest novel by multi-award winning author Laura Lippman, just nominated for the 2005 Edgar Award, is the best, most spellbinding Tess Monaghan mystery yet.
Ms. Lippman is golden at creating and developing her characters, and it is precisely this strength that gives her plots depth and believability. Her people are not always likeable or sympathetic, but they're the real thing - human! She gives just enough clues and information to keep the suspense escalating, the tension building, but she does not give up her mysteries easily. I was absolutely riveted by this complex, multi-layered plot which holds surprises, chills and even a few laughs. Expect a thrilling conclusion! And by all means, get to know Tess. You will really like her!
JANA
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
As the previous reviewer outlines, in this novel Tess Monaghan is looking for a Jewish wife who has absconded with her three children. It is a well written book and the plot is diverse enough that you want to keep reading. The different strands come together well and the ending is unexpected in the extreme. Unlike the previous reviewer I feel that the reasons are well explained with enough detail. The outline of Judaism forms an interesting sub plot, and the effect of the situation on the children is also well described. I enjoyed this book and I am sure that all those who like reading the private eye genre will enjoy it too.
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
A seemingly faithful and happy Jewish wife runs away from her devoted and religious husband with her 3 kids. This she does willingly in the company of a mysterious man. The husband calls in Tess, a PI, to help find her and the children.
The book is well-written, has some good lines and is also instructive on elements of the Jewish faith. Past and present prisoners make their appearances and there are references to Russian Jews in particular.
With this sort of start, I must say I expected more. In the end, however, the book becomes a game of hide and find without providing a proper explanation for why a reasonably well-off wife would abscond with the person she does.
In short, this is a good ride, but is not as satisfying as it could have been with a little more complexity. 7/10
The book is well-written, has some good lines and is also instructive on elements of the Jewish faith. Past and present prisoners make their appearances and there are references to Russian Jews in particular.
With this sort of start, I must say I expected more. In the end, however, the book becomes a game of hide and find without providing a proper explanation for why a reasonably well-off wife would abscond with the person she does.
In short, this is a good ride, but is not as satisfying as it could have been with a little more complexity. 7/10
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