Life Sentences
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Product Description
Review
‘Laura Lippman’s stories aren’t just mysteries; they are deeply moving explorations of the human heart. She is quite simply one of the best crime novelists writing today.’ Tess Gerritsen
‘I love her books.’ Harlen Coben
‘Exquisite as fine jewellery.’ Lee Child
‘A writer at the peak of her powers.’ Washington Post
‘Lippman's [demonstartes that the] best action is inside her characters' minds … Lippman fans won't be disappointed .’
Kirkus Reviews
‘One of the most distinctive voices in contemporary fiction…Lippman has once more challenged, realigned and ultimately transcended the boundaries of genre.’New York Observer
‘Succeeds brilliantly…Lippman is in total command of her material…a mystery so taut the reader is nearly afraid to keep going—and simultaneously powerless to stop.’ People Magazine
‘From its gripping opening pages about a burned-out author's bookstore reading, Laura Lippman's Life Sentences may be the most absorbing, entertaining mystery published in the last year. Lippman does it all, from creating vivid, three-dimensional characters, to painting a beautifully detailed portrait of her hometown, Baltimore, to crafting a plot that drives readers along at a fast clip while simultaneously building suspense as one dramatic revelation leads to another.’ Boston Globe
'A terrific crime writer.'Daily Mail
‘Intricate and witty.’ Publisher’s Weekly
‘A gripping novel.’Closer
--This text refers to the Paperback edition.Product Description
Returning to Baltimore, writer Cassandra Fallows stumbles into the middle of a mystery that takes her back to her schooldays. A schoolfriend was accused of killing her infant son. A body was never found, but she was nevertheless jailed for seven years.
--This text refers to the
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First Sentence
"WELL," THE BOOKSTORE MANAGER SAID, "it is Valentine's Day." Read the first page Browse Sample Pages
Front Cover | Copyright | Excerpt | Back Cover
"WELL," THE BOOKSTORE MANAGER SAID, "it is Valentine's Day." Read the first page Browse Sample Pages
Front Cover | Copyright | Excerpt | Back Cover
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
12 of 13 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
This is the first Lippman I've read, and she enjoys a good reputation as a police procedural writer. This book is slightly different - teetering between literary fiction and crime fiction. The result is messy, partial and unsatisfactory.
The main character (Cassandra) is too bland, and the back story told in a manner that is too fragmented. Her former friends seem to melt into each other, and in many ways are subsidiary to Cassandra's relationship with her parents. The attempt to uncover Calliope's secret adds a third focal point - far too messy, and smacking of throwing everything into the plot in the hope that something works. None of these plot strands convinces, or carries enough drama or emotion to sustain 400 pages.
In many ways it is a frustrating read. While the narrative is not interesting enough to carry the holes in plot and character, it contains enough intelligence and eloquence to suggest Lippman can do better things. Presumably this style of work is a departure from Lippman's usual stuff. Clearly, in that case, she should stick to the police procedurals.
The main character (Cassandra) is too bland, and the back story told in a manner that is too fragmented. Her former friends seem to melt into each other, and in many ways are subsidiary to Cassandra's relationship with her parents. The attempt to uncover Calliope's secret adds a third focal point - far too messy, and smacking of throwing everything into the plot in the hope that something works. None of these plot strands convinces, or carries enough drama or emotion to sustain 400 pages.
In many ways it is a frustrating read. While the narrative is not interesting enough to carry the holes in plot and character, it contains enough intelligence and eloquence to suggest Lippman can do better things. Presumably this style of work is a departure from Lippman's usual stuff. Clearly, in that case, she should stick to the police procedurals.
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
Afraid I have to agree with the other reviewers. I expected to like this, having thoroughly enjoyed her Tess Monaghan books. But having fallen asleep over it twice, I began to wonder. Cassandra just isn't very interesting and there's no strong plotline. By the time I'd made it to halfway through, I just didn't care and didn't finish it. A real shame.
6 of 8 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
I really would have liked to have awarded this book a no stars rating as it has to be one of the most boring and tedious books that I have read in a long time .
The story is so bland that I pushed myself to finish reading it.
I really tried to persevere thinking that it had to get better but found that I lost more interest as each chapter progressed
If you like reading a good suspense , mystery or thriller style book I would say that this book is not for you.
The story is so bland that I pushed myself to finish reading it.
I really tried to persevere thinking that it had to get better but found that I lost more interest as each chapter progressed
If you like reading a good suspense , mystery or thriller style book I would say that this book is not for you.
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