The Writer's Life 10/24 - Deeds

Author Laura Lippman worked 20 years as a journalist, many for the Baltimore Sun, her hometown paper. Her first novel was published in 1997. Since then she has written 18 more, eleven featuring private eye Tess Monaghan. She has cracked the New York Times Best Sellers list and received an Edgar and several other awards. I just finished the ninth in the Monaghan series, No Good Deeds, published in 2006. It is polished, mature work, the prose and dialogue solid, the events grounded in realism, the tone authentic, the resolution of the mystery sound. The 340 pages of its hardcover edition read like less than 300. Although the crime is solved, other aspects of the novel remain open-ended, just like real life. It has a liberal bias that is not obnoxious. At first I was leery of being preached to, but the lead characters didn’t go overboard in their opinions, and the protagonist seems to be grudgingly progressing toward true open-mindedness. 34 contributors have rated the book at Amazon, forging to a consensus of four stars out of five. I say 3.5. Although I’m not a fan of written mysteries, No Good Deeds has a lot more going for it than simple entertainment. Its portrait of the human condition is more important than the crime solving aspect. Those in search of a high body count and constant shootouts should pass. Lippman is married to David Simon, who reports for the Baltimore Sun and who created the critically acclaimed TV series The Wire, set in their home town.

Speaking of mysteries, last night Fox’s Gracepoint added several layers and possibilities. The jury’s still out, so to speak, but, through four episodes, I’m impressed.


The rain finally stopped and the floating book shop returned to its regular nook on Avenue Z & E.13th for the first time in a week. It wasn't an easy session, as a stiff cool wind had me hiding behind the edge of the apartment building. I was relieved when the sun finally hit the corner, but then clouds rolled in. At least business was good. My thanks to the kind folks who bought and donated books. One was a Lance Armstrong memoir, pre-scandal. I left it in the lobby of my building, doubtful anyone would pay for it these days.

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Vic's Rom-Com Screenplay: http://tinyurl.com/kny5llp

Vic's Horror Screenplay: http://tinyurl.com/cyckn3f

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