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Originally serialized in The New York Times Magazine in 2008, Laura Lippman's THE GIRL IN THE GREEN RAIN COAT takes a playful cue from REAR WINDOW as its intrepid private eye, Tess Monaghan, finds herself subjected to two months of bed rest at the end of her pregnancy. Forced to endure a strictly healthful diet, minimal movement, and constant blood pressure readings, Tess quickly grows bored watching old movies and rereading her favorite novels, but takes some solace watching the comings and goings of the dog walkers and pets that frequent the park across the street from her home. One pair in seemingly catch her eye: a young woman in a striking green coat and her Italian greyhound who is decked out in a matching ensemble. When the woman disappears, seemingly abandoning her dog in the park, Tess suspects that she may have been the victim of violence. And although her best friend, her fiancé, and her plucky business manager, Mrs. Blossom, doubt Tess' suspicions, they agree eagerly enough to placate the whims of a bedridden mother-to-be and help her run down leads and interview suspects. As her vicarious investigation progresses, Tess and Co. not only become the somewhat unwilling custodians of the abandoned dog—a fierce little beast with a fear of the dark and a penchant for antique chamber pots—they also locate the husband of the missing woman, a man whose wives (three previous) seem to have an unusually high mortality rate. This is a simple, fun story done very well—the type of story one reads in one sitting on a rainy afternoon or long trip. The plot is relatively swift and poses few major setbacks, but Lippman adeptly keeps up the pacing and plot twists, pausing every so often to allow Tess to reflect on impending motherhood, or spend a little time learning more about her friends and loved ones. As Lippman notes in her afterword, the book differs somewhat from her previous novels because it "gave [her] multiple chances to write about love, marriage, and family. In almost every chapter someone tells Tess such a story." These anecdotes—Tess' father's story of when he first saw her mother, her best friend's reflections on her successful but unsurprising career at her family's trust—are where THE GIRL IN THE GREEN RAINCOAT really shines. A popular character who has featured in ten previous novels, Tess receives a fresh treatment here. As she goes forward, balancing motherhood and the life of a private investigator, Tess Monaghan is sure to be well-received by readers new to Lippman's series as well as by her avid fans. § Larissa Kyzer lives in Brooklyn. She will complete her Master's degree in Library Science in May 2011.
Reviewed by Larissa Kyzer, March 2011
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