THE GIRL IN THE GREEN RAINCOAT

As Baltimore P.I. Tess Monaghan endures her pregnancy, which turns out to be a literal confinement, work is out of the question. Her only connection to the outside world comes from email, cell phone, and her trusty binoculars. In an homage to Hitchcock’s REAR WINDOW and Tey’s DAUGHTER OF TIME, Lippman’s new mystery has the bed-bound Tess spending much of her time peeping at dog walkers in the park outside her window. When one of them disappears, Tess suspects the woman’s husband of being up to no good. Linda Emond’s performance makes the smart-alecky, introspective Tess sound appropriately cranky and terrified. She also creates spot-on voices for other characters, such as the florid, breathy Mrs. Blossom and sharp-edged, loyal best friend Whitney. Emond makes Lippman’s engaging mystery a great listen. S.J.H. © AudioFile 2011, Portland, Maine [Published: FEBRUARY 2011]