The Girl in the Green Raincoat: Book summary and reviews of The Girl in the Green Raincoat by Laura Lippman

The Girl in the Green Raincoat Summary

In this modern twist on Rear Window, Tess Monaghan has been put on bed rest for the last two months of her pregnancy. Day after day she watches a girl in a green raincoat in the park with her greyhound, until one day Tess ominously notices the dog running loose. Convinced some harm has befallen its owner she becomes dangerously obsessed with learning her fate.

This story was first serialized in the Sunday New York Times Magazine. It's available now for the first time in book form.

The Girl in the Green Raincoat Reviews

"...this entertaining romp leaves plenty of hints of detective-mother exploits to come." - Publishers Weekly

"Lippman's slender tale ... brings back her feisty star detective at her most belligerent, most vulnerable and perhaps most appealing." - Kirkus

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The Girl in the Green Raincoat Reader Reviews

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Rated of 5 by Kelly (Chagrin Falls, Ohio)
Great plot twist; weak character development
Overall, the book is a fast read and quite good. The plot is very interesting and familiar. The plot twist is unexpected and delightful and converts a familiar story to a unique story. The only real weakness is a lack of character development in all but Tess' character. Perhaps such development is not necessary as the story is Tess plus the plot. However, a bit more rounding out of some of the other characters, particularly Crow and Whitney, would provide depth to the story to make it a great read.

Rated of 5 by Patti F
Girl in the Green Raincoat
Having never read a Tess Monaghan novel before (where have I been??) I will be back for more! I felt like I was out there on that porch with Tess, in this twist of Rear Window. The story pulled you right in but it is the cadence of the language that keeps you engaged. Each chapter appears to be a mini layer all its own, stories within the main story that added to the plot. Just wonderful.

Rated of 5 by Barbra W. (Dexter, MI)
The Girl in the Green Raincoat
After reading the first few pages of this novella, it struck me as the perfect easy, get-away-from-it-all story. With a nod to "Rear Window" and likable main characters it seemed like a great weekend read. But as I got into the book, I found the overall cadence of the book rather flat and predictable. The characters seemed somewhat 2-dimensional. The main character never struck me as particularly good at her job as an investigator, nor did the "big twist" in the plot seem all that surprising. So while I'd like to recommend the book, I'd have to say that overall it was just so-so and I wouldn't seek out other books in this series.

Rated of 5 by Kathy G. (Alamo, CA)
The Girl in The Green Raincoat
I read the book in two days between house guests and preparing Thanksgiving dinner. It was a welcome friend as I slipped into bed after a long fun day. My only negative is that I had trouble relating to Tess's attitude toward pregnancy. I was glad that she became a loving and caring mother at the end. Regardless, the book was very well written and I will read another of Laura Lippman's novels.

Rated of 5 by Nancy D. (West Chester, PA)
Short but worthwhile
I enjoyed this book, especially the premise of Tess's confinement. Although the book was short, really a novella, the story kept my interest and was well executed. I have read books by Laura Lippman before but this was my first Tess Monaghan. It will not be my last.

Rated of 5 by June A. (Randallstown, Maryland)
The Girl in the Green Raincoat
Interesting plot. Otherwise rather insipid. Little character development. My first encounter with this author, but it probably appeals to fans of this series.

...27 more reader reviews

Laura Lippman Author Biography

Laura Lippman was a reporter for twenty years, including twelve years at The (Baltimore) Sun. She began writing novels while working fulltime and published seven books about “accidental PI” Tess Monaghan before leaving daily journalism in 2001. Her work has been awarded the Edgar ®, the Anthony, the Agatha, the Shamus, the Nero Wolfe, Gumshoe and Barry awards. She also has been nominated for other prizes in the crime fiction field, including the Hammett and the Macavity. She was the first-ever recipient of the Mayor’s Prize for Literary Excellence and the first genre writer recognized as Author of the Year by the Maryland Library Association.

Ms. Lippman grew up in Baltimore and attended city schools through ninth grade. After...

... Full Biography
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