Hush Hush

Laura Lippman

New York Times bestseller Laura Lippman returns to one of American fiction’s most memorable Private Investigators, in a devastatingly powerful mystery.

2 in stock

£7.99
Format
Paperback
ISBN
9780571321414
Date Published
14.01.2016
Delivery
All orders are sent via Royal Mail and are tracked: choose from standard or premium delivery.
Summary

‘A first-class mystery.’ Daily Mail
‘[Laura Lippman] is a very special kind of twisted genius.’ SARAH HILARY
‘One of Lippman’s finest novels’ Chicago Tribune

A TESS MONAGHAN MYSTERY

No one is quite who they seem.

Melisandre – rich, beautiful, possibly insane – is haunted by the deadly family tragedy a decade earlier. Her husband and teenage daughters have moved on, and are seemingly happy. When she returns from South Africa to Baltimore, there are suddenly more mysterious deaths. The mysteries of Melisandre’s devastating past are unearthed: what role did her family really play? Is anyone telling the truth?

PI Tess Monaghan gets ensnared in the story of this wealthy, complex family. Now the mother of a young girl herself, Tess makes a return as an investigator to solve the case.

A hugely powerful and emotive novel about children and destructive, overbearing parents, Hush Hush is a superbly plotted mystery that will keep you hooked until the final page.

‘Cleverly told. . . It’s refreshing how chaotic and ordinary Lippman allows Monaghan to be, without ever making her boring.’ John O’Connell, Guardian
‘An engaging read. . . I thoroughly enjoy staying caught up on the adventures of Tess and family.’ 5* reader review
‘Another extraordinary Tess Monaghan book. . . smooth and seductive’ 5* reader review
‘I love this series, I loved the storyline, and how it all came together at the end!’ 5* reader review

PRAISE FOR THE TESS MONAGHAN SERIES
‘Tess is a heroine with a nose for what she is not being told, and she is never content with half the story. These Baltimore novels are effective thrillers, because they are stories about wanting to know what happens next.’ Times Literary Supplement
‘Whip smart female protagonist, gritty Baltimore setting. Loved Tess!’ 5* reader review
‘Readers won’t be able to resist Tess, who, like one of Baltimore’s famous crabs, sports a tough shell that hides a sweet centre.’ BOOKLIST
‘Digestible, fun, tense’ NPR
‘In this series, Lippman has developed sturdy tales, wry humour, and snappy dialogue wrapped around an insider’s view of Baltimore.’ SUN-SENTINEL
‘Tess, is a ballsy, free-spirited woman who thinks on her feet and has a commanding physical presence. . . Highly recommend’ 5* reader review
‘What fun! I discovered a new (to me) mystery series. Tess Monaghan is a terrific main character.’ 5* reader review
‘I really have fallen in love with Tess Monaghan. These mystery novels well deserve the awards Lippman has won.’ 5* reader review

Critic Reviews

'A humorous narrative belies the dark areas this clever thriller explores.'

Deirdre O'Brien, Sunday Mirror
Critic Reviews

'As a former journalist, Lippman's accurately captured the working of the media (all too rarely the case in crime novels) and she's just as confident with the intricacies of the legal process. The real success of this novel, though, is its honest portrayal of motherhood within an intricate plot that takes you steadily deeper into the secrets and lies of a wealthy American family. "Being a mother was like being trapped in the first 15 minutes of a horror film," is one character's take on the perpetual anxiety of caring for a baby.'

Crime Fiction Lover
Critic Reviews

'Laura Lippman has, for a couple of decades, been one of the most consistent and rewarding crime writers around, garnering acclaim but somehow never getting fully into the headlight lesser talents have occupied...Navigating a maelstrom of feelings and emotions, Tess has to face difficult questions and situations as she gets to grips with the case and mines sensitive psychological depths with pinpoint generosity and acuity. A welcome back to a favourite character after several years of stand alone titles.'

Maxim Jakubowski, Lovereading
Critic Reviews

'Overall then a terrific character driven mystery story that will keep you turning those pages until the final revelations - the subject matter is horrific but handled with grace and authenticity whilst still being a fantastic crime fiction novel.'

Liz Loves Books
Critic Reviews

'Hush Hush is cleverly told, often via chunks of interview transcript from the documentary. Dawes and Monaghan are poles apart, but Lippman unites them to make salient points about the invidious labeling of women as good or bad mothers. It's refreshing how chaotic and ordinary Lippman allows Monaghan to be, without ever making her boring.'

John O'Connell, Guardian
Critic Reviews

'As in all her novels, Lippman delivers a first-class mystery, but there are also plenty of intelligent insights into damaged individuals and family dynamics.'

Carla McKay, Daily Mail
LauraLippman

Laura Lippman’s novels have won many crime fiction prizes, including the Edgar, Anthony, Agatha and eDunnit Awards. Her more recent works include Sunburn, a Waterstones Thriller of the Month in 2018, Lady in the Lake, currently being adapted by Apple TV+, and Dream Girl, shortlisted for the 2022 CWA Ian Fleming Steel Dagger.

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