Latest Chicago Sun-Times column

My latest column in the Chicago Sun-Times ran last Sunday, when I was otherwise occupied.

It contained reviews of:

Laura Lippman -- No Good Deeds
Janet Evanovich -- Twelve Sharp
Lawrence Block -- Hit Parade
M.J. Rose -- The Venus Fix
Sandra Scoppettone -- Too Darn Hot

I struggled a bit writing this one, mostly because I wasn't quite sure what to say about Laura Lippman's new book. It's frustrating trying to explain a complex reaction to a book when I've got so few words, as is always the case when writing in the column format.

I am such a great admirer of Lippman's work -- I think she's one of the very best mystery writers working today. This book didn't quite work for me, though.

I found that the changes in POV distracted me from the real power of the story. I also didn't care for the secondary characters nearly as much as I do for Tess Monaghan. Consequently, I missed her whenever she was off-screen.

I was put off by the fact that we were viewing Tess through the eyes of characters who didn't particularly like her, nor did they respect her. That gave the effect of showing the heroine of the story -- a character I enjoy immensely -- in an oftentimes negative light.

I have seen many positive reviews of the book since I wrote mine, so clearly my hesitations were a minority opinion. On balance, I did enjoy reading the book, and I could recommend it. I think Lippman is such a great talent, though, that I really expect something extraordinary each time out.

The burden of high expectations is a challenging one to carry.