The Girl in the Green Raincoat by Laura Lippman

If you were housebound and watched the people in the park across from you, wouldn't you become suspicious when the young woman who walks her dog everyday suddenly disappears - especially when she leaves her dog behind in the park?

This is an Avon trade paperback that will be coming out in mid-January.  I got my ebook from Net Galley (thank you both).

Tess Monaghan is on bed rest due to her pregnancy.  She's a private eye by choice and her eyes are still working, even if she has to stay in bed.  When the lady in the green coat goes missing and she starts doing a bit of detecting, she finds the lady's husband has been married several times before.  And they've all died, from apparently natural causes.  Uh huh, what detective is going to buy that?

Tess gets her significant other to locate the missing dog, which gives her a lead to where to search, but no one wants the dog.  It quickly becomes apparent why.  It's nervy, pees anywhere, and likes no one.  The author must have some dog experience because the dog almost steals the story.  Who else has a dog that learns to pee in a chamber pot?

This story reminds me a bit of "Rear Window", but I was surprised to find out who the killer was.

The story pace is good, there are funny moments here and there, and it doesn't take you long to realize that Tess is just a bit too caught up in this, considering her condition.

The author has more books in this series, so you can always go pick up one or two to keep you busy until January, when this one will hit your local bookstore.  I'd recommend it to fellow mystery readers.  There's a bit of romance thrown in to keep you going, too.

Happy reading!