Dream Girl by Laura Lippman

Gerry is a novelist.  He's had success with one book and is trying to get back in the groove to write again.  Having an accident on his stairs in his apartment disables him.  While he's healing, he has his secretary move in and hires a night nurse.

William Morrow sent me an ARC of this book to read for review (thank you).  It will  be published June 22nd.

He's been married multiple times and his most recent girlfriend comes to see him.  She wants to move in.  He refuses.

The next day he finds her dead on the floor next to his bed.  He didn't kill her.  At least he doesn't think so.  His mother died with dementia and he's a bit nervous that might be coming to him.

His nurse disposes of the body.  The police come to see him but learn nothing.  

It isn't long until the next murder.  The nurse and the publicist fight and the nurse has another body to dispose of.

As time goes on, Gerry hates not being able to get around.  He's at the mercy of the nurse.  When someone comes to visit, he begins to plan on how to get rid of the nurse.  

Will he succeed?

Lady in the Lake by Laura Lippman

Maddie has decided she wants to do something big and important, not just be a housewife and mother.  So she walks away from her marriage, rents an apartment, and starts trying to find a job.  She feels a little regret but she also wants to make her mark in life, not just be invisible.  But finding a job is hard with no work experience and at almost 40...

William Morrow and Edelweiss let me read this book for review (thank you).  It will be published July 23.

When a young woman doesn't come one night, it becomes a missing case.  After so many days, she's assumed dead, but no body has been found.  Maddie and her friend are walking home when Maddie takes on another path.  It was where she used to go with boys when she was younger.  She and her friend find the body everyone is looking for and they call the police.  They try to remain anonymous but their names get out.  When a reporter questions Maddie, she suddenly thinks maybe that would be a good job for her.

She visits him at work and asks if he can help her get a job.  She does get a job, but it's as a helper with the man that handles consumer complaints.  She asks why no one has looked for the other missing woman.  It's because she was black.  She decides to look for her.  Maybe this could be her big story.

She talks to her family members, her boss, and to anyone who knew her.  The closer to the truth she gets, the more dangerous it is.

When she opens a letter about burnt out lights at a fountain in town, she call the public works department and asks them to replace them.  They do and they find the dead Negro girl.  That's two dead bodies she's located now.

She does solve the murder mystery but she almost dies as she gets the story.

This was a well written story showing racial prejudice and lack of good police work because nobody cared if a black woman died.  Not that they were doing a great job finding the white girl's killer either.  This is one that makes you think.

Liza Jane & the Dragon by Laura Lippman, Kate Samworth

Liza gets tired of her parents and her perfect life.  She decides to fire them and hire a new parent and she puts up an ad saying no experience required.

Akashic Books sent me a copy of this book to read for review.  It has been published, so you can get a copy now.

I'm not sure where her parents went after being fired but her new parent is happy to move in.  Of all things, she's hired a dragon.  That means the house suddenly has burn marks in odd places, the pizza delivery person will no longer come in the house, and even school gets a bit dangerous.  Now what will she do?

I loved this one.  It's silly, funny and a joy to read.  The illustrations are great, too.  Get a copy for your little one, they'll read it more than once!

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!