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<p/><br></br><p><b> About the Book </b></p></br></br>When the production of a Hollywood film in Baltimore brings mayhem and murder to the area, private investigator Tess Monaghan finds her job complicated by the acting skills of her numerous suspects.<p/><br></br><p><b> Book Synopsis </b></p></br></br><p><strong><em>New York Times</em></strong><strong> Bestseller</strong></p><p>Award-winning and<em> New York Times</em> bestselling author Laura Lippman's Tess Monaghan--first introduced in the classic <em>Baltimore Blues--</em>must protect an up-and-coming Hollywood actress, but when murder strikes on a TV set, the unflappable PI discovers everyone's got a secret.</p><p><strong>"[A] welcome addition to Tess Monaghan's adventures and an insightful look at the desperation that drives those grasping for a shot at fame and those who will do anything to keep it."--<em>San Francisco Chronicle</em><br/><br/></strong><strong></strong></p><p>When private investigator Tess Monaghan literally runs into the crew of the fledgling TV series <em>Mann of Steel</em> while sculling, she expects sharp words and evil looks, <em>not</em> an assignment. But the company has been plagued by a series of disturbing incidents since its arrival on location in Baltimore: bad press, union threats, and small, costly on-set accidents that have wreaked havoc with its shooting schedule. As a result, <em>Mann's</em> creator, Flip Tumulty, the son of a Hollywood legend, is worried for the safety of his young female lead, Selene Waites, and asks Tess to serve as her bodyguard. Tumulty's concern may be well founded. Recently, a Baltimore man was discovered dead in his home, surrounded by photos of the beautiful--if difficult--aspiring star.</p><p>In the past, Tess has had enough trouble guarding her <em>own</em> body. Keeping a spoiled movie princess under wraps may be more than she can handle since Selene is not as naive as everyone seems to think, and instead is quite devious. Once Tess gets a taste of this world of make-believe--with their vanities, their self-serving agendas, and their remarkably skewed visions of reality--she's just about ready to throw in the towel. </p><p>But she's pulled back in when a grisly on-set murder occurs, threatening to topple the wall of secrets surrounding <em>Mann of Steel </em>as<em> </em>lives, dreams, and careers are scattered among the ruins.</p><p/><br></br><p><b> From the Back Cover </b></p></br></br><p>When private investigator Tess Monaghan literally runs into the crew of a fledgling TV series while sculling, she expects sharp words and evil looks, not an assignment. But the company has been plagued by a series of disturbing incidents since their arrival on location in Baltimore. Worried for the safety of the young female lead, they ask Tess to serve as her bodyguard/babysitter. In the past, Tess has had enough trouble guarding her <em>own</em> body; keeping a spoiled movie princess under wraps may be more than she can handle. But the fish-out-of-water p.i. is abruptly pulled back in by an occurrence she's all too familiar with--murder. Suddenly the wall of secrets is in danger of toppling, leaving shattered dreams, careers, and lives scattered among the ruins--a catastrophe that threatens the people Tess cares about...and the city she loves.</p><p/><br></br><p><b> Review Quotes </b></p></br></br><br>"Tess--funny, smart, empathetic as hell, and a colorful, irreverent storyteller makes a wonderful companion for this tale, in which disturbing vandalism and a stalker are just the harbingers of much worse problems,"--<em>Seattle Times</em><br><br>"A juicy whodunit."--<em>Entertainment Weekly</em><br><br>Like lunch at Atwater's, Tess's latest leaves you fully satisfied but looking forward to next time--<em>Kirkus Reviews</em><br><br>"After last year's acclaimed What the Dead Know, Lippman is back on home turf with the 10th installment of her popular series about Baltimore P.I. Tess Monaghan."--<em>People</em><br><br>[a] welcome addition to Tess Monaghan's adventures and an insightful look at the desperation that drives those grasping for a shot at fame and those who will do anything to keep it.--<em>San Francisco Chronicle</em><br><br>"Lippman is incapable of writing an un-compelling mystery,"--Baltimore Sun<br><br>You get everything in this book. There's a really good mystery which is almost secondary to the interaction of the characters - Hollywood's penchant for confusing illusion and reality is beautifully done - and the witty dialogue, full of smart film references, is totally believable.--Toronto Globe and Mail<br>

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