WHAT YOU SEE ISN’T ALWAYS WHAT YOU GET — A REVIEW

Tess Monaghan, a Baltimore private investigator, has been relegated, in the third trimester of her pregnancy, to bed rest in her sunroom. She has an active imagination, and has always been a fan of the movie “Rear Window,” so when she notices the routine of a young woman in a green raincoat, she is fascinated. The woman is walking her dog, who wears a matching coat. Everyday, she sees them walking alongside the park.

But then one day, the woman has seemingly disappeared, leaving behind a frantic dog. In her quest to discover what has happened, Tess makes phone calls, and then, when the police seem unfazed by her report, she turns to her laptop to search through the records. She discovers that the woman is Carole Massinger, who was married to Don Epstein, and that this wealthy man has lost previous spouses and a girlfriend to mysterious deaths.

Is Carole dead or is she missing? And is her disappearance connected to the deaths of the other Epstein spouses?

Tess enlists the assistance of best friend Whitney, along with colleague Mrs. Blossom. Then she discovers other intriguing facts about the deceased wives…they were all fairly isolated, and nobody seems to really “miss” them or push for answers to the seemingly obvious questions. A few other facts she uncovers seem suspicious and worrisome.

But what Tess learns next will completely throw her theories out that rear window. Will her discoveries lead to her unfortunate demise? What, if anything, can she do to save herself and her unborn daughter?

A compelling mystery with humor and colorful characters that the reader will want to connect with over and over, The Girl in the Green Raincoat: A Tess Monaghan Novel, was definitely a five star read for me. It was a quick read with great descriptions and dialogue. I would like to follow Tess in more of her adventures.