When an out-of-work reporter picks up a side gig tracking the movements of a friend’s fiancé, she thinks it will be an easy way to earn a couple of bucks.  Instead, her friend winds up arrested for murder.  Working for his lawyer, the former reporter digs in to the case, following leads and tracking down witnesses, looking to clear her friend and find the real murderer.

Baltimore Blues is the first entry in Laura Lippman’s Tess Monaghan series.  I first came across Lippman’s work back in 2018 during my trip to Rome, but, despite enjoying that standalone work, I never returned for more until now.  While this wasn’t as good a read as I remember from before, it does give me an entryway into a new series.  Assuming the library cooperates, I assume I will start working through this series over time.