"Another Thing to Fall" is the latest Monaghan mystery, and, coincidentally enough, centers on a television show being filmed in Monaghan's (and Lippman's) hometown of Baltimore. Of course, "The Wire" was also filmed in Baltimore, as was the series "Homicide," which was based on a book by Simon. Though Lippman states in an epilogue that her book is purely fictional, and has nothing to do with her husband's experience filming "The Wire," "Another Thing" is great fun and will amuse TV and film geeks.
In the book, Monaghan, an avid rower, accidentally careens into a film crew during an early morning row. The accident results in her getting hired to guard the spoiled young female star of "Mann of Steel," a TV series filming in Baltimore.
The glamour-phobic Monaghan is completely out of her league on the set. When a production assistant asks her if she wants sides (script pages) for a scene she's watching while on the job, the food-loving Tess responds "Sides? You mean like, French fries?"
The book also has a couple of insider-y references for "Wire" devotees (not far into the book, a homeless man utters an epithet made famous by "Wire" character Clay Davis).
Fans of the Monaghan series will enjoy watching the scrappy Tess butt heads with egotistical actors and writers, and thrill to the appearance of the series' best supporting character, Tess's imperious best friend Whitney Talbot.
But even those new to the books could get some enjoyment out of this likable fish out of water story.