Tess is wrestling with her own issues. Her interaction with Rubin causes her to think about her own family and the role of faith and culture in her life. In addition, she is reflecting on her relationship with her erstwhile boyfriend who is supposedly out of town dealing with his mother's illness. Like she does with many of the other crucial plot lines, Lippman plays out the clues slowly so that the whole picture comes together gradually; the reader isn't given advance notice of all the facts (what kind of mystery would that be?) but instead is forced to watch the plot unfold much like the characters in the story.

All of the above combines to make By a Spider's Thread an enjoyable and interesting read. The plot isn't particularly complex or byzantine but there are enough twists to keep the reader focused and alert. The characters, however, have enough depth and meaning that Lippman doesn't need to force the pace. Even so she manages to throw in a suspenseful denouement before the more reflective ending. If I had one complaint it might be that Lippman seems to try too hard to connect Monaghan to the modern world. I found the references to cell phone etiquette and telemarketing avoidance, the email group the Snoop Sisters, and various other cultural commentary a little forced at times. It was as if she need to set the story very obviously in the early 21st century. Perhaps, she felt like these peculiarities and unique communication tools of the time period would make the setting more real but I found them off-putting at times; a little too cute.

That very minor caveat aside, I enjoyed Tess as a character and hope to have the chance to dip into her past by reading the previous novels in this series. But whether you have read the previous books or not, if you like a good P.I. story with an interesting setting and unique characters you should enjoy By a Spider's Thread.