Helpful Score: 3
V. I. Warshawski is a tough yet caring detective, willing to do anything it takes to solve the case. I've read all the Warshawski novels, and I thought this was one of the best.
Helpful Score: 2
I enjoy V.I., her saviness, her persistance and her descriptions of the world around her. In this addition, she struggles to solve a murder that the police aren't convinced was a murder. It leads her down a historical path of the 1930s Federal Negro Theater Project and the McCarthy era blacklisting. The mystery remains mostly unsolvable until the very end. While I enjoy Paretsky's novels, this one felt like a forum to express her politics.
Helpful Score: 1
Great read for us mystery lovers. Lots of action and suspense.
Another great read by this author. I felt sorry for this young boy in the story.
Paretsky gets better and better.
V. I. Warshawsky's back -- and this is not only the typical fast-paced thrilled, but also a thought-provoking social & political commentary. Perhaps Paretsky's best book to date!
intriguing . . . have read others of paretsky and enjoyed this more than any others of hers.
One of the better Warshawski books I've read. I really liked the McCarthy era comparison to the Patriot Act and the politics within. The teenage girl is annoying, which is actually a credit to Paretsky's character development. She got "teenage girl" just right.
Like another reviewer whose comments I read, I sense that Paretsky has moved away from simply writing good mysteries and has started using the books as a platform for her politics. I don't really care if it's liberal or conservative, it's starting to get old. The first few books were great, but now it seems like EVERY book is closely tied to politically-motivated crime. I didn't finish this one, and probably won't read any others in the series. That's a shame - the series started so well.
A very good mystery
A novel of secrets and betrayals that stretch across four generations. V.I. Warshawski agrees to check up on an empty mansion but finds a dead man in the ornamental pond.
Good plot and characters.
I love V.I. She really hits home with the old blacklist and the McCarthy era. Excellent
"Memorable." Thoroughly Gripping." "Warshawski Fans, Rejoice." "This is not your everyday detective story." So say the critics who get paid for their comments. I say -- all this and even more. Paretsky graps holds, and sucks the marrow from you as she weaves her wicked spell. Great book - great author.
If you like detective stories -- and why else would you look?-- her work is well-written and fast paced.
V. I. Warshawski accepted a request from a long time acquaintence to investigate strange events as witnessed by his elderly, wealthy mother. As she untangled the webs of mystery, she found herself at odds with the entrenched wealthy and powerful people of the area. A good mystery.
Love V.I. Great mindless murder mystery!
Another great and exciting VI Warshawski book. Not only is Paretsky a terrific writer, but she has expanded her themes to include historical and modern political injustice. I have to admit that there were points when I had trouble following the tangled web of the story, so I just sat back and went along for the ride, which was exciting, wild, and fulfilling as always.
enjoy V.I., her saviness, her persistance and her descriptions of the world around her. In this addition, she struggles to solve a murder that the police aren't convinced was a murder. It leads her down a historical path of the 1930s Federal Negro Theater Project and the McCarthy era blacklisting. The mystery remains mostly unsolvable until the very end. While I enjoy Paretsky's novels, this one felt like a forum to express her politics.
Good Mystery.
This story is a comples tale of secrets that keep you turning the pages, and not wanting to put it down to go to bed at night.
A totally engrossing tale of murder. Almost gothic, with ultra-rich characters, a possible terrorist, and lots of twists & turns to keep you interested.
This book of hidden secrets and questions will make you want to keep reading thru dinner.
Sara Paretsky is one of the better mystery writers. Her character, V.I. Warshawski, is an interesting P.I. light reading...
Sandi K W. (Sandiinmississippi) reviewed Blacklist (V. I. Warshawski, Bk 11) on + 265 more book reviews
One of the few books which I simply tossed into the garbage - not finding it gripping enough even to trade here. It was tripe.
The author has built a nice character with V.I., amusing dialogue in spots, and I think a good concept for this book. Unfortunately her liberal bias comes through on every page as she attempts to use a second-rate detective novel to advance her distaste for the Republican Party. Her grounding in history evidently comes from The View or Olbermann and is pretty weak. Several times she mounts attacks against conservatives describing poorly researched events about which it's evident she hasn't done her homework. Too tiresome to plough through for such a pale plot line.
Additionally, I don't remember V.I.'s various physical exploits being so unrealistic in the past. The book has a rhythm of dash, jump, crash, hurt V.I., be sore, eat, exercise, whine, and do it again. It made me wonder if Paretsky had recently stopped smoking or gotten ahold of some bad salmon.
The author has built a nice character with V.I., amusing dialogue in spots, and I think a good concept for this book. Unfortunately her liberal bias comes through on every page as she attempts to use a second-rate detective novel to advance her distaste for the Republican Party. Her grounding in history evidently comes from The View or Olbermann and is pretty weak. Several times she mounts attacks against conservatives describing poorly researched events about which it's evident she hasn't done her homework. Too tiresome to plough through for such a pale plot line.
Additionally, I don't remember V.I.'s various physical exploits being so unrealistic in the past. The book has a rhythm of dash, jump, crash, hurt V.I., be sore, eat, exercise, whine, and do it again. It made me wonder if Paretsky had recently stopped smoking or gotten ahold of some bad salmon.
very good
V.I. Warshawski, at her resilient and persevering best, tracks a murderer who killed to cover a 50-year-old scandal tied to HUAC, the House UnAmerican Affairs Committee.
Couldn't put it down
Excellent!
V.I. Warshawski holds her own again against people lookiing to kill her for finding out the truth of a murder. It has a twisted plot, linking people back to the good old days of McCarthyism, aand all the ugly details of blacklisting, which is cause for murder.
Great will keep you guessing
I really like V.I. Warshawski novels, and this was is packed full of action as usual. A great read!
This was the first book in this series that I've read and it was good. I read most of it during a week of summer vacation. It's detailed and runs a bit long, but it's an enjoyable read.
V.I investigates a mysterous intruder and is drawn into a McCarthy like era of people trying to quiet her.
A thoughtful, high-tension mystery.
Wendy H. (donkeycheese) -
As a favor to her most important client, V.I. agrees to check up on an empty mansion. But instead of a mysterious intruder, she discovers a dead man in the ornamental pond -- a reporter for an African - American publication whom the suburban cops are quick to dismiss as a suicide.
When the man's shattered family hires V.I. to investigate, she is sucked into a Gothic tale of sex, money and power, leading her back to McCarthy-era blacklists and forward to some of the darker aspects of the Patriot Act. As V.I. finders herself penned in to a smaller and smaller space by an array of people trying to silence her, and before she can untangle the sordid truth, two more people will die -- and V.I.'s own life will hang in the balance.
When the man's shattered family hires V.I. to investigate, she is sucked into a Gothic tale of sex, money and power, leading her back to McCarthy-era blacklists and forward to some of the darker aspects of the Patriot Act. As V.I. finders herself penned in to a smaller and smaller space by an array of people trying to silence her, and before she can untangle the sordid truth, two more people will die -- and V.I.'s own life will hang in the balance.
In part from the back cover...When a man's shattered family hires V.I. to investigate, she is sucked into a Gothic tale of sex, money, and power, leading her back to McCarthy-era blacklists and forward to some of the darker aspects of the Patriot Act. As V.I. finds herself penned in to a smaller and smaller space by an array of people trying to silence her, and before she can untangle the sordid truth, two more people will die-and V.I.'s own life willhang in the balance.
From Publishers Weekly: "Chicago private eye V.I. ("Vic") Warshawski needs all her strength and ingenuity to deal with the tragic effects of discrimination past and present in this riveting exploration of guilt and fear, the 12th installment in Paretsky's stellar series. Longtime client Darraugh Graham asks Vic to investigate his mother Geraldine's suspicion that trespassers are living in the empty mansion her father built in the suburban Chicago enclave where she has spent most of her life. Vic literally tumbles into trouble when, upon falling into a pond on the property, she comes up clutching the hand of a dead man. He is identified as Marcus Whitby, a young African-American journalist who was writing about members of the 1930s Federal Negro Theater Project especially a beautiful Negro dancer once championed by local liberals and blacklisted during the Communist witch hunt. Hired by Marcus's sister to look into his death, Vic spans cultures and generations in her investigation. Is Benji, the young Arab student sheltered in the mansion's attic by 16-year-old Catherine Bayard (whose politically daring publisher grandfather Calvin was once Vic's hero), somehow connected? Whether or not he has terrorist ties, Benji is at risk, so after Vic finds him she persuades Father Lou, a tough but caring community activist, to hide him in spite of post-9/11 dictums. Digging deeper, Vic must face disturbing allegations about Calvin Bayard and the likelihood that her lover, Morrell, on assignment in Afghanistan, is in danger. Paretsky reminds us that although victims change, prejudice is still alive and all too well. With this top-notch offering, she earns another vote of confidence for V.I." Copyright 2003 Reed Business Information, Inc.
V.I. Warshawski investigates night lights, which turns into a murder investigation and in conflict with the Feds and the Patriot Act. Her usual assorted cast of characters and friends make for a good read
This is the first book I've read by Sara Paretsky, it's written as a social commentary with a pertinent message, peopled with realistic, compelling characters, it packs a punch.
V.I. Warshowski is hired by well-heeled Darraugh Graham to investigate his 90-year old mother's complaints of nighttime prowlers on the former family estate in an ultra-posh community outside Chicago. Visiting the estate at night, VI surprises a mysterious, teenage girl and discovers the body of a black journalist at the bottom of a putrid pond. In the process of identifying both the girl and the journalist, VI confronts the sharks of Chicago's old-moneyed set, unraveling feuds, unseemly fraternization and murky misdeeds dating back to the mid 50s. Simultaneously, this same cast of characters supports a totally contemporary mystery involving a Muslim school worker with an expired visa who's all-too-easily branded a suspected terrorist.
V.I. Warshowski is hired by well-heeled Darraugh Graham to investigate his 90-year old mother's complaints of nighttime prowlers on the former family estate in an ultra-posh community outside Chicago. Visiting the estate at night, VI surprises a mysterious, teenage girl and discovers the body of a black journalist at the bottom of a putrid pond. In the process of identifying both the girl and the journalist, VI confronts the sharks of Chicago's old-moneyed set, unraveling feuds, unseemly fraternization and murky misdeeds dating back to the mid 50s. Simultaneously, this same cast of characters supports a totally contemporary mystery involving a Muslim school worker with an expired visa who's all-too-easily branded a suspected terrorist.
Her first novels!!
V.I. Warshawski is back....a mansion..a dead reported and a Gothic Tale...of sex and money...
WONDERFUL!
from amazon...
V.I. is hired to find out who may be sneaking into a vacated suburban mansion. Geraldine Graham, the home's 91-year-old former owner, who still lives nearby, claims she's seen lights in the attic at night. Our heroine suspects this is simply a bid by the wealthy dowager for greater attention, but agrees to do some nocturnal prowling--only to stumble (literally) across the body of a dead black journalist, Marcus Whitby, in the estates ornamental pond and encounter a teenage girl fleeing the scene.
V.I. is hired to find out who may be sneaking into a vacated suburban mansion. Geraldine Graham, the home's 91-year-old former owner, who still lives nearby, claims she's seen lights in the attic at night. Our heroine suspects this is simply a bid by the wealthy dowager for greater attention, but agrees to do some nocturnal prowling--only to stumble (literally) across the body of a dead black journalist, Marcus Whitby, in the estates ornamental pond and encounter a teenage girl fleeing the scene.
As a favor to her most important client, V.I. agrees to check up on an empty mansion. But instead of a mysterious intruder, she discovers a dead man in the ornamental pond- a reporter for an African-American publication whom the suburban cops are quick to dismiss as a suicide. When the man's shattered family hires V.I. to investigate, she is sucked into a Gothic tale of sex, money, and power, leading her back to the McCarthy era blacklists and forward to some of the darker aspects of the Patriot Act. As V.I. finds herself penned in to a smaller and smaller space by an artery of people trying to silence her, and before she can untangle the sordid truth, two more people will die- and V.I.'s own life will hang in the balance.
AS a favor to her most important client, V.I. agrees to check up on an empty mansion. But instead of a mysterous intruder, she discovers a dead man in the ornamental pond-a reporter for an african american publicain whom the cops are quick to names as suicide. When the mans shattered families hire V.I to investigate she is sucked into a gothic side of sex, money and power, leading her back to McCarthy-era blacklists and forward to some of the darker aspects of the Patriot Act. As V.I. finds herself penned in to a smaller and smaller space by an array of people trying to silene her, and before she can untangle the sordid truth, two more people will die and V.I. own life will hang in the balance.
NY Times Bestseller
from the back: As a favor to her most important client, V.I. agrees to check up on an empty mansion. But instead of a mysterious intruder, she discovers a dead man in the ornamental pond - a reporter for an African-American publication whom the suburban cops are quick to dismiss as a suicide.
When the man's shattered family hires V.I. to investigate, she is sucked into a Gothic tale of sex, money, and power, leading her back to McCarthy-era blacklists and forward to some of the darker aspects of the Patriot Act. As V.I. finds herself penned in to a smaller and smaller space by an array of people trying to silence her, and before she can untangle the sordid truth, two more people will die - and V.I.'s own life will hang in the balance.
When the man's shattered family hires V.I. to investigate, she is sucked into a Gothic tale of sex, money, and power, leading her back to McCarthy-era blacklists and forward to some of the darker aspects of the Patriot Act. As V.I. finds herself penned in to a smaller and smaller space by an array of people trying to silence her, and before she can untangle the sordid truth, two more people will die - and V.I.'s own life will hang in the balance.
From the cover - As a favor to her most important client, V.I. agrees to check up on an empty mansion. But instead of a mysterious intruder, she discovers a dead man in the ornamental pond - a reporter for an African-American publication whom the suburban cops are quick to dismiss as a suicide.
When the man's shatterd family hires V.I. to investigate, she is sucked into a Gothic tale of sex, money, and power, leading her back to McCarthy-era blacklists and forward to some of the darker aspects of the Patriot Act. As V.I. finds herself penned in to a smaller and smaller space by an array of people trying to silence her, and before she can untangle the sordid truth, two more people will die - and V.I.'s own life will hang in the balance.
When the man's shatterd family hires V.I. to investigate, she is sucked into a Gothic tale of sex, money, and power, leading her back to McCarthy-era blacklists and forward to some of the darker aspects of the Patriot Act. As V.I. finds herself penned in to a smaller and smaller space by an array of people trying to silence her, and before she can untangle the sordid truth, two more people will die - and V.I.'s own life will hang in the balance.
