From Publishers Weekly
Already having established herself as an inventor of the female private eye and a master of the mystery format, Paretsky skillfully expands the form to tackle several convergent themes in a moving novel of discovery and redemption. V.I. "Vic" Warshawski has a traditional mystery to solve: the life insurance policy of black factory worker Aaron Sommers had been faithfully maintained, paid for weekly even when other demands surely seemed of greater urgency. But when Aaron's widow needed to collect, the company denied the claim, saying the policy had been cashed a decade earlier. That leads Vic to Ajax Life Insurance Co. and Ralph Devereux, whom she encountered in her very first case, Indemnity Only (1982). Her investigation is subtly intertwined with another much more personal and wrenching inquiry into the appearance of a man calling himself Paul Radbuka, whose recovered memory as a child survivor of the Holocaust leads him to claim a kinship with Vic's friend Max Loewenthal. Radbuka's claim has an unexpected and drastic affect on Lotty Herschel, Vic's friend and mentor. The twin investigations allow the author to explore simultaneously the issues raised by the Illinois Holocaust Asset Recovery Act and the issue of reparations for the descendants of slaves. Dark, absorbing, probing Paretsky's novel explores the complex web of degrees of guilt and complicity surrounding the fate of Holocaust victims and survivors, with Lotty's story emerging with compelling, terrible clarity and inevitability.
Already having established herself as an inventor of the female private eye and a master of the mystery format, Paretsky skillfully expands the form to tackle several convergent themes in a moving novel of discovery and redemption. V.I. "Vic" Warshawski has a traditional mystery to solve: the life insurance policy of black factory worker Aaron Sommers had been faithfully maintained, paid for weekly even when other demands surely seemed of greater urgency. But when Aaron's widow needed to collect, the company denied the claim, saying the policy had been cashed a decade earlier. That leads Vic to Ajax Life Insurance Co. and Ralph Devereux, whom she encountered in her very first case, Indemnity Only (1982). Her investigation is subtly intertwined with another much more personal and wrenching inquiry into the appearance of a man calling himself Paul Radbuka, whose recovered memory as a child survivor of the Holocaust leads him to claim a kinship with Vic's friend Max Loewenthal. Radbuka's claim has an unexpected and drastic affect on Lotty Herschel, Vic's friend and mentor. The twin investigations allow the author to explore simultaneously the issues raised by the Illinois Holocaust Asset Recovery Act and the issue of reparations for the descendants of slaves. Dark, absorbing, probing Paretsky's novel explores the complex web of degrees of guilt and complicity surrounding the fate of Holocaust victims and survivors, with Lotty's story emerging with compelling, terrible clarity and inevitability.
Started off slowly, but became a wonderful story of Jews during WW II, and the long lasting difficulties camp survivors faced.
Don't confuse this book about Chicago Based private eye VI Vic Warshawski with the 80's movie with the same name. The flick was a classic Arnold Swarzeneggar and this book is a classic tale of the most hard biting female detective created. This story is particularly compelling as the reader learns more about one of the other characters central to Vic's life, her beloved mentor Lotty Herschel. Not to be missed!
IF YOU LIKE SUSPENSE AND MYSTERY, ALL OF SARA PARETSKY'S V.I. WARSHAWSKI NOVELS ARE A GOOD READ. THIS ONE IS NO EXCEPTION.
This was as usual a good read from this series. I wished it didn't end quite so quickly. We learn a lot about Lotty, VI's friend and mentor.
This was a good mystery with the past of the Holocaust affecting the events in the present. I liked how V.I. gradually learned about Lotty's past.
In this 11th VI Warsahwski book, Vic investigates a life insurance claim that was paid out prematurely before a man's death. When he dies, it leaves a mystery as to why the claim was paid out and where the money went. The insurance company has other bigger problems when different groups try to get reparations for people insured during the Holocaust and American slavery. When the issues begin to involve her friend Lotty Herschel, the cases merge as one and a man claiming to be related to a mysterious Sofie Radbuka, whom Lottie knew once. Can VI figure out this man's identity and solve the insurance mystery before her friend gets hurt?
VI is still plucky and tenacious, but all the parts don't fit together in a compelling story in this book.
VI is still plucky and tenacious, but all the parts don't fit together in a compelling story in this book.
I really did not enjoy this book. Not that it isn't written well, but it just didn't grab my attention. There was not much in the story that you just couldn't wait to find out, nor did you really feel involved with any of the characters. Although I did finish the book, it was only out of a sense of not leaving something unfinished.
WOW! Easily the most detailed book she has written! The cast of characters includes Vic's usual friends, buddies and lovers, and then branches out from there into a very involved group of baddies & goodies. It's a long book which you won't read at one sitting, but stick with it 'cause the way it all comes together at the end is VERY surprising, even for Sara Paretsky!
It'll get you mad, it'll get you glad, but when it's finished, you'll say, "WOW", too!
It'll get you mad, it'll get you glad, but when it's finished, you'll say, "WOW", too!
Pretty good read, but a bit predictable
Interesting storyline involving V.I.'s friends Lottie and Max. Another great mystery from Sara Paretsky.
Lotty's story. This book goes back and forth in time, but the subject matter (Kinder Transport, Holocaust survivors) is not cheery. On the upside, VI doesn't get the crap kicked out of her in this book as she does in most of the other books.
12th in the V.I. Warshawski series. Great read. Character of Lotty Herschel is really revealed.
A V. I. Warshawski mystery
Too much detail on the streets and neighborhoods of Chicago but a good story!
Paretsky's mysteries with V.I. Warshawski are always great.
The V.I. Warshawski series was a ground-breaker, in terms of introducing a woman "hard-boiled" detective. This was an excellent read.
In this 11th VI Warsahwski book, Vic investigates a life insurance claim that was paid out prematurely before a man's death. When he dies, it leaves a mystery as to why the claim was paid out and where the money went. The insurance company has other bigger problems when different groups try to get reparations for people insured during the Holocaust and American slavery. When the issues begin to involve her friend Lotty Herschel, the cases merge as one and a man claiming to be related to a mysterious Sofie Radbuka, whom Lottie knew once. Can VI figure out this man's identity and solve the insurance mystery before her friend gets hurt?
VI is still plucky and tenacious, but all the parts don't fit together in a compelling story in this book.
VI is still plucky and tenacious, but all the parts don't fit together in a compelling story in this book.
10 in series
