Rating: 
Summary: Paretsky doesn't slip...
Review: A sweeping mystery that shows off the true power of Chicago money, power, and politics. From V.I.'s apartment to a modernized prison to the fashionable upscale neighborhoods, each new location is brought to vivid detail. In this book, you really wonder who the true victim is? Nicole Aguilando? Robbie? V.I.? All of the above?It starts off simple enough. V.I. is invited to a party featuring the latest action film queen. At the party, she is approached by a childhood friend of the superstar who has more than a few questions on his mind. It sounds simple to start off....right? But, when Victoria Iphigenia Warshawski heads home, she finds Nicole Aguilando lying in the street, badly beaten and clinging to life, her entire world is turned upside down. To top it off, she is wearing a shirt with the action queen's image on the front. Nicole was in prison for stealing a valuable necklace from her employer. Who was her employer? W.I.'s direct competition -- the president of Carnifice Security. Nicole succumbs to her injuries but that doesn't answer how she got out of prison in the first place. Enter a slimy Chicago cop who wants nothing more than to pin something (ANYTHING) on V.I. to put her away. With more twists and turns than you can imagine, V.I. befriends the son of her opponent and even goes to jail for protecting him. It's there she learns about the new jail system and what power and money (and a little political greasing) can accomplish. A highly recommendable action packed read.
Rating:
Summary: Paretsky doesn't slip...
Review: A sweeping mystery that shows off the true power of Chicago money, power, and politics. From V.I.'s apartment to a modernized prison to the fashionable upscale neighborhoods, each new location is brought to vivid detail. In this book, you really wonder who the true victim is? Nicole Aguilando? Robbie? V.I.? All of the above? It starts off simple enough. V.I. is invited to a party featuring the latest action film queen. At the party, she is approached by a childhood friend of the superstar who has more than a few questions on his mind. It sounds simple to start off....right? But, when Victoria Iphigenia Warshawski heads home, she finds Nicole Aguilando lying in the street, badly beaten and clinging to life, her entire world is turned upside down. To top it off, she is wearing a shirt with the action queen's image on the front. Nicole was in prison for stealing a valuable necklace from her employer. Who was her employer? W.I.'s direct competition -- the president of Carnifice Security. Nicole succumbs to her injuries but that doesn't answer how she got out of prison in the first place. Enter a slimy Chicago cop who wants nothing more than to pin something (ANYTHING) on V.I. to put her away. With more twists and turns than you can imagine, V.I. befriends the son of her opponent and even goes to jail for protecting him. It's there she learns about the new jail system and what power and money (and a little political greasing) can accomplish. A highly recommendable action packed read.
Rating:
Summary: It s good to have VI back
Review: After celebrating her friend landing a prestigious television job, V.I. Warshawski heads home. However, her drive proves very eventful as V.I. runs into a fireplug to avoid hitting a battered female lying prone in the street. The medics take Nicola Aguinaldo to a nearby hospital, but she dies anyway. The police initially behave nastily towards V.I. for no apparent reason. By the next day, the Chicago police try to tie the dead person to V.I. Apparently, Nicola escaped from a prison where she was held for stealing jewelry from the spouse of security mogul B.B. Baladine. V.I. is soon arrested and placed in jail. Still, not even a stay in prison keeps V.I. from investigating why Nicola was beaten to death and why she herself has been locked away on bogus charges. After being away for several years, the return of V.I. Warshawski is a thing for fans of female private investigators to celebrate. The story line matches the elation as the tale is filled with emotion, angst, and tattered friendships. The support cast is wonderful and V.I. is at the top of her top form. This may be the best tale in Sara Paretsky's long running series. Harriet Klausner
Rating: 
Summary: Older, though not wiser
Review: Although Paretsky has allowed VI to age, she definitely hasn't allowed her to mature. Her insistence on taking on matters when it's unwise to do so makes you wonder just how smart a private detective she actually as is. As well, I was getting tired of the constant beatings VI took throughout the story. I liked the story nevertheless and was surprised at Jean Smart's ability to take on different accents and attitudes as she brought the characters to life.
Rating:
Summary: Jean Smart Does Credit to Great Story
Review: As a devotee to unabridged audio editions of my favorite authors, the choice of who reads their books is critically important. Jean Smart, who reads Paretsky's latest book HARD TIME,could not be a more perfect match. She captures the nuances of each character, but especially of the 40+ Warshawsky. The story addresses Vic's increasing physical limitations as she ages, though at the same time, it gives other 40-and-older females a cause for rejoicing -- Vic is still a force to be reckoned with. The most meaningful outcome of this story is that, using the bounds of popular mystery fiction writing, Paretsky has exposed to millions of readers the savage inequalities of the prison system toward its women prisoners. The book is her best so far.
Rating:
Summary: V.I. Warshawski's Impressive Comeback
Review: Being a mystery writer with my first book in its initial release, I fondly recall reading Sara Paretsky's V.I. Warshawski series to see how a star of crime fiction developed one of the top mystery series of our time. Then, V.I. vanished. After approximately five years, Paretsky has written a fresh V.I Warshawski mystery, and HARD TIME is as impressive as her earlier works. V.I. and her supporting cast have aged, and Murray has switched from print to television journalism. Murray's career evolution indirectly lands V.I. at a celebrity party that launches this adventure. There is an automobile accident, police abuse of power, corporate corruption, and V.I. standing up to the powers that be. She lands in prison, and our dog-loving detective uses that opportunity to expose more crimes. HARD TIME is a fabulous book, capturing Chicago and its environs in a way few other authors do. I'm thrilled V.I. has returned to the literary scene.
Rating:
Summary: She's at it again.
Review: Finding a near dead woman in the street sets our altruistic, idealistic detective off on a trail which sees her left for dead in the same way. Why does she do it?? Because she's V I Warshawski and she cannot give up. I have to agree with some reviewers that the ultimate cause of her troubles was flagged fairly early in the novel but it didn't detract from it for me, as the value was in the unfolding of the plot twists and the characterisation of Vic and her cohort. Like Vic herself, once embroiled, I had to keep going. It was a nice touch to make a few literary nods, to Dante for example. This and the various touches of political commentary are what take Paretsky's novels out of the realm of the ordinary hard-boiled detective story - in fact, she has Vic wryly comment on how she's not exactly an action hero from that genre. The author she most brings to mind for me is Carl Hiaasen. I do wonder at some things. Too many of her characters seem to be all good - Morrell, Contreras, Father Lou - or all bad - Baladine and Lemour. Occasionally the writing got a little pedestrian, as if Paretsky had to take a breather after an extended action piece and the several recaps of where Vic had got to were not needed at all.
Rating:
Summary: She's at it again.
Review: Finding a near dead woman in the street sets our altruistic, idealistic detective off on a trail which sees her left for dead in the same way. Why does she do it?? Because she's V I Warshawski and she cannot give up. I have to agree with some reviewers that the ultimate cause of her troubles was flagged fairly early in the novel but it didn't detract from it for me, as the value was in the unfolding of the plot twists and the characterisation of Vic and her cohort. Like Vic herself, once embroiled, I had to keep going. It was a nice touch to make a few literary nods, to Dante for example. This and the various touches of political commentary are what take Paretsky's novels out of the realm of the ordinary hard-boiled detective story - in fact, she has Vic wryly comment on how she's not exactly an action hero from that genre. The author she most brings to mind for me is Carl Hiaasen. I do wonder at some things. Too many of her characters seem to be all good - Morrell, Contreras, Father Lou - or all bad - Baladine and Lemour. Occasionally the writing got a little pedestrian, as if Paretsky had to take a breather after an extended action piece and the several recaps of where Vic had got to were not needed at all.
Rating:
Summary: Paretsky bounces back
Review: For those who have followed V.I. Warshawsky over the years, this is one of the best of the series. If you have never read one, this is as good a place to start as any. Paretsky writes a great mystery, and brings Chicago's neighborhoods to life.
Rating:
Summary: Good dogs ,smart women, and good detecting
Review: Having enjoyed most of the V.I. Warshawski stories I looked forward to this long awaited novel.I couldn't put this book down and lost most of a night's sleep.This reader identified with the angst of aging,desertion of friends when needed most, and the companionship of two great dogs.The P.I.comes across a body in the road,and subsequently all sorts of strange things happen to her. She is harrassed by the police,deserted by her assistant,framed, and eventually meets someone to help her.This is quite an adventure;some of the jail scenes are out of the believable range. I found this one of the best reads this year. I thought that some of the excessive feminism of earlier novels had disappeared. Now V.I. express insecurities and doubts,strengths and weaknesses,loss and gain. A very good story with plenty of action.
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