Rating: 
Summary: Paretsky's best
Review: Not only do I think "Hard Time" is the best of Sara Paretsky's novels, but I think this is the best mystery novel I've read in the past couple of years. Not to knock her previous novels, but some how this one seems to have taken her writing to a new level. Don't ask me to tell you why it's her best, though. Tighter plotting? Maybe -- but Paretsky could always tell a story. Deeper characters? Again, maybe. But they're the same crew of good guys she's always used. Perhaps it was the criminals -- there are many in this story -- and they are much darker and much more realistic than the villains of her previous novels. Or perhaps it was just the rawness of story that coolly describes the ways the powerless abused by the powerful. Anyway, I just put down "Hard Time", and I still haven't put my finger on why I think it's so good -- however, I would have given this novel six stars, but five is the maximum allowed by amazonian law.
Rating:
Summary: Once More with Feeling
Review: Once more Ms. Paretsky has given us a book peopled with characters that we can feel about. There are those who we can love, hate, feel sorry for. The story is great and is told in such a way that I did not want to put the book down. I wanted to keep reading to know what would happen to V. I. and the other characters.Beyond the story and characters is a tale that should raise the social consciousnous of the readers. Hopefully all prisons are not like Coolis...but I do wonder how much of this kind of thing might be going on and wonder what I could do to help if it is. All and all, a first rate novel. I worried that we might never read about V. I. again, but am glad that Ms. Paretsky took her time and came out with a great novel...instead of trying to come up with any old thing just to have a book to publish each year. I hope there is another V. I. book in the future...I will be waiting.
Rating: 
Summary: In the mostly great VI series, this sticks out as a stinker
Review: Our heroine must be suffering from depression. Paretsky has replaced our witty fun detective with a morose whiny dud who takes herself way to seriously. Add to that a plot that is too hokey and characters that just aren't believable and you start to wonder if you're reading a VI book at all. I found the depiction of the womans prison painfully childish and the ending predictable and anticlimactic. I'd say borrow this book from the library if your a die hard fan and must read it but don't waste your money on buying it.
Rating:
Summary: Hard read
Review: Paretsky needs to let V.I. grow up. A character in a continuing series is interesting and believable only if allowed to mature and grow, i.e., learn from their experiences. Throughout the book V.I. reminds us her body is aging -- at least something is changing about her. I found the characterizations extreme and the plot predictable as well as melodramatic. Paretsky needs to choose another vehicle for a diatribe about prison issues.
Rating: 
Summary: a New England reader
Review: Please, Sara Paretsky, let VI grow up! While I enjoyed some parts of this book, I was ultimately bored by the unrelenting bitter tone of the narrative. VI's body has aged with the years but her mental attitude has not matured. Let her mature and mellow! In this book, all female prisoners are victims regardless of their crimes; all rich people are evil; all married women in the suburbs (even the helpful one) are bimbos. I am single, in my 40's and I've fought for liberal causes. Yet I could in no way relate to VI--though I did in my younger years. She is simply not believable anymore. I used to love this series-I will still read it just to see if VI ever grows up.
Rating: 
Summary: Like Revisiting and Old Friend
Review: Reading Paretsky is like going back to visit old friends. As this series progresses, I've noticed that the stories have become more socially relevant. I agree with other Amazon reviewers that V.I. taking so many physical risks in her 40's is getting just plain stupid, but Paretsky's writing and plotting is so good, it's hard to nit pick. One thing: I started reading this series years ago. V.I. ages, but Golden Retreiver Peppy must be about 20 years old by now. Similarly, Old Lottie and Mr. Contreras must be about 100. Nontheless, for fans of Sara Paretsky, her books are too few, and too far between. This is one of her best.
Rating:
Summary: Darker than most
Review: Sara Paretsky brings back her V.I Warshawski series, and little has changed. V.I. is still her feminist best, a complex character with a lot of anger toward others--much deserved, but not all--who finds relationships difficult. It's refreshing to have a main character who isn't totally likeable. I'd guess that V.I. represents a lot of the viewpoints Paretsky herself holds, especially given the plotting of her novels and the role of women in them. I've read the other Warshawski novels and this one is much the same; although I found the plot somewhat simpler than the earlier works--sometimes almost unbelievably so. This is the first Warshawski novel I've been ahead of V. I.--"why doesn't she see that?" isn't a good thing to think when reading a detective story. But even so, this book is more complex and darker in tone than most female detectives--and most male detectives, for that matter. Certainly Janet Evanovich and Sue Grafton (and Robert Parker!) are easier, snappier reads; but nowhere near as meaty. I really wish that the marketing departments would exercise more care on the book blurbs--I thought this one gave away far too much and ruined much of the suspense. Still, a worthy contribution to the series.
Rating:
Summary: Great Audio Book - Unabridged a Must
Review: Since I spend much of my time on the road due to commute and occupation I listen to audio books. This is a great one for on the road commuting. Couldn't wait to get in the car to listen.
It is the first of the V.I. Warshoawski books I have listened to and I plan to listen to any other unabridged versions. The ones that don't have unabridged versions will be read.
I did enjoy some insight into the prison life. I don't think I would like much more then was given. No one likes a lot of real life horrors. I also enjoyed the fact that this was a woman over 40 who could be a hero in her own way.
The performance given was great.
Rating:
Summary: Hard... to stop reading
Review: Starting the V.I. Warshawski Series from the last entry has been very interesting. My first contact with Vic was that strange but effective mixture of hardboiled mystery with World War Literary Drama.
On that matter HARD TIME is very different. For instance it focuses only in Warshawski investigating an apparently no-brainer hit and run death.
Paretski manages to write a very compelling novel, where many storylines collide into one big conspiracy (a bit far-fetched one may say) buy thrilling enough to keep me awake long hours to reach the end.
HARD TIME is far from perfect, it keeps emphazising certain "clues" that have very predictable outcomes (that folder badly labeled, those unbelievable cameras, Mr. Contreras' imprudence, etc). But nevertheless it manages to seduce you by pure force of Vic's well written personality.
At the end I feel it is a fuller and more rewarding novel than the average mystery. I'll keep reading Paretski.
Rating:
Summary: As good as ever
Review: This is a good read in the Paretsky/VI tradition: plenty of pace, readable, and gripping. The author has lost none of her touch, and the characters, not least VI herself, come across as very real. To take one example, VI has to earn a living, and so we get a detour to Georgia. Also, the prison scenes are vivid and well drawn, if very disturbing. Note the emergence of the "wise priest" figure at the end: and VI becoming a regular attender at mass. Are we to expect a Chesterton/Graham Greene/Piers Paul Reid type of scenario in future?
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