Narrator Susan Ericksen is pitch-perfect as private investigator V.I Warshawski, who is intelligent, driven, and compassionate. Paretsky's latest addresses a wide range of compelling themes—the consequences of gun violence, corruption, environmental protection, mental health, and more. When Vic finds herself in the middle of a corrupt land deal, she also becomes part of numerous other mysteries involving a famous songwriter now homeless, a questionable prison suicide, and underhanded acts by a local law firm and local politicians. Ericksen provides perfect pacing and description as the plot thickens and a wide range of supporting characters and locations are introduced. As Vic works to unravel it all, she will have to keep herself alive to protect those she loves and find the answers she seeks. K.S.M. © AudioFile 2020, Portland, Maine

Shady politicians, greedy public servants and rapacious property developers are no match for V. I. Warshawski…Yes, the plot is as sprawling as it sounds, but trust the author to pull it all together, its many threads wrapped up neatly in a great big bow. Paretsky is justly praised for referencing vital social issues in her mysteries, but here we also get a taste of her flair for creating offbeat but believable characters.

02/10/2020

In MWA Grand Master Paretsky’s solid 21st V.I. Warshawski novel (after 2018’s Shell Game), Warshawski’s goddaughter, Bernadine “Bernie” Fouchard, persuades her to attend a meeting of the South Lakefront Improvement Council (SLICK), a Chicago community group. On the group’s agenda is the Chicago Parks District’s plan to fill in part of the lake to create a beach. The meeting erupts in protest, led by the mysterious Coop. Later, Warshawski and Bernie seek to help Lydia Zamir, a former famous singer-songwriter now living on the streets and suffering from the aftershock of the murder of her lover, Hector Palurdo, in a mass shooting. Warshawski looks into who killed Hector while also investigating the actions of SLICK after two of its speakers are murdered. Could Coop be involved? Warshawski knows well the shady politics that drive Chicago and the city’s “pay for play” policies, but she wasn’t expecting to uncover a conspiracy that reaches into South America. Never mind that the plot occasionally becomes mired in repetitious action. Warshawski’s spirit and strength still shine. Agent: Dominick Abel, Dominick Abel Literary. (Apr.)

A proper hero for these times . . . To us, V.I. is perfect. . . . Paretsky is justly praised for referencing vital social issues in her mysteries, but here we also get a taste of her flair for creating offbeat but believable characters.” — The New York Times Book Review on Dead Land

"Sara Paretsky’s gloriously kick-ass private eye, V.I. “Vic” Warshawski, is back for the 20th time in a political-rot thriller that’s the definition of perfection in the genre. . . .  The novel’s robustly flavorsome cast of characters includes a semi-deranged land preservationist, a corrupt Nobel Prize winner, a Chilean Ayn Rand disciple and several wonderful dogs." — The Washington Post on Dead Land

"Dead Land is the latest of Sara Paretsky’s swift and superb books starring V.I. Warshawski, her tough and deeply principled Chicago private eye. Always passionate about social issues, V.I. becomes enmeshed with a community action group."
— The Seattle Times on Dead Land

“As usual, Paretsky is less interested in identifying whodunit than in uncovering a monstrous web of evil, and this web is one of her densest and most finely woven ever. So fierce, ambitious, and far-reaching that it makes most other mysteries seem like so many petit fours.” — Kirkus Reviews on Dead Land

"[A] series bar-raiser . . . A high point in Paretsky’s long-running and much-loved series." — Booklist (starred review) on Dead Land

“Enjoy the fun of solving the mystery and rooting for Warshawski to bring down the bad guys. . . . [Dead Land] will please fans of the series and readers who enjoy tough women PIs.” — Library Journal on Dead Land

“Legendary V.I. Warshawski is as dogged and ferocious as ever. So is Sara Paretsky, who is at the top of her crime novel game.” — C.J. Box

“Among today’s P.I.’s, nobody comes close to Warshawski.” — Publishers Weekly

“Wonderful company and a rich discovery awaiting those who have yet to meet [Warshawski]. ” — Los Angeles Times

“ V.I. Warshawski [is] a sleuth to rival the greats, from Sam Spade and Nero Wolfe to Harry Bosch and Stephanie Plum.” — A.J. Finn, #1 New York Times bestselling author

"[A] series bar-raiser . . . A high point in Paretsky’s long-running and much-loved series."

Wonderful company and a rich discovery awaiting those who have yet to meet [Warshawski].

Legendary V.I. Warshawski is as dogged and ferocious as ever. So is Sara Paretsky, who is at the top of her crime novel game.

"Dead Land is the latest of Sara Paretsky’s swift and superb books starring V.I. Warshawski, her tough and deeply principled Chicago private eye. Always passionate about social issues, V.I. becomes enmeshed with a community action group."

V.I. Warshawski [is] a sleuth to rival the greats, from Sam Spade and Nero Wolfe to Harry Bosch and Stephanie Plum.

"Sara Paretsky’s gloriously kick-ass private eye, V.I. “Vic” Warshawski, is back for the 20th time in a political-rot thriller that’s the definition of perfection in the genre. . . .  The novel’s robustly flavorsome cast of characters includes a semi-deranged land preservationist, a corrupt Nobel Prize winner, a Chilean Ayn Rand disciple and several wonderful dogs."

A proper hero for these times . . . To us, V.I. is perfect. . . . Paretsky is justly praised for referencing vital social issues in her mysteries, but here we also get a taste of her flair for creating offbeat but believable characters.

Wonderful company and a rich discovery awaiting those who have yet to meet [Warshawski].

 “A proper hero for these times . . . To us, V.I. is perfect. . . . Paretsky is justly praised for referencing vital social issues in her mysteries, but here we also get a taste of her flair for creating offbeat but believable characters.

"Sara Paretsky’s gloriously kick-ass private eye, V.I. “Vic” Warshawski, is back for the 20th time in a political-rot thriller that’s the definition of perfection in the genre. . . .  The novel’s robustly flavorsome cast of characters includes a semi-deranged land preservationist, a corrupt Nobel Prize winner, a Chilean Ayn Rand disciple and several wonderful dogs."

"[A] series bar-raiser . . . A high point in Paretsky’s long-running and much-loved series."

"Dead Land is the latest of Sara Paretsky’s swift and superb books starring V.I. Warshawski, her tough and deeply principled Chicago private eye. Always passionate about social issues, V.I. becomes enmeshed with a community action group."

"Dead Land is the latest of Sara Paretsky’s swift and superb books starring V.I. Warshawski, her tough and deeply principled Chicago private eye. Always passionate about social issues, V.I. becomes enmeshed with a community action group."

"[A] series bar-raiser . . . A high point in Paretsky’s long-running and much-loved series."

 “A proper hero for these times . . . To us, V.I. is perfect.

"Sara Paretsky’s gloriously kick-ass private eye, V.I. “Vic” Warshawski, is back for the 20th time in a political-rot thriller that’s the definition of perfection in the genre. . . .  The novel’s robustly flavorsome cast of characters includes a semi-deranged land preservationist, a corrupt Nobel Prize winner, a Chilean Ayn Rand disciple and several wonderful dogs."

As long as Paretsky’s hotheaded, quick-witted sleuth is on the job, imperiled young women . . . will always have a champion.

04/01/2020

Chicago detective V.I. Warshawski returns in the 20th installment of Paretsky's long-running mystery series (after Shell Game). After attending a contentious meeting on possible changes to the South Chicago lakefront, Warshawski gets involved in a murder investigation that links her goddaughter Bernie and an angry professional protestor. Soon, the good detective is knee deep in a quagmire of political corruption, social injustice, and the disappearance of an award-winning singer-songwriter. Paretsky packs a lot into each new adventure and though this installment is a multilayered story, it moves at a swift and poppy pace. There are times when Warshawski's escapades are a bit unbelievable—the trap she sets for the antagonists is highly implausible—but new readers should not look for logic; they should enjoy the fun of solving the mystery and rooting for Warshawski to bring down the bad guys. VERDICT This enjoyable romp through political corruption and social injustice in Chicago will please fans of the V.I. Warshawski detective series and readers who enjoy tough women PIs. [See Prepub Alert, 9/23/19.]—Leah Huey, Dekalb P.L., IL

Narrator Susan Ericksen is pitch-perfect as private investigator V.I Warshawski, who is intelligent, driven, and compassionate. Paretsky's latest addresses a wide range of compelling themes—the consequences of gun violence, corruption, environmental protection, mental health, and more. When Vic finds herself in the middle of a corrupt land deal, she also becomes part of numerous other mysteries involving a famous songwriter now homeless, a questionable prison suicide, and underhanded acts by a local law firm and local politicians. Ericksen provides perfect pacing and description as the plot thickens and a wide range of supporting characters and locations are introduced. As Vic works to unravel it all, she will have to keep herself alive to protect those she loves and find the answers she seeks. K.S.M. © AudioFile 2020, Portland, Maine

2020-01-27
V.I. Warshawski’s search for a homeless woman with a fraught past leads her deep into a series of political conspiracies that stretch over generations and continents.

Bernadine Fouchard, V.I.’s goddaughter, thinks that Lydia Zamir, whose songs about strong women she reveres, was shot dead along with her lover, Hector Palurdo, at a Kansas fundraiser four years ago. She’s only half right. The 17 victims ranch hand Arthur Morton shot in Horsethief Canyon include Palurdo but not Zamir, whom V.I. and Bernie happen to hear banging out haunting tunes on a toy piano under a Chicago railroad viaduct. But they glimpse her only momentarily before the traumatized musician flees and eventually disappears. Soon afterward, Bernie finds herself in trouble when the young man she’s been dating—Leo Prinz, a summer employee of SLICK, the South Lakefront Improvement Council—is murdered and she becomes a person of considerable interest to Sgt. Lenora Pizzello. The search for Lydia Zamir morphs into an investigation of her relationship with Palurdo, an activist against the Pinochet regime in Chile long before he was shot apparently at random. In the meantime, the disappearance of Simon Lensky, one of SLICK’s elected managers, throws a spotlight on the organization’s controversial proposal for a new landfill on the South Side. Everyone in the city seems to have strong opinions about the proposal, from Gifford Taggett, superintendent of the Chicago Park District, to Nobel Prize–winning economist Larry Nieland, to an inveterate protestor known only as Coop, who kicks off the story by vanishing after parking his dog with V.I., to her consternation and the ire of her neighbors and her own two dogs. As usual, Paretsky (Shell Game, 2018, etc.) is less interested in identifying whodunit than in uncovering a monstrous web of evil, and this web is one of her densest and most finely woven ever.

So fierce, ambitious, and far-reaching that it makes most other mysteries seem like so many petit fours.