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timna_wyckoff's review against another edition
3.0
Good book to read on a trip. I've been reading these for a LONG time. This didn't stand out, but was solid.
melissa_who_reads's review against another edition
4.0
Listened to this as an audiobook on my commute back and forth. Very good for listening to in traffic: holds one's attention, and on the days when traffic was light, I did have a bit of disappointment that I got home too fast. And I did sit in the parked car and listen to the end, because by that point I just wanted to hear the resolution. I did find that the narrator over-pronounced her "T's" to a distracting point ... but otherwise, it was a wonderful read.
VI responds to a call for help from her cousin, and finds herself drawn into a case (or cases) that are intertwined with numerous bad actors. But the "good" people in the story are definitely a mixed bag as well. The book flows from the antics of pre-teen girls in love with a series of books about vampires, to a Senate race and the forces of the right-wing hate machine, to both the wealthy and the poor, to a state mental institution - and a long-overlooked miscarriage of justice. Along the way, her mentally ill friend is thrown off the balcony at Rockefeller Chapel, and VI adds her own guilt to the impetus to solve the crime.
I did guess who did it before the end, and I yelled at her when she failed to follow up a clue early on - so relieved when she finally got around to remembering that bit.
It was an exciting story, but somewhat frustrating due to her own emotional entanglements blinding her to several of the pieces of the puzzle. And the end was a bit implausible. But it was exciting!
VI responds to a call for help from her cousin, and finds herself drawn into a case (or cases) that are intertwined with numerous bad actors. But the "good" people in the story are definitely a mixed bag as well. The book flows from the antics of pre-teen girls in love with a series of books about vampires, to a Senate race and the forces of the right-wing hate machine, to both the wealthy and the poor, to a state mental institution - and a long-overlooked miscarriage of justice. Along the way, her mentally ill friend is thrown off the balcony at Rockefeller Chapel, and VI adds her own guilt to the impetus to solve the crime.
I did guess who did it before the end, and I yelled at her when she failed to follow up a clue early on - so relieved when she finally got around to remembering that bit.
It was an exciting story, but somewhat frustrating due to her own emotional entanglements blinding her to several of the pieces of the puzzle. And the end was a bit implausible. But it was exciting!
leaphornlover's review
2.0
I could really get into Warshawski if the author developed other characters around her and fleshed out this main character. I listened to this as a CD in the car and there were 13 of them--longer than average. I found the plot a bit hard to believe in spots, but really liked Warshawski's bulldog nature. If she'd been a bit flawed or struggled with a few personal issues she'd be easier to embrace. It seemed the relationships she had with people with whom she worked were pretty tenuous--she's like the Lone Ranger. I prefer series more grounded in a cast of characters and a landscape that shapes the story a bit.
katemoxie's review against another edition
5.0
I love V.I. This was an incredible read. 50 pages from the end I still didn't have a clue which of the many suspects was guilty. The ending was a shocker.
lazwright's review
4.0
Gotta love a "shocking" ending - and to see a smarmy cable tv "news" star get his comeuppance!
lisanussd's review against another edition
4.0
Reading the other reviews, I would definitely agree that this was a politically charged book. I really like reading Paretsky's works, so it didn't detract too much from the enjoyment of book. At times, I was a little bothered by the black and white depiction of evil-conservatives and downtrodden/lovely -liberals. It was nice to finally finish it, my Dad accidentally left with the book when I only had 40 pages left, so I had to wait for him to send it to me. I will read her books as long as she continues to write them.
claudiafp's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.75
lottie_c's review against another edition
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
k_lee_reads_it's review against another edition
4.0
I can't remember why I didn't keep up reading this series. It is great. Vic is one tough PI and this story kept me reading.
nocto's review against another edition
5.0
A long time favourite series of mine. I am incapable of saying anything objective about it and have long since given up trying. So many of my other "favourite series" have gone off the rails in recent years that I am just thrilled that this one keeps giving me something good to read. I love VI and hope she carries on for many years to come.