Hardball (V. I. Warshawski Series #13)

Grand Return

I have long been a fan of Sara Paretsky's detective, V.I. Warshawski, a no-nonsense, hardboiled female P.I. And this novel was a grand return of this intriguing character. The mystery is set in the city of Chicago and harkens back to a murder during the Civil Rights movement in the 1960s.

The racial tensions of that period are almost palpable. Even a younger reader will feel the trauma of that painful time in our nation's history.
The mystery of the story is a crackling one and quite intricate. It seemed like an onion, with so many layers which needed to be peeled to find the truth at the core. It was also fascinating to read about Vic's childhood and her recollections of her father, a police officer, and her mother, a frustrated opera singer from Italy.

This book is quite long, at almost 400 pages. I found it to be a quick read, though, and I would have loved another 200 pages or so!

2 out of 2 people found this review helpful.

V.I. Returns

I'm so glad to have VI back. Ms. Paretsky is exploring new characters, and aspects of VI's family. VI's voice is still there, and I like the way characters are allowed to age and use current technology. Good book. I'm keeping it.

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

Another excellent read from Sara Paretsky . . .

It was so great to have the gift of another V.I. Warshawski novel that words can hardly describe my joy and delight in experiencing this tale! Sara Paretsky, you truly are a magnificient story teller . . your stories are so rich with detail, and alive with reality, so that not a word is wasted. A note to the author: you don't need to title each chapter like you did in this book (if you ever did this before I didn't notice, in my eagerness to get on with the story); your writing is good and clear enough that each chapter stands on its own and doesn't need the added distraction of a flippant title. I really needed this novel, at this time in my life, to bring up my spirits . . .this book will stay with me and keep me warm for days to come. My only regret is the long wait ahead for another installment in the V.I. Warshawski storyline. Thank you! Thank you!

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

A Reward For Perseverance

This one fooled me. I was ready to give it up after 60 or 70 pages as I just wasn't getting into it. There was only one review here, and that was about some other book than this one. So I re-read Marilyn Stasio's comments and stuck with it since Stasio hasn't let me down yet.
Sara Paretsky took her time building her story, and I liked that it features many women in heroic roles, but it finally started taking me in only with the depth of its characters, and the honesty of the storyline. By the finish I felt quite rewarded for having read an interesting tale of crime and corruption being battled yet again by decency and honor. So you can't always tell from the beginning that a writer is going to play Hardball with your views.

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

Recommend

These are all very good books. If you like mysteries these are some of the best.

Magnificent

I loved this book. Very well written, with alot of history of chicago in it, but entertaining history, not the kind that drags on that you wish you could skip. Definitely ready for another v.i. book

Warshawski is back!

This is like having an old friend return. Sometimes painful, always exciting. I love reading about Chicago and it's history. And, the old familiar characters are comfortable, and great to hear from again.
I can understand why Ms. Paretsky needs time to develop these stories! These are my favorite of all her books! I anxiously await the next V.I Warshawski book!

V.I. Warshawski Comes Through again

Once again I found myself wanting to be a fly on the wall while V.I. Warshawski goes into action. With her usual sense of humor and ability to acknowledge her weaknesses, Warshawski goes to bat for the little guy, in this case, her young cousin who, like a lot of young, naive idealists, want to change the world through politics.
While not a "thrill a minute" plot, something that Paretsky in not known for, her books give the reader a satisfaction that is all to rare these days.

Take time to read and savor this book, you will not go away hungry (except for more Warshawski stories).

One of the best.

I love VI and Sara Paretsky has given me another great story about her and her friends. The writing is top-notch and fast paced. The interweaving of current political and past crimes was perfect

Just Started...

Just started... have a load of books ahead of this one and a couple O just added...

0 out of 3 people found this review helpful.

She's Back

How nice to see VI Warshowski back in town and follow her on her latest adventure. The character is always interesting and I can relax with what seems like my "old" family that is always so well integrated into the books.

Capri with is vivid setting enhances a deep look at families that as a unit may not survive a tragedy

In spite of her wealth, heiress Lyra Nicholson is lonely while living on Capri, Italy. Her two teenage daughters, sixteen years old Pell and fourteen years old Lucy are almost as lonely as their mom while residing with their grandma in Newport, Rhode Island.

Lucy, a math prodigy, with the help of her best friend Beck tried to use equations to contact her late father, but failed (see Geometry of Sisters). Pell decides it is time to confront Lyra so she travels to Italy to demand her mother finally be a mom to them; having abandoned them years ago. Playwright Max Gardiner, who loves Lyra, encourages Pell to go for it while the older daughter is attracted to his nineteen years old Rafe, a recovering addict.

This profound sequel to GEOMETRY OF SISTERS focuses on the older sister (whereas the previous one centered on Lucy) who after a decade of separation has come to challenge her mom. Ironically when mother and daughter meet, the former seems like a young teen and the latter appears as the more mature fortyish parent. Capri with is vivid setting enhances a deep look at families that as a unit may not survive a tragedy, but the component members endure coping in their own ways.

Harriet Klausner

0 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

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