Bitter Medicine (V. I. Warshawski Series #4)

by Sara Paretsky

Overview

Private eye V.I. Warshawski finds herself up against rampant corruption in Chicago’s hospitals in the fourth novel in Sara Paretsky’s New York Times bestselling series.

Young, diabetic, and pregnant, Consuelo Alvarado is lucky to have a mentor in V.I. Warshawski. But not even V.I. can help when Consuelo goes into premature labor in a remote suburb; mother and baby both die in the nearby hospital. When a young resident starts raising questions about Consuelo’s treatment, what seemed like a tragic accident turns into something far more disturbing. What connection could the hospital have with Chicago’s street gangs? What heavy secret is the hospital’s neonatologist carrying? The questions the detective asks cut to the heart of everything that is troubling about the practice of medicine in America. Can V.I. sort out the answers before she herself ends up in the hospital morgue?

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780063092648
Publisher:	HarperCollins
Publication date:	08/17/2021
Series:	V. I. Warshawski Series , #4
Pages:	336
Product dimensions:	7.90(w) x 5.20(h) x 0.90(d)

About the Author

Hailed by the Washington Post as “the definition of perfection in the genre,” Sara Paretsky is the New York Times bestselling author of numerous novels, including the renowned V.I. Warshawski series. She is one of only four living writers to have received both the Grand Master Award from the Mystery Writers of America and the Cartier Diamond Dagger from the Crime Writers Association of Great Britain. She lives in Chicago.

Hometown:

Chicago, Illinois

Date of Birth:

June 8, 1947

Place of Birth:

Ames, Iowa

Education:

B.A., Political Science, University of Kansas; Ph.D. and M.B.A., University of Chicago

Website:

http://saraparetsky.com/

Read an Excerpt

Carol Alvarado responded with the unnatural calm crisis produces in some people. Lotty was in surgery at Beth Israel; Carol would call the obstetrics department there and find out what hospital I should take her sister to. She knew where I was--she had been there several times visiting Hector. She put me on hold.

I stood, the phone damp in my hand, my armpits wet, legs trembling, fighting back the impulse to scream with impatience. My flabby-chinned companion watched me covertly while shuffling her paper. I took diaphragm breaths to steady myself and concentrated on a mental run-through of "Un bel dì." By the time Carol returned to the line I was breathing more or less normally and could focus on what she was saying.

"There's a hospital somewhere close to you called Friendship Five. Dr. Hatcher at Beth Israel said it's supposed to have a Level Three neonatal center. Get her there. We're sending out Malcolm Tregiere to help. I'll try to get Mama, try to close the clinic and get out as soon as I can."

Malcolm Tregiere was Lotty's associate. Last year Lotty had reluctantly agreed to resume part time the perinatal practice at Beth Israel that had made her famous. If you're going in for obstetrics, even half time, someone has to cover for you. For the first time since opening the clinic, Lotty had taken on an associate. Malcolm Tregiere, board-certified in obstetrics, was completing a fellowship in perinatology. He shared her views on medicine and had her quick intuitive way with people.

I felt a measure of relief as I hung up and turned to flabby-chins. She was agog watching me. Yes, she knew where Friendship was--Canary and Bidwell sent all theiraccident cases there. Two miles up the road, a couple of turns, you couldn't miss it.

"Can you call ahead and tell them we're coming? Tell them it's a young girl--diabetes--labor."

Now that the crisis had penetrated, she was eager to help, glad to call.

I sprinted back to Consuelo, who lay on the grass under a sapling, breathing shallowly. I knelt beside her and touched her face. The skin was cold and heavy with sweat. She didn't open her eyes, but mumbled in Spanish. I couldn't hear what she said, except she thought she was talking to her mother.

"Yeah, I'm here, baby. You're not alone. We'll do this together. Come on, sweetheart, come on, hold on, hold on."

I felt as though I were suffocating, my breasts bending inward and pushing against my heart. "Hang on, Consuelo. Don't die out here."

Somehow I got her to her feet. Half carrying her, half guiding her, I staggered the hundred yards or so to the car. I was terrified she might faint. Once in the car I think she did lose consciousness, but I put all my energy into following the dispatcher's hasty directions. On up the road we'd come by, second left, next right. The hospital, slung low to the ground like a giant starfish, lay in front of me. I slammed the car against a curb by the emergency entrance. Flabby-chins had done her part. By the time I had my door open, practiced hands had pulled Consuelo easily from the car onto a wheeled stretcher.

"She's got diabetes," I told the attendant. "She just finished her twenty-eighth week. That's about all I can tell you. Her doctor in Chicago is sending out someone who knows her case."

Steel doors hissed open on pneumatic slides; the attendants raced the gurney through. I followed slowly, watching until the long hallway swallowed the cart. If Consuelo could hold on to the tubes and pumps until Malcolm got there, it would be all right.

I kept repeating that to myself as I wandered in the direction taken by Consuelo's gurney. I came to a nurse's station a mile or so down the hall. Two starch-capped young white women were carrying on an intense, low-pitched conversation. Judging from a smothered burst of laughter, I didn't think it had anything to do with patient treatment.

"Excuse me. I'm V.I. Warshawski--I came in with the obstetrical emergency a few minutes ago. Who can I talk to about her?"

One of the women said she was going to check on "number 108." The other felt her cap to make sure her identity was still intact and put on her medical smile--blank yet patronizing.

"I'm afraid we don't have any information about her yet. Are you her mother?"

Mother? I thought, momentarily outraged. But to these young women I probably looked old enough to be a grandmother. "No--family friend. Her doctor will be here in about an hour. Malcolm Tregiere--he's part of Lotty Herschel's team--you want to let the emergency room staff know?" I wondered if Lotty, world-famous, would be known in Schaumburg.

"I'll get someone to tell them as soon as we have a nurse free." A perfect Ipana smile flashed meaninglessly at me. "In the meantime, why don't you go to the waiting room at the end of the hall? We prefer people off the floor until visiting hours start."

I blinked a few times--what relevance did that have to getting information about Consuelo? But it was probably better to save my fighting energy for a real battle. I retraced my steps and found the waiting room.

Editorial Reviews

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

“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 on Dead Land

“Sara Paretsky is a legend . . . If you haven’t read her yet, now is the time.” — Harlan Coben

“Considerable pleasure comes from following the legendary heroine through an impenetrable maze of felonies knowing that you’re in a master’s hands.” — Kirkus Reviews

“An author of matchless intelligence, craft, and power. This is why Sara Paretsky reigns as one of the all-time greats.” — Karin Slaughter

“ 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

“Paretsky is the gold standard for novels dealing with crime and its consequences.” — Charlaine Harris

“V.I. Warshawski is one of my all-time favorite investigators. Doesn’t get any better than this!” — Lisa Gardner

“The most remarkable of the moderns is Sara Paretsky. . . . No other crime writer has so powerfully and effectively combined a well-crafted detective story with the novel of social realism.” — P.D. James

“Sara Paretsky’s legendary P.I. is at the top of her game.” — Tess Gerritsen

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

“Undoubtedly one of the best-written characters in mystery fiction. ” — Baltimore Sun

“As long as Paretsky’s hotheaded, quick-witted sleuth is on the job, imperiled young women . . . will always have a champion.” — New York Times Book Review

"Sara Paretsky’s gloriously kick-ass private eye, V.I. “Vic” Warshawski, is . . .  the definition of perfection in the genre." — The Washington Post

"Sara Paretsky’s swift and superb books starring V.I. Warshawski, her tough and deeply principled Chicago private eye . . . [are] always passionate about social issues."
— The Seattle Times

"Warshawski’s spirit and strength still shine." — Publishers Weekly

From the Publisher

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

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 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

An author of matchless intelligence, craft, and power. This is why Sara Paretsky reigns as one of the all-time greats.

Karin Slaughter

Paretsky is the gold standard for novels dealing with crime and its consequences.

Charlaine Harris

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 is a legend . . . If you haven’t read her yet, now is the time.

Harlan Coben

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

"Sara Paretsky’s gloriously kick-ass private eye, V.I. “Vic” Warshawski, is . . .  the definition of perfection in the genre."

The Washington Post

Sara Paretsky’s legendary P.I. is at the top of her game.

Tess Gerritsen

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

New York Times Book Review

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

|Los Angeles Times

V.I. Warshawski is one of my all-time favorite investigators. Doesn’t get any better than this!

Lisa Gardner

"Sara Paretsky’s swift and superb books starring V.I. Warshawski, her tough and deeply principled Chicago private eye . . . [are] always passionate about social issues."

The Seattle Times

Undoubtedly one of the best-written characters in mystery fiction.

Baltimore Sun

The most remarkable of the moderns is Sara Paretsky. . . . No other crime writer has so powerfully and effectively combined a well-crafted detective story with the novel of social realism.

P. D. James

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

Los Angeles Times

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."
%COMM_CONTRIB%The Washington Post 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.”

null C.J. Box on Dead Land

V. I. Warshawski is a female version of the hard-boiled private eye. Victoria doesn’t show emotion or fear — at least on the outside. This new case has struck a little too close to home for her tastes....The characters are engrossing; the plot is convoluted but convincing; and the ending is justified. It is all a matter of whether the reader can become a follower of V. I. Warshawski.
— The Mystery Reader Online

Kay Black