Rating: 
Summary: Disappointing for a true fan
Review: Let me preface my remarks by saying I have read every V.I. Warshawski novel, and overall I have greatly enjoyed the series, the character's development throughout the different books, and Paretsky's clean writing style. Total Recall was not one of Paretsky's best, as far as I'm concerned. The plotting was hectic, muddled, and circular, rather proceeding tautly in a straight line like many of her other books do. Two of the characters do not ring true to me at all - Paretsky does not give the reader enough information to explain truly why and how the Paul character and the wealthy European characters do what they do. This is too bad, as Paretsky usually does an excellent and thorough job of characterization. As a fan, I'm happy I read this book so I'll know how things stand with V.I. on her next outing, but as a reader, I was left with frustration and a bad taste in my mouth. Also, as a therapist, I was not happy with the portrayal of the therapist character. Being in the mental health business is hard enough, and we need more positive, realistic literary versions of our profession to be put before the public.
Rating: 
Summary: Series builds up a fresh head of steam
Review: Of the triumvirate of not so ladylike lady gumshoes who frequent the best seller lists, V.I. Warshawski is the clear standout. Neither as histrionic as Kay Scarpetta has come to be, nor as cartoonish as Kinsey Milhone can become on off days, V. I. has flaws (chiefly a propensity for suffering fools all too testily) and virtues (chiefly a reliable but restrained adult capacity for empathy) which are life sized. So are the villains she finds and foils, from the boardrooms and back streets of the real world, not a one of them in competition for the crown of a Jason or a Manson. These are detective stories for grownups, more in the world-weary tradition of Lew Archer than the bust-em-up school of Travis McGee.This outing is particularly gripping, probably the series' best since Burn Marks. If you're not already initiated into the pleasures of Paretsky, you don't want to start here. Although it's self contained, you'll enjoy this book more if you already know and admire V.I.'s friend Lotty Herschel from previous volumes. This is the book in which the air of secrecy and trauma hovering over Lotty from the time of the Holocaust is finally put on center stage and explained. Along the way, you'll be treated to a set of interlocking puzzles that keep our heroine bouncing kinetically from one twist to the next; you'll tangle, without resolution, with some of the contentious issues surrounding recovered memory. And you'll meet with Paul Radbuka, who is that rare bird in mystery stories, an unforgettably vivid character who is neither the villain nor the hero nor (exactly) a victim. (I'd like to award four and a half stars; I reserve five for books that lay claim to multiple rereadings.)
Rating:
Summary: Memory Fragments Glazed into a Colorful Plot Window!
Review: I would have graded this book at 3.5 stars, if I could, so I rounded to the even number above as my math teachers always taught me to do. Total Recall is built around the theme of how our current behavior is held prisoner by our perceptions of the past. Ms. Paretsky does a fine job of making it clear that we should keep our eyes open, look around, and exercise an open mind instead. The strength of this book is the way that many different story lines are intertwined in a way that keeps your attention and mostly make sense. Despite this successful plot design, I was disappointed that several promising themes were raised and not fully dealt with, such as "recovered" memory, what Holocaust survivors should and should not feel guilt about, and the need for proper management and regulation of insurance companies. I would have been glad to read another 100 pages of this fine work to explore more in these areas. The book's key weaknesses were in two areas: First, the characters are developed in ways that make them less strong and heroic than you probably have thought of them based on earlier V.I. Warshawski novels, particularly Lotty. Ms. Paretsky seems to have a jaundiced view of the moral strength and courage of her characters in this book except for Vic, which left me feeling a little down at the end. To me, the book's portrayal of the ongoing characters in this series seemed inauthentic in terms of the earlier novels. Second, the ultimate resolution of who the "bad guys" are and why they have been misbehaving didn't seem quite believable. I would have liked a better "rabbit out of the hat" to explain all of the contemporary wrong-doing. Overall, the book gains a rich glow of context from touching on children escaping the Holocaust that I thought allowed the book to transcend the usual mystery genre. Ms. Paretsky effectively uses Lotty as a narrator for parts of the book, which helps to give her story line a richer flavor. Vic is well portrayed in the book. She is her usual impatient, remorseless, and rule-bending self. You will enjoy her frustration with traffic, cell phones, and people who will not help her immediately. The story line of her relationship with Morrell is very delicately and interestingly done here. After you finish this book, I suggest that you think about where you could change your assumptions about who you are and what you are able to accomplish . . . for the better. Break the chains of beliefs that create self-confining habits. Then, act with the potential you hold within you!
Rating: 
Summary: Compelling and satisfying read
Review: This is my first reading of a Sara Paretsky novel. I was drawn to Total Recall not only by the Paretsky name, but by the Holocaust topic. Characterization and plot drive all novels, and are crucial in keeping our interest in a mystery. This is my first introduction to V. I. Warshawski, and I see what her fans are raving about. She is a strong determined detective in a man's world. She has a life outside of work, a journalist boyfriend, her friends Max and Lotty, her pet dogs who run her in circles, and she looks like a pretty good cook, not to mention that she speaks fluent Italian. She isn't perfect. She drives like a maniac, can display a temper if messed with, is known to sometimes break into buildings illegally, and admits she knows nothing about skiing, but her sense of integrity is always in the right place; she even tries to save a dangerous and delusional man's life at one point.
Lotty's character as a child of those who perished in the Holocaust, and revealed to us in stages through her diary is so believable that it gave me goose bumps. Making Lotty the narrator in part instead of Vic throughout the entire book really added psychological insight that might not have been achieved without her voice speaking to us, especially since she was so secretive about the war years and early post war years. Other characters, such as the haughty Bertrand Rossy and his wife Fillida, particularly depicted with V.I.'s insights at a dinner party, were entertaining and chilling at the same time. The list goes on. Finally, the plots - insurance fraud, the Chicago political machinery, recovery of Holocaust assets, as well as recovery of repressed memories are all hot and timely topics that dovetail surprisingly well, but keep you guessing as to how it's all going to play out. Bottom line - I plan to read more Paretsky and especially more V.I. Warshawski.
Rating:
Summary: A great mystery from one of the best
Review: As usual, Sara Paretsky's books are fabulous, and this is no exception. It was fascinating to learn more about her doctor-friend and about the things that happened to so many displaced children during and after WWII. You never go wrong with a Paretsky novel; this is some of her best work!
Rating:
Summary: Women Rock
Review: Sara Paretsky has once again written another good book. I always look forward to V.I.'s escapades. I've always been interested in the Holocaust and Paretsky portrayed a very personnel aspect of it. Warshawski is the tough/lovable woman detective that all of us would like to be like. She's savvy and resourceful and vunerable at the same time. I keep waiting for another movie to come out. Kathleen Turner is a wee bit too old to play V.I., but I'm sure there is someone out there who could fill her shoes. As long as it's not Uma Thurman or Angelie Jolie. Soooooo ugly, both of them.
Rating:
Summary: disappointing
Review: Generally I find sara paresky's V.I. Warheski novels very enjoyable. Unfortunately the novelist makes Lotty Hershel to much of a victim. I guess I liked the strong,dedicated character to the self pitying character I found in this book. Although I realize the author tries to let us know her past, I do not enjoy his foray into WWII meladrama. Also everybody is wrong but the little guy. Really Sara your only missing your attacks on the roman catholic church and the people who work in Chicago's steelworks. Hope you can back your writing about strong women in modern chicago.
Rating:
Summary: A Pleasant Surprise
Review: I read some of the Amazon reviews before reading this book and I wasn't expecting much. Sara Paretsky's characters and plots are a little hard to decipher at times. However, I was very pleasantly surprised by TOTAL RECALL. The plotting was interesting and integrated and held my attention well. The characters were a mix of old familiar people like Max and Lotty and new ones such as Paul Radbuka. Paretsky handled the characters well even through she did a lot of skipping around between plots and subplots. V.I. Warshawski is a "real pip" of a main character who always has a dozen things going on. In this novel she is verbally assaulted and professionally abused by friend and foe alike. Even Max's young granddaughter, Calia, gets down on "Aunt Victory". Nothing she does pleases anyone, but she keeps plugging along, tying threads together until things make sense. Paretsky uses Chicago as her setting and really manages to paint a very believable picture of the town. TOTAL RECALL is a solid combination of place, people and plot that entertains the readers and can be recommended with confidence.
Rating: 
Summary: Disappointing
Review: This story was by no means a mystery . How V.I. keeps being a friend to Lotty IS a mystery . Now that her past has been revealed , maybe she can stop being so nasty to everyone .
I had looked forward to this book ; am glad I got it at the library and didn't waste the money .
Rating:
Summary: Masterful Detective Story; Really Good Novel
Review: I enjoyed this book from start to finish, couldn't put it down, didn't want it to end. Why can't I give it 10 stars? V.I. Warshawski has become a mature woman with a realistic lovelife and real friends. It was a pleasure to spend time with her (although I'm worried she's going to starve to death; she never seems to eat anything). The complex insurance and "recovered memory" scam she is "detecting" was interesting and I never doubted any of it. Plenty of blood, gore, action and surprises. As usual I enjoyed the Chicago scenery, especially the occasional notes on the Cubs. The story of Lotty, finally revealed after all this time, makes perfect sense. I always wondered what her "problem" was, as no doubt did Paretsky. I think Paretsky handled it well, revealing it as if Lotty is telling her the story, which in the end it turns out, she is. Why do so many people think less of a book because it's a "mystery?" This is as good a novel as many pieces of "literature" I've read, and way better than some of those lyrical and tedious first novels reviewers go nuts over.
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