Rating: 
Summary: I'll Forgive Her But She Better Not Abandon VI Again!
Review: It's nice to finally have VI Warshawski back on the mystery scene. I'm sure it's a challenge for an author to stick with one genre year after year but VI had become such a central figure on the mystery scene that I was really angry with Paretsky for leaving her out of the picture for several years now. VI is in top form in Hard Time. Things have changed as we learn her relationship with Murray is much strained as a result of the takeover of the leading Chicago news outlets since her last book. Mr. Contreras is still looking out for her and VI is still getting herself into hot water with the local police. Yet, as usual, she prevails. A great return. Let's have more VI on a regular basis now that Paretsky has experimented with a couple of other writing genres for the past few years! VI reigns!
Rating: 
Summary: My first Paretsky novel and probably my last.
Review: It took me a third of the book to figure out it wasn't going to get any better but by that point I had to hang in there to find out how it would end. But getting to the end was so boring and tedious. I guess I just don't "get" this V.I. character. I found her to be abrasive and with a huge chip on her shoulder. How does this girl manage to maintain any friendships? And she kept getting herself into absolutely ridiculous situations--does she have a brain in her head? I found the whole plot difficult to believe and boring to boot. I think V.I. needs a new line of work, not only for herself but also for her friends sake.
Rating: 
Summary: SLOW TO START, BUT ENDS WITH A BANG.
Review: I could put this book down, and did several times. In fact I read two other books while I was reading this one, so I can't say that it kept my interest from the beginning. I couldn't quite understand a P.I. taking this much time and effort to work on a case she wouldn't be paid for. I also didn't quite buy the risks she took to solve the case. I must say that her portrayal of prison life was unnervingly accurate and I wish that more writers would tackle the subject of incarceration and the inhuman treatment of prisoners right here in the good ol' USA. Georgia is a prime example of the "company store", except that prisoners in Georgia are not even paid for their work. The powers that be don't even try to pass it off as rehabilitation. After all, how much demand is there on the street for people who can make three tier bunkbeds out of scrap iron. The ending was worth wading through the first half of the book, and I would recommend this book to readers that like mystery and crime stories. All I can say is - stick with it. The ending is worth it. Perhaps if I had read this author before I would have understood some of the beginning characters more. Give it a try.
Rating:
Summary: Excellent. Great to have V.I. back!
Review: I loved this book as I have all of the Paretsky books. Great characters, good mystery, not too much violence, etc. One negative comment - I noticed that the book suffered from using "CO's" (possessive) when they really meant "COs" (plural) and that drove me nuts! A small thing in an otherwise fascinating read. Hopefully they'll fix those typos on the next printing.
Rating:
Summary: Death Wish For V.I.?
Review: V.I. Warshawski dives head first into a story of intrigue, bad cops, inhumanity of women's prisons and middle age. Her rough edges comfort us, Mr. Contreras is the adopted daddy we all need, and the high-profile bad guys are purely wicked in their "men in suits" way. A somewhat convoluted and moralistic tale of good taking a real beating as it triumphs over evil. Almost sounds like Paretsky has a death wish for Warshawski though, the author literally beats her up all the way through the book.
Rating:
Summary: GLAD I READ IT!!
Review: I've read all of the V.I. books, and was getting really sick of the self-righteousness and convoluted plots of the novels. When this one came out, I didn't know whether I should try it. I'm glad I did. The Book was well-written (Still too many sub-plots and characters, which is my main criticism of the other books, but on the whole, a good read. Welcome back, V.I.!!
Rating:
Summary: Wonderful main character
Review: This is my first Sara Paretsky book and I was in awe of how well she presented her main character. V.I. is sympathetic, funny, and fascinating. In fact, all the characters are richly drawn. Yes, the story is great too with all the good twists and turns.
Rating:
Summary: WOW!! It was worth the wait
Review: Welcome back Vic! This is an older, more tired, and less self secure V.I. than her readers are used to. But underneath the worries about age, pension plans, and relationships is the same caring and crusading character her fans have waited to greet for five years. I took this in one read--couldn't wait to see what would happen. And I wasn't disappointed. It's unusual for a character to have such an impact on readers that the reader can feel hurt when the character is betrayed--this is the gift that Ms. Paretsky gives to her readers this character is real; so it hurts when Vic's friends turn on her. Vic is like the high school chum you've kept in touch with over the years and wished well--you get together once in a while and catch up on each other. I'm sure I join fans everywhere in hoping there will be another full length V.I. story SOON!
Rating:
Summary: A welcome return for VI!
Review: A great book. Having read all of Sara P. book's, I eagerly awaited her next V.I. book and she doesn't disappoint. It was like slipping into comfortable slippers as I submerged myself back into the familar world of V.I. and all her idiosyncrasies. Would recommend this book highly to anyone who enjoys mystery books.
Rating:
Summary: Welcome back, V.I.
Review: I grew up in the Chicago suburbs and the city itself was a mysterious, dangerous place to me. Paretsky ably draws out the darkness of that old City That Works, showing that it sometimes works because of nasty people doing bad things. This time V.I. finds herself targeted by far-reaching media moguls and bad cops as she fights to find the truth behind the death of an immigrant woman. This is a great story, so much so that I wanted more. I want to know what happens to V.I.'s relationship with Murray--something left hanging at the end. But that's why this is a series and I can't wait for V.I. to come back. She is a crusader but she is filled with human flaws and doubts: a wonderfully drawn character.
| 
