Sara Paretsky is the New York Times bestselling author of the renowned V.I. Warshawski novels. Her many awards include the Cartier Diamond Dagger Lifetime Achievement Award from the British Crime Writers' Association and the 2011 Mystery Writers of America's Grand Master Award. She lives in Chicago.
A dead reporter, a missing Egyptian boy wanted in connection with terrorist activities, and an elderly woman convinced that an intruder is in her family manse are all elements of Paretsky's (Total Recall) 12th novel featuring Chicago private investigator V.I. Warshawski. As V.I. looks into these peoples' lives, she discovers connections among them. She uncovers a story of betrayal and secrets that spans several generations and involves Chicago's wealthiest families, the Red Scare, and the House Un-American Activities Committee hearings of the 1950s. As always, V.I.'s determined pursuit of the truth ensures at least a few heart-stopping moments. This may be Paretsky's most complex novel to date. It will have particular resonance post-9/11, as readers recognize more easily what it was like for past generations to live in fear. Highly recommended for popular reading collections. [Previewed in Prepub Alert, LJ 6/1/03.]-Leslie Madden, Georgia Inst. of Technology, Atlanta Copyright 2003 Reed Business Information.
Chicago private eye V.I. ("Vic") Warshawski needs all her strength and ingenuity to deal with the tragic effects of discrimination past and present in this riveting exploration of guilt and fear, the 12th installment in Paretsky's stellar series. Longtime client Darraugh Graham asks Vic to investigate his mother Geraldine's suspicion that trespassers are living in the empty mansion her father built in the suburban Chicago enclave where she has spent most of her life. Vic literally tumbles into trouble when, upon falling into a pond on the property, she comes up clutching the hand of a dead man. He is identified as Marcus Whitby, a young African-American journalist who was writing about members of the 1930s Federal Negro Theater Project especially a beautiful Negro dancer once championed by local liberals and blacklisted during the Communist witch hunt. Hired by Marcus's sister to look into his death, Vic spans cultures and generations in her investigation. Is Benji, the young Arab student sheltered in the mansion's attic by 16-year-old Catherine Bayard (whose politically daring publisher grandfather Calvin was once Vic's hero), somehow connected? Whether or not he has terrorist ties, Benji is at risk, so after Vic finds him she persuades Father Lou, a tough but caring community activist, to hide him in spite of post-9/11 dictums. Digging deeper, Vic must face disturbing allegations about Calvin Bayard and the likelihood that her lover, Morrell, on assignment in Afghanistan, is in danger. Paretsky reminds us that although victims change, prejudice is still alive and all too well. With this top-notch offering, she earns another vote of confidence for V.I. 175,000 first printing; author tour. (Oct. 1) Copyright 2003 Reed Business Information.
Praise for Blacklist
"Sara Paretsky's Chicago private eye, V. I. Warshawski, is one tough cookie...memorable."--The New York Times Book Review
"Thoroughly gripping."--The Seattle Times
"Timely, entertaining, thought-provoking and hard to put down."--St. Louis Post-Dispatch
"This is not your everyday detective story."--Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
"[A] riveting exploration of guilt and fear...top-notch."--Publishers Weekly
"A complex, disturbing thriller, one that will linger in readers' minds."--Associated Press
More Praise for Sara Paretsky and the V. I. Warshawski series
"One of our genre's crucial, solid-gold, best-ever series. Paretsky is a genius."--Lee Child
"V.I. Warshawski is one of my all-time favorite investigators."--Lisa Gardner
"For me, the most remarkable of the moderns is Sara Paretsky."--P.D. James
"One of the most-loved characters in crime fiction."--Booklist (starred review)
"No one, male or female, writes better P.I. books than Paretsky."--The Denver Post
"Paretsky's books are beautifully paced and plotted, and the dialogue is fresh and smart...V.I. Warshawski is the most engaging woman in detective fiction."--Newsweek
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