A blog reviewing mystery books, with a listing of Saskatchewan mysteries, and a sprinkling of non-fiction books, especially history and biographies
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Monday, January 17, 2011
Hardball by Sara Paretsky
49. – 512.) Hardball by Sara Paretsky – V.I. Warshawski is recovering from her breakup with the journalist, Morrell, when she allows herself to be talked into finding the nephew / son of a pair of elderly black women. He has been missing for 40 years having disappeared during a great blizzard in 1967. The search leads her to a black gang, the Anacondas, and the civil rights marches in Chicago during 1966. Those marches provoked white riots. Her investigation is aided and hampered by the exuberant presence of her Kansas City niece, Petra Warshawski who is in Chicago to work on the senatorial campaign of Brian Krumas. While Victoria often grumps along Petra is an enthusiastic joyful young woman. At the beginning we learn Petra has disappeared. Much of the book covers the time up to the disappearance. During the book Victoria is forced to confront possibly dishonourable actions by her beloved cop father during the time of the riots. Victoria continues in such traditions as Spenser and Travis McGee solving mysteries sometimes by cleverness, sometimes by blundering along but always maintaining a fiercely independent moral code. With Petra more the age of a daughter than a little sister another family relationship is begun. I did miss the mystery not being focused on finance. When coupled with Cooley’s book,When Corruption was King (5. - 468.), the book also helps understand why a recent Illinois governor commuted all state death sentences. Too often in Chicago the police, prosecutors, defence counsel and judiciary worked to convict a convenient accused. Excellent. Hardcover. (Dec. 18/09)
Bill - I'm really very glad you liked this novel. I like the V.I. Warshawski character very much, and it's especially interesting to see her tackle a case where the trail's "gone cold," isn't it? Thanks for your fine review.
Dorte: V.I. is a dogged investigator past and present. I think you would enjoy the book.
Margot: I had not thought much about the cold case being a departure from the usual Warshawski mystery. Both you and Dorte picked up on its importance in the book.
49. – 512.) Hardball by Sara Paretsky – V.I. Warshawski is recovering from her breakup with the journalist, Morrell, when she allows herself to be talked into finding the nephew / son of a pair of elderly black women. He has been missing for 40 years having disappeared during a great blizzard in 1967. The search leads her to a black gang, the Anacondas, and the civil rights marches in Chicago during 1966. Those marches provoked white riots. Her investigation is aided and hampered by the exuberant presence of her Kansas City niece, Petra Warshawski who is in Chicago to work on the senatorial campaign of Brian Krumas. While Victoria often grumps along Petra is an enthusiastic joyful young woman. At the beginning we learn Petra has disappeared. Much of the book covers the time up to the disappearance. During the book Victoria is forced to confront possibly dishonourable actions by her beloved cop father during the time of the riots. Victoria continues in such traditions as Spenser and Travis McGee solving mysteries sometimes by cleverness, sometimes by blundering along but always maintaining a fiercely independent moral code. With Petra more the age of a daughter than a little sister another family relationship is begun. I did miss the mystery not being focused on finance. When coupled with Cooley’s book, When Corruption was King (5. - 468.), the book also helps understand why a recent Illinois governor commuted all state death sentences. Too often in Chicago the police, prosecutors, defence counsel and judiciary worked to convict a convenient accused. Excellent. Hardcover. (Dec. 18/09)
Warshawski in a cold case? That sounds really good.
ReplyDeleteBill - I'm really very glad you liked this novel. I like the V.I. Warshawski character very much, and it's especially interesting to see her tackle a case where the trail's "gone cold," isn't it? Thanks for your fine review.
ReplyDeleteDorte: V.I. is a dogged investigator past and present. I think you would enjoy the book.
ReplyDeleteMargot: I had not thought much about the cold case being a departure from the usual Warshawski mystery. Both you and Dorte picked up on its importance in the book.
Thanks to each of you for a comment