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Reviews (503)
Dec 07, 2009
HARDBALL: Another Outstanding V.I. Warshawski Whodunit
5 of 5 found this helpful What's not to love about Sara Paretsky's newest V.I. Warshawski novel, especially when V.I. considers selling a mysterious collectible baseball on eBay?
Chicago's unique brand of ball is 16-inch slow pitch, played in leagues all over the city for more than a century. But in politics, in business, and in law enforcement, the game is hardball all the way. V.I. Warshawski is no stranger to the big leagues in those arenas, but she doesn't think any of them will be involved when she is asked to find Lamont Gadsden, a man who's been missing for four decades. Instead, a search that she thought would be futile turns lethal.
Meanwhile, her young cousin Petra has come to town to work on a political campaign. When Petra goes missing after a break-in at the office, V.I. is determined to find her while continuing to look for Lamont. While she's at it, new information emerges about her beloved father's role in a politically and racially charged trial almost 40 years ago. Was he a bent cop?
As is invariably the case in V.I. Warshawski mysteries, these various plot threads come together in a suspenseful and satisfying climax and denouement. All of the usual characters turn up, and V.I.'s devoted but cantankerous neighbor Mr. Contreras plays a pivotal role. "Hardball" is written with a somewhat lighter touch than some of Paretsky's previous novels, making V.I. easier to like and much more sympathetic. Good ultimately triumphs, but it is leavened with pain and loss and tempered by reality.
If you like a good detective story starring a kick-ass private eye, the V.I. Warshawski novels will definitely fit your bill. And you don't have to have read the rest of Paretsky's V.I. books to enjoy "Hardball", but if you do, then you've got plenty more treats in store. Of course, large print is always easier to read.
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Sep 17, 2008
FOUL PLAY: Cozy Whodunit With Romance And Greek Recipes
7 of 7 found this helpful What's not to like about a mystery wherein the heroine gets bowled over by a little kid seeking an autograph for his baseball cards so he can sell them on eBay?
All eBay references aside, there is plenty to like in this newest cozy from Tori Carrington's Sofie Metropolis series. This time around, novice P.I. Sofie Metropolis has just landed her first high-profile case: The wife of a pitching phenom just signed by Sofie's beloved Mets wants to know what's wrong with her darling husband.
Meanwhile, things are heating up between Sofie and sexy Greek baker Dino. If her mother knew, she'd be sending out wedding invitations. But what if Australian mystery man Jake Porter hears of this entanglement? She might lose any chance she has for romance with the man who makes her tingle just by saying hello.
Sofie Metropolis is kind of like Stephanie Plum with a Greek accent, except that her zany family lives in Queens, New York, instead of Trenton, New Jersey. And the last I heard, Janet Evanovich's Stephanie Plum books didn't come with recipes, which "Foul Play" does: several pages worth of delicious (albeit somewhat complicated, except for the coffee) Greek dishes.
"Foul Play" provides an engaging and enjoyable listen right up to the conclusion, which is far-fetched to the point of being a little bit silly. But if you can get past your disbelief and are feeling charitable -- which is not hard to do, since Sofie Metropolis is such an intrinsically likeable character -- it could almost equally well be heard as amusing. It's certainly not ridiculous enough to cancel out the rest of this fun and funny whodunit.
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May 21, 2009
THE GOURDMOTHER: Likable Whodunit with An eBay Subplot
6 of 6 found this helpful What's not to love about a likable whodunit with an eBay subplot? Throughout "The Gourdmother", heroine Lili Marino fights to win eBay auctions by beating out her nemesis, gourdgirl. Evidently bidding on eBay for gourds is hotly competitive. Who knew?
But then, I learned a lot of stuff that I never knew about gourds while reading Maggie Bruce's first Gourd Craft Mystery. The information was woven naturally through the storyline, with more facts, tips, and even instructions for a gourd craft project at the end of the book.
Brooklynite Lili Marino is starting over in the small town of Walden Corners, living in a cottage whose title she received in lieu of payment for six months' freelance work. It's the perfect place to recover from a love affair gone flat. Though some residents are wary of the city girl, she (and her gourd obsession) are welcomed with open arms by Nora Johnson, wife of the high school football coach. Then Lili finds Nora's husband dead on the first day of hunting season. Meanwhile, she is awakened by a cry in the night from the woods near her cottage. And she thought that the worst thing that could happen to her in Walden Corners was a moldy gourd!
"The Gourdmother" is a terrific first mystery, with an appropriately intricate plot that will keep you guessing. The characters are well drawn and nuanced, and Maggie Bruce's insight into love, life, and damaged family dynamics is considerable. If you're looking for a cozy with some depth, you'll enjoy this splendid debut.
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