Among the first, and perhaps the most compelling, female private investigators of contemporary fiction, Sara Paretsky’s incomparable character V. I. Warshawski at last returns to the page in her first full-length appearance since 1994’s Tunnel Vision. Hard Time is the work of a master–a riveting novel of suspense that is indisputably Paretsky’s best V.I. Warshawski novel yet. Multimedia … Multimedia conglomerate Global Entertainment has purchased the Chicago Herald-Star, forcing the paper’s staff to scramble to stay employed. Reporter Murray Ryerson, V.I.’s longtime friend and sometime rival, manages to reinvent himself as the host of a television show on Global’s network.
On her way home from a party celebrating Murray’s debut, V.I. almost runs over a woman lying in the street. Stopping to help, V.I. soon learns that her Good Samaritan act will drop her squarely in a boiling intrigue. In a case that forces her to go head-to-head with one of the world’s largest providers of private security and prison services, a case that exposes dark hidden truths behind the razzle-dazzle of the entertainment industry, V.I. will be ahead of the game if she gets out alive.
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It’s V.I., and I love her, so this gets 4 stars. Fans will know that the plot occasionally goes off the rails — and not mind much.
I love VI Warshawski
I enjoy this series- gutsy female
I love V.I. Warshawski, or Vic, and I can pronounce her name. This was a good read, somewhat convoluted, and included a stint by Vic in a for-profit prison. Sara Paretsky tends to tackle social problems along with spinning a good tale, and that is evident in “Hard Time,” where the twin goals succeed in equal measure. That is not quite always …
Best of Paretski
I love reading anything by Sara Paretsky and this novel did not disappoint. I grew up in Chicago and love the way she writes about the city. I can follow her detective, V.I. from place to place and I love to do it. Her characters are so accurate to the area and her plots are interesting and real. Highly recommend.
One of the best of Sara Paretsky.
Enjoy Paretsky’s command of language as well as her parody of famous literary quotes. I was also fascinated by the research about women’s prisons as experienced by the main character. Love reading all of Paretsky’s works.
As a long time Paretsky fan, I relished the opportunity to visit Chicago through her writing and be utterly engaged by another of her complex plots. She is truly a master.
Sarah Paretsky’s HARD TIME caught me up in the drama from the first few pages and is still haunting me days after finishing. V. I. Warshawski, taking on for-profit prisons, employers of undocumented workers, and bullying parents, is my hero! Her allies are diverse, from children playing on the street, to Father Lou at St. Remigio’s, and …
I loved this book.
Great story lines and amazing characters.
I’ve read many of the Paretsky books, but this was the best. The environment was unusual and eye-opening. V. I. Warshawski was presented in a very appealing way, allowing one to feel real sympathy for her.
Number 9 was a definite hit in the VI Warshawski thriller and mystery series by Paretsky Sara. Hard Time starts off with a bang… VI almost hits someone while driving, then realize it’s a dead body in the road. And although she does the right thing, because of her past issues with some of the police in the department, despite her father having …