Series
Publication
Hodder Paperbacks (2013), 432 p.
Original publication date
2003
Collections
Genres
Subjects
Awards
Crime Writers' Association Awards (Winner — 2004)
Description
V. I. Warshawski explores secrets and betrayals that stretch across four generations in this New York Times bestselling novel from one of the most compelling writers in American crime fiction..."A thoughtful, high-tension mystery."--The Washington Post Book World"A genuinely exciting and disturbing thriller."--Chicago TribuneAs a favor to her most important client, V. I. agrees to check up on an empty mansion. But instead of a mysterious intruder she discovers a dead man in the ornamental pond--a reporter for an African-American publication whom the suburban cops are quick to dismiss as a suicide.When the man's shattered family hires V. I. to investigate, she is sucked into a Gothic tale of sex, money, and power, leading her back to McCarthy-era blacklists and forward to some of the darker aspects of the Patriot Act. As V. I. finds herself penned in to a smaller and smaller space by an array of people trying to silence her, and before she can untangled the sordid truth, two more people will die--and V.I.'s own life will hang in the balance.… (more)
User reviews
LibraryThing member bastet
A great mystery about the effects of the Blacklist in McCarthy-era America and how it effects modern-day life.
LibraryThing member LisaCurcio
This is not one of Paretsky's best! The many characters are one-dimensional and not one of them is sympathetic--including the one who was murdered. V.I. has always been a favorite detective, but in this book it seems she never stops whining. Perhaps Ms. Paretsky is tired of her.
LibraryThing member Darrol
A good story with some interesting historical references and some strong, yet flawed, characters--some that I hope we see again.
LibraryThing member metamariposa
The best mystery novel I've read in a couple of years. Blacklist holds a lot of political commentary, a long and complicated list of characters, and V.I. at a lovable point in her life. I appreciated the historical connections and also the frustration of the relative power of the wealthy to defeat
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justice. An unlikely and well-crafted villain round out the tale. Sure, the plot is complicated, but that was part of the fun for me. Show Less
LibraryThing member Joycepa
11th in the V.I. Warshawski, P.I., series set in contemporary Chicago.
How to combine old witch hunts with new ones--Paretsky has managed to do that in an intriguing way in a murder plot that’s pretty thin but is an excellent raison d’etre for this off-beat look into the US penchant for letting
Darraugh Graham is V.I.’s most important client; his retainer is the mainstay of her ability to pay her rent. so when Graham calls because he wants V.I. to more or less humor his 90-something year old mother who claims she is seeing lights on in Larchmanot, the old family mansion, V.I. obliges, although without much enthusiasm. Skulking around one midnight, trying to determine whether there is any basis to Geraldine Grahams’ claims and chasing after a teenage girl who may be connected to those lights, V.I. literally falls on top of a body in Larchmont’s filthy, neglected pool. the corpse is that of Marcus Whitby, an African-American journalist who works for a prominent African-American publishing house in Chicago.
Enriching and texturing the plot is information about the Federal Theater project of the 30’s, but from the point of view of the African-American performers who were given a chance to do more than play stereotypical Mammy or Step N Fetchit roles. Paretsky brings in the persecution of left-leaning intellectuals during the infamous HUAC years, when cynical politicians such as Joseph McCarthy seized upon American fears to boost themselves politically. Paretsky connects this beautifully to the kind of Constitution-bending, if not breaking, of the Patriot Act; V.I.,’s situation illustrates the dangers ordinary citizens face from this seizure of power by yet another set of cynical politicians 50 years after the McCarthy era.
It’s well done and informative, the way just about all of Paretsky’s books are without being preachy (no one comes out looking good), and would be much better if the plot weren’t quite so stretched. Be that as it may, it’s still a very good read for V.I. fans, and for those who like main courses with the dessert of their mystery genre.
How to combine old witch hunts with new ones--Paretsky has managed to do that in an intriguing way in a murder plot that’s pretty thin but is an excellent raison d’etre for this off-beat look into the US penchant for letting
Show More
fear override the Constitution.Darraugh Graham is V.I.’s most important client; his retainer is the mainstay of her ability to pay her rent. so when Graham calls because he wants V.I. to more or less humor his 90-something year old mother who claims she is seeing lights on in Larchmanot, the old family mansion, V.I. obliges, although without much enthusiasm. Skulking around one midnight, trying to determine whether there is any basis to Geraldine Grahams’ claims and chasing after a teenage girl who may be connected to those lights, V.I. literally falls on top of a body in Larchmont’s filthy, neglected pool. the corpse is that of Marcus Whitby, an African-American journalist who works for a prominent African-American publishing house in Chicago.
Enriching and texturing the plot is information about the Federal Theater project of the 30’s, but from the point of view of the African-American performers who were given a chance to do more than play stereotypical Mammy or Step N Fetchit roles. Paretsky brings in the persecution of left-leaning intellectuals during the infamous HUAC years, when cynical politicians such as Joseph McCarthy seized upon American fears to boost themselves politically. Paretsky connects this beautifully to the kind of Constitution-bending, if not breaking, of the Patriot Act; V.I.,’s situation illustrates the dangers ordinary citizens face from this seizure of power by yet another set of cynical politicians 50 years after the McCarthy era.
It’s well done and informative, the way just about all of Paretsky’s books are without being preachy (no one comes out looking good), and would be much better if the plot weren’t quite so stretched. Be that as it may, it’s still a very good read for V.I. fans, and for those who like main courses with the dessert of their mystery genre.
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LibraryThing member justicefortibet
Another gripping V.I. Warshawski tale of murder, mystery and intrigue. This time the story involves the very rich and priveleged, the poor black artists of the 1950's, and the secrets that intertwined their lives. Throw in a supposed Arab terrorist for current flavor and a murdered black writer and
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you have a story that has something of interest for everyone. Show Less
LibraryThing member SLuce
Ok, not more than that.
LibraryThing member michaelbartley
this is the first mystery, hard boiled crime novel I've read. reading for a lit class. it's very enterining lots of details. a fast read
LibraryThing member TheBentley
No V.I. Warshawski novel is ever going to change anyone's life, but this one is actually a little deeper and more political than most. Without giving too much away, I'll say that Paretsky makes some very nice parallels between the mid-century Red Scare and the post-9/11 Muslim witch-hunt that add
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some depth to what is otherwise just an ordinary, enjoyably complex detective story. Show Less
LibraryThing member sleahey
Parallels between McCarthyism witch-hunts and over-reactions to fears of terrorists abound in this mystery set soon after 9/11. A murdered black journalist and family intrigues of the rich and famous in Chicago embroil V.I. in several mysteries at once.
LibraryThing member JosephKing6602
Some nioce chicago-references and settings. Nice blend with the Bronzeville & the whole Red-Scare hysteria.
LibraryThing member leslie.98
Great blend of mystery & social commentary about the U.S. in the period after 9/11 (especially some of the scary aspects of the Patriot Act).
LibraryThing member Carl_Alves
This was the first V.I. Warshawski novel I’ve ever read and most likely the last. I was not remotely impressed by the writing style, the plot, or almost anything else about the novel. Set shortly after 9/11, V.I. Warshawski takes on an assignment investigating lights going on and off in a mansion
One of my all time pet peeves is when the author of a genre book, in this case a mystery novel, continually inserts their political viewpoints. When I read a mystery, I’m reading for the mystery, and the author incessant political commentary only serves to take away from the story and annoy me. The mystery itself was weak, and the characterization was especially poor. I can’t think of any character here that I like. When the reveal of the secret finally happened, it was predictable and mundane. The killer wasn’t at all believable. In short, this book is not worth reading.
Carl Alves – author of Conjesero
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late at night when she stumbles across a dead body. This leads to an investigation where she uncovers secrets from a group of elite, rich families in the Chicago area who have these incestuous relationships with each other and covet gossip and secrets. Being after 9/11, the Patriot Act and potential Islamic terrorists come into play, even though it really has no place in this novel. It seems like it was just thrown in to meet the author’s political sensibilities.One of my all time pet peeves is when the author of a genre book, in this case a mystery novel, continually inserts their political viewpoints. When I read a mystery, I’m reading for the mystery, and the author incessant political commentary only serves to take away from the story and annoy me. The mystery itself was weak, and the characterization was especially poor. I can’t think of any character here that I like. When the reveal of the secret finally happened, it was predictable and mundane. The killer wasn’t at all believable. In short, this book is not worth reading.
Carl Alves – author of Conjesero
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LibraryThing member SheilaDeeth
Past and present collide in Sara Paretsky’s Blacklist, as the rich and famous enjoy their luxurious abodes while a poor black journalist dies. V.I. Warshawski balances truth and justice as she strives to learn what happened and why, but influential antagonists seem eager to silence her. Rich old
The story’s told evocatively and powerfully, in the voice of a very believable protagonist. Chicago’s streets and buildings are convincingly portrayed, together with the hills and mansions of the rich, the changing weather, and the machinations of police districts and procedures. Meanwhile discoveries are perfectly timed, bringing thought-provoking echoes of McCarthy in 911's Patriot Act.
Blacklist may be long, but it’s a fast exciting read, filled with fascinating twists and turns and mystery that’s deeper than it seems. Lives and decisions, past and present, are never simple, and the race to judgment is never safe. It’s a truly enjoyable, satisfying novel, with just the right blend of action, personal narration, and thought.
Disclosure: A friend gave me a copy, guessing correctly that I’d love it.
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ladies are sometimes sweet, sometimes sour, tea is served, and legacies from the McCarthy era loom.The story’s told evocatively and powerfully, in the voice of a very believable protagonist. Chicago’s streets and buildings are convincingly portrayed, together with the hills and mansions of the rich, the changing weather, and the machinations of police districts and procedures. Meanwhile discoveries are perfectly timed, bringing thought-provoking echoes of McCarthy in 911's Patriot Act.
Blacklist may be long, but it’s a fast exciting read, filled with fascinating twists and turns and mystery that’s deeper than it seems. Lives and decisions, past and present, are never simple, and the race to judgment is never safe. It’s a truly enjoyable, satisfying novel, with just the right blend of action, personal narration, and thought.
Disclosure: A friend gave me a copy, guessing correctly that I’d love it.
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LibraryThing member JenniferRobb
The plot was interesting, but the wrap up took a bit long in my opinion. I'd also have liked to see the murderer at least be arrested by the end of the book.
The theme of V.I. having to deal with children from a family involved in her investigation is wearing a bit thin for me by this third go round
Other plot points and themes involve:
-race relations (both now and in the past). Are black victims treated differently than white victims? Are black suspects/minority suspects treated differently than white suspects?
-how views on homosexuality have changed over the decades
-the witch-hunt for Communist and Un-American activities
-the fear present in America after 9/11 and how many viewed Muslims at that time
-the upper class and how they treat those they perceive as "lower" than this class
I liked the putting together of the puzzle of what the reporter had found and how he found it. I thought the atmosphere of shortly after 9/11 was well represented--though I don't know how long after it is was--it must have been long enough that Darraugh could put a small plane up into the air without it being challenged by any authorities.
I missed Lotty and Max (who has only one scene in this book) making appearances. Mr. Contreras's role was also mostly absent in this book.
The theme of V.I. having to deal with children from a family involved in her investigation is wearing a bit thin for me by this third go round
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of it. Other plot points and themes involve:
-race relations (both now and in the past). Are black victims treated differently than white victims? Are black suspects/minority suspects treated differently than white suspects?
-how views on homosexuality have changed over the decades
-the witch-hunt for Communist and Un-American activities
-the fear present in America after 9/11 and how many viewed Muslims at that time
-the upper class and how they treat those they perceive as "lower" than this class
I liked the putting together of the puzzle of what the reporter had found and how he found it. I thought the atmosphere of shortly after 9/11 was well represented--though I don't know how long after it is was--it must have been long enough that Darraugh could put a small plane up into the air without it being challenged by any authorities.
I missed Lotty and Max (who has only one scene in this book) making appearances. Mr. Contreras's role was also mostly absent in this book.
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LibraryThing member edwardsgt
A complex plot with multiple characters and relationships which are sometimes hard to follow. The story is set in an America suffering from post 9-11 paranoia and involves characters closely involved with the Mccarthyism witch hunts of the early 1950s. Warshawski literally stumbles over a dead body
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of a black journalist, who has been digging into the McCarthy era, whilst researching a famous black dancer. He uncovers secrets some want kept buried and the rich and powerful involved are adept at keeping their secrets. A sub-plot is a young Egyptian on the run, whose visa has expired and in post 9-11 America that tags him as a terrorist. Show Less
Language
Original language
English
ISBN
1444761587 / 9781444761580
Physical description
432 p.; 7.83 inches
Pages
432