V.I. is as compelling as ever - Daily TelegraphA return to form from the Chicago sleuth . . . a novel of crime and punishment, memory and illusion, and devastating emotions - GuardianAlready having established herself as an inventor of the female private eye and a master of the mystery format, Paretsky skillfully expands the form to tackle several convergent themes in a moving novel of discovery and redemption - Publishers WeeklyWith the creation of V.I. Warshawski, Sara Paretsky did more than anyone to change the face of contemporary women's fiction. - Express on SundayIt's hard not to get caught up in her passion . . . Snappy dialogue, tight plotting and realistic situations make Paretsky's unapologetically politicised thrillers a pleasure to read, whatever your viewpoint. - Daily MailThe thing about Sara Paretsky is, she's tough . . . she doesn't flinch from examining old social injustices others might find too shameful (and too painful) to dig up - New York TimesSome crime series grow stale over time, but there's no sign of fatigue here. This is partly because the recurring characters continue to develop and engage the reader, and partly because of the moral intelligence that informs the writing. - SpectatorParetsky has been putting her private investigator through her paces since 1982, changing perceptions of women in crime fiction through the creation of a fiercely independent female detective. She keeps her brand of politicised noir fresh by responding to issues - social, cultural and political as well as gender - in contemporary life . . . Paretsky is firing on all cylinders - Metro