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Body Work (V. I. Warshawski Series) Audio CD – CD, August 31, 2010

by Sara Paretsky (Author), Susan Ericksen (Reader)

4.3 1,023 ratings

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“The thing about Sara Paretsky is, she’s tough―not because she observes the bone-breaker conventions of the private-eye genre but because she doesn’t flinch from examining old social injustices others might find too shameful (and too painful) to dig up.” ― The New York Times Book Review “Doctors take days off ― why not PIs?” V.I. Warshawski demands. But when America’s hardest-working private eye goes clubbing, a stranger is shot and dies in her arms. V.I. has been visiting Club Gouge, Chicago’s edgiest nightspot, where a woman known as the Body Artist turns her naked body into a canvas for the audience to paint on. The show attracts all kinds of people, from a menacing off-duty cop to Ukrainian mobsters and Iraq war vets ― and V.I.’s impetuous cousin, Petra. A tormented young painter shows up, too, and the intricate designs she creates on the Body Artist drive one of the vets into a violent rage. When the painter is shot, the cops figure it’s an easy collar ― PTSD vet goes off the rails, stalks then kills young woman. But the vet’s family hires V.I. to clear his name, and the detective uncovers a chain of ugly truths that stretches all the way from Iraq to Chicago’s South Side.

Product details

Publisher ‏ : ‎ Brilliance Audio; Abridged edition (August 31, 2010)
Language ‏ : ‎ English
ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 1441868895
ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1441868893
Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 6.4 ounces
Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 5 x 1.38 x 7 inches

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4.3 1,023 ratings

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Sara Paretsky

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Called a "genius" by Lee Child and "one of the all time greats" by Karin Slaughter, Sara Paretsky transformed the role of women in the mystery world with her detective, V.I. Warshawski. V.I. is tough, feminine and vulnerable, but above all loyal to her friends and clients. Paretsky and Warshawski share a love of singing, Golden Retrievers and Italian reds. V.I. has escaped many near-death experiences, including drowning in Chicago's swamps (Blood Shot), falling down an elevator shaft (Burn Marks), and multiple attempts to shoot her down (Dead Land). Paretsky would have retired to the Umbrian Hills after one such event, but V.I. keeps coming back for more.

Paretsky's passion for social justice is reflected in her novels but also in her support for reproductive health and the welfare of women and children. She founded Sisters in Crime, an international organization that advocates for women in the mystery/thriller field. She is one of four living writers to earn both the Cartier Diamond Dagger from the British Crime Writers and Grand Master from the Mystery Writers of America.

Visit Sara's website, www.saraparetsky.com, find her on Facebook, www.facebook.com/SaraParetsky, and follow her on Twitter @Sara1982P.

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N. Stein

Best in series so far

Reviewed in the United States on January 18, 2024

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V.I. is struggling with her aging and has fantasies about moving to the country. It was real. Most people in such a physically demanding job would be at age 50. The pace in this narrative was well timed, the characters were crisp, and the story was complex. She has softened towards Mr. Contreras and Petra but sets good boundaries. Lottie, who I like as a character was in this one a little more and seems to be more willing to take V.I. as she is. The police were less present. All in all a well done P.I. novel.

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Steven Peterson

Good entry in the V. I. series. . . .

Reviewed in the United States on February 5, 2011

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I had read my last V. I. Warshawski novel about fourteen years ago before I tried "Hardball" when it came out. In essence, I had given up on the series, finding that it did not seem to be deveoping. Although I gave "Hardball" five stars, it didn't do that much for me (the 5 star rating was mainly because I rather enjoyed coming back to this series). This is a much nicer work, but it does have some flaws. The "deus ex machina" ending when V. I. becomes a body artist herself is a bit strained as a way of tying things together. Still and all, a fine work.

First, the usual cast of regulars is here, Sal, Mr. Contreras, Lotty, Ryerson, the police whom she drives crazy (Mallory and Finchley). Each plays a credible role in the developing story. Even Mr. Contreras' dogs fit in! And the city of Chicago, as always and as proper, is also part of this work. The description of Chicago always rings pretty true to me. Here, a wicked winter provides a bleak backdrop to a tough story.

Second, the plot itself features a set of characters. Bringing the various stories together at the climax of the work is handled reasonably well, although V. I. sometimes feels like she was a bit slow on the uptake. The main plot line: a woman is killed after a showing by "The Body Artist," who does performance art at a trendy Chicago bar. A young woman, Nadia, does drawings upon the Artist's body. One night, she is killed, The primary suspect, Chad, is a traumatized Iraq War veteran who would go crazy when he saw the design that Nadia drew on the Artist at her performances. Hence, he becomes the suspect after Nadia's murder.

V. I. is hired by Chad's family, to determine his innocence. She begins her investigation. In the process, she runs into information about the death/murder of Nadia's older sister; she runs across a scandal involving a major company supplying body protection to troops in Iraq; she tangles with hardened thugs and rich corporate thieves. And Petra, her young relative, sometimes helps and sometimes hinders V. I.'s work. Other key actors? Iraq veterans who are drinking buddies with Chad and end up working as part of V. I.'s team to solve the mystery.

This, overall, works pretty well. It is also a good change of pace to see V. I., in a relationship that doesn't die quickly from her own demons. We shall see if there is any future in that relationship in future volumes. And it is good to see a character aging as Warshawski is doing. As I recall, she was in her thirties in the first book that I read; here, she has entered her fifties. On the other hand, I sometimes think that she has not developed as a person and seems doomed to perpetual crankiness and emptiness. But that itself makes her character rather interesting.

Bottom line: a nice entry in the series.

7 people found this helpful

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Laurel-Rain Snow

A WINDING TRAIL OF CLUES....

Reviewed in the United States on September 27, 2010

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In Sara Paretsky's newest novel, she brings her private eye V. I. Warshawski back to her readers in an edgy mystery that seemingly centers around a Body Artist performing at a Chicago club called Club Goudge.

The artist is a mysterious woman whose true identity seems unknown; her body serves as a canvas on which others convey their own artistic renderings, including one that is made up of numbers only. One such artist is a young woman, Nadia, who is gunned down outside the club one night when V. I. is there. Chad Vishneski, a young vet is later arrested for the crime, primarily because of some angry outbursts he had directed at the artist. When his parents hire V. I. to find out what really happened that night, our detective pulls out all the stops.

Her investigation leads her on many winding trails, from Chicago's South Side to Iraq and back again. In the process, she is stalked, beaten up, and others who happen to get caught up in the fray are also targeted.

What strange messages are being conveyed via the Body Artist, and what connection do they have to the events in Iraq? What really happened to Nadia Gauman, and to her sister Alexandra, who died in Iraq under mysterious circumstances? And why do all connections seem to begin and end with the strange Body Artist, Karen Buckley, whose name is really an alias? What are her secrets, and how does her mysterious disappearance tie in to all the events that keep happening?

As usual, the characters were richly detailed and believable, with all the quirks and flaws of real people. I love the way we can visualize the lives of the characters through the detailed context built around them. I've always admired the character V. I., because even when she might be afraid or worried, she pushes forward and doesn't let anything or anyone stop her. She is fiercely loyal to her family and friends. Another character I love is her downstairs neighbor, Mr. Contreras, who is like a father figure. He tries to look out for V. I., despite her attempts to manage without his assistance.

Body Work (V.I. Warshawski Novel) earned five stars from me. I can't wait for the next mystery for V. I. Warshawski to solve!

3 people found this helpful

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Deborah Boisvert

Creative and suspenseful crime and detective story.

Reviewed in Canada on February 25, 2024

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Love the PI V.I. Warshawski novels! The premise of this story is so creative and suspenseful. Only Sara Paretsky could come up with a story like this! Would definitely recommend!

Anita Slade

Body Work: V.I. Warshawski 14 (The V.I. Warshawski Series) (English Edition)

Reviewed in Brazil on November 21, 2018

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Warshawski como sempre. História interessante, como sempre bem desenvolvida, prendendo nossa atenção.

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Amazon Customer

Engaging and enjoyable

Reviewed in India on August 23, 2017

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Paretsky delivers another wonderful Washawski thriller. My favourite female detective. With her guts and vitality and her anger and her vulnerabilities. Loved it

Stacey

Another great yarn about VI Warshawski

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on October 12, 2011

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Body Work begins with the murder of a young artist behind Club Gouge, and edgy night spot in Chicago. It turns out that she was there to see the headline act, a woman known only as 'The Artist', who allows the audience to paint on her naked body while she sits on stage. The murdered girl had begun to paint on The Artist and her work had enraged an Iraq veteran in the audience for some unknown reason. When the young woman dies the finger is pointed at the veteran who has - seemingly - tried to kill himself out of guilt. VI Warshawski is engaged by the veteran's family to find out what happened and - hopefully clear his name.

This book is another great addition to the VI Warshawski collection, the immediate death of the victim within the first few pages definitely grabs you! VI is her usual hound-dog self in tracking down the truth, but this time she has her cousin (who she picked up in Hardball) along for the ride and helping her in her investigations. The plot is intricately woven and seemingly insignificant things are all wrapped up in the final conclusion, which is both clever and contemporary.

I've read that Sara Paretsky is already working on the next novel, which I await with interest!!

5 people found this helpful

隼人パパ

期待どおりの楽しさ

Reviewed in Japan on November 4, 2011

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V.I.Warshawskiシリーズは読者を裏切らない。いつもどおりの楽しさ、会話の豊かさ、アクション、人情、非情。
　しかし、最近、この女流探偵は少し分別臭い感じがする。ストーリーの中に反戦気分が見え隠れしていた。あまり、政治色を濃くしないで欲しかった。また、女探偵は最近、男に甘えすぎ。男もかっこつけすぎ。探偵を冷たく突き放して欲しかった。昔の作品のように、女探偵がむさくるしく、もてない女のほうが、セクシーでワイルドな感じでよかった。それで星が一つ減点。あとは完璧な出来だった。次回作もぜひ読みたいと思った。

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