Burn Marks

By Sara Paretsky

Book Overview

A knock at the door in the middle of the night pulls a Chicago PI into a web of crime and corruption in this "captivating" New York Times bestseller (The Baltimore Sun).

V.I. "Vic" Warshawski's alcoholic aunt turns up at her door at three in the morning, accompanied by an addict friend after the hotel she's been living in burns down, and Vic is soon on the trail of an arsonist. But then the private investigator starts getting ominous messages, and her aunt's friend is found dead . . . with Vic's driver's license in their possession. To unravel the mystery and keep herself alive, Vic will have to delve into the dark world of the city's unhoused population--and the even darker world of Chicago's wealthy and powerful--in this steely thriller by a winner of multiple Anthony, Edgar, and Dagger Awards.

"One gritty good read . . . V.I. is a worthy heir to Marlowe." --Daily News (New York)

"Fast-paced." --The New York Times Book Review

"America's most convincing and engaging professional female private eye." --Entertainment Weekly

"V.I. Warshawski is good company." --Los Angeles Times

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1504099826
• ISBN13: 9781504099820
• Release Date: March 2025
• Publisher: Mysteriouspress.Com/Open Road
• Length: 464 Pages

Customer Reviews

I loved this book

I just finished reading this book, and I loved it. VI Warshawski is one of those characters that you got to love.

Excellent read

This is the best installment of the VI Warshawski series that I have read. Here, she's tough and uncompromising yet vulnerable. This book is most thoroughly recommended.

My Favorite Paretsky

Vic must reluctantly rescue her Aunt Elena, a notorious drunkard, con woman and flirt. While she is disgusted at Elena's antics, she is discerning enough to know that she shares some of Elena's character flaws. As usual, Vic's good heartedness leads her into a murky world of dishonest politicians, traitorous cops and disgruntled bankers. As usual, she can rely on none but herself to solve the mystery and right the wrongs of the system. As usual, Peppy, Mr. Contreras (Sal)and Lottie are ever watchful and protective of their friend. As usual, this book is filled with interesting characters, locations, events and probing character analyses. If you like your protagonists intelligent, resourceful, wisecracking yet wearing the perfect set of Magli pumps, this heroine is for you.

Great Stuff!!!

One of Paretskies greatest Books ever. Private Eye V.I.Warshawski gets in trouble in helping her old aunt, who is adicted to alcohol and got thrown out of her appartment. Watching V.I. stumbling through the world of crime, government politics and lovely neighbourhood, listing to her sarcastical comments and sharing her decisions concerning her wardrobe is once again great fun and everybody who has read any of the other Paretsky books will love this one. It definitely is my personal favourite of all V.I.-Adventures!