Book Review: Fire Sale

Reviewed By: Webspinner - RAM

Fire Sale     Amazon US PB Amazon US HC Amazon UK PB Amazon Canada PB Amazon Canada HC
Sara Paretsky
Class/Genre:   Mystery   Private Investigator   Woman Main Character
Series: V.I. Warshawski # 13
Penguin; [c] 2005; 431pp

This is TRULY a multi-layered novel. VI is asked by her old high school basketball coach to take over the team for the rest of the year. VI says "no" several times, until she learns her old coach [who helped her get to college] is dying of cancer. The basketball team is composed of 'inner-city' teenage girls with the associated problems of a school with no money, gangs, no jobs, and parents who can barely keep their heads up.

Into this mix, VI brings "By-Smart". She wants them to donate money to the team for uniforms and equipment. As one of the few employers in the area, she thinks she has the best chance asking them to sponsor her team. That is, until she meets the "By-Smart" family, whose youngest son is involved in VI's old South Chicago neighborhood.

Sara Paretsky isn't afraid to take on a cause, as she proved with "Blacklist". This time, as an integral layer of the story line, she takes on 'giant-family-owned-discount-stores' and the results of their business practices. I LOVED IT. So much so, that I lost a considerable amount of sleep to find out how she resolved the local issues. Bravo, Ms. Paretsky, Bravo!

Webspinner - RAM

Reprinted with permission. Do Not repost without permission from the author, Webspinner - RAM