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Body Work Audiobook
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(3.00) - 2,435 listener ratings
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Publisher Description
“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.
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"I love the V.I Warshawski series! I was disappointed in her last book Fire Sale so this is a great reminder that Paretsky hasn't taken a wrong turn. Twists and turns up to the last chapter. I love a good who-done-it. Almost gave it 3 stars instead of 4 but I just couldn't bring myself to do it. "
— Amy (4 out of 5 stars)
Body Work Listener Reviews
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" the usual fine writing. "
— Debbie, 2/7/2014 -
" Paretsky writes another up-to-date wild mystery. "
— Paulette, 2/7/2014 -
" I absolutely love the character V.I. Warshawski, and love reading any of Paretsky's books that feature her as the main character. Therefore, the book was engrossing. All of the usual characters fleshed out the story. I just wish I'd found the mystery plot a little more interesting...there were a lot of threads connecting the mystery and sometimes I was a little lost as to how they were all related. I also didn't feel a ton of sympathy for the victims, so I wasn't as connected. Still, I love the character and I like how Paretsky has brought V.I. into the technology age; it is always interesting to see how she performs her detective work! "
— Courtney, 2/2/2014 -
" Paretsky's V. I. Warshawski novel is great. I can't wait to read more of them. "
— Sharon, 2/2/2014 -
" I think I'm tired of V.I. at this point. It's time she grew up and stopped making everything so difficult. "
— Lynne, 1/28/2014 -
" Major disappointment. I've followed V.I. for years and liked her, even though her exploits have been sometimes bloody and brutal. But the initial premise of this book I found ludicrous, especially when the 50 year-old Warshawski engages in it herself. "
— Lynn, 1/27/2014 -
" I was trying to pinpoint when this mystery series became preachy and tied to the author's most recent sense of outrage. Obviously I read it, and it was a pretty good case to solve, but I have the very strong impression that I've been Talked At. "
— Margaret, 1/20/2014 -
" I listened to the audio-book of this one. Not everything works out in a tidy fashion, but the issues covered- sexuality and the Iraq war primarily among them- made for an interesting story. "
— Tripmastermonkey, 1/19/2014 -
" It's been a long time since I read V. I. Warshawski novel, but this one convinced me that I need to back up and catch up on this series. This book deals with a family devastated by the war in Iraq, and a company making huge profits off the same war, and various crime families making money off those left behind. "
— Gwyneth, 1/19/2014 -
" I've read a number of Sara Paretsky books about the detective V.I. Warshawski. All of them have been great reads, but I'm finding this one is not holding my attention as much. That said, I'd still recommend it. "
— Sarah, 12/5/2013 -
" V.I. Warshawski is back in good form. The theme is the Iraqi war with the usual beatings by thugs, corrupt large corporations,self-questioning, a new lover, and loyal allies. Although Paretsky follows her typical formula, I was captured by the book and not too scared. "
— Mary, 10/13/2013 -
" Was looking forward to a new V I Warshawski novel . It started out very well ; fast pace lots of action ... But then dragged and dragged. Am I over these detective thrillers or are they all the same ? It is a shame ... I used to love them . "
— Annetta, 5/6/2013 -
" I love Sara Paretsky's V.I. Warshawski books. This was not her best thriller. I lost track of the characters--couldn't remember who did what to whom. Like Chicago setting but not her best. "
— Marilyn, 2/14/2013 -
" Another great entry in the V.I. Warshawski series, this one featuring a body artist with a complex past. "
— Anne, 10/14/2012 -
" Very good mystery. Love her books. "
— Jeannie, 8/1/2012 -
" I really love Sara Paretsky's writing and her character, VI Warshawski. These are mysteries but they are so much more--they read like investigative journalism and while fiction, they cover current events. Another great book! "
— Ann, 2/19/2012 -
" Her stories are unecessarily complicated by weird names, and I don't like her neice, Petra. Still, it was a good mystery in places. "
— Linda, 12/13/2011 -
" Not as complex or intense as the last V.I. novel, this was still a page turner -- with an ending I wasn't sure she could pull together, but she did. "
— A., 9/9/2011 -
" I really enjoyed this audiobook. V.I. felt similar to Sue Grafton's Kinsey Milhone. They're both very independent, stubborn women who fight for answers and justice. I've already downloaded and started another book in the series. "
— Melissa, 9/3/2011 -
" Hadn't read this series for awhile and I had forgotten how much I like V.I. I'm adding more to my "must read" list. "
— Julie, 8/28/2011 -
" V.I. is a good character and she's interesting for me because she comes from a slightly older generation and her history is interesting. I just wish the author would let her growl back at her friends. "
— Jayne, 7/18/2011 -
" I listened rather than read. The actress who channels V. I. has all young women speaking like Valley Girls of yore, which is off-putting, but I am still a V. I. fan. "
— Sherry, 6/17/2011 -
" Not Paretsky's best. I've enjoyed her gift for bringing a gritty Chicago (and gritty heroine) alive on the page, but I had to put this one down only a couple dozen pages in --for unbelievability. "
— Lisa, 6/11/2011 -
" Not quite as gripping as usual, but still a good read. "
— Sc, 5/3/2011 -
" Parkesky just keeps getting better and better...A definite "must read." "
— Robin, 3/26/2011 -
" Hadn't read this series for awhile and I had forgotten how much I like V.I. I'm adding more to my "must read" list. "
— Julie, 3/17/2011 -
" I liked V.I. better before she became a spokesperson for causes. "
— Margaret, 2/28/2011 -
" This is a series that has stayed fresh and exciting. The author does a great job at aging her character and having stories still seem real. "
— Kelly, 2/28/2011 -
" I listened rather than read. The actress who channels V. I. has all young women speaking like Valley Girls of yore, which is off-putting, but I am still a V. I. fan. "
— Sherry, 2/22/2011 -
" Not only love her books about V. I. Warshawksi Novels, but like that they are set in Chicago. Makes me home sick for ole Chi-Town. Very good read. "
— Mary, 2/7/2011 -
" Enjoyed the Chicago setting. But nothing felt familiar about this one! "
— Mgupshaw, 2/7/2011 -
" I think I'm tired of V.I. at this point. It's time she grew up and stopped making everything so difficult. "
— Lynne, 2/5/2011
About Sara Paretsky
Sara Paretsky is the New York Times bestselling author of numerous previous novels, including the renowned V. I. Warshawski series, of which Blacklist won the Dagger Award. She is one of only four living writers to have received both the Grand Master Award from the Mystery Writers of America and is also the recipient of the Cartier Diamond Dagger Award given by the British Crime Writers’ Association. She is credited with transforming the role and image of women in the crime novel.
About Susan Ericksen
Susan Ericksen is an actor and voice-over artist. She has been awarded numerous AudioFile Earphones Awards as well as the prestigious Audie Award for best narration. As an actor and director, she has worked in theaters throughout the country.