Burn Marks (V.I. Warshawski Novels) (Paperback)

~ (Author) "My mother and I were trapped in her bedroom, the tiny upstairs room of our old house on Houston..." (more)
Key Phrases: dead junkie, gorgeous eyes, Indiana Arms, Alma Mejicana, Roland Montgomery (more...)

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

This sixth adventure of Chicago private eye Victoria Iphenigia Warshawski begins with arson and proceeds to homicide. "While everyone else in this complicated, occasionally tedious plot urges her toward traditional female paths, V.I. resolutely forges her own trail, maintaining the spunk and humor that have earned her a large, devoted following," said PW.
Copyright 1991 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Review

"Paretsky's best book to date." --  Kansas City Star

  "V.I. Warshawsi is good company and a rich discovery  awaiting those who have yet to meet her." --  Los Angeles Times

"Sara Paretsky just keeps getting better and better!"  -- The Atlanta Journal  -constitution

"Another triumph for Ms.  Paretsky, her most captivating novel yet... V.I.  herself [is] undoubtedly on of the best-written  characters in mystery fiction." -- The  Baltimore Sun -- Review

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 416 pages
• Publisher: Dell; Reprint Edition edition (February 5, 1991)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0440208459
• ISBN-13: 978-0440208457
• Product Dimensions: 6.7 x 4.3 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 7.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #272,691 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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• This is item 6 in The V.I. Warshawski Series.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

12 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars My Favorite Paretsky, May 5, 2000

By A Customer

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.

11 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great Stuff!!!, August 7, 1998

By	[e-mail] (Guetersloh, Germany) - See all my reviews

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!

5 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars A tedious disappointment, September 3, 2002

By	Joachim Smith (Nyköping, Södermanland Sweden) - See all my reviews

After having finished Burn Marks last night, I read the on-line reviews here. Isn't it interesting how the same book can provoke such different opinions?
Look out, VI fans - I'm about to commit sacrilege.
I found Burn Marks in my bookshelf while hunting for some bedside reading. After the first chapter I got the impression that I'd read the book before, but never finished it.
I soon realized why.
So long-winded, so verbose, frankly - so BORING!
Ms Warshawski is alternately dead tired, sick, throwing up, having headaches, being injured or detailing the condition of every last burn blister in minute detail; her old Chevy is "groaning" on virtually every page, sometimes even in consecutive paragraphs, until it predictably dies; the plot barely gets going only in the last couple of chapters.
OK, I'm exaggerating a bit, but not much.
Doesn't Ms. Paretsky have an editor who could weed her story down by some 50 percent?
By sheer dogged persistence I managed to arrive at the final chapters, where the tension picks up a bit.
But unless you're looking for a sleeping pill, stay away.