Dead Land, by Sara Paretsky

Dead Land by Sara Paretsky

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

How is it that trouble always manages to find certain people? Fortunately for those of us who love Sara Paretsky's V.I. Warshawski books, trouble doesn't so much find Vic as much as trips her up, sending her in an unexpected direction.

Dead Land starts off with a mysterious man, Coop, leaving his dog tied up outside V.I.'s apartment, with a note to "Look after Bear until I come back for him."

Just what Vic needs: another dog to watch after.

Vic's goddaughter, Bernie Fouchard, is spending the summer in Chicago, coaching a girls' soccer team. Bernie has also discovered that singer-songwriter Lydia Zamir in now living on the streets of Chicago, playing her music on a toy piano, and protected by the mysterious Coop. While Bernie wants to rescue Lydia, Vic finds herself protecting Bernie.

At one point, Vic accompanies Bernie to a community meeting. Unfortunately, tempers flare up during the meeting; it doesn't take long for people to begin dying because of the flare-ups, including Bernie's boyfriend.

Between trying to find the killer(s), locating Lydia (who disappears to Kansas, along with Coop), and keeping Bernie and her friends safe, V.I. must also try to stay alive. She is shot at numerous times, ending up in the hospital.

On top of that, Vic's ex-lover, Murray Ryerson, is shot and left for dead. Will he make it? (Yes, he does, but you'll have to read the book to find out the details.)

All in all, Dead Land is another fine example of Sara Paretsky's writing, and well worth the read.
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