Windy City Blues

It'sstrictlyFriends&FamilyasV.I.Warshawski，"thedetectivemysteryfanshavebeenwaitingfor"(Time)，makesreturnappearancesinacollectionofstoriesthatbringnewmeaningto"tiesthatbind."  Deckedoutinhersilkshirtsandno-nonsenseAttitude，V.I.isouttomakealiving--bytheskinofherteeth.In"GraceNotes，"V.I.hasbarelyfinishedhermorningcoffeewhensheseesanadinthepaperaskingforinformationaboutherownmother，longdead.  ThepaperleadsV.I.tohernewfoundItaliancousinVico，who'slookingformusiccomposedbytheirgreat-grandmother.  What'sthescore?  Clearlyit'ssomethingtokillfor..."ThePietroAndromache"findsV.I.'sfriendDr.LottyHerschelwithmotiveandmeanstodispatchherprofessionalrivalandstealhispricelessstatue.  Lottydidn'tdoit--butdoessheknowwhodid?  V.I.sooncutstotheartofthecase--andit'snotaprettypictureatall!Summonedbyanoldhighschoolfriendtoarace"AttheOldSwimmingHole，"V.I.endsupswimmingwiththesharks--theFBIandaruthlessgamblingkingpin--inapoolofblood....Andit'sonly"SkinDeep"whenarelaxingfacialtransformationtransformsaclientintoastiff.  V.I.'spalSalneedshelp.  HerbeauticiansisterEvangelineisprimesuspect--andV.I.hasonlyeighteenhourstocrackthecasebeforeit'sheadlinenews..."  Three-DotPo"provesthere'snothinglikeadog.  Especiallyadogonthetrailofhermistress'skiller，withV.I.intow...In"StrungOut，"lovemeansnothingandV.I.'squicktolearnthescoreasheroldfriend'stennis-championdaughterisundersuspicionforstranglingherfatherwitharacketstring.  Andthere'smore，ninestoriesinall，inthismasterfulcollectionofshortfictionstarringV.I.Warshawski，"themostengagingwomanindetectivefictionsinceDorothySayers'sHarrietVane"(Newsweek).