Dead Land: A V.I. Warshawski Novel

In MWA Grand Master Paretsky’s solid 21st V.I. Warshawski novel (after 2018’s Shell Game), Warshawski’s goddaughter, Bernadine “Bernie” Fouchard, persuades her to attend a meeting of the South Lakefront Improvement Council (SLICK), a Chicago community group. On the group’s agenda is the Chicago Parks District’s plan to fill in part of the lake to create a beach. The meeting erupts in protest, led by the mysterious Coop. Later, Warshawski and Bernie seek to help Lydia Zamir, a former famous singer-songwriter now living on the streets and suffering from the aftershock of the murder of her lover, Hector Palurdo, in a mass shooting. Warshawski looks into who killed Hector while also investigating the actions of SLICK after two of its speakers are murdered. Could Coop be involved? Warshawski knows well the shady politics that drive Chicago and the city’s “pay for play” policies, but she wasn’t expecting to uncover a conspiracy that reaches into South America. Never mind that the plot occasionally becomes mired in repetitious action. Warshawski’s spirit and strength still shine. Agent: Dominick Abel, Dominick Abel Literary. (Apr.)