The seventeenth V.I. Warshawski thriller from one of America's greatest female crime writers, combining contemporary issues, the fight against justice and fast-paced suspense.

V.I. Warshawski is the perfect heroine ... What [Paretsky] brings to the classic private-eye novel is something entirely original; a dry crackle of wit and a deep emotional sympathy with her characters The Sunday Times It's hard not to get caught up in her passion ... Snappy dialogue, tight plotting and realistic situations make Paretsky's unapologetically politicised thrillers a pleasure to read, whatever your viewpoint. Daily Mail Some crime series grow stale over time, but there's no sign of fatigue here. This is partly because the recurring characters continue to develop and engage the reader, and partly because of the moral intelligence that informs the writing. Spectator A daring departure for Paretsky ... and a career-crowning triumph. The Sunday Times on CRITICAL MASS Paretsky's most ambitious novel so far: interesting, exciting and well worth reading. Literary Review on CRITICAL MASS

Sara Paretsky, the author of the V.I. Warshawski novels, was named 2011 Grand Master by the Mystery Writers of America. She is the winner of many awards, including the Cartier Diamond Dagger Award for lifetime achievement from the British Crime Writers' Association and the CWA Gold Dagger for Blacklist. Visit Sara's website, www.saraparetsky.com, find her on Facebook, www.facebook.com/SaraParetsky, and follow her on Twitter at twitter.com/Sara1982P.