I did it again! I jumped into the middle of a series without knowing anything about the characters, the conditions or any previous incidences (which seemed to have played a big role in this book). I was intrigued by the mystery of this case and with a rating above 4, I thought the book had to be good so I dove it. Besides not knowing about some of the previous relationships or should I say, the clashes and quarrels that existed prior to this case, it was a good stand-alone book.

Out walking with her dog along Lake Michigan, Vic’s dog notices something amongst the rocks. Vic’s dog is fixated on whatever he has found, leaving Vic no other choice but to see what has gotten his attention. It’s late and it’s getting darker by the minute so she reluctantly climbs down amongst the rocks to investigate. What? How in the heck did this girl get here? Is she alive? Questions float through Vic’s mind as she pulls her dog away so she can get a better look at the girl and look her over. Alive but barely that, Vic calls the proper authorities to assist the girl as she stays with her and tries to provide comfort.

Assessing the situation, Vic tries to piece together what she can from the evidence that is presented in front of her. Vic plays a vital role in this girl’s life now, even though she doesn’t know it. Vic was first on the scene. She was the eyes and ears of the scene before it was disturbed by the local authorities. Did she see or hear anything that could be important? What lead this girl to be hidden amongst the rocks on the hillside of Lake Michigan?


With a great beginning, I was intrigued as to why this young child was hidden in the rocks? I thought perhaps it was a boating accident but the clues started to go the wrong direction and the authorities just weren’t being honest. There was some shady behavior happening, a cover-up of some sort perhaps and why was a young girl is involved, this was beyond me. Vic was a go-getter and I liked her attitude. Perhaps I should go back and read this series from the beginning. Thank you, William Morrow, and NetGalley for supplying me with arc of this book in exchange for an honest opinion. 4.5 stars

I think this was a "too soon" for me. I love a good detective thriller, but the moment it turned into something about COVID it just felt like it was to soon for my liking. Maybe I'll try it again in a couple years.

*Thank you @williammorrowbooks for the copy in exchange for an honest review. Review not posted to Amazon/Goodreads because less than 4 stars or DNF.*

Overboard goes overboard with the 'Rona references. Do you want a book that constantly reminds you of the pandemic (like we could forget anyway)? Then this is the one for you. Throw in all the political issues, sprinkle in a crime story and ta-da, you've got Overboard.

I always enjoy spending time in V.I. Warshawski's Chicago and getting reacquainted with her and her world. In this installment, everyone is starting to venture back out into the city as the Covid pandemic lockdowns begin to ease a bit. I felt like this made the story feel current and the nods to the pandemic made sense in the story.

As is often the case, the case that V.I. starts with is not as clearcut as it first seems, and leads her down some unexpected paths. What starts out as an attempt to uncover the identity of an injured teen who disappears from the hospital ends up bumping into a seedy underworld of mobsters and corrupt cops. The story is complex and will keep you turning the pages as V.I. races to find the missing girl while still working on the case she's been hired and is being paid for before the mobsters and crooked cops catch up with her.

Many thanks to William Morrow and the Scene of the Crime for the NetGalley copy!

I want to preface my review and say I made a rookie mistake when requesting this book without fully reading the synopsis- as I’ve learned I don’t really enjoy books that focus around the COVID pandemic heavily in the plot. Definitely consider this before reading if this is not your thing!

I did however really enjoy getting to know the main character, Vic, and found her to be easily relatable. The action started right away, and even though this is actually book 21 in the V.I. Warshawski series, it was very easy to keep up and follow along for someone jumping straight in.

I made it about 30% through this book before deciding to DNF. I wasn’t fully invested in the story yet, and really wasn’t a fan of the constant pandemic references and overuse of police brutality.

Thank you to the author and Netgalley for my e-copy to read and honestly review.

This one wasn’t for me. First I didn’t realize it was part of a series (can be read as standalone) and second too much COVID in the story for me.

Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for the digital advanced reader copy. This is my honest review.

This is a new to me author and I have to say I am looking forward to reading more by this author! I loved this book

I usually love Paretsky but this one was not up to par. Too long and way too complicated with a multitude of characters. I don’t think she missed a character tat appeared in another of her books.

I received this as a kindle download from Scene of the Crime Early Read program! .

I can't believe this, but I think this is actually my first-ever V.I. Warshawski book that I've read!? I find this especially funny because I am a sucker for books set in Chicago/Chicagoland. For goodness sake, I read nearly ever Andrew M. Greeley book, just because I liked reading about the Chicago setting! So, anyway, I'll have to look in my records and see if I've met V.I. before, as this was #21 in her series.

I probably would have given this 5 stars, if I were more invested in Warshawski. There were times that I wasn't too certain how I felt about her. I'm sure with 20 previous stories and tribulations, I would have been more invested in her.

But, I was really impressed with Paretsky's writing. Even though I wasn't fully on-board with Warshawski, I did like how the mystery in the story dug deep and had many layers and antagonists. Paretsky sure did also pinpoint the downfalls of Chicago with its heavy-handed police and levels of corruption. Folks, that's not just for literary excitement - it's real!

Having read this, I will certainly be happy to pick up another book by Paretsky and see what happens to Warshawski next.

I have read and enjoyed several of Sara Paretsky’s V.I. Warshawski novels and this is no exception. This time the fearless detective puts her life in danger to uncover conspiracy and corruption among Chicago’s mobsters, police, and poweful citizens. She discovers a badly wounded girl on the rocks near Lake Michigan and brings her to a hospital. The girl disappears from the hospital and Warshawski discovers that people are looking for her to kill her and retrieve something they believe is in her possession. Along with her search to save the girl, she takes on two other cases - the harassment of a synagogue, and a teenage boy’who thinks his mother is having an affair. Paretsky skillfully weaves in references to current events and the Covid pandemic. This is a welcome addition to the series.

First and foremost, thank you to William Morrow and NetGalley for the review copy of this book.

I will preface by saying that I did not realize that this was a series of books. While this was easily read as a standalone, having read the previous books would have helped with character background.
I, personally, felt that the mention of COVID and the pandemic was a little....overly mentioned. However, I can understand how it was necessary for certain aspects of the story.
Overall, I enjoyed the story and would be interested in going back and reading some of the first books of this series to gain more insight of the characters and such.

Just love Sara Paretsky books! I look forward to them and her familiar characters that acquire new dimensions all the time. Our library pre-ordered this book to keep up with demand. The plot kept me guessing til the end. Only complaint is that the violence level seems to have increased. Not sure if this is needed as suspense and clever sleuthdom worked in the past.

Each time I each time I read another VI Warshawski book I am grateful that I stumbled across the books many years ago at the Boston Public Library. Such a great character and such staying power. VI is always there to help the underdog and that's the case in #21. I know there are VI's in the world and that keeps feeling positive about mankind. I love being able to return again and again to these characters I've known for years. There's something comforting about it.

Overboard is the twenty-second title is Ms. Paretsky’s long running series featuring Vi Warshawski. I first encountered Vi in Indemnity Only which was originally released in 1982. Somehow, this talented author has very successfully kept Vi socially relevant and engaging. The books are always a good read and will certainly be enjoy by those who like Sue Grafton.

This time, Vi encounters an enigmatic, injured teen girl. It is late at night. This girl says something but disappears soon thereafter. What happened? What does she know? Since this is a Vi W novel, readers can be sure that some powerful people will be involved. How do the police fit into these events?

One interesting aspect of the book is the acknowledgment of the pandemic. This is happening more in books recently but it is always good to look at things with Vi.

This is a long novel. The pages will turn though! I think that readers both new to and familiar with the series will like this one.

Many thanks to NetGalley and William Morrow for this title. All opinions are my own.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for an e ARC of this book.
Another in the V.I. Warshawski series. Was a little slower pace than most but still a mystery with many side stories. Great characters.

What a wild ride. There were so many threads that were eventually brought together in a cohesive way. The characters were really interesting, if not likable, and the action really kept me involved. She had a habit of putting people in danger, which started to annoy me towards the end, but she did feel bad about it and at least try not to, so I was able to forgive her.

Another enjoyable book in the V.I. Warshawski series. Always enjoy these, with great characters, great pacing, and a great story. #Overboard #NetGalley

Sara Paretsky's V I Washawski books are all well written with absorbing plots and characters, and Overboard is no exception. In fact, it's her best yet. As always there are complications and twists in the case Vic has to solve as well as good people to help and bad guys to capture. An interesting note is that while it takes place during the pandemic, Paretsky is able to acknowledge, not ignore it, and have it work very well within the story.

I didn't realize this book was part of a fairly long series, and reading the twenty books before this one would have given me more context and a deeper understanding, but I enjoyed the story nonetheless. While I've seen Sara Paretsky's books around forever, this was my first time reading her, and it won't be the last. Vic is one of the best central characters I've read in a long time, especially this sort of mystery/thriller. The world building seems spectacular, filled with callbacks and Easter eggs for longtime readers and creating a realistic landscape for the plot. If you're looking for a new mystery author, check out Sara Paretsky's Overboard!

Published by William Morrow on May 10, 2022

I always enjoy the plot complexity of V.I. Warshawski novels, but there’s a little too much going on in Overboard. The primary story involves the mystery of a young woman who is running from a danger she won’t articulate. Subplots involve art theft, blackmail, Chicago land development shenanigans, elder abuse, vandalism of a synagogue, a drone that supposedly sucks everyone’s data from the air, and a kid who is trying to survive bad parenting. Sara Paretsky depends on unconvincing coincidences to bind the subplots together. Trimming a subplot or two might have added some urgency to an uncharacteristically slow story. Still, any Warshawski novel is worth a reader’s time, if only for the rich Chicago atmosphere.

Overboard begins with Warshawski’s dogs finding an injured teenage girl near the river. Of all the millions who inhabit Chicago, it’s an amazing coincidence that Warshawski finds the girl, but that’s a forgivable contrivance because it sets the story in motion. The girl (Julia) speaks only one word to Warshawski, a word that might be Hungarian. Warshawski takes her to a hospital that she trusts. A janitor who speaks some Hungarian makes an unsuccessful attempt to communicate with Julia. The police visit and soon the janitor is dead, Julia disappears, and the woman sharing Julia’s hospital room suffers misfortune.

Warshawski spends most of the novel eluding a corrupt police officer who is convinced that the girl gave something to Warshawski. After Warshawski is in the news for finding Julia, a teenage boy (Brad) wants her to help him discover whether his father is in trouble. Warshawski has a history with Brad’s family that does not endear his quarreling parents to Warshawski. Eventually Warshawski will need to hide Brad and Julia, both of whom possess knowledge that might endanger their lives. Part of Warshawski’s quest involves learning what the two kids have that the cops and their gangster pals are trying to make them surrender.

The story follows Warshawski as she pounds the pavement to find Julia (although the manner in which they reconnect depends on another unlikely coincidence) and pounds it some more to figure out why Julia and Brad and an elderly woman are in so much danger. Warshawski is twice taken to the Chicago Police Department’s version of Gitmo, from which she makes an extraordinarily unlikely escape. A final action scene has Warshawski playing a daring but stupidly dangerous role. None of this quite added up to a believable story.

Key plot points hinge on a small drone doing impossible things, like causing a blackout and blocking all cellphone coverage in a building. (The drone also magically absorbs all digital data contained within a building, but the plot doesn’t depend on that remarkable feature to save the heroine.) The drone’s conventional ability to take pictures is a more believable plot driver, although the picture it happened to take is — yes, once more — an unlikely coincidence.

The corruption and brutality of the Chicago Police Department is legendary. Paretsky makes it central to the plot. It is also part of the novel’s Chicago atmosphere, along with crooked real estate deals, a polluted river, and the city’s ethnic diversity. Paretsky’s novels are a joy to read for anyone who has explored Chicago. Paretsky’s prose and atmospheric writing give the novel its value, but the story is a bit ho-hum compared to other books in the series.

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