Sara Corrin

Advantages: Suitable for all ages, moving story, charming people, happy ending
Disadvantages: A major coincidence in the resolution of the story

...This book opens with seven-year-old Sara Crewe observing the cold, damp surroundings of London as her father takes her to Miss Minchin's boarding school. Sara's father works in India, and although she has lived there until recently, it wasn't considered a healthy climate for children. The book was first published in 1905, when most British children born in India were sent to schools in the UK from a young age, so although it sounds almost barbaric in today's society, it was accepted as the thing to do. Sara's mother died when she was a baby, so her father has been everything to her. Although she's been given every material thing possible, and could have become extremely spoilt, we soon discover that she's a delightful little girl who adores her father. She's been treated well, and given lots of love, as well as knowing ever since... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average very helpful

Advantages: Excellent plotline, strong characterisation
Disadvantages: Complicated, not a light read. Some violence

...Introduction Over the years, I have become addicted to crime fiction featuring American private investigators, particularly the women, such as Sue Grafton's Kinsey Millhone and Sara Paretsky's V. I. Warshawski. I think the main difference between the two of them is that Sue Grafton's 'A is for…' series is much more light-hearted than the Paretsky series, which is hard-hitting and tends to comment quite openly on the political climate and social inequality. Sue Grafton is great for relaxing; but reading Sara Paretsky really makes you feel like you've read a worthwhile book. I've now read a few in the series and look forward to reading more. The author Following a wide range of jobs, including dishwashing and working as a conference manager, Sara Paretsky now writes full time. She was brought up in Kansas, but now lives in Chicago... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average helpful

Advantages: Great characters and plot
Disadvantages: Some violence

...Introduction Toxic Shock is Sara Paretsky's fifth V I Warshawski novel. Published in 1998, it won the Crime Writer's Association Silver Dagger Award. I read this book with high expectations, having read most of Paretsky's other books in this series, and was not disappointed. The book gallops along at high speed with Warshawski getting herself into all sorts of trouble, yet somehow the author makes it realistic. Definitely my favourite of all the US female investigators, even better than Temp Brennan and Kay Scarpetta. A new book in the series, 'Fire Sale', has just come out and am looking forward to getting hold of a copy. The author Sara Paretsky held a variety of jobs before starting to write full-time. She is a founder member of the group Sisters in Crime, which is an advocacy group for women in the field of thrillers. She now... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average helpful