Books › Indemnity Only
Indemnity Only
a novel
First published 1982 · 405 pages
A sweltering, high-stakes urban mystery where a tough-as-nails investigator races against the clock through a web of deadly deception.
What it feels like
This mystery plunges the reader straight into the sweltering, dangerous heat of a Chicago summer night. The narrative moves at a propulsive clip, mirroring the desperate race against time at the heart of the story. It feels gritty and urgent, anchored by a tough, uncompromising woman private investigator who thrives on trouble. The atmosphere is thick with tension and deception, as every uncovered secret only leads to more shadowy questions and escalating stakes. The prose is punchy and atmospheric, perfectly capturing the feeling of a wild-goose chase that turns deadly. It is an ideal read for anyone who loves classic, hard-hitting detective fiction where a relentless pursuit of the truth takes center stage against a backdrop of urban peril.
- Mood
- sweltering
- tense
- dangerous
- urgent
- Tone
- tough
- urgent
- gritty
- suspenseful
- Pace
- propulsive
- Themes
- deception and hidden identities · race against time · urban danger · seeking the truth
- The writing
- Punchy and atmospheric, capturing the sweltering heat and gritty danger of a city summer.
- The arc
- Moves from a suspicious late-night encounter into a high-stakes, desperate scramble to uncover the truth and save a life.
- Who it's for
- Readers who love tough, uncompromising women detectives navigating deadly urban mysteries.
Content notes
- murder
- missing persons
- deception
About the book
Meeting an anonymous client late on a sizzling summer night is asking for trouble. But trouble is Chicago private eye V.I. Warshwski's specialty. Her client says he's the prominent banker, John Thayer. Turns out he's not. He says his son's girlfriend, Anita Hill, is missing. Turns out that's not her real name. V.I.'s search turns up someone soon enough -- the real John Thayer's son, and he's dead. Who's V.I.'s client? Why has she been set up and sent out on a wild-goose chase? By the time she's got it figured, things are hotter -- and deadlier -- than Chicago in July. V.I.'s in a desperate race against time. At stake: a young woman's life.From the Paperback edition.
Description from Open Library.
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