Critical Mass

VI Warshawski, Book 16

By: Sara Paretsky

Narrated by: Susan Ericksen

The brilliant V. I. Warshawski returns in another hard-hitting entry, combining razor-sharp plotting and compelling characters with a heady mix of timely political and social themes.

V. I. Warshawski’s closest friend in Chicago is the Viennese-born doctor Lotty Herschel, who lost most of her family in the Holocaust. Lotty escaped to London in 1939 on the Kindertransport with a childhood playmate, Kitty Saginor Binder. When Kitty’s daughter finds her life is in danger, she calls Lotty, who in turn summons V. I. to help. The daughter’s troubles turn out to be just the tip of an iceberg of lies, secrets, and silence, whose origins go back to the mad competition among America, Germany, Japan, and England to develop the first atomic bomb. The secrets are old, but the people who continue to guard them today will not let go without a fight.

©2013 Sara Paretsky (P)2013 Brilliance Audio, Inc.

Still writing great books

Sometimes after a certain number of books, an author's writing becomes stale and formulaic. Fortunately not Sara Paretsky. She finds ways to keep developing her characters and keeping the stories fresh. I loved the history introduced into this book and look forward to the next.

Fascinating Story - Great Narrator

If you could sum up Critical Mass in three words, what would they be?

Susan Ericksen is an excellent voice for Sara Paretsky. I had trouble disconnecting from the story to do work or sleep, it was so engrossing.

Great

Any additional comments?

This was one of best VI Warshaski yet!!! Before listening this book, I would strongly suggest listen to Total Recall. There is a lot information from that book to this book. If you did not like Total Recall then you will probably like this book then.

great book

loved the book would recommend and narrated very well. I couldn't wait to hear the ending

Sara Does it again.

If you could sum up Critical Mass in three words, what would they be?

Suspense, great and brilliant.

Did the plot keep you on the edge of your seat? How?

From the beginning I started the book, I could not put it down. Sara did a great job of making me love the story. I always love reading any story that VI is involve.

What does Susan Ericksen bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

Susan put heart into the reading. She is fantastic and I feel that she loves reading about VI.

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

The end of the story. I am glad that Martina was able to found some happiness.

Any additional comments?

Anyone who is interested in great detective novel must read VI by Sara Paretsky. I had read her books more than several times and still love her. Looking forward to the next VI.

Still Exciting

Would you listen to Critical Mass again? Why?

I would definitely listen to CM again because the story was so detailed and contained so much history. I'm sure there are little parts I missed. I really enjoyed that the book took you from Past to Present throughout the chapters. Was an interesting way to lead the reader through the lives of those in Germany. I have listened to all the V.I. books now. This story is told in a different way, but still has all the great characteristics of all the other books.

One of her best!

Would you listen to Critical Mass again? Why?

I never re-listen to books, but it's a great book!

What was one of the most memorable moments of Critical Mass?

The thing that struck me most was the technical and mathematical research that she had to do to write this book. Amazing!

Which character – as performed by Susan Ericksen – was your favorite?

VI - as always!

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

Yes.

Any additional comments?

This was one of her best. Well written. Lots of technically interesting and mathematic intricacies with a great story line.

POWERFUL

This book is not for the faint of heart. It tells in graphic detail what happened to Jews in Nazi Germany and elsewhere during that period. This book also tells about how the US accepted known Nazi criminals into this country in order to help build a nuclear reactor and bomb and gave them US Citizenship.
I enjoyed the science and the interactions especially Lotte, Max and Vic's.

Flirting with Disaster

Critical Mass is timely for both story line and show casing women in science. Ms Paretsky give us a tight plot with somewhat predictable twist. I was fascinated by the role of female physicist in Austria prior to WWII. It was a fun mystery and sent me searching for more information on women in physics. Science Friday has a nice interview about this with the author.

The narrator was horrible. She overstates voices, uses inappropriate intonation and was irritating to listen to. She tried to do the characters' voices and ended up sounding angry most of the time.

Interesting plot

Did you ever read a book that went on and on just barely holding your interest? I just have. I’m not sure that the ends justified the means but a readers digest version would have sufficed.