Critical Mass

Paretsky's latest in her long-running series (after Breakdown) begins with a frantic call from the daughter of Kitty Binder, a woman involved in the early life of Dr. Lotty Herschel including their escape from the Holocaust in 1939 and their ultimately landing in Chicago. The story moves to the meth labs of rural Illinois and the disappearance of Kitty's gifted grandson, integrating World War II atomic research with the atomic world of the present day. V.I. Warshawski's integrity and conscience shine through as she makes life-altering decisions for herself, her closest friends, and her clients. Paretsky includes characters and events from previous series entries, but her books may stand alone since she includes enough background information to bring the reader effortlessly up-to-date. The writing is superb, with understated humor and marvelously descriptive language. Susan Ericksen, the ongoing narrator of the series, makes a great Warshawski!