• Killing Orders

  • V. I. Warshawski #3
  • By: Sara Paretsky
  • Narrated by: Susan Ericksen
  • Length: 9 hrs and 43 mins
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars (327 ratings)

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Killing Orders  By  cover art

Killing Orders

By: Sara Paretsky
Narrated by: Susan Ericksen
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Publisher's summary

Killing Orders, V.I. Warshawski’s third adventure, starts when her great-aunt Rosa summons the detective to her cold suburban home. Rosa made V.I.’s childhood miserable and the detective resents the command to help her aunt prove she didn't embezzle five million dollars from a local Dominican priory.

All hell breaks loose when a mysterious opponent tries to take Vic off the case by throwing acid in her eyes and burning down her apartment. And when a friend who’s involved in the case is brutally murdered, it begins to look as if Vic hasn’t got a prayer.

But Warshawski continues to follow every lead, even when they point to some pretty unorthodox conclusions: Perhaps the Dominicans are covering up a financial scandal. Maybe the whole conspiracy is under the patronage of an international conglomerate, or of Don Pasquale, king of the Chicago mob. Worst of all, someone who’s close to Vic could be involved — her darkly handsome English lover, Roger Ferrant, or even Aunt Rosa herself.

Crack another case with V. I. Warshawski.
©2005 Sara Paretsky (P)2010 Brilliance Audio, Inc.

What listeners say about Killing Orders

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars

Killing Orders

Could hardly stop listening to this story. Paretsky packs a fast pace action filled story with a human touch. Susan Ericksen did a great job narrating this book. Almost feel as if I have been to Chicago listening to the description in the story. Will be looking for more books by this author and reader.

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4 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars

AwEsOmE!

I LOVE SUSAN ERICKSAN!! I HAVE YET TO LISTEN TO A BOOK THAT SHE HAS READ THAT I HAVENT ENJOYED! SHE DOES AN AWESOME JOB. SARA PARETSKY KEEPS YOU ON THE EDGE OF YOUR SEAT WONDER WHAT WILL HAPPEN!

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2 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars

Love it!

I thoroughly enjoyed this title! Although my favorite narrator is Jean Smart for this character, I still found that the readers voice was good and easily understood. This novel is full of suspense and action which I absolutely love! This is the 2nd audio book by this author I've experienced and am now hooked on the entire series! If you love detective novels with a smart-a$$, strong willed, kick-a$$ and take names type of character then you'll be in absolute heaven! Also, many mystery novels I read/hear end abruptly and never give you much aftermath information; Paretsky does!!! I love hearing how the characters end up, and this book is a good example. The family component in the novel is also awesome, since it gives you a better understanding of detective VI's history and upbringing. VI's temper, however, is something I had to get use to. Being a very relaxed type of person I couldn't relate to her getting upset at certain times. It seemed like whenever I would have gotten upset she was fine and when I didn't care she'd get upset. However it didn't ruin the story, just made me look at my own feelings more, HAHAHA!

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2 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    1 out of 5 stars

Torture

Very difficult to listen to, not sure which is worse the story and/or the narrator or some combination but either way the first dud I've downloaded. The other strange thing I haven't figured out is the rating system..4/8 reviewers rate a particular book as five star but then there maybe only ONE actual review to read...what is the deal with that? Save your money/credit on this one.

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1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars
  • DB
  • 03-19-24

Chicago references!

I live in Chicago’s Lakeview neighborhood, where V. I. Warshawski lives. 40 years after this novel was written, it still holds up. I get a kick out of all of the neighborhood references. Her comment that Halsted north of Fullerton is down market makes me laugh. I suppose it was in 1983. As another reviewer commented, there is no Mont Rose Street in Chicago. It’s Montrose. That’s the only glaring mispronunciation. I also enjoyed going back to the world in the novel before everyone had a phone in their pocket and there were cameras everywhere. I have read the novels out of order. This one provides the back story for when she moved into the flat that is in all the later novels. Thank you, Sara Paretsky, for so many wonderful stories about a great heroine, and for your love of the City of Chicago.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Well done!

This story holds together beautifully. Keeps you coming back! She continues to develop her characters in this series and the plot is very well woven.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • PM
  • 11-18-22

excellent story with one exception

The story written so well yet another word could be used instead of the word "nigger". the context in which the word is used is indirect yet another word could have been substituted. amongst all the words in the English language with such a gifted writer another choice could have been made.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Love this series.

As a Chicagoan, I love this series as I can relate to places, names and times. If you’re going to narrate, be sure you know the correct pronunciations of street names, buildings etc. It is not MONT-ROSE Harbor. The correct pronunciation is MON-TROSE Harbor. And there was one other, it was a building that was pronounced incorrectly but it’s escaping me at the moment.
That said, Susan Erickson is my absolute favorite narrator.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Well Written Murder Mystery. Great Narration.

This novel centers around V. R. Warshawski who is a female private investigator during a time when females are still expected to be happily married housewives and mothers. This plucky woman finds herself helping her Aunt Rosa, a bitter old woman who is suspected to have stolen Church stock and substituting them with fraudulent stock. From there, Sara Paretsky expertly weaves a tale of intrigue, fraud, murder, arson, and corruption, sprinkled with mob involvement and capped off with the testing of a longtime friendship. This novel is made ever better by Susan Ericksen's narration. [On a side note, this novel was written in a time when cell phones, fax machines, and personal computers were not available. I enjoyed recalling those days when we relied on corded phones, answering services, and office machine companies to provide the services we now take for granted.] I highly recommend this book and the accompanying series to anyone who loves a good murder mystery. #murder #mystery #VIWarshawski #GreatNarration #SusanEricksen #SaraParetsky #series #PI #crime #drama

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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

Enjoyed this book

I love the grittiness of this female protagonist. V.I. is one tough cookie...great plot line.

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