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Bleeding Kansas Kindle Edition

3.9 3.9 out of 5 stars 204 ratings

From the New York Times bestselling author of the V.I. Warshawski series comes “a gripping contemporary novel…of fear and conflict in heartland America” (Publishers Weekly).

In Kansas, on land that once saw some of America’s bloodiest antislavery battles, three families have coexisted for more than one hundred fifty years: the Grelliers, the Fremantles, and the Schapens. Once allies in the fight against slavery, today the Schapens and the Grelliers disagree on every subject, from organic farming to the war in Iraq, but above all on religion.
 
Into their lives comes Gina Haring, a relative of the Fremantles who is house-sitting the derelict family mansion while she puts her own life in order. Her lifestyle and beliefs will put her at odds with her neighbors...and test the mettle of a community being swept up in events beyond its control.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Starred Review. Bestseller Paretsky, who has tackled weighty issues in her V.I. Warshawski detective series (e.g., the Holocaust in Total Recall), weaves a gripping contemporary novel around three farm families—the Grelliers, Fremantles and Schapens—that can trace their Kaw Valley, Kans., roots back to the 1850s, a time of violent clashes between antislavery and proslavery forces in Bleeding Kansas. Their shared history is no buffer against the storm of changes that begin with the arrival of Gina Haring, a lesbian Wiccan. Chip Grellier, after being expelled from high school, enlists in the army and is killed in Iraq with devastating effects on his family. The Schapens' fundamentalist doctrines come to the fore when they discover a perfect red heifer in their dairy herd that may be a path to riches as well as to the second coming. Meanwhile, Gina stirs prejudices and passions to a fever pitch. Paretsky taps a different vein and strikes gold in this timely tale of fear and conflict in heartland America. Author tour.(Jan.)
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

From Bookmarks Magazine

Fans of V. I. Warshawski, the gritty Chicago private eye, may be surprised to find her absent from Sara Paretsky’s latest work. Paretsky grew up in the Kaw River Valley, and her affection for its countryside, people, and history shines throughout this novel. The regional and historical roots of Paretsky’s characteristic social consciousness are clearly on display in what the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel calls "a novel of ideas." Despite some complaints of flat characters, cartoonish villains, and a confusing, sometimes implausible, plot, many critics felt that Paretsky’s vibrant storytelling outweighed the novel’s shortcomings. Warshawski fans, take heart: Paretsky reports that the resilient detective is currently in Italy, recovering from a beating she took in Fire Sale (2005), but that she will return in 2009.
Copyright © 2004 Phillips & Nelson Media, Inc.

Product details

  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ B000XPRS4I
  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Berkley (January 1, 2008)
  • Publication date ‏ : ‎ January 1, 2008
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • File size ‏ : ‎ 1781 KB
  • Text-to-Speech ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
  • Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Not Enabled
  • Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Print length ‏ : ‎ 460 pages
  • Page numbers source ISBN ‏ : ‎ 0399154051
  • Customer Reviews:
    3.9 3.9 out of 5 stars 204 ratings

About the author

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Sara Paretsky
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Called a "genius" by Lee Child and "one of the all time greats" by Karin Slaughter, Sara Paretsky transformed the role of women in the mystery world with her detective, V.I. Warshawski. V.I. is tough, feminine and vulnerable, but above all loyal to her friends and clients. Paretsky and Warshawski share a love of singing, Golden Retrievers and Italian reds. V.I. has escaped many near-death experiences, including drowning in Chicago's swamps (Blood Shot), falling down an elevator shaft (Burn Marks), and multiple attempts to shoot her down (Dead Land). Paretsky would have retired to the Umbrian Hills after one such event, but V.I. keeps coming back for more.

Paretsky's passion for social justice is reflected in her novels but also in her support for reproductive health and the welfare of women and children. She founded Sisters in Crime, an international organization that advocates for women in the mystery/thriller field. She is one of four living writers to earn both the Cartier Diamond Dagger from the British Crime Writers and Grand Master from the Mystery Writers of America.

Visit Sara's website, www.saraparetsky.com, find her on Facebook, www.facebook.com/SaraParetsky, and follow her on Twitter @Sara1982P.

Customer reviews

3.9 out of 5 stars
204 global ratings

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Customers say

Customers enjoyed the engaging story and thought-provoking plot. They found the humor humorous and enjoyable. The writing style was described as wonderful. However, opinions differed on the pacing, setting, and characters. Some found the book vibrant and stunning, while others felt it was unrealistic and stereotypical.

AI-generated from the text of customer reviews

10 customers mention "Suspenseful story"10 positive0 negative

Customers enjoyed the engaging story. They found it thought-provoking and interesting. The author is described as an excellent storyteller, and the book held their interest. It explored the highs and lows of real life, a change from her detective stories. The Wiccan bonfires added intrigue, and the characters developed over time.

"...Ms. Paretsky is an excellent storyteller, and this book deserves a wide audience. Susan Firtch" Read more

"...This is the most thought-provoking novel I've read for quite some time...." Read more

"...unrealistic and the characters stereotypical but overall it was an engaging story...." Read more

"...The Wiccan bonfires added some intrigue. The characters developed as the story went on." Read more

3 customers mention "Humor"3 positive0 negative

Customers enjoy the humor in the book. They find it humorous and enjoyable.

"...I like her opinions and her sense of humour. She is very good." Read more

"...They are multi layered and vibrant, the story is interesting and humorous at times." Read more

"Good series, humorous and enjoyable." Read more

3 customers mention "Writing style"3 positive0 negative

Customers like the writing style.

"...Her ability to write well in different styles with outrageous characters and scenarios is one of her greatest strengths. She is a phenomenal writer." Read more

"...This is a very interesting and well-written book...." Read more

"Although Paretsky writes well, I've never really enjoyed her V.I, Warshawski series, because the lead character is so cold, and unlikeable...." Read more

8 customers mention "Pacing"3 positive5 negative

Customers have different views on the pacing. Some find the story interesting and vibrant, with an inviting setting. Others feel the book is unrealistic and the characters stereotypical, with cold and unlikable characters.

"...author's description of Lawrence, Kansas and Douglas County is not based in reality...." Read more

"...This was truly a stunning book from my perspective because the characters were believable and authentic...." Read more

"...V.I, Warshawski series, because the lead character is so cold, and unlikeable...." Read more

"...At times the book was a little unrealistic and the characters stereotypical but overall it was an engaging story...." Read more

7 customers mention "Likable characters"3 positive4 negative

Customers have mixed opinions about the characters. Some find them believable and authentic, with human insights. Others feel the characters are insane, depressing, unrealistic, and cold.

"...never really enjoyed her V.I, Warshawski series, because the lead character is so cold, and unlikeable...." Read more

"...was truly a stunning book from my perspective because the characters were believable and authentic...." Read more

"...At times the book was a little unrealistic and the characters stereotypical but overall it was an engaging story...." Read more

"...general, but this one is very compelling and complex, about people who seem so very real...." Read more

Top reviews from the United States

  • Reviewed in the United States on December 31, 2024
    A rural farming neighborhood is the background for Bleeding Kansas. History layers with the present as diary entries share the life of the settlers and current events shape the lives of the families on the farms.
  • Reviewed in the United States on June 30, 2008
    The book is not bad. However, the author's description of Lawrence, Kansas and Douglas County is not based in reality. I've lived in the area for decades and, perhaps, there was once a Douglas County like the one Paretsky describes, but if so it hasn't existed for a long, long time. Lawrence, is in fact, one of the most liberal towns in the country, not the quaint little farm town described in this book. Paretsky writes about a protest of the Iraq war which draws 80 people. She writes that a protest like this in Lawrence is almost unheard of. Not so. Much larger anti-war protests take place in Lawrence all the time...and they are not generally organized by groupings of farm wives, but by anarchists, students, feminists, anti-war activists and the like. Fundamentalist Christians no doubt exist in Douglas County, just as they do everywhere, but they are a small minority of the population and have little influence these days. Instead of the modern, left leaning town that Lawrence is today, Paretsky descirbes some sort of strange 1800s farm town transported to the 21st centruy. Paretsky writes in her introduction that after the turbulent 60s and 70s there was a "Republican" conservative backlash that took over the town. Quite the contrary, Lawrence turned toward the left in those years and never looked back. Sara, you should go home more often.
    8 people found this helpful
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  • Reviewed in the United States on July 17, 2011
    I started out reading this book by listing the characters and their relationships as they unfolded. Sara Paretsky often creates stories involving too many people to remember and this book was no exception. Once I have everyone on paper, I can plow my way through the story with ease and not have to flip back and forth.

    This was truly a stunning book from my perspective because the characters were believable and authentic. It also took me back to my childhood which was saturated in full gospel church doctrine and practice, in which the most "spiritual" of practitioners decide whether you are saved or not, judging by the most superficial of criteria. To people who have never experienced this kind of mindless discrimination, the book might have seemed too outrageous to be authentic. Although Paretsky kind of went over the top in places, it has the ring of truth to one who knows.

    To the many who panned the book: Paretsky shouldn't have to write the same book all the time to please you. Her ability to write well in different styles with outrageous characters and scenarios is one of her greatest strengths. She is a phenomenal writer.
    11 people found this helpful
    Report
  • Reviewed in the United States on January 5, 2008
    I pre-ordered this book thinking it was a VI Warsahwski mystery because Amazon had it listed as a forthcoming book under "women sleuths." They now have it listed under bestelling books-"women sleuths"--which is extremely misleading because this book is not a mystery per se, and definitely not a VI book. I was initially very unhappy when I unpacked it and found out it was "just a novel about some people in Kansas." I then went on Amazon to read the existing reviews, and decided to try it rather than sending it back. I am very glad I did, because I stopped complaining once I started reading it! This is a very interesting and well-written book.

    I am not a fan of non-mystery novels in general, but this one is very compelling and complex, about people who seem so very real. I'm not going to discuss all the plot details, because others already have. I just want to explain why I thought it was good, and why I think others will like it. Sara Paretsky really has a feel for people's emotions and motivations, and she got me hooked from the beginning when I was figuring out what was going on with Lara in the cornfield. The way it mixes the past and present also really kept my attention.

    I agree somewhat with a prior reviewer that it is sort of like a Barbara Delinsky book, because it is about the joys and sorrows of people's lives--but it also has Paretsy's trademark hard edged approach--which makes for a more complex, darker, and gripping read. This is not a light book, but it's not a total downer either. It hits the highs and lows of real life.

    I also agree with a prior reviewer that there are a lot of people and relationships to figure out and to keep straight. Her comments were helpful because, but being forewarned, I started reading with the knowledge that I would have to figure things out and keep it all straight, so I didn't have a problem. In fact, it was kind of fun to feel I was being challenged to think and remember things in order to fully understand the characters and their lives.

    So, if you are a disappointed VI fan who thought this was a new one in the series--give this a try anyway. The same thing goes if you don't like the VI mysteries--give this novel a try. Ms. Paretsky is an excellent storyteller, and this book deserves a wide audience.

    Susan Firtch
    16 people found this helpful
    Report
  • Reviewed in the United States on May 18, 2013
    I loved this book. While horrified by the narrow-minded, hateful neighbors and what they were capable of, the story of Lara/Lulu grabbed me and wouldn't let go until I'd turned the last page. This is the most thought-provoking novel I've read for quite some time. The book centers around a scandal in a rural area that's fueled by gossip and downright meanness. The so-called Christians who will do anything at all to serve their purposes remind us that religion should be a voice for good, not for evil.
    4 people found this helpful
    Report
  • Reviewed in the United States on January 6, 2008
    Preordered this book thinking it was another VI Warshawski mystery. I was eagerly awaiting it's arrival, and I was so excited when it finally came. I settled down for some light hearted mystery reading about a female sleuths adventures. What a let down !! I tried to read it because I'm a fan of the author, but had a headache by chapter three trying to keep up with the characters and story line. I'm confused as to why Amazon had it listed under the "female sleuths' catagory. It's sooo NOT !!

    Sorry for another bad review !! I'm sure someone else will appreciate this type of story !! It's too much like "homework" for me.
    11 people found this helpful
    Report

Top reviews from other countries

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  • spider queen
    5.0 out of 5 stars A departure from the V.I books----and every bit as good as all her other work
    Reviewed in Canada on July 14, 2024
    I have, and love, ALL her books.
    The people, the situations, the plots, the intelligence, the WRITING.

    Very highly recommended
  • Nigel Shaw
    5.0 out of 5 stars Five Stars
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on October 2, 2017
    Excellent
  • KY
    5.0 out of 5 stars Sara Paretskyのファンには絶対お薦めの本
    Reviewed in Japan on July 12, 2008
    正義感が強く権力に媚びない私立探偵 VI Warshawskiの活躍に胸がすく思いで,Warshawski シリーズは全作読んでいますが,個人個人を尊重しようとする著者Sara Paretskyの考えにも共鳴するところが大きいので,このBleeding Kansas を早速購入して読み始めて,今半分ぐらいです.Chip がイラク戦争で戦死して,Grellier家のJim,Susan,Laraは家族崩壊の瀬戸際にありますが,このまま崩壊してしまうのか,立ち直れるのか分かりませんが,とにかくワクワクしながら読んでいます.
     Sara Paretskyのファンには絶対お薦めの本と思います.
  • Shirley
    4.0 out of 5 stars easy reading
    Reviewed in Canada on November 18, 2024
    good story
  • W. Holm
    5.0 out of 5 stars Five Stars
    Reviewed in Canada on December 4, 2017
    A long time Paretsky fan, I could not put this book down. SUPERB! A must read!

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