Author: James Talley
Publisher: University of Oklahoma Press
ISBN: 0806192526
Category : Biography & Autobiography
Languages : en
Pages : 314
Book Description
For many diehard music fans and critics, Oklahoma-born James Talley ranks among the finest of American singer-songwriters. Talley’s unique style—a blend of folk, country, blues, and social commentary—draws comparisons with the likes of Woody Guthrie, Merle Haggard, and Johnny Cash. In this engaging, down-to-earth memoir, Talley recalls the highs and lows of his nearly fifty-year career in country music. Talley’s story begins in the hardscrabble towns of eastern Oklahoma. As a young man, he witnessed poverty and despair and worked alongside ordinary Americans who struggled to make ends meet. He has never forgotten his Oklahoma roots. These experiences shaped Talley’s artistic vision and inspired him to write his own songs. Eventually Talley landed in Nashville, where his first years included exciting brushes with fame but also bitter disappointments. As an early champion of social justice causes, his ideals did not fit neatly into Nashville’s star-making machine. By his own admission, Talley at times made poor business decisions and trusted the wrong people. His relationship with the country music industry was—and still is—fraught, but he makes no apology for staying true to his core principles. Nashville City Blues offers hard-won wisdom for any aspiring artist motivated to work hard and handle whatever setbacks might follow. Readers will also gain valuable understanding about the country music industry and the inescapable links between commerce and artistry.
Nashville City Blues
Author: James Talley
Publisher: University of Oklahoma Press
ISBN: 0806192526
Category : Biography & Autobiography
Languages : en
Pages : 314
Book Description
For many diehard music fans and critics, Oklahoma-born James Talley ranks among the finest of American singer-songwriters. Talley’s unique style—a blend of folk, country, blues, and social commentary—draws comparisons with the likes of Woody Guthrie, Merle Haggard, and Johnny Cash. In this engaging, down-to-earth memoir, Talley recalls the highs and lows of his nearly fifty-year career in country music. Talley’s story begins in the hardscrabble towns of eastern Oklahoma. As a young man, he witnessed poverty and despair and worked alongside ordinary Americans who struggled to make ends meet. He has never forgotten his Oklahoma roots. These experiences shaped Talley’s artistic vision and inspired him to write his own songs. Eventually Talley landed in Nashville, where his first years included exciting brushes with fame but also bitter disappointments. As an early champion of social justice causes, his ideals did not fit neatly into Nashville’s star-making machine. By his own admission, Talley at times made poor business decisions and trusted the wrong people. His relationship with the country music industry was—and still is—fraught, but he makes no apology for staying true to his core principles. Nashville City Blues offers hard-won wisdom for any aspiring artist motivated to work hard and handle whatever setbacks might follow. Readers will also gain valuable understanding about the country music industry and the inescapable links between commerce and artistry.
Publisher: University of Oklahoma Press
ISBN: 0806192526
Category : Biography & Autobiography
Languages : en
Pages : 314
Book Description
For many diehard music fans and critics, Oklahoma-born James Talley ranks among the finest of American singer-songwriters. Talley’s unique style—a blend of folk, country, blues, and social commentary—draws comparisons with the likes of Woody Guthrie, Merle Haggard, and Johnny Cash. In this engaging, down-to-earth memoir, Talley recalls the highs and lows of his nearly fifty-year career in country music. Talley’s story begins in the hardscrabble towns of eastern Oklahoma. As a young man, he witnessed poverty and despair and worked alongside ordinary Americans who struggled to make ends meet. He has never forgotten his Oklahoma roots. These experiences shaped Talley’s artistic vision and inspired him to write his own songs. Eventually Talley landed in Nashville, where his first years included exciting brushes with fame but also bitter disappointments. As an early champion of social justice causes, his ideals did not fit neatly into Nashville’s star-making machine. By his own admission, Talley at times made poor business decisions and trusted the wrong people. His relationship with the country music industry was—and still is—fraught, but he makes no apology for staying true to his core principles. Nashville City Blues offers hard-won wisdom for any aspiring artist motivated to work hard and handle whatever setbacks might follow. Readers will also gain valuable understanding about the country music industry and the inescapable links between commerce and artistry.
Windy City Blues
Author: Renée Rosen
Publisher: Penguin
ISBN: 1101991127
Category : Fiction
Languages : en
Pages : 482
Book Description
In 1960s Chicago, a young woman stands in the middle of a musical and social revolution. A new historical novel from the bestselling author of White Collar Girl and What the Lady Wants. “The rise of the Chicago Blues scene fairly shimmers with verve and intensity, and the large, diverse cast of characters is indelibly portrayed with the perfect pitch of a true artist.” —Melanie Benjamin, New York Times bestselling author of The Swans of Fifth Avenue Leeba Groski doesn’t exactly fit in, but her love of music is not lost on her childhood friend and neighbor, Leonard Chess, who offers her a job at his new record company in Chicago. What starts as answering phones and filing becomes more than Leeba ever dreamed of, as she comes into her own as a songwriter and crosses paths with legendary performers like Chuck Berry and Etta James. But it’s Red Dupree, a black blues guitarist from Louisiana, who captures her heart and changes her life. Their relationship is unwelcome in segregated Chicago and they are shunned by Leeba’s Orthodox Jewish family. Yet in the midst of the Civil Rights Movement, Leeba and Red discover that, in times of struggle, music can bring people together. READERS GUIDE INSIDE
Publisher: Penguin
ISBN: 1101991127
Category : Fiction
Languages : en
Pages : 482
Book Description
In 1960s Chicago, a young woman stands in the middle of a musical and social revolution. A new historical novel from the bestselling author of White Collar Girl and What the Lady Wants. “The rise of the Chicago Blues scene fairly shimmers with verve and intensity, and the large, diverse cast of characters is indelibly portrayed with the perfect pitch of a true artist.” —Melanie Benjamin, New York Times bestselling author of The Swans of Fifth Avenue Leeba Groski doesn’t exactly fit in, but her love of music is not lost on her childhood friend and neighbor, Leonard Chess, who offers her a job at his new record company in Chicago. What starts as answering phones and filing becomes more than Leeba ever dreamed of, as she comes into her own as a songwriter and crosses paths with legendary performers like Chuck Berry and Etta James. But it’s Red Dupree, a black blues guitarist from Louisiana, who captures her heart and changes her life. Their relationship is unwelcome in segregated Chicago and they are shunned by Leeba’s Orthodox Jewish family. Yet in the midst of the Civil Rights Movement, Leeba and Red discover that, in times of struggle, music can bring people together. READERS GUIDE INSIDE
Mexico City Blues
Author: Jack Kerouac
Publisher: Grove/Atlantic, Inc.
ISBN: 0802195687
Category : Poetry
Languages : en
Pages : 260
Book Description
One of the renowned Beat writer’s most formally inventive books, Mexico City Blues is Jack Kerouac’s essential work of lyric verse, now reissued following his centenary celebration Written between 1954 and 1957, and published originally by Grove Press in 1959, Mexico City Blues is Kerouac’s most important verse work. It incorporates all the elements of his theory of spontaneous composition and his interest in Buddhism. Memories, fantasies, dreams, and surrealistic free association are lyrically combined in the loose format inspired by jazz and the blues. Written while Kerouac was living in Mexico City, and with references to William S. Burroughs, Gregory Corso, and Bill Garver, this exciting book in Kerouac’s oeuvre is an original and moving epic of sound, rhythm, and religion.
Publisher: Grove/Atlantic, Inc.
ISBN: 0802195687
Category : Poetry
Languages : en
Pages : 260
Book Description
One of the renowned Beat writer’s most formally inventive books, Mexico City Blues is Jack Kerouac’s essential work of lyric verse, now reissued following his centenary celebration Written between 1954 and 1957, and published originally by Grove Press in 1959, Mexico City Blues is Kerouac’s most important verse work. It incorporates all the elements of his theory of spontaneous composition and his interest in Buddhism. Memories, fantasies, dreams, and surrealistic free association are lyrically combined in the loose format inspired by jazz and the blues. Written while Kerouac was living in Mexico City, and with references to William S. Burroughs, Gregory Corso, and Bill Garver, this exciting book in Kerouac’s oeuvre is an original and moving epic of sound, rhythm, and religion.
New York City Blues
Author: Larry Simon
Publisher: Univ. Press of Mississippi
ISBN: 1496834720
Category : Music
Languages : en
Pages : 403
Book Description
A first-ever book on the subject, New York City Blues: Postwar Portraits from Harlem to the Village and Beyond offers a deep dive into the blues venues and performers in the city from the 1940s through the 1990s. Interviews in this volume bring the reader behind the scenes of the daily and performing lives of working musicians, songwriters, and producers. The interviewers capture their voices — many sadly deceased — and reveal the changes in styles, the connections between performers, and the evolution of New York blues. New York City Blues is an oral history conveyed through the words of the performers themselves and through the photographs of Robert Schaffer, supplemented by the input of Val Wilmer, Paul Harris, and Richard Tapp. The book also features the work of award-winning author and blues scholar John Broven. Along with writing a history of New York blues for the introduction, Broven contributes interviews with Rose Marie McCoy, “Doc” Pomus, Billy Butler, and Billy Bland. Some of the artists interviewed by Larry Simon include Paul Oscher, John Hammond Jr., Rosco Gordon, Larry Dale, Bob Gaddy, “Wild” Jimmy Spruill, and Bobby Robinson. Also featured are over 160 photographs, including those by respected photographers Anton Mikofsky, Wilmer, and Harris, that provide a vivid visual history of the music and the times from Harlem to Greenwich Village and neighboring areas. New York City Blues delivers a strong sense of the major personalities and places such as Harlem’s Apollo Theatre, the history, and an in-depth introduction to the rich variety, sounds, and styles that made up the often-overlooked New York City blues scene.
Publisher: Univ. Press of Mississippi
ISBN: 1496834720
Category : Music
Languages : en
Pages : 403
Book Description
A first-ever book on the subject, New York City Blues: Postwar Portraits from Harlem to the Village and Beyond offers a deep dive into the blues venues and performers in the city from the 1940s through the 1990s. Interviews in this volume bring the reader behind the scenes of the daily and performing lives of working musicians, songwriters, and producers. The interviewers capture their voices — many sadly deceased — and reveal the changes in styles, the connections between performers, and the evolution of New York blues. New York City Blues is an oral history conveyed through the words of the performers themselves and through the photographs of Robert Schaffer, supplemented by the input of Val Wilmer, Paul Harris, and Richard Tapp. The book also features the work of award-winning author and blues scholar John Broven. Along with writing a history of New York blues for the introduction, Broven contributes interviews with Rose Marie McCoy, “Doc” Pomus, Billy Butler, and Billy Bland. Some of the artists interviewed by Larry Simon include Paul Oscher, John Hammond Jr., Rosco Gordon, Larry Dale, Bob Gaddy, “Wild” Jimmy Spruill, and Bobby Robinson. Also featured are over 160 photographs, including those by respected photographers Anton Mikofsky, Wilmer, and Harris, that provide a vivid visual history of the music and the times from Harlem to Greenwich Village and neighboring areas. New York City Blues delivers a strong sense of the major personalities and places such as Harlem’s Apollo Theatre, the history, and an in-depth introduction to the rich variety, sounds, and styles that made up the often-overlooked New York City blues scene.
Blues City
Author: Ishmael Reed
Publisher: Crown
ISBN:
Category : History
Languages : en
Pages : 200
Book Description
Readers can take a walk through the vibrant multicultural stew of Oakland, California, conducted by one of America's most distinguished intellectuals and satirists.
Publisher: Crown
ISBN:
Category : History
Languages : en
Pages : 200
Book Description
Readers can take a walk through the vibrant multicultural stew of Oakland, California, conducted by one of America's most distinguished intellectuals and satirists.
Nickel City Blues
Author: Gary Earl Ross
Publisher: Seg Publishing
ISBN: 9781732939493
Category : Fiction
Languages : en
Pages : 308
Book Description
New York's "Nickel City" is host to a treacherous cocktail of sex, high-stakes corruption, and murder. Private investigator Gideon Rimes, a black Iraq War vet and a retired Army CID detective, thought he'd left behind the danger of the battlefield. He serves subpoenas, finds witnesses, and provides background checks for better pay and little use of his trusty Glock. But then he's hired to protect sultry, young blues singer Indigo Waters from her stalker ex-boyfriend-a hotheaded cop and the mayor's bodyguard. After a very public altercation, the ex-boyfriend's body is found bludgeoned in a city park and Rimes wakes up as the prime suspect and tagged cop killer. Determined to prove his innocence, he begins his own hunt to expose the truth. What he uncovers is a vast plot involving city leaders, a sinister drug lord, corrupt cops, and a dark family secret that someone will do anything to keep hidden, regardless of who they have to kill. Rimes must tap into his former training and survival instincts. It's personal now, and the one thing you don't do is threaten those he loves. . . . A compulsive series from Edgar Award-winning author, Gary Earl Ross.
Publisher: Seg Publishing
ISBN: 9781732939493
Category : Fiction
Languages : en
Pages : 308
Book Description
New York's "Nickel City" is host to a treacherous cocktail of sex, high-stakes corruption, and murder. Private investigator Gideon Rimes, a black Iraq War vet and a retired Army CID detective, thought he'd left behind the danger of the battlefield. He serves subpoenas, finds witnesses, and provides background checks for better pay and little use of his trusty Glock. But then he's hired to protect sultry, young blues singer Indigo Waters from her stalker ex-boyfriend-a hotheaded cop and the mayor's bodyguard. After a very public altercation, the ex-boyfriend's body is found bludgeoned in a city park and Rimes wakes up as the prime suspect and tagged cop killer. Determined to prove his innocence, he begins his own hunt to expose the truth. What he uncovers is a vast plot involving city leaders, a sinister drug lord, corrupt cops, and a dark family secret that someone will do anything to keep hidden, regardless of who they have to kill. Rimes must tap into his former training and survival instincts. It's personal now, and the one thing you don't do is threaten those he loves. . . . A compulsive series from Edgar Award-winning author, Gary Earl Ross.
Kill City Blues
Author: Richard Kadrey
Publisher: Harper Collins
ISBN: 0062094602
Category : Fiction
Languages : en
Pages : 399
Book Description
New York Times bestselling author Richard Kadrey’s fifth Sandman Slim adventure. James Stark, aka Sandman Slim, has lost the Qomrama Om Ya, an all-powerful weapon from the banished older gods. Older gods who are returning and searching for their lost power. The hunt leads Stark to an abandoned shopping mall infested with tribes of squatters. Somewhere in this kill zone is a dead man with the answers Stark needs. All Stark has to do is find the dead man, recover the artifact, and outwit and outrun the angry old gods—and natural-born killers—on his tail. But not even Sandman Slim is infallible, and any mistakes will cost him dearly.
Publisher: Harper Collins
ISBN: 0062094602
Category : Fiction
Languages : en
Pages : 399
Book Description
New York Times bestselling author Richard Kadrey’s fifth Sandman Slim adventure. James Stark, aka Sandman Slim, has lost the Qomrama Om Ya, an all-powerful weapon from the banished older gods. Older gods who are returning and searching for their lost power. The hunt leads Stark to an abandoned shopping mall infested with tribes of squatters. Somewhere in this kill zone is a dead man with the answers Stark needs. All Stark has to do is find the dead man, recover the artifact, and outwit and outrun the angry old gods—and natural-born killers—on his tail. But not even Sandman Slim is infallible, and any mistakes will cost him dearly.
The Other Side of Nashville
Author: Rev. Keith A. Gordon
Publisher: Anthem Publishing
ISBN: 9780985008406
Category : Music
Languages : en
Pages : 620
Book Description
Ever since WSM-AM radio announcer David Cobb first called it the "Music City" back in 1950, Nashville has been known as the center of the country music universe. While some may also be familiar with Nashville for its gospel and CCR industry, few recognize the Music City as a hotbed of rock 'n' roll, rap, and blues music. Since the mid-1970s, when indie rock pioneer R. Stevie Moore released his self-produced Phonography album, a diverse and creative rock music scene has developed in the Music City. From Jason & the Scorchers, the White Animals, and Afrikan Dreamland to Jeff the Brotherhood and the Kings of Leon, there can be no doubt that Nashville rocks! The Other Side of Nashville is an incomplete history and discography of the Nashville rock underground circa 1976-2006. Documenting the growth and evolution of the Music City's non-country music scene, The Other Side of Nashville includes entries over 500 artists, and features over 100 interviews and album reviews, as well as comments and insight from the "Reverend of Rock 'n' Roll," Rev. Keith A. Gordon. An award-winning music journalist with decades of experience, Rev. Keith A. Gordon was there for the "big bang" moment of Nashville's fledgling rock scene, and spent 30 years documenting and championing Music City rockers in both local rags like The Metro, the Nashville Scene, and the Nashville Intelligence Report, as well as national publications like Creem, Rolling Stone, and High Times. Gordon is the author or co-author of seven books on music, is a former contributor to the All Music Guide website and book series, and is currently the Blues Guide for About.com.
Publisher: Anthem Publishing
ISBN: 9780985008406
Category : Music
Languages : en
Pages : 620
Book Description
Ever since WSM-AM radio announcer David Cobb first called it the "Music City" back in 1950, Nashville has been known as the center of the country music universe. While some may also be familiar with Nashville for its gospel and CCR industry, few recognize the Music City as a hotbed of rock 'n' roll, rap, and blues music. Since the mid-1970s, when indie rock pioneer R. Stevie Moore released his self-produced Phonography album, a diverse and creative rock music scene has developed in the Music City. From Jason & the Scorchers, the White Animals, and Afrikan Dreamland to Jeff the Brotherhood and the Kings of Leon, there can be no doubt that Nashville rocks! The Other Side of Nashville is an incomplete history and discography of the Nashville rock underground circa 1976-2006. Documenting the growth and evolution of the Music City's non-country music scene, The Other Side of Nashville includes entries over 500 artists, and features over 100 interviews and album reviews, as well as comments and insight from the "Reverend of Rock 'n' Roll," Rev. Keith A. Gordon. An award-winning music journalist with decades of experience, Rev. Keith A. Gordon was there for the "big bang" moment of Nashville's fledgling rock scene, and spent 30 years documenting and championing Music City rockers in both local rags like The Metro, the Nashville Scene, and the Nashville Intelligence Report, as well as national publications like Creem, Rolling Stone, and High Times. Gordon is the author or co-author of seven books on music, is a former contributor to the All Music Guide website and book series, and is currently the Blues Guide for About.com.
Tennessee Travel Guide * Tennessee Blues & BBQ * USA eBook
Author: Baktash Vafaei
Publisher: StateGuides
ISBN:
Category : Travel
Languages : en
Pages : 38
Book Description
Welcome to an exciting journey to the state of Tennessee, a place where music is in the air, history comes alive, and natural beauty is unparalleled. Tennessee is a state with a rich cultural tradition and stunning landscapes that attracts visitors from all over the world. In this book, we would like to take you on a fascinating journey through Tennessee to discover the many facets of this state. Tennessee is famous for its musical heritage, from the cradle of the blues in Memphis to the country music capital of Nashville. In Nashville, you can visit the legendary Grand Ole Opry, feel the blues at the bars of Beale Street, and enjoy the diverse culinary scene. Home to Elvis Presley and the Graceland estate, Memphis offers a unique blend of music, history, and culture. The Great Smoky Mountains of eastern Tennessee are a haven for nature lovers, hikers, and outdoor enthusiasts. But Tennessee is also a place with a rich history, from the battlefields of the Civil War to historic sites like Andrew Jackson's Hermitage and the Belle Meade Plantation. Tennessee's diversity also extends to its culinary delights, including Tennessee BBQ and soul food. Jack Daniel's Distillery in Lynchburg is a symbol of the Southern whiskey tradition. In this book, we will highlight the sights and activities that make Tennessee a unique destination, as well as explore the state's future in terms of business and educational opportunities. Join us on this journey through Tennessee, a state that proudly preserves its history and culture while keeping a glimpse of the future. We invite you to discover the diverse treasures and experiences Tennessee has to offer.
Publisher: StateGuides
ISBN:
Category : Travel
Languages : en
Pages : 38
Book Description
Welcome to an exciting journey to the state of Tennessee, a place where music is in the air, history comes alive, and natural beauty is unparalleled. Tennessee is a state with a rich cultural tradition and stunning landscapes that attracts visitors from all over the world. In this book, we would like to take you on a fascinating journey through Tennessee to discover the many facets of this state. Tennessee is famous for its musical heritage, from the cradle of the blues in Memphis to the country music capital of Nashville. In Nashville, you can visit the legendary Grand Ole Opry, feel the blues at the bars of Beale Street, and enjoy the diverse culinary scene. Home to Elvis Presley and the Graceland estate, Memphis offers a unique blend of music, history, and culture. The Great Smoky Mountains of eastern Tennessee are a haven for nature lovers, hikers, and outdoor enthusiasts. But Tennessee is also a place with a rich history, from the battlefields of the Civil War to historic sites like Andrew Jackson's Hermitage and the Belle Meade Plantation. Tennessee's diversity also extends to its culinary delights, including Tennessee BBQ and soul food. Jack Daniel's Distillery in Lynchburg is a symbol of the Southern whiskey tradition. In this book, we will highlight the sights and activities that make Tennessee a unique destination, as well as explore the state's future in terms of business and educational opportunities. Join us on this journey through Tennessee, a state that proudly preserves its history and culture while keeping a glimpse of the future. We invite you to discover the diverse treasures and experiences Tennessee has to offer.
Windy City Blues
Author: Sara Paretsky
Publisher: Dell
ISBN: 044021873X
Category : Fiction
Languages : en
Pages : 354
Book Description
V.I. Warshawski, “undoubtedly one of the best-written characters in mystery fiction” (The Baltimore Sun), returns in a collection of stories that bring new meaning to “ties that bind.” Decked out in her silk shirts and no-nonsense Attitude, V.I. is out to make a living—by the skin of her teeth. In “Grace Notes,” V.I. has barely finished her morning coffee when she sees an ad in the paper asking for information about her own mother, long dead. The paper leads V.I. to her newfound Italian cousin Vico, who’s looking for music composed by their great-grandmother. What’s the score? Clearly it’s something to kill for. . . . “The Pietro Andromache” finds V.I.’s friend Dr. Lotty Herschel with motive and means to dispatch her professional rival and steal his priceless statue. Lotty didn’t do it—but does she know who did? V.I. soon cuts to the art of the case—and it’s not a pretty picture at all! Summoned by an old high school friend to a race “At the Old Swimming Hole,” V.I. ends up swimming with the sharks—the FBI and a ruthless gambling kingpin—in a pool of blood. . . . And it’s only “Skin Deep” when a relaxing facial transformation transforms a client into a stiff. V.I.’s pal Sal needs help. Her beautician sister Evangeline is prime suspect—and V.I. has only eighteen hours to crack the case before it’s headline news. . . . “Three-Dot Po” proves there’s nothing like a dog. Especially a dog on the trail of her mistress’s killer, with V.I. in tow. . . . In “Strung Out,” love means nothing and V.I.’s quick to learn the score as her old friend’s tennis-champion daughter is under suspicion for strangling her father with a racket string. And there’s more, nine stories in all, in this masterful collection of short fiction starring V.I. Warshawski, “the most engaging woman in detective fiction since Dorothy Sayers’s Harriet Vane” (Newsweek).
Publisher: Dell
ISBN: 044021873X
Category : Fiction
Languages : en
Pages : 354
Book Description
V.I. Warshawski, “undoubtedly one of the best-written characters in mystery fiction” (The Baltimore Sun), returns in a collection of stories that bring new meaning to “ties that bind.” Decked out in her silk shirts and no-nonsense Attitude, V.I. is out to make a living—by the skin of her teeth. In “Grace Notes,” V.I. has barely finished her morning coffee when she sees an ad in the paper asking for information about her own mother, long dead. The paper leads V.I. to her newfound Italian cousin Vico, who’s looking for music composed by their great-grandmother. What’s the score? Clearly it’s something to kill for. . . . “The Pietro Andromache” finds V.I.’s friend Dr. Lotty Herschel with motive and means to dispatch her professional rival and steal his priceless statue. Lotty didn’t do it—but does she know who did? V.I. soon cuts to the art of the case—and it’s not a pretty picture at all! Summoned by an old high school friend to a race “At the Old Swimming Hole,” V.I. ends up swimming with the sharks—the FBI and a ruthless gambling kingpin—in a pool of blood. . . . And it’s only “Skin Deep” when a relaxing facial transformation transforms a client into a stiff. V.I.’s pal Sal needs help. Her beautician sister Evangeline is prime suspect—and V.I. has only eighteen hours to crack the case before it’s headline news. . . . “Three-Dot Po” proves there’s nothing like a dog. Especially a dog on the trail of her mistress’s killer, with V.I. in tow. . . . In “Strung Out,” love means nothing and V.I.’s quick to learn the score as her old friend’s tennis-champion daughter is under suspicion for strangling her father with a racket string. And there’s more, nine stories in all, in this masterful collection of short fiction starring V.I. Warshawski, “the most engaging woman in detective fiction since Dorothy Sayers’s Harriet Vane” (Newsweek).