“Guardian Angel”   by Sara Paretsky

Review #164

A Private Eye, V.I. Warshawski Mystery

Vic’s eccentric old neighbor, Hattie Frizell, has had a stroke and V.I. (Vic) Warshawski is currently furious at Todd and Chrissie Pichea, an upscale couple on her block who have had themselves appointed Mrs. Frizell’s legal guardians. They follow this act with immediately having her five beloved dogs put to sleep. Next they begin to explore Mrs. Frizell’s financial situation!

While this is going on, Vic and another neighbor, 77-year-old Mr. Contreras, identify a body pulled from the Chicago Sanitary Canal as that of a friend of Contrera's, Mitch Kruger, who had recently boasted of having the goods on their old employers at Diamond Head Motors, a small manufacturing concern on the West Side.

Mr. Contreras asks Vic to investigate his friend’s death since the police believe he accidentally fell into the Canal while he was drunk and have closed the books on the incident.

During her investigation of Kruger’s death, V.I. uncovers an intricate bond-parking scheme that ties into the behavior of the Picheas and Diamond Head.  They appear to be offloading some dodgy bonds on local senior citizens including Mrs. Frizell who remains in the hospital.  

She also, discovers that Diamond Head has ties to a bigger steel/salvage company, which is linked to a suburban bank, which is represented by the prestigious city law firm (with Vic's pompous ex-hubby, Dick, pretty high up the corporate masthead).  It soon becomes clear that all is not what it should be with the Picheas, Kruger’s death and Diamond Head’s involvement.  A complex situation for Warshawski to untangle!

As usual, Sara Paretsky has another hit with this book!