Sue Grafton (1940–2017)

When Alvin Limardo walks into P.I. Kinsey Millhone's office, she smells bad news. He wants Kinsey to deliver a cashier's check for $25,000. The recipient: a fifteen-year-old boy. It's a simple matter. So simple that Kinsey wonders why he doesn't deliver the money himself. She's almost certain something is off. But with rent due, Kinsey accepts Limardo's retainer against her better judgment…
Limardo pays her with another check as the retainer. It bounces and Kinsey discovers she's been had. show more She learns that he is really John Daggett—an ex-con with a drinking problem, two wives to boot, and a slew of people who would like to see him dead. Kinsey is out $400 and she's now in hot pursuit of Daggett.
When Daggett's corpse shows up floating in the Santa Teresa surf, the cops rule it an accident. Kinsey thinks it's murder. But seeking justice for a man who everyone seemed to despise is a lot tougher than she bargained for—and what awaits her at the end of the road is much more disturbing than she could've ever imagined. show less

Grafton is one of the few authors of series fiction whose books I still buy new in hardcover. She never does the same story twice, and I enjoy spending time in her world. In this one, she touches base with former loves, without falling into personal or literary traps; makes the acquaintance of a Japanese bobtail with excellent results; learns more than she wanted to know about relatives she didn't know she had; and takes on the issues of homelessness, addiction research and medical ethics show more without getting preachy about any of it. A few clunky sentences and overused verbs, but by and large this 23rd entry in the Kinsey Millhone series is blissfully free of the kind of dreck-writing that often creeps in to an established genre author's later works. Grafton's attention to detail and story have not lagged. If she tells you someone is left-handed, don't forget it. If she throws a seemingly game-changing fact into the mix from out of the blue, be assured it is not a deus ex machina tactic to get things wrapped up, but something she subtly laid the groundwork for several chapters back---you just missed it. By setting her action in the 1980's (1988 by now), she shares a joke or two with the reader at Kinsey's expense, and this book contains the absolute best account of a hand-to-hand "combat" situation I've read anywhere. Three more to go, Ms. Grafton. I hope we all make it.
Review written November 2013 show less

I love Kinsey Millhone. But she's not everyone's cup of tea. I started reading the Alphabet series a few years ago - I think at the time it was up to O is for Outlaw. The idea of a mystery series each title beginning with a new letter amused me. I don't know why. I don't think it's particularly original. At least - I've seen a few others since. At the time though it was new to me and it just struck me as perfect. I flew through the series. Kinsey is riveting. She's brash and harsh and show more charming. She's fierce and flawed. She gets scared. She holds her own. She pushes herself to run often and tackles cases without judgement and with an open mind. Rosie and Henry are brilliant and I love the little family she builds around her.

But Kinsey Millhone isn't Jack Reacher - her speed is more Tracy Crosswhite. [book:My Sister's Grave|22341263] Her cases aren't full of action and high speed chases - they're slowly nitpicking away until something clicks into place. She writes down all her thoughts and places her facts and ideas on 3x5 index cards - which she often shuffles and rearranges to help her solve her case. And I love it. Kinsey Millhone is great - but she's not for everyone.

For some reason I've seen reviewers compare this to Stephanie Plum - I don't know why - this is absolutely NOTHING like that. Stephanie Plum is a very different character and an extremely different type of book. That's more fluff. Kinsey Millhone is more procedural mysteries. And this series isn't current - it was first published in the 80's - there's not really technology. Messages were relayed by calling the landlines. Paper files were still the main form of storage. Not everyone will enjoy reading this. But if you like your mysteries to be more like procedurals with a determined and fierce character - Kinsey Millhone is for you.



Oh this one was fantastic. I loved Detective Cheney and the friendship they had. I loved Danielle. I was shattered by her death. But I loved the justice Kinsey got for her by reporting Roger killing Lorna to the mysterious fiance. Kinsey felt bad but sometimes there's just no good solutions. I really enjoyed the cast of characters and the plot and the ending was good.



4.5 stars, rounded up to 5. show less

I love Kinsey Millhone. But she's not everyone's cup of tea. I started reading the Alphabet series a few years ago - I think at the time it was up to O is for Outlaw. The idea of a mystery series each title beginning with a new letter amused me. I don't know why. I don't think it's particularly original. At least - I've seen a few others since. At the time though it was new to me and it just struck me as perfect. I flew through the series. Kinsey is riveting. She's brash and harsh and show more charming. She's fierce and flawed. She gets scared. She holds her own. She pushes herself to run often and tackles cases without judgement and with an open mind. Rosie and Henry are brilliant and I love the little family she builds around her.

But Kinsey Millhone isn't Jack Reacher - her speed is more Tracy Crosswhite. [book:My Sister's Grave|22341263] Her cases aren't full of action and high speed chases - they're slowly nitpicking away until something clicks into place. She writes down all her thoughts and places her facts and ideas on 3x5 index cards - which she often shuffles and rearranges to help her solve her case. And I love it. Kinsey Millhone is great - but she's not for everyone.

For some reason I've seen reviewers compare this to Stephanie Plum - I don't know why - this is absolutely NOTHING like that. Stephanie Plum is a very different character and an extremely different type of book. That's more fluff. Kinsey Millhone is more procedural mysteries. And this series isn't current - it was first published in the 80's - there's not really technology. Messages were relayed by calling the landlines. Paper files were still the main form of storage. Not everyone will enjoy reading this. But if you like your mysteries to be more like procedurals with a determined and fierce character - Kinsey Millhone is for you.



I really enjoyed this one. I liked the changing viewpoints and they way the pieces all fitted together. Although I did want to know if Memory's father was Jon?

Plus after all the effort Michael's brother and sister went to give Kinsey evidence he was wrong - I kind of wanted her to meet with them and be like well gee, now who was wrong?

I was amused by the ending to the case. Kinsey is a total badass. And I was pretty impressed with Kinsey's shot, even if she was all, oh anyone could do it.

Kinsey's family. Man. What a bloody disaster that lot is. I felt sorry for Kinsey when she has to return the photo album. She hardly needs more reasons not to bother getting to know them all. The reveal at the end of Grand being a wheelchair bound old lady was surprising. I feel sorry that Kinsey's probably not going to get the answers she's looking for.



4.5 stars, rounded up to 5. show less