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W is for Wasted

by Sue Grafton

Other authors: See the other authors section.

Series: Kinsey Millhone (23)

MembersReviewsPopularityAverage ratingMentions
1,955787,510 (3.78)76
" Of the #1 New York Times-bestselling Kinsey Millhone series, NPR said, "Makes me wish there were more than 26 letters." Two dead bodies changed the course of my life that fall. One of them I knew and the other I'd never laid eyes on until I saw him in the morgue. The first was a local PI of suspect reputation. He'd been gunned down near the beach at Santa Teresa. It looked like a robbery gone bad. The other was on the beach six weeks later. He'd been sleeping rough. Probably homeless. No identification. A slip of paper with Millhone's name and number was in his pants pocket. The coroner asked her to come to the morgue to see if she could ID him. Two seemingly unrelated deaths, one a murder, the other apparently of natural causes. But as Kinsey digs deeper into the mystery of the John Doe, some very strange linkages begin to emerge. And before long at least one aspect is solved as Kinsey literally finds the key to his identity. "And just like that," she says, "the lid to Pandora's box flew open. It would take me another day before I understood how many imps had been freed, but for the moment, I was inordinately pleased with myself." In this multilayered tale, the surfaces seem clear, but the underpinnings are full of betrayals, misunderstandings, and outright murderous fraud. And Kinsey, through no fault of her own, is thoroughly compromised. W is for. wanderer. worthless. wronged. W is for wasted"--… (more)
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» See also 76 mentions

Showing 1-5 of 78 (next | show all)
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 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.



Well there you go, Kinsey has family on the dad's side. I really wish she would've gotten a chance to meet Terrence. She's right in one sense, too many of her goodbyes are final ones. Although I guess she didn't actually get a goodbye for this one. And I actually really wanted her to investigate the crime he was convicted of. I mean, I didn't mind how it turned out - I ended up not hating Pete (although mostly cause of his wife) and I loved the conclusion of the gun switch. That part was hilarious. but it wasn't what I was expecting. Still it was enjoyable. There's a tiny bit of romance in this one - Dietz is back, Cheney is back - I still hate both. I could do without the romance.

I loved William's dramatic streak - and the cat! - it had me in hysterics. Poor Henry getting saddled with the cat that tripped Nell. On the other hand - William was clearly spot on - and it was perfect for Henry to have some company.



4 stars. ( )
  funstm | Jan 26, 2023 |
Really enjoyed this book. I am liking getting to know Kinsey's extended family through this series. Very Little Henry this book ( )
  KyleneJones | Apr 25, 2022 |
An excellent addition to the Kinsey Millhone series. I'm going to be sad when we get to Z. ( )
  tsmom1219 | Feb 24, 2022 |
As usual a great read. Was so involved at one point I missed my bus stop. I love Kinsey-she is such a likeable character. ( )
  Patsmith139 | Mar 15, 2021 |
I hate to give Sue Grafton only a like because I love her character Kinsey, but the interruption of the other story line bothered me. I didn't care about Pete, was he a character in a past book? No matter, I'm onto X - have to finish the alphabet for sure. ( )
  FurbyKirby | Jan 5, 2021 |
Showing 1-5 of 78 (next | show all)
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» Add other authors (4 possible)

Author nameRoleType of authorWork?Status
Grafton, Sueprimary authorall editionsconfirmed
Ordóñez, VictoriaTranslatorsecondary authorsome editionsconfirmed
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For Margo and Jeff Barbakow and
Terri and Steve Bass.

Friends forever...and that's what it's all about.
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Two dead men changed the course of my life that fall.
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(Click to show. Warning: May contain spoilers.)
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Information from the German Common Knowledge. Edit to localize it to your language.
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Wikipedia in English (1)

" Of the #1 New York Times-bestselling Kinsey Millhone series, NPR said, "Makes me wish there were more than 26 letters." Two dead bodies changed the course of my life that fall. One of them I knew and the other I'd never laid eyes on until I saw him in the morgue. The first was a local PI of suspect reputation. He'd been gunned down near the beach at Santa Teresa. It looked like a robbery gone bad. The other was on the beach six weeks later. He'd been sleeping rough. Probably homeless. No identification. A slip of paper with Millhone's name and number was in his pants pocket. The coroner asked her to come to the morgue to see if she could ID him. Two seemingly unrelated deaths, one a murder, the other apparently of natural causes. But as Kinsey digs deeper into the mystery of the John Doe, some very strange linkages begin to emerge. And before long at least one aspect is solved as Kinsey literally finds the key to his identity. "And just like that," she says, "the lid to Pandora's box flew open. It would take me another day before I understood how many imps had been freed, but for the moment, I was inordinately pleased with myself." In this multilayered tale, the surfaces seem clear, but the underpinnings are full of betrayals, misunderstandings, and outright murderous fraud. And Kinsey, through no fault of her own, is thoroughly compromised. W is for. wanderer. worthless. wronged. W is for wasted"--

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Book description
The first victim is a local PI of suspect reputation, gunned down near the beach at Santa Teresa. The second is a John Doe found on the beach six weeks later with a slip of paper with private detective Kinsey Millhone’s name and number in his pocket.

Two seemingly unrelated deaths: one man murdered, the other apparently dead of natural causes.

But as Kinsey digs deeper into the mystery of the John Doe, some very strange links begin to emerge. Not just between the two victims, but also to Kinsey’s past. And before long Kinsey, through no fault of her own, is thoroughly compromised...
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