D is for Deadbeat

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 show more 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.


Wow. I did not see it coming. The ending. Poor Kinsey. Poor Tony. Everyone suffered in this one. In many ways it was horrible. The final lines are going to haunt me for a long while.

Maybe he felt he owed Tony that last sacrifice. I’ll never know, but it makes more sense to me that way. Some debts of the human soul are so enormous only life itself is sufficient forfeit.

Grafton, Sue. D is for Deadbeat: A Kinsey Millhone Novel 4 . Pan Macmillan UK. Kindle Edition.



5 stars. show less

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. 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 show more 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

I think I'm changing my middle initial to B for blindsided. For the second time this year, a novel took me off guard. D is for Deadbeat did just that and I'd even venture to say this book in the ABC series has been the best so far.
It starts off with an ex-con wanting a cashier's check for $25,000 delivered to a 15 year old boy. Before Kinsey can deliver the check, the deadbeat is murdered and the suspects are numerous. Could the deadbeat's sins of the past have played into it or maybe some under the table drug deals in prison has some revenge minded criminals seeking their cash back? Hmm. Definitely worth the time to read this one and find out.

This series, along with the In Death series, are my go-to "in between" books when I need a short break from meatier stuff but still a reliably good read. That said, this fourth entry was heavier and darker than I remember the first three being, and I was unexpectedly moved by parts of it. There was also more of Kinsey's wonderfully dry humor and observations on the foibles of humanity. A very good read all around.

Kinsey Millhone is back and better than ever in D is for Deadbeat. She comes across a suspiciously easy case: deliver a cashier's check to a young teenage boy. Against her better judgement, Kinsey agrees to take on the case. But she soon finds that her new case isn't as it seems as the man who hired her winds up dead. And everyone that knows him has reasons for wanting him dead. Kinsey can't seem to let the case go, even if it means that danger lurks around every corner.

D is for Deadbeat is another amazing read in Grafton's alphabet mystery series! Easily one of the best mystery series that I've read in a long time. I have a hard time putting these books down! I love Kinsey as a main character, love how realistic she comes across, and show more how unapologetic she is when it comes to her personality. She is who she is and doesn't seem to care what anyone thinks. This book was another read that kept me on my seat as I read it...I just kept thinking one more chapter until I had over half of the book read :) I thought that the mystery was both original and unconventional. Especially the ending and who the killer was. I didn't see that one coming from a mile long! But what I enjoy most about these books is the entire process and watching Kinsey figure out who the killer/bad guy is. I usually never see the ending coming and of course this book didn't disappoint. It was just a great read for me!

All in all, another exceptional read from this author! I love Kinsey and these books....I just can't get enough! They are fast-paced, easy reads that keep me coming back for more. Highly recommended to mystery lovers! And if you haven't begun this series yet, what are you waiting for????

Bottom Line: Hand's down a must read series, and this book is another great addition to it!

Disclosure: I bought my copy of this book from the used book store. (Finally, I read something off of my own shelves!) show less

This was another good mystery in the series. I've been reading these mysteries as a break from other series. One of the things I like about them is they are a product of their time. The 1980s -- research required legwork, cell phones weren't connecting us to the world, and desktop computers were expensive and rare. So it made sense to hire a private investigator to do the research and legwork.

There's one thing to remember about this series -- they aren't "cozy mysteries." There aren't a lot of warm, fuzzy characters. There are a good number of scumbags. The scumbags and unpleasant people abound in this book. Another thing to keep in mind is the author usually plays fair with the reader for the denouement. The bad guy isn't Sally's third show more cousin twice removed who happened to be in town that night and neither Kinsey nor the readers had prior knowledge of the person's existence.

So the upshot is that I thoroughly enjoyed the book, was surprised by the reveal, and am ordering the next book in the series. What more do you want? If you like PI mysteries, you can dive right in at any point, although these do mention past events. I think you'll like the books if you like series mysteries that aren't "cozy." show less

This is a reread where I had no memories of the plot or who did it. Which is like reading something for the first time but with the added bonus of knowing the character well.

Kinsey is taken in by a deadbeat husband, dad and con artist. The culprit dies and leaves Kinsey to unravel the tangled mess he left behind. The ensemble cast of characters are interesting and almost all in shades of grey. I found myself being 'taken in' by the characters despite their numeous flaws much like Kinsey herself. This was a more introverted whodunnit, where Kinsey is confronted with her won issues of abandonment and what it means to be a grown up.

A solid 3 stars.