P Is for Peril

This is the first novel I've read by Sue Grafton, and it'll likely be the last.

Kinsey Millhone is supposedly a “rebel,” a solo private investigator, but this is the most boring rebel I've ever seen. Her dialogue is what you'd expect from a timid bookworm, not a tough, independent woman. The choices she makes throughout the story also baffled. For example, when she finds out the “truth” about the brothers, instead of running the other way as fast as she can, she worries about her rent deposit. And I say “truth,” because the truth Kinsey is fed turns out to be partially untrue, but she believes it hook, line, and sinker without verifying anything – you know, without acting like a private investigator.

Some of the characters show more are decent, but a large portion of their dialogue, like Kinsey's, is stilted. Dialogue is supposed to be the thing that draws the reader's attention, but here the descriptions of the ocean, roads, yards, and homes were actually more interesting.

The plot itself had potential, but Grafton seemed intent on bogging it down. While she strove for such a page count is beyond me. You could easily slice 200 pages from this novel and have a lean, understandable mystery without sacrificing subplots or character development.

And that ending...let's talk about the ending.

This is the worst ending to a novel I've ever read. Nothing is wrapped up, which is essential to a PI/mystery novel. I actually wondered if I had a defective copy, and kept flipping around seeing if I missed something. But now that I read other reviews on Amazon, I realize I didn't miss anything, though Grafton certainly did.

Seriously, I don't know how an editor let this slip through. I guess Grafton is so big she can do what she wants, but I hope the reader response to this novel teaches her something.

It sounds like this is an "off" novel for Grafton, but I don't know if I want to attempt another based on this one experience. show less

I've made a sort of hobby out of reading lousy mysteries that I can get for a few pennies at a local booksale. I get into the habit as I read them of writing a review of the book in my head - "Oh, that character's not convincing at all", or "The language is a bit stilted here", or "Why exactly are they discussing the clown paintings of John Wayne Gacy again?"

I mention this because after reading those, it becomes kind of a relief to pick up a Grafton. The alphabet series is as gimmicky as any, but the fact is, there isn't any stilted language, unconvincing characters, or discussions of serial killer art in the books. You read them, get lost in the story, and enjoy yourself for a few hours. The fact that she's managed to punch twenty or show more so of these books out with no real loss in quality is remarkable. The prose isn't deathless, by any means; the books aren't ever going to win a Pulitzer. They're just good, solid, quality escapist detective fiction, and that is no bad thing. 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 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.



I love Kinsey. She's a little bulldog terrier when she has a case. Poor Dana (from J is for Judgement - she was married to Wendell who disappeared after stealing all the money from his Ponzi scheme.) who may just have to accept that she has shockingly bad taste in men. Poor Kinsey who is also probably never going get another referral from her.

The mystery in this one was a bit convoluted. All my guesses were wrong. On the other hand I did have my suspicions about Maria (the insurance agent who is after the Hevener brothers).

Henry! I love Henry and this book really made it clear why. I love how he looks after Kinsey and gives her space but also is just there when she needs him. And he lies for her! Even after she's decided not to go down that path based on his advice. I loved it.



4 stars. show less

This was such a good Kinsey Millhone mystery. I loved that I did not see the ending coming until Kinsey finally grasped what really went on. There were so many players in this one that I was wondering who was the murderer. I also liked we get to see Kinsey contemplating a new romantic interest who was not all that he seemed.

"P is for Peril" has Kinsey employed by an ex-wife of a missing man (Dr. Dowan Purcell). His ex-wife Fiona believes his current wife, Crystal had something to do with things. Crystal has a somewhat shady past as an ex-dancer/stripper but now is a devoted mother to their son. When Kinsey starts investigating she soon realizes that Dr. Purcell had a lot of reasons to want to disappear. With him dealing with his show more ex-wife and their family, his current's wife's family, and some issues at his job, Purcell could be long gone. Kinsey being Kinsey though quickly starts to realize something is amiss. Along with that, Kinsey comes across to two brothers with her becoming a possible interest to one, Tommy Hevener.

Kinsey was a little bit off for me in this book, in a good way. She starts to question herself once she starts to realize she is getting so many things wrong along the way with Dr. Purcell's case. She also wonders about getting romantically involved with Tommy. That one was a bit murkier, but Kinsey appears to like it when someone pushes back on her and her attitude. I thought it was interesting to have her involved with someone that wasn't her constantly missing ex or whatever he is, Robert Dietz.

I think it was a nice showcase to show that Kinsey's work at times is mostly lucky guesses. She gets shown as being arrogant and naive at times in this book which we know the fictional Kinsey would hate.

This one ends a bit differently than other Millhone books though. Usually Grafton ends with an epilogue that ties up the case. However, I liked how she ended this one with you realizing what would come next, without you having it spelled out for you. show less

Another Kinsey Millhone adventure read. This is my favorite of the books so far. Kinsey starts off with a job that, as usual, she has a feeling she shouldn't take. Kins, Kins, Kins, I think, when ya gonna learn? Go with the feeling! But, of course, if she took my advice, we wouldn't have a fun tale to read. Unlike the other books, Kinsey ends up working on 3 separate mysteries. Two are related to one another but the third is just hanging there to entangle her with an opportunity too good to be true and too fantastic to pass by. Kins, Kins, Kins.

Most of the books in the alphabet series are just pretty good for me. I don’t know what’s different with the letter P, but I loved it. In this one, there are multiple plots and a lot of characters. One major piece of the job Kinsey is hired, is solved, but it brings up more questions. Kinsey rents new office space and that brings about a whole slew of other problems and shady characters. There’s even a little drama with Henry, her landlord. The ending was wrapped up a bit differently too.

I found this to be one of the better books in the Kinsey Millhone series. This time, Kinsey finds herself involved with two separate cases (one not exactly by her choice), which gives a good sub-plot and adds a nice bit of suspense to the story. I like how Grafton comes up with plausible mysteries, continues to bring back supporting characters like Kinsey’s landlord, Henry and maintains the detailed 1986 setting. Always fun to travel back in time, as it were! I was a bit surprised when Grafton deviated from her usual “the last chapter” and explanatory epilogue wrap-up. Instead, she leaves the reader with an implied ending which I thought worked rather well.