Product Description
C alling T is for Trespass "taut, terrifying, transfixing and terrific," USA Today went on to ask, "What does it take to write twenty novels about the same character and manage to create a fresh, genre-bending novel every time?" It's a question worth pondering. Through twenty excursions into the dark side of the human soul, Sue Grafton has never written the same book twice. And so it is with this, her twenty-first. Once again, she breaks genre formulas, giving us a twisting, complex, surprise-filled, and totally satisfying thriller.

It's April, 1988, a month before Kinsey Millhone's thirty-eighth birthday, and she's alone in her office doing paperwork when a young man arrives unannounced. He has a preppy air about him and looks as if he'd be carded if he tried to buy booze, but Michael Sutton is twenty-seven, an unemployed college dropout. Twenty-one years earlier, a four-year-old girl disappeared. A recent reference to her kidnapping has triggered a flood of memories. Sutton now believes he stumbled on her lonely burial when he was six years old. He wants Kinsey's help in locating the child's remains and finding the men who killed her. It's a long shot but he's willing to pay cash up front, and Kinsey agrees to give him one day. As her investigation unfolds, she discovers Michael Sutton has an uneasy relationship with the truth. In essence, he's the boy who cried wolf. Is his current story true or simply one more in a long line of fabrications?

Grafton moves the narrative between the eighties and the sixties, changing points of view, building multiple subplots, and creating memorable characters. Gradually, we see how they all connect. But at the beating center of the novel is Kinsey Millhone, sharp-tongued, observant, a loner-"a heroine," said The New York Times Book Review, "with foibles you can laugh at and faults you can forgive."Amazon.com Review

Robert B. Parker and Sue Grafton: Author One-on-One
In this Amazon exclusive, we brought together blockbuster authors Robert B. Parker and Sue Grafton and asked them to interview each other.

Robert B. Parker’s wise-cracking, street-smart Boston private-eye Spenser earned him a devoted following and wide critical acclaim. Before his death in January 2010, Parker also wrote the bestselling Jesse Stone novels and a new series of Westerns featuring two guns-for-hire, Virgil Cole and Everett Hitch. Read on to see Robert B. Parker's questions for Sue Grafton, orturn the tables to see what Grafton asked Parker.

Parker:Tell me about you and Kinsey Millhone and the connection between you.

Grafton:Kinsey Millhone is my alter ego, the woman I might have been had I not married young and had children. She's younger, thinner, and braver than I, but a good companion nonetheless. Since she can know only what I know, I've taken classes in criminal law and self-defense. I've studied police procedure, private eye procedure, toxicology, ballistics, and crime scene investigation.Beyond that, the prime agreement between us is that I don't tell her, she tells me.When readers ask what she’ll be doing after Z is for Zero, I assure them I haven't the faintest idea.

Parker:Describe your writing process (e.g., I get up in the morning, have a martini to get my heart going…).

Grafton:I take a 5.4-mile walk five days a week, so my writing schedule is often dictated by the weather.If it's too hot or too cold, I walk first thing in the morning, come home, shower, dress, and reach my desk at 9:45 or so.I work until lunch, when I take a short break, returning to my desk until mid-to-late afternoon.If I haven't done a morning walk, I walk when my work is done. Then I drink.

Parker:You've spent time in Hollywood. Tell me about that.

Grafton:I refer to that period of my life as "doing one to fifteen in Hollywood."I loved it at first, as dazzled as anyone who hasn't figured out yet how treacherous life there can be.As I've said on previous occasions,I learned two things about myself in Hollywood:one, I'm not a team player; and two, I'm not a good sport. The producers I met were well-educated and articulate, and usually offered me a cup of coffee before they set in to savaging my work. I got too old and cranky to put up with that, so I invented Kinsey Millhone as my way out. I liken it to digging my way out of prison with a teaspoon.

Parker:Do you read reviews? Pay attention to them? Find them helpful? Have an opinion on them?

Grafton:Where possible, I avoid reviews. The good ones only encourage swell-headedness and the bad ones hurt my feelings or infuriate me. In either case, by the time reviews appear, the book is written and out on the stands. What's a poor girl to do?There's no point in subjecting myself to the reactions of readers and reviewers, since their response is nothing I can control.

Parker:People sometimes ask me why I write what I write, and I answer, "Because that's what I know how to do." (Then they say, "Would you please stop?" but I'm sure they're just kidding.) Talk about why you write what you write.

Grafton: I write what I write because when I put in my application for a position at Sears, they never got back to me. I'm still hopeful, especially with the Christmas season coming up. Aside from that, I write what I write because when the work is going well, it makes me happier than just about anything except my kids and grandkids. When the work is not going well . . . which is maybe thirty-five percent of the time . . . I know it's my job to sit patiently and keep at it until I figure out what's wrong. In large part, writing is the only thing I know how to do.

---

... Read more

Customer Reviews (237)

U is for Undertow is a Great Read
It's getting harder and harder for me in today's publishing world to find a book of substantial length that's got enough substance to it that I can't put the darn thing down and I stay up reading way into the night.And I want these kinds of books, ones that enter my head and pushing everything else aside - you know what I mean.

They become almost an obsession of sorts and that first read is always over way too soon.The kind where you never skip to the end because it would ruin things for you; doing so would almost be self-destructive - a personal betrayal.

Ones like Sue Grafton's U is for Undertow.

U is a bit different from its alphabetical predecessors, but if you follow Grafton religiously, then you know that she's more than willing to push the edge of the envelope within her genre.Here, she's back at the time-flip between chapters going from Kinsey's first person in the late 1980s to an earlier time, 1967, where it's the "Summer of Love."

The primary story in Undertow is another case for private investigator Kinsey Milhone, 37 and twice-divorced, living in a garage apartment behind the home of her 88-year old landlord and friend, Henry Pitts in fictional Santa Teresa, California.Kinsey's hired by Michael Sutton, who may or may not be a loser-nutjob (his family votes yes).Sutton doesn't have much cash, but he does have enough to hire Kinsey for a day or so, to investigate whether or not Sutton's remembered an event from his childhood that if validated might help to solve a long-ago, and still unsolved, local Lindberg-esque kidnapping of a six year old girl, Mary Clare Fitzhugh. The fact that Sutton's been sent Kinsey's way by her ex-boyfriend, a police detective who's earned Kinsey's respect, sways Kinsey and she agrees to look into things.

Grafton flips the reader back in time during the read to 1967, the time of Mary Clare's disappearance and Michael Sutton's childhood memory of seeing two men burying something in a wooded area of the prestigious Horton's Ravine community.Here, Deborah Unruh and her husband collide with their prodigal son returning home with his bohemian girlfriend and her son, parking their converted school bus at the rear of the Unruh's conventional, suburban home. You can't help but hate the girlfriend as she neglects her small boy and you begin to wonder how the Unruhs' situation dovetails with Mary Clare Fitzhugh's disappearance from her home and the ransom left unclaimed by her kidnappers.How is Michael Sutton connected to all this, too?

There's also a backstory involving Kinsey's personal life, though it's not involving romance this time, but instead more detail into her family background and how she will (or won't) deal with her estranged and well-to-do maternal side.Kinsey takes steps here and for Kinsey-fans, this alone may make U worth the read.

Overpriced Kindle edition!
$14.99 for the Kindle edition is just outrageous! Keep up the boycott on ebooks over $9.99.

u is for Undertow
As an individual who has followeed the antics of kinsey Millhone , I was thrilled with the maturity of writing and once again I walked every step of the way with Kinsey.Can't wait for V

U is for Undertow, Not for the Faint Hearted!
Grafton does it again! In U is for Undertow, she weaves together conflicts unfolding in two time periods, and brings all the unfortunate consequences crashing together in a startling and satisfying climax. Her late 1980s setting is the familiar one of everybody's favorite fictional California coastal town, Santa Teresa. Kinsey meets Michael Sutton, a young man who makes a connection between an episode in his childhood and an unsolved murder. Michael becomes Kinsey's client, but Kinsey learns from the boy's sister that Michael may not be trustworthy.

Grafton's other setting in this novel is the late Sixties, around the Summer of Love. A young man, Greg Unruh, returns home to Santa Teresa in a live-in bus with his hippie girlfriend and her love child. The trio camp out on the property of the boy's parents, and make no attempt to curb their obnoxious behavior or hide their contempt for middle class values. The parents, particularly the mother, are stressed out by their demands for vegetarian meals, slovenly ways and radical views on child rearing. When the girl reveals she is pregnant with Greg's child, the situation gets worse. Since it is the Sixties, dope is in the picture. The hippies score weed from a couple of local boys who are dealing for fun and profit. One of these teens has a stepmother who would make Mrs. Robinson seem like Susie Cream Cheese.

Of course, most of the cast of the Sixties storyline survive to populate the Eighties plot. Many of their dark secrets and darker proclivities are known to the reader, but not to Kinsey, which heightens the tension and the danger as Kinsey gets closer and closer to the truth.

As the plot advances, Kinsey is again interrupted by a communication from her own dysfunctional family, an a surprising twist is introduced in this ongoing saga.

won't read
I've read every Sue Grafton book, but I will not pay $14.99 just to read it on my Kindle.I think that's outrageous. ... Read more

Product Description

Customer Reviews (150)

Stimulating Start to a Series
Olivia Miller
Honors.9
Book Review

Stimulating Start to a Series
Kinsey Millhone is an off-the-wall character. She doesn't care what anybody thinks. I think that is why I really enjoyed the book A is for Alibi By Sue Grafton. In the book Kinsey is trying to figure out who killed Laurence Fife, a divorce attorney who died eight years earlier. His widow, Niki Fife, was convicted of the crime and spent those eight years in prison. Nikki hires Kinsey to figure out who really killed Laurence Fife.

To me Kinsey reminds me of a grown-up Nancy Drew. She tries not to let her personal life get caught up in her professional, but she finds they are one in the same. The book is raw, there is no nonsense. The book is narrated in the first person so it is purely Kinsey's thoughts. I find that she really gives a good description of each person and the surrounding places. I really liked how Grafton depicted Kinsey as though she really did love her job and care about what she did for people.

In the book, Kinsey is a person who has accepted herself for who she is. Kinsey isn't fake. But I felt like Grafton made Kinsey too masculine. Part of that is because of Grafton's informal style of writing. Some of the things Kinsey says are very off-color. For example, "No I wouldn't, you think women are a pain in the ass".I feel like Kinsey says thing that should be thought rather than spoken out loud. It almost seems like she tries too hard to be unique. I'm not too fond of that part ofher character.The reader does experience more of Kinsey's feminine side when she has a relationship with Charlie Scorsini. I guess just like people characters aren't perfect either.

Sue Grafton has written a novel that conveys many themes. One of which is female independence. Kinsey is her own boss, she does what she wants. When she is doing business with men she calls the shots. I feel like Kinsey killing Charlie Scorsini really conveys that message.

Overall I give this book 4/5 stars and I would recommend it to my friends. If I could change anything about this story it would be to have a little more edge, and more exciting elements to keep the reader wanting more. I felt that in some parts of the book Kinsey was as wholesome as Nancy Drew. The author achieved a solid novel.

Like the Author
I like Sue Grafton, not knowing these are the 'alphabet mysteries' I started with 'T' then decided to go where it all started and was not dissapointed, fast and easy read and always entertaining.

Fun read from cover to cover
(No Spoilers) 'A' is for Alibi was originally written in 1982 by Sue Grafton as the first book in her Alphabet Mysteries series. After seeing the 'U' book smash bestseller lists in 2009, I decided I needed to read these. And, being that I'm neurotic about such things, I had to start at the beginning.

I love a good detective story. Grafton's main character is Kinsey Millhone, a tough chick P.I. operating along the west coast. The book is well-written with quirky characters, interesting locales, and a structured murder mystery plotline. There's nothing spectacular about the novel, it didn't rock my literary world, but it was a fun read from cover to cover. It was never slow or boring, and it kept me hooked all the way through. A quick read, entirely fun, and recommended at 4 Stars, and I will continue with this series.

Fabulous series!!
I started with "A" and never stopped until I read "U" a few months ago.This is a terrific series with wonderful character development, outstanding story lines, comedy, drama, etc.I look forward to every new "letter" and will be devastated if they ever stop!

Amazing Series!
Let me just say, this woman is an amazing author. The second I get any of her books, I can't put it down. I know I chose "A is For Alibi" but if I can choose the entire series, I would. It always manages to keep me on my toes and I can't put them down. I love the main character and I love her personality. This is a great addition to all those who loves thrillers.

The Last Saint ... Read more

Product Description
tres¥pass \'trespes\ n: a transgression of law involving one's obligations to God or to one's neighbor; a violation of moral law; an offense; a sin-Webster's New International Dictionary, Second Edition, Unabridged

In what may be her most unsettling novel to date, Sue Grafton's T is for Trespass is also her most direct confrontation with the forces of evil. Beginning slowly with the day-to-day life of a private eye, Grafton suddenly shifts from the voice of Kinsey Millhone to that of Solana Rojas, introducing readers to a chilling sociopath. Rojas is not her birth name. It is an identity she cunningly stole, an identity that gives her access to private caregiving jobs. The true horror of the novel builds with excruciating tension as the reader foresees the awfulness that lies ahead. The suspense lies in whether Millhone will realize what is happening in time to intervene.

Though set in the late eighties, T is for Trespass could not be more topical: identity theft; elder abuse; betrayal of trust; the breakdown in the institutions charged with caring for the weak and the dependent. It reveals a terrifying but all-too-real rip in the social fabric. Once again, Grafton opens up new territory with startling results. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (266)

Fundamentally Flawed
As with many reviewers here, of Sue Grafton books, I love her Kinsey Millhone series. So, I am not happy to post this review.

Yes, this IS an intriguing look at the plight of the elderly - and how easily they can morph from strong self-reliance to victim. That was a powerful theme.

However, Kinsey Millhone is a detective. She didn't do fundamental, logical thingsin the course of her investigation that would have made all the difference. Once she became uncomfortable with the situation, why didn't she run fingerprints? Why didn't she sit down with her landlord Henry and tell him all her concerns? Why didn't she initiate a Bar investigation on the attorney who colluded in the phony conservatorship? There are more flaws.

Most of all? I really didn't like the horror story, sensationalism aspect of the book. It was more annoying than horrifying - and out of character for Sue Grafton. She is succumbing to the tempting allure that seems to lead many good writers in needlessly violent directions. (One of the reasons I stopped reading Johnathan Kellerman after his first few books. At first they were extremely interesting and thought-provoking; then they turned excessively violent.)

Sue, you've managed to get all the way to S without having to succumb. Why start now? You have an established and loyal readership. Respect us.

This could have still been a really good story if Millhone had taken logical steps in her investigation. It might not have been a horror story. But it would have been fascinating, nevertheless.

But, I will admit, I did read the book in one day (or overnight).

Worst book I've read in years
I haven't read anything by Sue Grafton in many years.I think I probably stopped at "C."I had remembered the first three books in the series as light entertainment, rather fun, but redundant, so I stopped reading the later books.I was stunned to pick this one up and read that absolutely nothing had changed over a decade in the life of the characters.The main characters are the same--no character development or interesting new facets to the setting at all.Ms. Grafton's writing bores me to tears with the level of detail on issues that don't contribute to the story (who cares if the coffee cup has been placed on the desk to the right or left?Who cares how many right and left turns were taken to get to a destination?).While I forced myself to finish the book, it was painful.It's a mystery with no mystery to the plot, written at a young adult level.Boring, redundant, predictable, stale.

Good book
Book received quickly, shipped with good packing and in excellent condition. I would recommend this seller anytime.

T is for terrific
I love all the Sue Grafton books.I haven't finished this one yet but it is a great read so far!I am sure this will not disappoint!

Kinsey is a unique protagonist
As an avid reader, how did I miss Grafton and Kinsey Millhone?

In any case, Kinsey is a great protagonist -- a flawed but dedicated private investigator who has an unsatisfying private life but dedicates herself to rooting out crime.

It took me a while to realize that this book, though written in the last few years, takes place in the late 1980s. I kept wondering: where is Google? Where are the cell phones? And so on. But this is in 1988.

What a well written novel, well beyond the usual bounds of the detective/crime genre. Grafton focuses on elder abuse and identity theft. These themes couldn't be more relevant in 2010.

Four stars, not five (probably about 4.3), only because of the gratuitous violence at the end. I have no problem with violence per se, but this wasn't needed to tie up loose ends.

I need to read more of Grafton's alphabet books.

Sincerely submitted,

Jonathan ... Read more

Product Description
This is the nineteenth novel in Sue Grafton's ever popular "alphabet" series featuring PI Kinsey Millhone. Just after Independence Day in July 1953 Violet Sullivan, a local good time girl living in Serena Station Southern California, drives off in her brand new Chevy and is never seen again. Left behind is her young daughter, Daisy, and Violet's impetuous husband, Foley, who had been persuaded to buy his errant wife the car only days before ...Now, thirty-five years later, Daisy wants closure. Reluctant to open such an old cold case Kinsey Millhone agrees to spend five days investigating, believing at first that Violet simply moved on to pastures new. But very soon it becomes clear that a lot of people shared a past with Violet, a past that some are still desperate to keep hidden. And in a town as close-knit as Serena there aren't many places to hide when things turn vicious ... ... Read more

Customer Reviews (243)

Didn't understand motive for killing
I really enjoyed the style of going back in time and then coming back to the future.I also think Ms. Grafton does a great job describing characters and scenes.The biggest problem I had was I did not understand why the killer did the killing.He already had money that his wife didn't know about -- why should he commit a killing unless he was just greedy.Also all through the story, Violet goes from one man to another but she never gets too interested in anyone.Why should she pack clothes to leave with this guy.He wasn't even that interesting.If he promised her something I must have missed it.

Cold, Cold Case
The lifeblood of any small company is the new business brought in by referrals from friends and former customers.Kinsey Millhone runs a one-woman detective agency and, although she is doing well enough with it, she is always hesitant to reject any potential clients that come her way.Still, after a friend asks her to meet with Daisy, a young woman whose mother disappeared 34 years earlier (in 1953), Kinsey only reluctantly agrees to take on a case gone so cold that it is unlikely ever to be solved.

That Violet Sullivan was Serena Station's town slut is no secret.The stunningly beautiful redhead may have been married, with a seven-year-old daughter, but she still moved steadily from one affair to the next despite the grief it caused her husband.Men found Violet hard to resist; their wives despised her.And then one evening, she blew her daughter a kiss, waved goodbye to the babysitter, and disappeared in the flashiest car in Serena Station, a brand new 1953 Chevrolet Bel Air.She would never be seen again.

Kinsey does not expect her investigation to get far but, when one morning she finds all four tires on her VW Beetle slashed, she knows that she is making someone very nervous.Violet's disappearance is complicated by the rumor that she left town with $50,000 in cash, and the fact that every man Kinsey interviews seems to have had a reason to want her dead.Kinsey will find that having an abundance of suspects is not a good thing.

"S Is for Silence" focuses almost entirely on the cold case Kinsey Millhone has been hired to investigate, even to the point that the book's lack of attention to Kinsey's personal life might disappoint some longtime fans of the series.Grafton alternates chapters flashing back to 1953 with chapters showing Kinsey stirring up things with the same characters in present day 1987, giving readers the opportunity to observe both eras in real time (in typical "cold case" fashion).

Despite being atypical of Grafton's alphabet series, "S Is for Silence" is cleverly constructed up to the moment its disappointingly farfetched ending is exposed.The book's climactic scene is so dependent on coincidence that much of its tension is lost because the reader is unlikely to be able to take the scene completely seriously.This, added to the way that so many of the investigation's turning points are entirely dependent on Kinsey's sudden intuition, and not on what she actually discovers about Violet's disappearance, results in a less than satisfying mystery.

As usual, reader Judy Kaye does a magnificent job in presenting the words of Sue Grafton in the audio version of the book.Hers is the perfect Kinsey Millhone voice.

Good Grafton Fix
Grafton is a welcomed read, a sigh between a variety of other genres and styles. This is a solid Grafton. She uses some familiar devices and mentions her underpants at least 3x - I felt right at home. It keeps you engaged, she's a talented writer - I needed a Grafton and liked S a lot.

S is for ...
I'm not even reading this book and it's bad.I'm listening to it in the car and it is such a yawn that I fast fwd through big chunks of it. I checked and I've still got four more discs to go.... I doubt I'll get through them.The characters are all so disagreeable, I wish they had all killed each other in the first chapter and gotten it over with.

Grafton Will Grab You
If you already read Grafton, you will continue to enjoy her books with this installment.Kinsey is still flawed but she is starting to deal with it better.I am madly addicted, and will continue to read her series.They never get dull. ... Read more

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Customer Reviews (47)

Good Read
This is a fine author and an easy to read mystery.The story line is good and entertaining

Not worth the time.
This work was most certainly not up to Ms. Grafton's standards. Most of the book is nothing but filler. I found myself skipping pages of uninteresting details--the same stuff over and over.The plot was weak and boring, and the ending non-compelling. Grafton readers should skip this one.

very satisfied with the book and the service!
The book was just as described and arrived even earlier than I had hoped. Arrived in excellent condition. Sue Grafton is an excellent mystery writer.Each of her books starts with the a different letter of the alphabet. She's now up to U

smooth transaction
The book came in good condition, very quickly & good priced.
no complaints! Thanx!!

Two In One
There is a homicide and Kinsey doesn't want any part of it because she is already busy with a case. Kinsey's case takes her all over Los Angeles. The question is? Are the two cases related? The suspense keeps building and you cannot put it down. It is a great mystery, read and enjoy it.By Ruth Thompson author of "The Bluegrass Dream" and "Natchez Above The River"

... Read more

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Customer Reviews (38)

"J" is for Judgement
Outstanding results!The product is everything I expected, and delivery was extremely quick.This book finally completes my hardcover collection of the Sue Grafton alphabet series.

Always Great
You can't go wrong with any of Sue Grafton's "alphabet" novels. I love the character of Kinsey, and I own every single book in the series, they are so good, I re-read them every few years.

Sue Grafton's books on Kinsey Millhone-detective-Alphabet series
I love this alphabet series about Kinsey Millhone the detective.Sue Grafton makes each book different.These are easy reading and filled with twists and turns that are unpredictable.I like to take this book with me when I go places so I can keep reading it because it's hard to put down.I recommend these books for light reading for anybody.

Good Read
This is a fine author and an easy to read mystery.The story line is good and entertaining

J is for Judgment
Very good just like all of her other books.I like reading her books. ... Read more

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Customer Reviews (60)

book
Haven't reed the book yet> I had started K is for killer before it came. The book is in good shape.

Good Read
This is a fine author and an easy to read mystery.The story line is good and entertaining

Great series
If you like mysteries, this whole series of books are great reading.It's not great literature but good writing, great suspenseful build up to a mostly surprising conclusion, and a great escape into non-reality.

G is for Gooooood!
Another great Kinsey Millhone story.I am never disappointed in Sue Grafton's ability to hold a reader in suspense.This is just another example of her excellent story telling ability.

Nice Diversion
I read this during a snowy December afternoon.I am in the process of reading Big Trouble ( a wonderful but heavy book) and felt I needed a diversion while I was waiting for the snow storm to arrive. Sue Grafton does a wonderful job in presenting a pleasant evening of entertainment.Most of the book will not withstand careful analysis.Parts of it do not make any sense, but the some total is pleasurable.Kinsey Millhone is engaging and is very sympathetic.All in all it is what you expect and it meets the requirements. ... Read more

Product Description
Once Mickey Magruder was a cop with a wild streak. And Kinsey Millhone was a younger cop who adored and married him. Then Mickey was implicated in a fatal beating, and Kinsey walked out. Now, fourteen years later, she comes face-to-face with those tragic years and Mickey's harrowing downward spiral after he lost the job he loved--and the marriage he loved a little less.

Mickey lies dying in an L.A. hospital. Trying to find out how Mickey got there, Kinsey uncovers evidence that he was innocent of the beating charge. But as she searches through the lives that swirled around Mickey's--lives gone wrong and lives gone well--Kinsey must also search the blind spots of her own life, including one that hides a killer.Amazon.com Review
Wise-cracking, staunchly independent, and chronically curious,Grafton's gritty gumshoe Kinsey Millhone is back. This time, thealphabet series star will take on the toughest case to date: herpast. What begins as a random phone call from a "storage spacescavenger" (someone who buys the contents of defaulted storage units)leads Kinsey to a box of old papers and personal effects that herex-husband, Mickey Magruder, left behind. Inside, she finds a15-year-old unsent letter from a bartender that, among other things,reveals her former hubby was having an affair. The letter alsocontains details about the murder of a transient--a crime for whichMickey was blamed. Although never convicted, Mickey was ruined--losinghis job, wife, and friends. But 15 years later, Kinsey realizes thatfoul play may have been involved in the murder, a deadly temptationfor her.

Die-hard fans will especially enjoy Kinsey'sself-disclosure--something she's infamous for not doing--about herchildhood, the fate of her parents, and the randy details of her firstmarriage. A very vulnerable and interesting side to Kinsey's characteris also revealed when her obsessive-compulsive fact-finding bent ismixed up with matters of the heart.

A fast, fun read, O Is forOutlaw is packed with Grafton's clear, colorful imagery andsignature metaphors: "Our recollection of the past is not simplydistorted by our faulty perception of events remembered, but skewed bythose forgotten. The memory is like orbiting twin stars, one visible,one dark, the trajectory of what's evident forever affected by thegravity of what's concealed." --Rebekah Warren ... Read more

Customer Reviews (162)

AWESOME BOOKS
I BOUGHT THESE BOOKS FOR MY BROTHER IN LAW AND HE SAID H REALLY ENJOYED READING THEM

Ex-husband cleared of Murder?
I didn't really care for "Q" but due in part to prompting from my wife I read "O" and found the story moved much more easily. I like that in a murder mystery. In "O" Grafton plops the mystery right in Kinsey's face. Years earlier Kinsey left her husband, at the time, because she suspected he murdered someone. Good reason to leave your spouse, I'd think. Quite by happenstance she receives information that might clear her husband and to digging she begins. You can imagine that whoever the real murderer is, her ex or someone else, will do what they can to stop her. She knows this, of course, but wants to put an end to the mystery once and for all.
This is a fast paced and entertaining novel, another for you to dive into when getting lost in an imaginary world is what's needed.

Marvin Wiebener, author of THE MARGIN and soon to be released THE MORIAH RUSE.
The Margin
The Moriah Ruse

Murder From The Past
A man offers Kinsey a box of her childhood things for thirty dollars. He had found them in some storage unit that had been auctioned. There was an unopened letter in the collection. This letter had Kinsey looking at the breakup of her first marriage and an unsolved murder. Kinsey puts her life on the line to discover the truth of her past. By Ruth Thompson author of "The Blue Grass Dream" and "Natchez Above The River"

New reader for audio version is disappointing
I've listened to the audio versions of the whole series to this point.This one and later have a different reader than the earlier ones.Usually in a series that is a surprise at first but you get used to it if it's a good choice.But this reader has a horrible raspy voice that is not only unpleasant to listen to, but creates a completely different (and less appealing) image of Kinsey in your mind.It's bad enough I'm losing interest in listening to the rest of the series.

One of the Best
In O is for Outlaw, we get to learn about the very young Kinsey and her first husband who was a much older cop. As events develop, Kinsey must face the fact that she may have been wrong in her judgment of him and in leaving him all of those years ago. Interestingly, their friends from back then are still his friends. His friends believed him and his wife did not. One of the things about the character of Kinsey is that she isn't always right. In her personal life, she is flawed and as the series progresses, we continue to see that, but also start to understand why. I'm looking forward to the rest of the alphabet. ... Read more

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Customer Reviews (46)

Great Service
This book came very quickly and was in exactly the condition that was promsied. I would buy from this seeler any time again.

Disappointed
The service was very slow, I could not believe it was over three weeks and i still had not received the book. I cancelled the order.

A Pile of Evidence
There is evidence everywhere lost or planted, but no real evidence. Kinsey must uncover some real evidence to solve this case or loose it all. This is another one of Grafton's fast moving detective stories. Her protagonist, Kinsey gets you attention and you cannot put this book down. Take a little time to read it. It is a good read.By Ruth Thompson author of "The Bluegrass Dream" and Natchez Above The River."

Frequent book buyer
Usual expectations from Grafton. I like her style for a quick read to just pass some time. Nothing too heavy, but keeps you interested without feeling like you need to stay up all night to finish it.

..
Ah, but I can't help but love it when Sue Grafton takes on the deeper emotions of Miss Millhone. Here is the Christmas scene, tragically spent alone (you can't think Kinsey likes playing the loner all the time, can you?) and interrupted by the reappearance of her ex-husband.

The real and obligatory mystery comes in with good ol' fashioned arson--for which Kinsey is blamed. It opens up a rather dark past for our heroine that reveals much about her already fascinating character. We see her as less as the strong and sharp-tongued detective and more of a scared little girl--and that is not a bad thing at all. Rather it makes her character all the more complex.
... Read more

Product Description
Private Investigator Kinsey Milhone is back on the job, hired by a privileged parolee's father to keep her out of trouble. It should be an easy assignment-until the parolee's past starts coming back to haunt her.Amazon.com Review
When wealthy octogenarian Nord Lafferty hires KinseyMillhone to help his newly paroled daughter find her way back to the straight and narrow after doing time for embezzlement, the Santa Teresa P.I. has no idea what she's getting into. Reba Lafferty's ex-boss, land developer Alan Beckwith, is the man who sent her to prison--so how come she's meeting him just hours after her release, and treating Kinsey to an X-rated reunion scene played out in his parked Mercedes? And why is he also playing sex games with Reba's formerly best friend, who still works for him? A visit from an old friend from the FBI clears up the mystery--Beckwith is suspected of running a money-laundering game, and they need Reba to make their case by rolling over on him. It’s not until Millhone presents Reba with photographic evidence of Beckwith's two-timing that she agrees to do what the Feds want... but she'll only do it her way, which could get a lot of people killed. Grafton fleshes out this well-crafted thriller with a romantic subplot involving a romantic triangle that features Kinsey's elderly landlord Henry, his brother, and a vivacious widow who can't seem to choose between them. It doesn't add much to the plot, but the fans of this evergreen series (who must be wondering what will happen to Millhone when Grafton gets to the end of the alphabet) probably won't mind a bit. --Jane Adams ... Read more

Customer Reviews (170)

What the Heck Happened?
Book Club Review
R is for Ricochet
Sue Grafton

Our book club's read for July was R IS FOR RICOCHET, by Sue Grafton.For our summer meetings we often like to stick with something easy and reliable.We'd decided at the last meeting that we wanted to read a Kinsey Millhone book, so we met up at the Barnes & Noble one night to pick one out.R IS FOR RICOCHET was on the remainder table for $4 for a hardcover, so we decided to take the plunge.(This led to a discussion of whether or not "good" books end up remaindered, but since there were a lot of bestsellers remaindered for really good prices, we figured there is no rhyme or reason to it.)

To say we were disappointed is an understatement.

Kinsey Millhone needs no introduction, but for those who aren't familiar with Santa Teresa, California's most famous female detective...there are a few things you may not realize (which we found out).We hadn't known that the entire series stays within the 1980s.I hadn't read a Grafton book since C or D, so I (and most of the book club members) sort of assumed that Kinsey would be older and wiser by now.Then we realized that the author has aged but Kinsey has not.The 1980s timeframe explains why no one has a cell phone as well as some other things that may seem anachronistic.We had a hard time with the setting in a sort of inexplicable way.It's like being caught in a timewarp but without any camp value.

The far bigger disappointments were in the story, the mystery, and even Kinsey herself.Usually I try to (when I write these reviews) to express the various opinions that were put forth, which are often contradictory.This time around, though, everyone was in agreement that the book was utterly boring.The plot is driven by a lot of details of the banking industry.The exposition goes on for pages and it's like reading a textbook.The characters are flat--the woman who has just been let out of prison, whose father has asked Kinsey to keep an eye on, is an inconsistent mixture of innocent and savvy.She has wild swings from one chapter to the next; we never knew who she was or what she was all about.Kinsey's longtime landlord, Henry, finds himself embroiled in a little romance, which is boring.

There's also no detecting and plot coincidences galore (you know, the type where characters guess at people's secret access codes and get them right on the third try).The mystery element is missing almost entirely, and for those of us who have enjoyed Kinsey in the past, we almost didn't recognize this milquetoast, easily led sap who lets herself be fooled again and again, and gets involved in situations where she really should know better.At the end of the book Kinsey points out (this is not a spoiler) that sometimes she is just a character in other people's drama, and that is an accurate description of this book.Unfortunately, there's no one else in the book remotely interesting, including Kinsey's new lover, who orders Kinsey around as if she's an eighteenth century maid.

I hate to write really negative reviews because everyone knows how good Grafton usually is.I guess everyone can have a misfire every now and again, and I guess it seems worse when everything else you've written has been so good.I think we now understand why this book was on the remainder table.I personally was so disappointed I feel like I'll never pick up another Grafton book again, but that's not fair.I actually feel that I have to pick up another one pretty soon to try to not have my last memory of Kinsey being "R is for Ricochet" (a title that makes surprisingly little sense).

Good Read
This is a fine author and an easy to read mystery.The story line is good and entertaining

Good Come Back
Did not like Q, so much so that I was ready to not like R. It took a bit to get over my aversion and relax and stop microanalyzing. Not her best, my favorites being her first few and K, but very good. I was relieved to enjoy it from end to end. Sue Grafton is partially responsible for pulling me out of the mire of heavy literature, so I have a vested interest in her longevity through Z.

Loved it!
Not sure why some did not like this book as much as her others.I've read all of them from A is for Alibi and could not put this down.

Awesome book!
As always, Sue Grafton wrote an awesome book. I loved R is for Ricochet! I was hooked from the very beginning. ... Read more

Product Description

Customer Reviews (58)

An Early Millhone Novel. But, One of the Best
As the third installment in Ms. Grafton's alphabet series her character of Kinsey Millhone has become nicely developed, as are the secondary characters.
In only the third of the alphabet series, Ms. Grafton gives the reader a no-nonsense solid story. Once more she shows the mastery of her metaphor use.
The book is as good as some of her later ones in the series. The climax of the story is reached very well. I like the way the author uses the very short prologues to end her books

Fantastic Little Mystery
(No Spoilers) Book 3 in Sue Grafton's Alphabet Mysteries series starring P.I. Kinsey Millhone is a fantastic romp through the city of Santa Teresa, the fictional setting in California where Kinsey lives. We learn more about the area, beautifully described by Grafton, and its denizens. Though Kinsey is full of voice and attitude as always, each character in this book stood out to me with their eccentricities and style. I loved Bobby, our "blond dame" substitute who hires the P.I. as in all good hard-broiled detective fiction, and his crazy-rich family. I loved the further development of Kinsey, her landlord Henry, and her love interest Jonah, all reoccurring characters I can't wait to see more of. The characterization in this book was excellent.

Grafton has a knack for metaphor and narrative description. Filtered through Kinsey's perspective, the author brings the world alive and keeps the reader sucked in. The mystery itself is beautifully plotted. I followed Kinsey through each step, making my own guesses as she went, and in the end felt rewarded by the results.

After not being thrilled with the previous book, I am delightfully surprised by 'C' is for Corpse. It's a fun little mystery with a great protagonist. I'm looking forward to the next book in the series. (4 Stars)

'C' is for Corpse

What I appreciate most in Grafton's Kinsey Millhone series is her attention to realism.Kinsey Millhone is a professional private detective, licensed by the state, and operating in "the real world".The books stick to this idea, and present mysteries in an almost pedestrian manner; while in the middle of a case Kinsey stops by her office, sorts through her mail, drinks coffee, and goes grocery shopping.The little details of the day-to-day are all there, and while they may come off as a bit tedious at times (usually when you've read several books in a row, all with the same details), the overall effect is one of grounded reality.Kinsey is not a super hero; it is not unusual for her to encounter some extreme scenarios because it is in fact her job to pursue mysteries - or insurance fraud (after all, both pay the bills).'C' is for Corpse is not an extraordinary book, but I can appreciate it for its consistency, and will continue to work my way back through the series.

Harkens back to the old Perry Mason series
You know, I have stacks of books at my bedside, including a number of murder mysteries and even including a couple of Sue Crafton's.In fact, I've had this one in my library since 1986; it is now quite yellowed with age!I don't know why I've never gotten into the alphabet (specify letter) is for... series, but I finally decided to read the book, if for no other reason than to remove it from my shelf and pass it on to others.I have to say, I really enjoyed it.I'm not sure what took me so long. Many of my best friends have been devoted fans for years.

"C is for Corpse" is an ingeniously plotted mystery with the flair and appeal of the old Perry Mason series.There is definitely a sense of ambiance that suggests the 50's and 60's despite the 1980's settings.There is the nostolgic romance of the wealthy:the expensive cars, lavish clothing and palatial homes in California. The handsome victim is introduced almost from the beginning.All this brings back the sense of the old Perry Mason black-and-white TV series.Perhaps it's because there are no mentions of more recent events, of ATMs, cordless or wireless phones, etc.Maybe it's because of the almost conspicuous lack of gory detail.Or maybe it's simply because it's been a long time since 1986!After all, to some people 1986 is just as much "ancient history" as the 50's and 60's!(I, on the other hand, can remember when the hairstyles and fashions of the 80's weren't "retro.")

Like many of the old Mason series, the reader is introduced to the victim before he's killed.One meets all the players and observes their interactions before the murder occurs some half-way through the book.Then it becomes a matter of untangling all the clues and putting the whole puzzle together. If the other alphabet letters are as good as this one was, I may read all the way to "z!"(Do they have a "z" yet?)

Client's Death
This is the one that will not let you turn off the light. Her new client has asked her to find out what really happened when he had an almost fatal accident. He doesn't remember a thing except that some wanted him dead. Her client is dead in three days after she takes the case. Kinsey must get to the bottom of this. It keeps the pages turning. ByRuth Thompson author of "The Bluegrass Dream" and "Natchez Above The River" ... Read more

Product Description

Customer Reviews (37)

Grafton
I am a fan of Sue Grafton's work and I try to read all of her books!

Always Great
You can't go wrong with any of Sue Grafton's "alphabet" novels. I love the character of Kinsey, and I own every single book in the series, they are so good, I re-read them every few years.

Good Read
This is a fine author and an easy to read mystery.The story line is good and entertaining

Free of wrongdoing
Kinsey Milhone's ninth adventure does not disappoint.She is asked to pick up the pieces of a colleague who dies suddenly from an apparent heart attack.Millhone is puzzled by holes she discovers in the colleagues work left for her.With her usual thoroughness, Kinsey soon finds herself working on multiple crimes with a common person.Grafton always writes a good tight mystery.This is another.

Sue Grafton rocks!
She is one of my favorite authors.I hope she finishes her alphabet series, I love when she publishes a new book. ... Read more

Product Description

Customer Reviews (80)

errors in it.
Thankfully I did not purchase this book.I borrowed it from the public library.At least I didn't waste money on it.On Page 219, first paragraph, she says she left the keys in the ignition and got out of the car.On Page 224, first paragraph, she says she became aware of a hard knot pressing into my thigh.Car keys.I just couldn't keep up on all the characters, there were so many, Lily, Marty, Beverly, Elaine, Tillie, Pat Usher, Mrs. Ochsner.I think the author should go for more character development, less on so many characters, and less on scenery development.I do think the alphabet mysteries are pretty good but this one needed editing as described above.Still better than some of the mysteries out there by other authors.

B is for Boring....
I just started the series and simply tore through "A".Unfortunately, "B" left me crying "get to the point already!"It was very drawn out, lots of details that didn't add anything but pages to the book.I think the plot was good, had it been more condensed I think "B" would be a great book to read.This simply took forever to finish and sadly has challenged my interest to read the rest of the series. All the other reviews seem to really celebrate the writing.I just couldn't find myself engaged with this book.Maybe I'll come back to the series after a short break.

A Good Murder Mystery
As the second installment in Ms. Grafton's alphabet series the character of Kinsey Millhone is a bit more developed.
The book is better than the first, "A is for Alibi." While not a great mystery, it's a good solid read. Ms. Grafton is developing her main characters well. She also has a bit of a talent for the use of metaphors in her tales.
The book is not as good as her later ones in the series. The climax of the story comes & goes very quickly at the end. Yet, it's still an enjoyable mystery.

What happened?
I'm not entirely sure what happened with 'B' is for Burglar, but I found it very hard to get into the story. The characters were still there, quirky and interesting as ever, and Grafton's narrative descriptions still struck me as unique and engrossing, but I just couldn't find myself caring about the plot. It wasn't a murder mystery I could sit around guessing at, thereby provoking my interest as the pieces were revealed. Instead, the ending came from left field and accusations that were previously made are never wrapped-up. There's a rather important side character who is glossed over at the end, leaving me wondering what happened? Why? HOW?!

The book was good for a quick read on a rainy day, but it didn't blow my mind. Grafton has a gift for metaphors, they stand out without seeming like melodrama. She can describe something in a few sentences that would take less skilled writers many paragraphs. All in all, I will continue to read this series. I hope 'C' has a more engaging storyline.

relearning my ABC's
I've just started this series from the beginning after first reading U IS FOR UNDERCOVER.This is, in my opinion about the best American lady detective series there is, and this 2nd book with its twists and the quirky characters certainly will keep you wanting to go through the alphabet. ... Read more

Product Description
Tom Newquist had been a detective in the Nota Lake sheriff's office--a tough, honest cop respected by everyone. When he died suddenly, the townfolk were sad but not surprised. Just shy of sixty-five, Newquist worked too hard, drank too much, and exercised too little.

Newquist's widow, Selma, didn't doubt the coroner's report. But still, she couldn't help wondering what had so bothered Tom in the last six weeks of his life. What was it that had made him prowl restlessly at night and brood constantly? Determined to help Selma find the answer, Kinsey Millhone sets up shop in Nota Lake, where she finds that looking for a needle in a haystack can draw blood--very likely, her own. . . .
Amazon.com Review
"Suppose we could peer through a tiny peephole in timeand chance upon a flash of what was coming up in the yearsahead?" The questioner is Kinsey Millhone, middle-aged, two-timedivorcee detective and junk food junkie star of Sue Grafton's popular"alphabet" mysteries; the book is 'N' Is for Noose. IfKinsey had had just a smidgen of foresight, she would never have takenher current case, handed down to her from her on-again, off-againflame and comrade in arms, Robert Dietz. We encounter the two thistime out after Deitz's knee surgery, as Kinsey drives his "snazzylittle red Porsche" back to Carson City, where she checks out hisdigs for the first time. To her surprise, he lives in a palatialpenthouse, which--under the unspoken bylaws of investigativeetiquette--she qualmlessly snoops through.They sit around for afortnight playing gin rummy and eating peanut butter and picklesandwiches together, but perennially single Kinsey grows wary:"It was time to hit the road before our togetherness began tochafe."

She heads off to meet Dietz's former client, Mrs. Selma Newquist, adevastated widow whose makeup tips seem to come from Tammy FayeBaker. Her husband Tom Newquist, a detective himself, had been workingon a mysterious case when he abruptly died of a heart attack. Selmasuspects foul play, but bless her, she isn't the brightest star in thesky and can't figure out what Tom was working on even though he's leftbehind enough paper to fill a recycling truck. Kinsey digs right inand roams the sleepy, one-horse town of Nota Lake for clues,interviewing a colorful cast of in-laws and locals. Beneath thequaint, quiet, country veneer, she unearths a bubbling hotbed ofinternal strife and familial double-dealing. Was Tom covering up forhis partner? Is Selma protecting someone? Grafton's knack for grittydetails and realistic characters ("[Selma's] skin tones suggesteddark coloring, but her hair was a confection of white-blond curls,like a cloud of cotton candy&quot), coupled with the fast-paced,believable story line, makes for another delightful, entertainingread. --Rebekah Warren, Bestsellers editor ... Read more

Customer Reviews (176)

Nodding off
I generally enjoy reading Ms. Grafton's books. N is for Noose is not one of them. I kept having the feeling I'd already read this book. The fact that I'm still unsure, even after I've now completed it, tells me something. Such as - maybe it's too much like others of her stories. Or maybe I did read it, but it was forgettable the first go-round, too.

Another annoyance was Ms. Grafton's all-gears-showing technique of describing every mundane quality of something or another. Normally, I appreciate this style, but in this book, it came across as if a college student were completing an assignment in which she was required to use particular writing devices.

Then there was the situation in which Kinsey couldn't get anyone to pump gas at the gas stations in town. Weirdly, she ended up at a station with a self-serve pump, which she used to fill a gas container. Umm, why didn't she just sashay over to a self-serve with her darn car and fill it? Made no sense.

And I was irritated that she didn't just check out of that cabin after the first night. Inexplicable. Finally, the motive and wrap-up re: the killer ... whoa, a major stretch. And I don't think the whole Japanese noose-with-rock killing method was explained regarding its connection with the killer. Or maybe I glossed over that part in my eagerness to finish the book.

Bottom line: A disappointment.

Great book but often is not En Espanol.
We have tried 2 times to order this item, in Spanish and each time it arrives as the English paperback.It is not that I do not like the Grafton books, own them all, but I really wish there was a way to check and make sure the book is the Spanish Edition that I need.

A Wife's Closure
Tom Newquist died from a heart attack. He had not taken care of himself but his wife wanted to know what had caused him so much concern the six months before he died. Kinsey's investigation wasn't turning up anything but she kept on probing. She found herself in great danger trying to find closure for Newquist's wife.By Ruth Thompson author of "The Bluegrass Dream" and "Natchez Above the River"

Lower Your Expectations

Another light read. If you've got the lawn mowed and are waiting for the game to start this novel by Sue Grafton will fill that vacant time slot nicely.
Tom Newquist, a detective with the sheriffs office, died of a heart attack. No mystery here, everyone knew he didn't take wellness seriously. But, his wife contacts Kinsey Millhone and asked her to look into Tom's life prior to his death. Selma Newquist tells Millhone that her husband acted strangely during the weeks preceding his heart attack. "He was troubled about something," Selma told Millhone. Another strange piece of information Selma shared with Millhone was that Tom always carried a notebook with him and it wasn't anywhere to be found. Kinsey Millhone assumed all she'd need to do is find the notebook and her job would be over. Little did she know that others were interested too. Little did she know Selma's son would play a major role in the rising mystery.

Marvin Wiebener, author of THE MARGIN and the soon to be released THE MORIAH RUSE.
[...]The Moriah Ruse

Good writing, loose plot
I really enjoyed Grafton's writing, but the story here meandered a bit too much for my liking. There was too much "murky middle" between the set-up and the resolution.

I read an early book in this series years and years ago.I barely remember anything about it, so I can't compare "N is for Noose" it to the rest of the series.I'm glad to hear that other books are better, because I look forward to reading another Grafton novel. ... Read more

Product Description
The #1 New York Times bestseller is back featuring Kinsey Millhone!Amazon.com Review
Private investigator Kinsey Millhone has served Sue Grafton well through 16 letters of the alphabet in a perennially popular series that occasionally breaks new ground but more often traverses familiar territory, as is the case here. Two old, ailing cops--one retired, the other disabled--try to breathe some life into an 18-year-old mystery that haunts them both for different reasons. They enlist Kinsey's help in identifying the victim, a young woman who was murdered and left for dead in the old quarry of the title. Neither they nor Kinsey expect that reopening an old case will incite the killer to strike again--not once, but twice. And while the real case of the still-unidentified victim that inspired this fictionalized scenario continues to languish in the cold case file in the Santa Barbara sheriff's office, Grafton's solution is as plausible as any. While the unlikely trio of Millhone and her cranky geezer sidekicks offers a few chuckles, the inner reaches of Kinsey's soul remain largely inaccessible to her as well as to the reader, which will probably not bother most of Kinsey's or Grafton's many admirers. --Jane Adams ... Read more

Customer Reviews (178)

"B" is for Boring
You'd think by the time Ms. Grafton got to the letter 'Q' in her series, she would have sharpened her craft.Earlier books in the series were much better.In this one, Kinsey tags along with a couple of old, sick and washed-up detectives on a cold case.However, she spends way too much time talking about the minutia of her daily routine."I went here, did this, went there, did that, had a diet Pepsi, and . . . yada, yada, yada."This book really drags, and by the time the case starts to unfold, you're practically asleep and could care less.To make things even worse, the metaphors and similes just don't work.Describing someone's tone of voice as "flat as a two day old can of soda" doesn't quite rise to her usual.And although she's going for a laugh out loud moment here and there, she never quite clears the bar.Maybe Ms. Grafton is getting tired of the whole shtick; if that's the case, she should just let us know and give it up.

awesome books
I BOUGHT THESE BOOKS FOR MY BROTHER IN LAW AND HE SAID H REALLY ENJOYED READING THEM

Q Is Not One of Ms. Grafton's Strongest Novels
Loosely based on a 33 year old cold case Ms. Grafton became very interested in, we now have this novel.
A couple of very like-able older retired cops decide to look into a cold case 18 years old. The murder of a young wayward girl. Enter Kinsey Millhone having been asked to help them out.
The novel takes place in tiny whistle stop towns in California's no mans' land.
Ms. Grafton's characters are well developed. Here, I found them more entertaining than the mystery; which I did not find too enthralling & a bit weak.
But heck, she's put out some very strong work so I'll always read her novels.

Q is for QUARRY
Miraculously, eveything was fine with my recent purchase of the audio book Q IS FOR QUARRY.I had been looking for it for a long time and am pleased with it in every respect.Thanks for having it available.

bummer
Grafton's prose can be wistfully artful and poetic. In K this is breathtakingly clear. A is another favorite that comes to mind, but Q... I just read it last week. Grafton's skill will earn her 3 stars no matter, but Q felt as though she struggled to fill the pages. What minutiae can I add to take up space. It seemed uninspired despite her author's note, which says she was inspired by a story told over dinner by her doctor friend. This is the second Grafton I found myself rolling my eyes at but can't remember the other. It felt like reading long laundry lists interspersed with a story line. Made me anxious. ... Read more

Product Description
"M" is for money. Lots of it. "M" is for Malek Construction, the $40 million company that grew out of modest soil to become one of the big three in California and, uniquely, remains in family hands. Eighteen years ago, one of the sons of the family went missing. Now "M" is for Millhone, hired to trace that missing black sheep. Though Kinsey Millhone succeeds in her search, this prodical son will find no welcome at his family's table. And, in the all-too-common outcome of familial hate "M" winds up standing for murder.Amazon.com Review
Kinsey Millhone, the normally bubbly California private investigator,is depressed in Sue Grafton's new alphabet mystery; so depressed she goesback with old flame Robert Dietz for a while. Bad move. Meanwhile she getswrapped up in a family affair, locating the missing heir to a fortune andthen protecting him from his ill-intentioned brothers. Typically, our womanKinsey has little patience with the boys, but a firm grasp of familydysfunction. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (87)

Good paperback copy
This book in the Grafton series was not available on Kindle so I had to get it through Amazon.It arrived quickly and in good shape.

Reading with Tequila
M is for Malice is the best Kinsey Millhone novel yet. I found this book surprising good after the less than stellar L is for Lawless.

Kinsey is beginning to reluctantly open up emotionally with her cousin Tasha, ex-lover Dietz and especially with the victim (before he is murdered, of course.) I love seeing personal character growth in long running series and I'm glad that Kinsey is beginning to progress as a character.

M is for Malice has a great mystery with twists and red herrings galore. I suspected everyone, some more than others. Kinsey takes a much more active role investigating this case and the character seems to be headed back in the right direction.

M is for Malice is puzzling and surprisingly touching. Kinsey's touch exterior may be beginning to soften, which could be considered good or bad, but at least she's detecting again instead of just letting things happen as they may. This book has injected some much needed energy into the series.

Good Read
This is a fine author and an easy to read mystery.The story line is good and entertaining

Classic Grafton
Love Sue Grafton's works. Her storyline always get your attention, the main character Kinsey is quirky and enjoyable. Another great read(audio)

Sharing
The plot is an interesting one. There is an inheritance of millions and there are four brothers to share it. However before any can inherit their money they must find the one that is missing. He has been gone for eighteen years. It is Kinsey's job to fine him. It is not simple and there is always suspense and intrigue when Kinsey is working.By Ruth Thompson author of "The Bluegrass Dream" and "Natchez Above The River" ... Read more

Product Description

Typical of the series, the mystery is not the central point of the story,but rather a starting point for Kinsey to become embroiled in a suspenseful(and delightful) search-and-rescue operation, usually against her betterjudgement. In this case, a gun-toting, arthritic octogenarian andrevelations of the inner workings of bargain-rate motels are all part ofthe adventure. This is an easy and enjoyable read, and a solid addition toGrafton's string of alphabetical hits. --K.A. Crouch ... Read more

Customer Reviews (54)

Good Read
This is a fine author and an easy to read mystery.The story line is good and entertaining

Reading with Tequila
Books in the Alphabet series go one of two ways. Either they are completely about the mystery or the mystery is in the background somewhere. L is for Lawless is one of the books that is more criminal joyride than mystery.

Kinsey is wrapped up in a pro-bono case for a friend of a friend. Unfortunately, she doesn't use many detecting skills while investigating this case. More often than not, secondary characters give her whatever information she needs without her even asking. She's lied to a lot, but she doesn't seem to even figure that out on her own. The liars eventually confess each lie when the correct information is necessary.

I love this series, but L is for Lawless isn't nearly the best of the bunch. The highlight of the entire book was Henry's brothers and sister visiting for Rosie and William's wedding, but we only got to see a lot of them in the first few chapters. L is for Lawless isn't a book I would recommend to anyone other than a series completist. It's not a bad book, but there are far better ones in the series if you're only going to read a few.

L is for laugh!

Kinsey Millhone seems doomed whenever she agrees to a favor.As a private invetigator, it may seem expected, but in this installment of the alphabet mysteries, she agrees to be in a wedding and ends up having to wear a flowered muumuu. She agrees to help an acquaintance of her landlord and ends up in another state posing as a hotel maid in order to retrieve a stolen duffel bag. She agrees to go as far as Nashville, TN, and is faced with the business end of a gun. What's a girl to do when someone says, "please"?

I always enjoy an afternoon with Kinsey, though this book struck me as a little more humorous than some of the others I've read recently. Her odd crush on her landlord is mildly weird and yet endearing, and it's always entertaining to see her thinking on her feet. The ending kind of sucked considering everything she'd been through, but maybe karma will be kind to her in the future.

This story isn't as much of a mystery as some of her other stories, but I enjoyed Grafton's humor and the the "puzzling" nature of some aspects.

Alphabet Author
The Margin

Another fast read by Grafton. Sometimes you just want something light to snack on and, metaphorically speaking, thats what this novel is.
Millhone (Graphton's PI)does her neighbor a favor. Henry's request seems simple enough, his friend, Johnny Lee, died recently and Johnny's family were having difficulty collecting burial benefits due veterans. Well, you guessed it, nothing is ever as simple as it seems and so goes the tale. As Millhone investigates an old friend of Johnny's shows up not knowing of his friends death. Ray Rawson quickly becomes key to something much more sinister Millhone never expected.

Marvin Wiebener, author of The Margin and soon to be released The Moriah Ruse.
[...]

Good but not her best!
'L' for Lawless is a very good read, but is not up to her usual standards;
however, it hasn't in any way affected my 'pure delight' with Kinsey Millhone.This is, without doubt, the best mystery series going! ... Read more

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Customer Reviews (40)

Used book "very good" .... not really
The condition of copy I bought is rated as "very good", but it has two dime-size holes right on the cover. It's not "very good" by any ways.

Fun, and fully satisfying
Kinsey definitely deserves her reputation as a sharp, witty, and thoroughly likeable protagonist. I enjoyed the difference in setting here as she takes on a case near San Luis Obispo, north of her established territory.The case is indeed a challenger,involving a 17 year old murderand the fugitive of the title, a man who in his younger dayswas convicted ofmanslaughter and then escaped from prison.And the eventual solution is quite satisfying.

F is for Fantastic
This was a really great book.The characters were interesting and the plot was never predictable.Definitely a great mystery.

"F" is for Fugitive
Excellent results (as expected when dealing with this highly regarded supplier).The product was as advertised, and great care was given in the packaging of the product for shipment.

One of my favorites in the saga of Kinsey Millhone
Just read this book for the second time (after being away from it for several years) and I think enjoyed it even more than the first time I read it.For one, I finally figured out that the fictitious town of "Floral Beach," the setting for this book, is actually Avila Beach -- on the coast of Central California (12 miles west of San Luis Obispo).Sue Grafton drops a few clues into the story (like the hot springs, which the real town Avila Beach also has) that allowed me to figure out which town she'd used as the model for the locale of the story.

As usual, Sue Grafton's descriptions of place and weather, through Kinsey, are so descriptive as to be nearly poetic.Early on in the story, when Kinsey is going to visit the pool hall, there's a description of the fog coming in at night off the ocean that practically makes me want to move there (me being one of those people who loves seeing the coastal fog creep in off the Pacific, as it does so grandly and so very often here on the West Coast).

I slightly missed Kinsey's usual cast of characters back in Santa Teresa, but at the same time it was nice to have a different locale for a Kinsey mystery.I was absorbed in the story from beginning to end, and the descriptions of nearby San Luis Obispo are spot on, too.Ms. Grafton continues to impress me with her talents as a writer.I'll be sad when this wonderful series ends.
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Customer Reviews (38)

I'd forgotten how annoying Kinsey Millhone is.
This would be a pretty good mystery, if only it was a bit more exciting and if only the narrator, Kinsey Millhone, wasn't so annoying.

I doubt too many people will agree that she is annoying, however, or even notice or be bothered.

The author has fallen into the same trap so many other authors do: into thinking that artificial conflict creates an interesting read or makes "character." Kinsey hates when people lie to her, but lies all the time herself, doesn't give people information they need but demands information herself from them, and is basically a flaming hypocrite. That makes for painful reading.

Other than that, the mystery is okay, and there are some excellent character descriptions throughout the book.

The best part of the book, and the reason I re-read this years after the first time, is a hilarious scene in the book that I don't want to spoil for anyone. Very, very funny.

One star for the funny scene. Negative five stars for the annoying main character. If you're not sensitive to the personalities of the narrators of your novels, then you might enjoy this competently written book.

A Lot of Suspects with a Surprise Ending
Kinsey Millhone is back for the fourth installment of the alphabet series. So far this one has the most surprises for the reader. Any number of suspects could be the possible murderer.

Ms. Grafton keeps the reader guessing and throws in a nice surprise in the end. As in the others, it's a fairly quick read. But, the characters are well developed & real, especially Millhone

Sue Grafton

Love anything written by Sue Grafton and have the entire collection, thus far. Can't wait to see what Kinsey is going to do next.

The series really hits its stride with this one
Peopled with sharply drawn characters and of course centered on the exceedingly delightful and likeable Kinsey, this is easily my favorite of the first four which I've read so far and certainly propels me to keep reading the series.One is drawn especially to the boy, Tony, the survivor of a drunk driver accident.This entry certainly hits one's emotions while providing a well plotted and almost painfully believable mystery.

Sue Grafton Books
Started with "A" and love these books. Sue Grafton writes so I feel that I am right there watching everything happen. She's a great writer. ... Read more

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Following the bestselling success of the first Sue Grafton omnibus comes Volume 2 in the alphabet mysteries featuring one of the most popular female sleuths, Kinsey Millhone.Every single Sue Grafton mystery hits one of the top five positions of the New York Times bestseller lists, and an omnibus of her books are instant classics. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (6)

3 of Sue's novels
Just within the past year I have started reading Sue Grafton's novels.These three are some of best with the sleuth Kinsey M.I preferred the "F" novel best, but all three were highly enjoyable.

Another winner from Grafton
I have read all the alphabet books to date.They have all been excellent.I'm up to U is For Undertow. I have been an avid Sue Grafton fan since the beginning. I especially love Henry. I did not have these 3 books in my collection, even though I had read them a long time ago so decided to purchase them in a set.Much cheaper than purchasing them separately.I'm enjoying reading these 3 all over again.Can't wait for her next one.

Get Three Great Books for a Great Price
The Sue Grafton alphabet series is a great set of detective novels from A to S (so far!).While some are better than others, they are all entertaining reads.

What makes this particular book worth purchasing (as well as the two other compilation hardcovers) is that you are getting three books for the price of one!This even beats the paperback prices.

The three separate hardcovers would run you about $54 and the paperbacks would be about $24.You do the math.

I definitely recommend getting the books in the version.

Grafton Does It Again!
Kinsey Milhone is funny and real. I love the way Sue Grafton shows her sense of humor through her heroine. Kinsey's no nonsense approach to life and her thoughts about the way things are and the way they should be are often so true that I find myself laughing out loud. Her haphazard lifestyle makes me both admire her and want to mother her. I agree with other reviewers who said that it isn't so much the mysteries that attract me to Grafton's books, but the people in them. I find myself caring about them as much as Kinsey does. I enjoy reading these books on weekends when I just want to relax with something entertaining and uncomplicated. They don't rival Ludlum for suspense and intrigue, but I love 'em--bring 'em on Sue!

Great bargain
This is a hardcover with three complete novels for less than... It's intriguing to read them consecutively and piece together the Milhone story - rather like reading Proust or Anthony Powell. All the alphabet stories are set within quite a short time-spand. The action in D is for Deadbeat begins in October of the year of C is for Corpse. E is for Evidence, in which her apartment is destroyed, takes place over Christmas of that year, and she moves to another coastal town in F is for Fugitive, while the apartment is fixed. E is for Evidence has a lot of her back story. Her second husband turns up in it. (Husband number one will turn up, sort of, in O is for Outlaw - I can't remember which is the one where she meets cousins). The California Fidelity connection is strong in E is for Evidence and the relationship with Henry Pitt intensifies poignantly at the end of F is for Fugitive. ... Read more