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3.6 AVERAGE
3.6 AVERAGE
challenging
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
dark
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Despite enjoying plenty of grocery store detective novels in my younger years (James Patterson, Michael Connolly, etc.) I had somehow never read anything by Sue Grafton. I knew of her, of course, and her alphabet-themed series of detective novels, but for whatever reason had never picked one up. Well, for the 2024 PopSugar reading challenge, I had to read a book starting with the letter X. I had started reading a different book, and was struggling with maintaining interest, and decided to switch it up. When I read the description of X it sounded fascinating - a detective on the trail of a potential serial killer who knows she's looking into him. I love a good cat and mouse!
Unfortunately X isn't quite like that. Much of the book has our protagonist Kinsey getting involved in a divorce dispute over a piece of artwork, and includes a lot - A LOT - of surveillance and stakeouts while she tries to figure out what, exactly, the ex wife is planning. And the potential heist is fun, there's red herrings and disguises and whatnot, but it definitely isn't a serial killer.
The secondary plot involves aforementioned serial killer, but it takes 5/6 of the book to actually develop. Kinsey is helping her friend Ruth clean out files from her deceased husband Pete, another PI and occasional colleague of Kinsey's. In one of the boxes Kinsey finds a hidden compartment containing personal items of a dead woman, and a document written in code. This eventually leads her to discover that the deceased woman may have actually been murdered by her husband, and that there may be more victims out there. But like I said, it takes a long time and a lot of meandering to get to the point where Kinsey thinks this might be a murder. Hardly a psychological thriller as advertised.
The final storyline is about water conservation, and is kind of inane - Kinsey and her landlord's new neighbors are leeches and might be scamming them, and Kinsey is trying to protect her landlord (and friend) from being taken advantage of. This storyline, while silly, does at least have a satisfying conclusion.
The book was enjoyable, and I can understand why the series was so popular, but it was also a bit of a disappointment. It was meandering, the plots were really disparate and didn't tie together at all (not even thematically), and there was no satisfying conclusion to the serial killer plotline. I would probably try another Grafton novel - I did enjoy her style of writing and Kinsey's character - but would check out some reviews before committing.
Unfortunately X isn't quite like that. Much of the book has our protagonist Kinsey getting involved in a divorce dispute over a piece of artwork, and includes a lot - A LOT - of surveillance and stakeouts while she tries to figure out what, exactly, the ex wife is planning. And the potential heist is fun, there's red herrings and disguises and whatnot, but it definitely isn't a serial killer.
The secondary plot involves aforementioned serial killer, but it takes 5/6 of the book to actually develop. Kinsey is helping her friend Ruth clean out files from her deceased husband Pete, another PI and occasional colleague of Kinsey's. In one of the boxes Kinsey finds a hidden compartment containing personal items of a dead woman, and a document written in code. This eventually leads her to discover that the deceased woman may have actually been murdered by her husband, and that there may be more victims out there. But like I said, it takes a long time and a lot of meandering to get to the point where Kinsey thinks this might be a murder. Hardly a psychological thriller as advertised.
The final storyline is about water conservation, and is kind of inane - Kinsey and her landlord's new neighbors are leeches and might be scamming them, and Kinsey is trying to protect her landlord (and friend) from being taken advantage of. This storyline, while silly, does at least have a satisfying conclusion.
The book was enjoyable, and I can understand why the series was so popular, but it was also a bit of a disappointment. It was meandering, the plots were really disparate and didn't tie together at all (not even thematically), and there was no satisfying conclusion to the serial killer plotline. I would probably try another Grafton novel - I did enjoy her style of writing and Kinsey's character - but would check out some reviews before committing.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Domestic abuse, Violence
Minor: Infidelity
I picked this one up because I’m doing a reading challenge that requires I read a book starting with each letter of the alphabet. X, Y, and Z are proving difficult. Although X is rated almost a four on Goodreads, I hated everything about it. The writer’s style can be described best as “grocery list” or “recipe for dummies,” meaning she is every literal about spelling out every trivial little detail, even when it doesn’t advance the plot. There is no nuance, no thinking required, no use of literary elements. I don’t believe Grafton ever heard of “show me, don’t tell me,” or at least it doesn’t show in this book, the first and last I’ll pick up by her. There’s a whole subplot about an 85 year old man learning about gray water for gosh sakes. What a snooze! If you like to read instructions that come with putting something together (think IKEA bookcase), you may enjoy this one. Otherwise, I’d skip it. 0/5 stars. #bookstagram #bookstagrammer #booksbooksbooks #book #books #booklover #booknerdforlife #bookrecommendations #bookrecs #bookrec #bookreview #bookaddict #read #readmorebooks #readmore #reading #readingtime
Set in the 1980s, Kinsey Millhone is the protagonist of Sue Grafton's Alphabet series. As a private investigator with a very practical outlook towards life, when she is approached by a lady to find her son, Kinsey feels that it would be an easy case and few easy bucks. Then she finds out that she was paid with marked bills and the client is nowhere to be found. At the same time, while trying to help a friend’s widow, Kinsey stumbles upon a coded list which leads her towards a sociopath. Maybe Kinsey has bitten off more than she can chew this time. Or maybe, Kinsey is the only one who can solve these two cases and come out on top.
What I enjoyed about this book was the multiple storylines that are followed in this story book. Aside from the two main cases demanding Kinsey’s attention, there is more going on in the book. It may feel like filling to some people, but I enjoyed that there were so many things going on in the book. It kept me involved along with Kinsey. Some had easy solutions and one needed more attention than the other. I kept asking myself if these were all somehow connected throughout and got the answer towards the end.
I liked the character of Kinsey quite a bit. There is no doubt that she is smart and intelligent – she had to be in order to be able to make a name for herself in the field that she had chosen for herself. She is also very practical and has a no-nonsense attitude that I liked. The way she observes rather than just seeing things reminded me of the conversation that Sherlock and Watson had in ‘A Scandal in Bohemia’.
Even with so many things running parallel, and with a protagonist like Kinsey Millhone, the book had a few places where I could feel it drag a bit. That coupled with a predictable ending, the book just missed the mark by a bit. But yes, I would certainly like to read more of this series and Kinsey Millhone.
What I enjoyed about this book was the multiple storylines that are followed in this story book. Aside from the two main cases demanding Kinsey’s attention, there is more going on in the book. It may feel like filling to some people, but I enjoyed that there were so many things going on in the book. It kept me involved along with Kinsey. Some had easy solutions and one needed more attention than the other. I kept asking myself if these were all somehow connected throughout and got the answer towards the end.
I liked the character of Kinsey quite a bit. There is no doubt that she is smart and intelligent – she had to be in order to be able to make a name for herself in the field that she had chosen for herself. She is also very practical and has a no-nonsense attitude that I liked. The way she observes rather than just seeing things reminded me of the conversation that Sherlock and Watson had in ‘A Scandal in Bohemia’.
Even with so many things running parallel, and with a protagonist like Kinsey Millhone, the book had a few places where I could feel it drag a bit. That coupled with a predictable ending, the book just missed the mark by a bit. But yes, I would certainly like to read more of this series and Kinsey Millhone.
I don’t know if this is the best book in the series, or if I’m just sad that Sue Grafton died. But, I enjoyed this ones a lot.
dark
mysterious
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
N/A
I wish I could have granted it another half a star.....Like catching up with an old friend. This book was better than the last couple of letters & 24 letters in, you know I will be back for the last two visits with my old friend Kinsey.
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
N/A
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
adventurous
lighthearted
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No