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topdragon's review against another edition
4.0
It’s hard to believe I’m up to number 18 in this series. In many ways it seems like I just started reading them but to me, they are comfortable reads now and it’s like visiting old friends every time I read one.
This time that seemed even truer. The story revolves around Reba Lafferty, the 32 year old daughter of a rich businessman. She may have been born to riches but she has burned the candle at both ends for most of her life. As a result she has served a ~ 2 year prison term for embezzlement, taking the rap for her boss/boyfriend. The beginning of the novel finds our protagonist, Kinsey Millhone, being hired by the rich elderly father to simply pick up his daughter from prison as she is about to be paroled and then to “watch over” her for a few days until she gets her life back together. Easy money. Of course it isn’t that simple and Kinsey gets dragged into adventures beyond her expectations.
This could almost be classified as a thriller rather than a mystery. Kinsey as well as the reader recognizes who the good guys/bad guys are from near the beginning and it is only a matter of time before the situation resolves. The only question is Reba. As much as we are pulling for her, she certainly skirts the law in pursuit of her sense of “justice” and we tag along for the ride and wonder if she will go too far.
Another enjoyable entry in the series. I know some reviewers dislike the day-to-day life aspects we see of Kinsey that don’t have much to do with the case but I am reading these in order and enjoy the way the larger, multi-volume story arcs play out. For that to happen effectively we need to see what is happening outside the case itself.
Still reading these at a rate of 4 per year to time the ending to line up when “Z” is published.
This time that seemed even truer. The story revolves around Reba Lafferty, the 32 year old daughter of a rich businessman. She may have been born to riches but she has burned the candle at both ends for most of her life. As a result she has served a ~ 2 year prison term for embezzlement, taking the rap for her boss/boyfriend. The beginning of the novel finds our protagonist, Kinsey Millhone, being hired by the rich elderly father to simply pick up his daughter from prison as she is about to be paroled and then to “watch over” her for a few days until she gets her life back together. Easy money. Of course it isn’t that simple and Kinsey gets dragged into adventures beyond her expectations.
This could almost be classified as a thriller rather than a mystery. Kinsey as well as the reader recognizes who the good guys/bad guys are from near the beginning and it is only a matter of time before the situation resolves. The only question is Reba. As much as we are pulling for her, she certainly skirts the law in pursuit of her sense of “justice” and we tag along for the ride and wonder if she will go too far.
Another enjoyable entry in the series. I know some reviewers dislike the day-to-day life aspects we see of Kinsey that don’t have much to do with the case but I am reading these in order and enjoy the way the larger, multi-volume story arcs play out. For that to happen effectively we need to see what is happening outside the case itself.
Still reading these at a rate of 4 per year to time the ending to line up when “Z” is published.
kdaedwards's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
4.0
morr_books's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
brookefradd's review against another edition
3.0
I swapped between the audio and the paperback. I found myself skimming a lot. Kinsey acts like an immature teen giving into peer pressure at every turn. She is hired to look. After a felon and ends up trying to be her bestie.
I'm not sure if this series is still for me, but I'm close enough to the end to see it through.
I'm not sure if this series is still for me, but I'm close enough to the end to see it through.
gossamerwingedgazelle's review against another edition
4.0
This whole series is great, and this book is no exception. 100% guaranteed to suck you right in and keep you reading.
alidottie's review against another edition
2.0
Not very interesting or exciting. Is it just me or does anyone else hate the fact that Kinsey is stuck in the 80's? Even though this book was published in 2004, Grafton insists on keeping Kinsey in a time warp. What I didn't like was the on and on about financial laws and things from that time period. Thought that was boring.
melissa_who_reads's review against another edition
3.0
Overall, I liked this one. Partially because it was less tense than some others; the financial crimes around which this book centers are not as tense-making as murder (though there is enough violence toward the end to satisfy the tension/danger element of mysteries, and yes, a character does die). When the news is filled with tension and anxiety these days, it is nice to escape with something that is less fraught ...
However, it took me a long time to get through this. I listened to it in the car, and I found it easy to put it aside and listen to something else for a bit. Perhaps a little too low on urgency in the writing?
Kinsey, the narrator, is not really the star of this one: Reba, the woman she picks up and brings home from the California Institute for Women (i.e., prison) drives the narrative all the way through. Kinsey's relationship with Reba is somewhat and oddly passive: she allows Reba to call the shots while following along somewhat exasperatedly. Reba is an electric personality, and it doesn't do to underestimate how smart she is and how well she plays the games in her life.
This was one where I kept being surprised by Kinsey's actions, comparing her to V.I. Warshawski who I've also been reading a lot of lately: I'd think "no, VI would never do that!" and "Wait, doesn't she fight better than that? VI fights better!" They're different, though.
However, it took me a long time to get through this. I listened to it in the car, and I found it easy to put it aside and listen to something else for a bit. Perhaps a little too low on urgency in the writing?
Kinsey, the narrator, is not really the star of this one: Reba, the woman she picks up and brings home from the California Institute for Women (i.e., prison) drives the narrative all the way through. Kinsey's relationship with Reba is somewhat and oddly passive: she allows Reba to call the shots while following along somewhat exasperatedly. Reba is an electric personality, and it doesn't do to underestimate how smart she is and how well she plays the games in her life.
This was one where I kept being surprised by Kinsey's actions, comparing her to V.I. Warshawski who I've also been reading a lot of lately: I'd think "no, VI would never do that!" and "Wait, doesn't she fight better than that? VI fights better!" They're different, though.