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3.75 AVERAGE
3.75 AVERAGE
Another good solid Kinsey Milhone story, although possibly one of the weaker ones thus far. And possibly one you're better off reading in order, rather than a stand alone, as it's as much a continuation of her life story rather than a stand alone cunning mystery to get your teeth into.
There are two things going on in this book. Kinsey gets a call from a lawyer (I think he was) to let her know some small time thug she helped investigate and put away years ago, has put a contract out on her life. Being in prison didn't suit him, and he blamed the lawyers, the judge and the investigator (but of course not himself!), so he puts out a contract on four people's lives with a price of 5000 USD for all four. I know this book is 20 years old, but that seems cheap, even Kinsey thinks so. And considering the carry on that ensues in the book, it goes to prove that you get what you pay for. If a professional hit man had been on the job, she would have died very early on in the book. And thank god she didn't! So we have that, and the blossoming interaction with another P.I. she hired a few books ago to do a little local research for her. They never met, but the lawyer suggested she hire him again for security.
Then there's the job she's hired for in this book. She's hired by this neurotic, hypochondriac, clingy woman Irene, who hasn't heard from her mother in six months. She hasn't bothered to go out to the slab city city in the desert where her mother is living, or worried too much, but now she's hiring a detective to go find out what's happened. This isn't a massive job, as she basically goes out there, finds the old lady and it turns out she needs to go into an old folks' home. So she gets moved back to Santa Teresa. One night whilst Kinsey is sitting with the old lady in the hospital, she babbles a lot of randomness about people from her younger days. And yes, it's all a bit of a mystery and Kinsey will solve it. But honestly, this just occurs right at the end of the book like a jolly thing to figure out on an afternoon. Which is why I don't feel this one makes as good as a stand alone book. You've got to be into the on going Kinsey story to feel the tension of this threat on her life looming over her.
There are two things going on in this book. Kinsey gets a call from a lawyer (I think he was) to let her know some small time thug she helped investigate and put away years ago, has put a contract out on her life. Being in prison didn't suit him, and he blamed the lawyers, the judge and the investigator (but of course not himself!), so he puts out a contract on four people's lives with a price of 5000 USD for all four. I know this book is 20 years old, but that seems cheap, even Kinsey thinks so. And considering the carry on that ensues in the book, it goes to prove that you get what you pay for. If a professional hit man had been on the job, she would have died very early on in the book. And thank god she didn't! So we have that, and the blossoming interaction with another P.I. she hired a few books ago to do a little local research for her. They never met, but the lawyer suggested she hire him again for security.
Then there's the job she's hired for in this book. She's hired by this neurotic, hypochondriac, clingy woman Irene, who hasn't heard from her mother in six months. She hasn't bothered to go out to the slab city city in the desert where her mother is living, or worried too much, but now she's hiring a detective to go find out what's happened. This isn't a massive job, as she basically goes out there, finds the old lady and it turns out she needs to go into an old folks' home. So she gets moved back to Santa Teresa. One night whilst Kinsey is sitting with the old lady in the hospital, she babbles a lot of randomness about people from her younger days. And yes, it's all a bit of a mystery and Kinsey will solve it. But honestly, this just occurs right at the end of the book like a jolly thing to figure out on an afternoon. Which is why I don't feel this one makes as good as a stand alone book. You've got to be into the on going Kinsey story to feel the tension of this threat on her life looming over her.
Another great Kinsey Millhone novel... this time Kinsey is hired to find an elderly woman, while being pursued by a hit man. Little does she know how much danger she is in, or what kind of mystery the old woman has. A thriller to the very end!
The actual murder mystery in this one felt really convoluted and there was a lot of deus ex machina going on BUT the personal stuff with Dietz made up for it, IMO.
I find boiling a book down to stars nearly impossible. So many genres. So many different expectations. While some books may be more ambitious, Sue Grafton's Alphabet Mysteries are wonderfully consistent without being predictable. I'm comforted as a reader and intrigued as a writer. "G for Gumshoe" is no exception. The only things that feel slightly unbelievable are the negative reviews. Grafton's subtle mastery of both story and language give her books an air of simplicity and straightforwardness. Perhaps some mistake that for ease. This was the tightest construction of her story thus far.
The hired killer was a bit over the top, but the plot had good twists and turns.
I enjoyed this much more than "F"; the two storylines going at the same time made it very fast-paced and fun to read. Going to take a small break from Kinsey so I don't burn myself out but this is still a great series 7 books in!
I really loved this one. Kinsey is excited. She moves back into her newly renovated apartment that sounds fabulous. She just celebrated her birthday with friends. She's realizing Jonah is not what she wants. And she is then told she and several others are on a hit list. Kinsey trying to investigate a missing woman realizes she can't investigate and watch her back at the same time. She hires Robert Dietz, a private investigator she hired on an earlier case in A is for Alibi.
This was great. Besides running for her life. Kinsey is dealing with her friend Verna trying to set her up with a doctor, telling herself she's not really into Dietz, and coming to terms with her own mortality.
The hitman was something out of a cartoon it felt like sometimes too. We have to get into that man's backstory and his family dynamics. No spoilers, but it was odd.
The writing was really good as was the flow. I was not expecting the ending we get and it took me by surprise. Kinsey and Dietz end up living together for a couple of months after the end of this case before he leaves to go work in Germany.
I think this book was a turning point in Kinsey's development. She finally goes and falls in love again after her wariness about getting too heavily involved with anyone.
This was great. Besides running for her life. Kinsey is dealing with her friend Verna trying to set her up with a doctor, telling herself she's not really into Dietz, and coming to terms with her own mortality.
The hitman was something out of a cartoon it felt like sometimes too. We have to get into that man's backstory and his family dynamics. No spoilers, but it was odd.
The writing was really good as was the flow. I was not expecting the ending we get and it took me by surprise. Kinsey and Dietz end up living together for a couple of months after the end of this case before he leaves to go work in Germany.
I think this book was a turning point in Kinsey's development. She finally goes and falls in love again after her wariness about getting too heavily involved with anyone.
This is my favorite book in the alphabet series so far and I am reading them in order. I couldn't put this book down. I really fell like Grafton grew as a writer when she wrote this one; the writing was so much better and funnier. I love the dry humor and funny descriptions. The story itself was two interesting stories twining around each other and both were equally interesting. I have been consistently rating the others as 3 stars but this one jumped up to a 5. I hope the other books are just as good or better.
I have to say, I'm amazed at the people who don't know what a gumshoe is. I love mysteries and BBC so no one had to tell me it means detective. Think of sneakers (rubber soled shoes) for quietly sneaking around.
I have to say, I'm amazed at the people who don't know what a gumshoe is. I love mysteries and BBC so no one had to tell me it means detective. Think of sneakers (rubber soled shoes) for quietly sneaking around.
adventurous
challenging
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
N/A
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No