Rating: Summary: Very Disappointed Review: Too many characters. Too many companies. Unrelated sub-story. A completely stupid ending. I am so glad I got this from the library instead of buying it. Grafton is cranking these out so fast now she doesn't realizing how bad this one is.
Rating: Summary: P IS FOR PERFECT Review: Grafton has done it again: a mystery filled with realistic, three-dimensional characters and vivid, colourful settings. We're thrown back into the eighties, in the fictitious town of Santa Teresa based on the real town of Santa Barbara. In P is for Peril, Kinsey Millhone, a private investigator who lives alone and feeds on peanut butter sandwhiches and Mc Donald's food, takes on a job she regrets not having turned down. Dr Dowan Purcell has vanished from his everyday life, and his worried ex-wife, Fiona Purcell, wants Kinsey to find out whether he is dead or alive. Since Dr Purcell has moved on to a new woman twenty years younger than himself, Kinsey has to follow more than one lead to try to figure out what happened to the good old doctor. She uncovers fraud, adultery, jealousy and lies. But Kinsey has her own back to watch when she becomes personally involved with a possible double-muder case from a while back. In P is for Peril, Kinsey bites far more than she can chew (sorry for the cliche!), and, yes, this leads her into unpredictable and dangerous territories.Like her previous novels, Grafton has crafted a world that mirrors reality too well: complex and introverted characters, brilliant settings, and a realistic PI at work. In P is for Peril, the research on medical fraud is fascinating and a must-read for anyone vaguely interested in the subject. There is also good forensic research, sharp tongue-in-cheek dialogue, and, of course, Kinsey's unique voice as the first-person narrator--a voice that has warmed the heart of millions of fans around the world. Highly recommended for novice or veteran readers of the alphabet mystery series.
Rating: Summary: My perception of the ending..... Review: xxxxxxxxxxxxxxif you think about the ending......the very last page almost.......it is implied that Crystal and Nica are lovers.....motivation for bumping off the hubbyxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Rating: Summary: I have to agree, not the best letter of the alphabet! Review: I was very eager to start on "P" is for Peril, to catch up on Kinsey. I am glad the library found me a copy and I didn't spend the money buying the book if that tells you anything. I think I became interested and could actually tell what was going on in the last quarter of the book. I'm surprised Kinsey was led on by Mariah....the brothers....the old bat who hired her...Crystal and her daughter... Oh well. By the way, how old is Kinsey going to be when we reach "Z"?
Rating: Summary: P is for Pseriously outraged Review: I'm a Grafton fan - or was, until this one. On p. 4, we meet a major character, a 69-yr-old doctor who finished medical school in 1944 and retired in 1981. A few pages later, we have '... three years ago, in 1983...' There's no law against dragging an old manuscript out of the filing cabinet - I personally wouldn't like to live in the shadow of a contract requiring 26 books - but I think the author and her publisher could show her readers a bit more courtesy than this. At least charge us 1986 prices! I buy very few thrillers - and I regret having bought this one. What comes next? 'R is for Rejects'?
Rating: Summary: Hope YOU didn't read this one first! Review: Over the past year I have heard many positive reviews of Grafton's books, some comparing Millhone to Sherlock (of whom I'm a big fan). I eagerly started this novel, fully expecting to finish it in one day...it took me 3 weeks! As far as I could tell, Kinsey's "breaks" in the case came mostly from luck, the deductive reasoning of Sherlock was less apparent in this character than the bumbling of Watson. Too many story lines were introduced and none of them developed to their potential. Grafton has the beginnings of three great novels in this book, and an ending that says she had a deadline to meet. Because I'm an avid reader, I will give the "A" book a shot, but if you're a first time Grafton reader, DON'T START HERE!!
Rating: Summary: Disappointing Review: I love every other book about the alphabet series, but this book disappointed me. In fact, the last several books (say, from "L" on) have seemed too short and underdeveloped compared with earlier books. Like many other readers, I thought a lot had been left out. I figured out who did it and why as soon as she described these characters, and I think it would have been interesting if she had developed the lesbian relationship instead of alluding to it on the last page. A lot of other characters appeared and then disappeared, such as Dow's daughter Blanche. Why did Kinsey never consult the psychic? Why did she even interview Blanche? Why did Sue Grafton even write about it? Very weird, and I have to agree that this book seemed rushed and "cranked out." Sue Grafton is very talented, and I hope she gets back on track, instead of simply describing peoples' appearance and home decor, as she seemed to do this time around.
Rating: Summary: P is for Please do an Epilogue Review: Ms. Grafton's use of epilogues to resolve issues is a trademark that is sorely missed in this book. When I finished the book, I was left unfulfilled. The two main plots never intersect (there are actually several other subplots regarding the relationship between Dow and his family members). I was left with numerous questions such as Dow's relationship with his employers and their relationship with crime, and Krystal's daughter and her relationship with Dow and his money. While I can guess at most of the main points, I would appreciate not having to guess. Please tell Ms. Grafton to go back to epilogues. In fact, I would love to have one posted to her website even now. I also found Kinsey's relationship with Dow's first wife totally unrealistic when Kinsey was hired by Dow's second wife. Like others, I enjoy Ms. Grafton's style and wit. But this is surely her worst of the alphabet series.
Rating: Summary: read at your own peril Review: Well, as far as books go this was not really that bad of a read. It just didn't grab me and not let go as most of Grafton's works have. As usual I very much enjoyed the Kinsey Millhone character. In fact I wish she were a real person so I might meet her some day. But the overall plot and especially the ending just didn't do it for me. The first few pages held some promise. Missing doctor; ex wife hires kinsey; young current wife seems indifferent; teenage daughter is out of control...so what else is new? You get the idea. Kind of intresting, but it just bogs down and just seems too contrived for a SG alphabet mystery tome. Again, I must remind you to keep this less than flattering review in perspective. Because Sue has done better, P is for poor.
Rating: Summary: She pulled a Grisham! Review: I was enjoying it all the way through...and then it just ended. I think Grafton pulled a Grisham: she just stopped writing when she got tired. I've read the whole series, and I generally enjoy them, but I found this one disappointing for the ending (or the lack thereof).
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