Rating: Summary: Where's our Kinsey? Review: This book certainly does not exhibit Sue Grafton's superb writing style in which the previous Kinsey Millhone mysteries have grabbed me from Page 1. The plot was interesting enough, though not nearly as intriguing as the sub-plot involving Mariah and the Hevener boys. However, I felt like knocking Kinsey on the head - "Hello, is anyone in there; why don't you check her credentials!!". Perhaps Ms. Grafton was rushed to publish the next in the series. As much as I love the continuing saga of Kinsey, I'd much rather wait for a really good storyline. Still, the book was enjoyable and worth the effort of reading.
Rating: Summary: Color Me Disappointed Review: I have been a fan of Sue Grafton's for years. I forgave the "M" debacle because it seemed so personal. However, this one, I'm not so sure. I do not like a book where I have more questions after I've read it than when I started. And, IMHO, the ending was entirely too abrupt. I turned the page to see if there was more. I was horribly disappointed to find the pages empty. I hope "Q" is better.
Rating: Summary: P is Pooped Out Review: Kinsey has an office she doesn't like anymore, she has a case she doesn't want, and her intuition is clearly on the fritz! She wanders around & out-of-the-blue through-the-magic of an oh-so-convenient telescope sees what she really doesn't want to see. The body is found, her obnoxious client is clearly to blame. Another investigator tells her tale and she falls for it. She fights off the bad guys. She finds a bullethole with a name on it (only one person could have found & fired that gun, she supposedly deduces?), she sees a hand placed on an arm, and VOILA she calls her ex-lover cop-buddy & sits back for a glass of wine on a deck overlooking the surf with two of possibly five suspects (the others are all upstairs with the baby). She's so tired. Well, now I do believe that she's proved herself utterly stupid as well. Jacob probably arrives to find her out cold. That's where the end of this novel left me. But, then, I'm one of those unperceptive readers who can't see a subtle clue waved in my face, especially one with homophobic overtones. Grafton's off my hardcover list--her books can wait for the paperback. Better yet, just check it out from the local library.
Rating: Summary: P is for Poor Review: I am a devoted fan of the series but this one is either not completed (no "respectfully submitted" synopsis at the end) and for most of the book, it seem that Sue Grafton is still trying to figure out what the story will be about - much less how it will end. Very unsatisfying and NO character growth for Kinsey Millhone. No correlation between the title and the plot that I can see. Yeah she eats at Rosie's, skips the gym and eats junky sandwiches but almost as a gratuitous bone thrown to the reader. My advice is to borrow it, check it out of your library or wait until it's in paperback. It's not worth the hardback price. Sue Grafton should be allowed one dud and this one is definitely it!
Rating: Summary: This could be C is for Confusion Review: I have read every one of Grafton's novels and was so anxiously awaiting this one but was left in total confusion after I read it. What I love about Kinsey is her humor and the eccentric people around her and I felt this was what was lacking. Henry makes it into the novel but it felt perfunctory, along with Rosie and William etc. There were so many plot twists and long narratives describing every house or building that Kinsey encounters. This really could have been two separate books. It seemed like characters just kept falling in from everywhere, which made it was difficult to distinguish them, much less care about them.I still love Kinsey and will again be looking forward to Q in the series and this still had its' good moments but I hope Q will end with an ENDING! It totally left me hanging; I thought I was missing pages at the end. I also hope Q will bring either Dietz back or at least give Kinsey an interest. She must really need one by now.
Rating: Summary: P is for disaPointed... Review: I have read all the Kinsey Milhone books from Sue Grafton and have to say that this last installment left me unfulfilled. The story never seemed to take off, you didn't have the strong attachment to the character's eccentric personality as in previous installments and the ending left me looking for the rest of the chapter! Hopefully, O will be for on track again.
Rating: Summary: Sequel to J is for Judge Review: New readers might want to know that some of the characters and action (set in 1986) follow from J is for Judge, rather than from O is for Outlaw (the one about her ex-husband) and in fact she gives away the ending of J is for Judge. If, like me, you buy every Grafton without even waiting for the paperback, then there's no problem.
Rating: Summary: P is for Phenomenal Review: I'm a huge fan of the Kinsey Millhone series, and P is my favorite since I and J. This book is a little longer than Grafton's norm, and it's really three mysteries rolled into one. The well-liked Dr. Dowan Purcell is missing, and we don't know whether he left town voluntarily, whether he committed suicide, or whether he was murdered. There is also an intriguing development with the two men who are leasing Kinsey her new office space. As always, Kinsey observes the world with her characteristic sense of humor. The characters are so well drawn, they leap off the pages. There is a surprise in almost every other chapter, the pace is breathtaking. Never before in a book has Kinsey been so wrong in her initial perceptions, but she perseveres and in the end, she figures it out--and the reader goes along for the ride. And I did love the subtle ending. Well, well, but of course, I said to myself...It is SWEET. Way to go, Sue. Can't wait for Q.
Rating: Summary: OK...whodunnit and why? Review: I agree with other reviewers that this book seems to be missing a final chapter. I found myself reading back over sections of the book, searching for clues since there are too many unanswered questions. And what was the point of setting this story back in the 80's rather than current times? I'd love a chance to talk to Sue Grafton about this book.
Rating: Summary: P is for Perplexed--Where is the real Kinsey??? Review: Obviously, the solution to this book is in the last few pages but what perplexes me is not who but why??? Maybe the ending is so ambivilant because Kinsey is initially unsure about her client and seems to remain unsettled about the case through the entire book. Maybe there is no 'submitted by' because Kinsey isn't through with the case and doesn't feel comfortable submitting a report on an open case. The constant financial reckoning (of Fiona's retainer) seems to indicate that possibly she is more concerned about how much refund is due Fiona than whether or not she finds Fiona's ex. No real explanation is given for the question of why Fiona is looking for him; the daughters of both wives remain unrealized characters; Henry just floats in and out of the story; and most unusual for a Grafton book, Kinsey herself doesn't seem able to commit herself to the problem(s) in any meaningful way. There are a million unanswered questions about this 16th alphabet book. Hopefully, Kinsey will show up in 17 and answer some of them!!
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