Rating: Summary: A good, light read Review: I bought this book on an impulse since I had a long trip ahead of me and needed something to occupy my mind, but yet wasn't so deep I'd need total silence to drink it in. This was perfect, and I wound up enjoying the story so much I finished it in 24 hours. True, it was fairly predictable - I knew immediately who the "big baddie" was going to be, and the supporters - but I enjoyed the fact that I had guessed so soon that I actually didn't cheat and peek at the end, and instead highly enjoyed seeing how and if my suspicions fit into the plot!Don't buy it expecting deep genius, but don't expect a dime store novel either. It's right in between and I had a fun enough time that I think I'll pick up the next one in the series.
Rating: Summary: Entertaining, with a good surprise ending Review: OK, so it's not a literary masterpiece. I enjoyed the story and finished it in less than 24 hours, so there must have been enough of a story to keep me turning the pages. Some of the plot seemed a little rough, i.e. I couldn't visualize how Nikki could possibly have been convicted of murder beyond a reasonable doubt when there was no real evidence against her. The main thing, in any mystery novel, is to keep the reader guessing "who dunnit" until the end, which Grafton does successfully. I had a suspicion who it was but the plot had sufficient twists that it was not at all predictable. As a resident of "Santa Teresa" it was fun to travel around town with Kinsey. Heck, she only lives about a mile away!
Rating: Summary: start at the beggining Review: I've been reading Sue Grafton's books and never in any order. I decided to start at the beginning. I really liked this book and I think all the books will be as good. I'm ready to read "B" tonight.
Rating: Summary: A great book! I really enjoyed it... Review: I think A is for Alibi is one of the best in the Kinsey Milhone series. I have almost read all of them and wonder what Sue will do when she finishes the alphabet. I really like Kinsey Milhone the character. She is very real and I like the descriptions of her doing stuff like eating junkfood, cutting her own hair etc. etc. We all do that kind of stuff and her realness is part of her charm. Yes, sometimes the plots are thin, and the author could work on that, but still her books are very appealing. Keep up the Great work Sue!
Rating: Summary: Needs work Review: I recently finished a Mary Higgins Clark book before I started to read Sue Grafton's 'A' is for Alibi. Why is it that mystery writers, in general, use the same plot twist for an ending? I liked Kinsey, but I didn't like the rest of the one-dimensional characters. I also didn't like all the descriptiveness in the book. The reader doesn't need to know every little detail and I get the feeling the author is being descriptive in order to fill in the holes of a very thin plot. I don't want to give too much away in case some one else might care to read it.
Rating: Summary: A is for Alibi Review: I was really surprised to read all the bad reviews for this book. This was my first of Sue Grafton's books and I enjoyed it very much. After reading all of Patricia Cornwell's novels, I was afraid that I won't find another author whom I will like that much. Now I can't wait to keep buying and reading her other novels. I admit, her style is a bit slow, but give here a chance, "A" was her first book! I think the character Kinsey is hilarious and smart and of course, I love the fact that she's a woman!
Rating: Summary: Lacking in style and mystery Review: Although Sue Grafton has a good start with her character Kinsey Millhone, the rest of the book is lacking. The plot was overly simple, and the description of the actual murder did not live up to the build that Grafton provided. The murderer caved in much too easily, and little evidence existed against the criminals. In addition, the style wavers between that suitable for a "cheap, leisure novel" and a fairly sophisticated "intellectual novel."
Rating: Summary: average Review: This is an okay book. Nothing more. The story is weighed down too often by needless description. I'm not against description, but does every single house need to be described down to the color and texture of the walls? You could tell it was a novice writer trying to "flesh out" her book. Also, at times, Millhone is just not a very likable character. Not in a good way, either. She seems petty and small. A is for average, begin with B.
Rating: Summary: Introducing Kinsey Millhone Review: How can you not love a PI who cuts her own hair, jogs for miles and then pigs out on fatty food at McDonalds, and knows how to speak her mind? Ms. Grafton has given us readers a special gift in the form of Kinsey. Sure, A is for Alibi, is slow to start, and not much plot, but most first books are the same. Keep reading the series, you'll list Grafton as a top mystery writer by the time you finish C is for Corpse.
Rating: Summary: uhhh, ok Review: If you've read enough private investigator novels you know that this isn't the best one... She doesn't fool around with the genre like most good authors do and she relies on formula in her first novel... I knew the killer the moment she met... her/him... You should too... Decent Style but Robert Parker and Dennis Lehane are better modern day PI novelists
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