E Is for Evidence

Kinsey Millhone #5

by Sue Grafton

E is for Evidence

Genres: Mystery, Fiction, Crime, Mystery Thriller, Audiobook, Detective, Thriller

309 pages, Paperback

First published May 15, 1988

About the author

Sue Grafton was a #1 New York Times bestselling author. She is best known for her “alphabet series” featuring private investigator Kinsey Millhone in the fictional city of Santa Teresa, California. Prior to success with this series, she wrote screenplays for television movies. Her earlier novels include Keziah Dane (1967) and The Lolly-Madonna War (1969), both out of print. In the book Kinsey and Me she gave us stories that revealed Kinsey's origins and Sue's past.

Grafton never wanted her novels to be turned into movies or TV shows. According to her family she would never allow a ghost writer to write in her name. Because of these things, and out of respect for Sue’s wishes, the family announced the alphabet now ends at “Y”

Grafton was named a Grand Master by the Mystery Writers of America and received the Lifetime Achievement Award from the Private Eye Writers of America, the Ross Macdonald Literary Award, three Shamus Awards, and many other honors and awards.

Grafton had three children from previous marriages and several grandchildren, including a granddaughter named Kinsey. She and her husband lived in Montecito, California, and Louisville, Kentucky.

Reviews

[James · Rating 4 out of 5]

Book Review
E is for Evidence, written in 1988, is the fifth book in the "Kinsey Millhone" mystery series by the hilarious Sue Grafton. It's just before Christmas, and all through the house, not a creature is stirring, except for one of Kinsey's two ex-husbands: Daniel Wade. And if that's not enough, she takes on a small investigation involving arson, only to find a mysterious $5K deposit into her bank account that she didn't put there. Something smells a little too much like gas... and yup, it's her because she's practically on fire in this installment. Between arson, bombs, odd family relationships, creepy ex-husbands and some sort of money pay off scheme, Kinsey's stuck in the middle of a bad puzzle.

Kinsey is a fantastic character. She has a few flaws and annoying habits, but for the most part, she's a strong female lead who can demonstrate intelligence, charm and consideration. The series is dependable, providing laughs, a little drama and suspense, a cozy warm feeling and usually something new and exciting. This is a fine example of a typical novel in the series, and you really either like these types of books or you don't. I enjoy them because it transports you into a world you likely never get to participate in... solving crimes, pushing people, getting a bit nosy... and we all like those things from time to time. What's good about this one is you learn more about the Kinsey from the past thru her relationship with her ex, Daniel.

About Me
For those new to me or my reviews... here's the scoop: I read A LOT. I write A LOT. And now I blog A LOT. First the book review goes on Goodreads, and then I send it on over to my WordPress blog at https://thisismytruthnow.com, where you'll also find TV & Film reviews, the revealing and introspective 365 Daily Challenge and lots of blogging about places I've visited all over the world. And you can find all my social media profiles to get the details on the who/what/when/where and my pictures. Leave a comment and let me know what you think. Vote in the poll and ratings. Thanks for stopping by. Note: All written content is my original creation and copyrighted to me, but the graphics and images were linked from other sites and belong to them. Many thanks to their original creators.

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[Baba · Rating 2 out of 5]

$5K is deposited into Kinsey's account and then she's implicated in a fraud case! Add in a crazy rich family and we're off! Consistently average, the real reason I continued with this series, was because my local library had the complete set! 4 out of 12, Two Star read.

2010 read

[Jilly · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm giving this book a higher score than the last one because Kinsey gets hurt - both physically and emotionally - in this book and I heartily approve. She deserves every bit of the pain and suffering she goes through. Bwuhahaha!!!!

ahem.... yeah, sorry, my darkness is showing... I'm just .. um... joking.. yeah, that's what it is....



*quick subject change*

So, anyway, in this book, Kinsey is all depressey and such because she is alone during the holidays and nobody loves her. The married man that she started an affair with in the last book has taken his wife and kids skiing for the Christmas/New Year break, so she's sad and upset. I'm not saying she deserves this, but what did she think having a married father as a boyfriend would be like?



Even funnier more puzzling is the fact that her ex-husband who cheated on her is back in town and she spends half the book bitching/moaning/philosophizing about how horrible it was to be cheated on. Talk about not being self-aware.



The mystery in this book is very personal to Kinsey because she is framed for committing a crime and is trying to prove her own innocence while figuring out what happened. There is a very rich family involved, that she has known since childhood, and they are just as conniving as we all know the ultra-rich are through our extensive book reading.


Leading cause of death of rich parents..

This was the perfect book for anyone pissed off at Kinsey for being a cheating sham-of-a-woman who also never has a nice thing to say about any other female she meets. She gets the absolute crap beat out of her in this one. I loved every minute of it. Maybe I will even go reread it again just to revel in her pain. And then, I will get in my giant comfy bed with my wonderful, faithful husband and dream of fluffy kittens and rainbows, knowing that I am safe and loved. It's not like I'm a vengeful bitch. I mean, sure, I have this chart... but still... it's fair.

[Phrynne · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this one. It was a very easy read - I finished it in one day.

Nothing much happened that does not usually happen in a Kinsey Millhone book. Maybe she does not usually get blown up, not just once but twice. Oh and she doesn't always get visited by her second ex husband. But the rest is the usual Kinsey goodness, lots of falling out with various people, lots of sleuthing ( which is why she falls out with people) and lots of calling in favours from various people including police officers.

The murderer turned out to be one of a number of possibles collected along the way. I did not guess him in advance but then I often don't. Kinsey did not guess until the end either!

Four stars for a very light and very entertaining read.

[chantalsbookstuff · Rating 3 out of 5]

I won’t dive into each book with detailed reviews, but here’s a quick thought on book 5: Well Daniel's appearance made it very interesting. Still eager for the next installment. Bring it on!

[Louie the Mustache Matos · Rating 4 out of 5]

This year, (2021) I have undertaken the challenge of reading all of the Sue Grafton alphabet series. I finally own all of the novels and even though I have read a lot of them already, I wanted to read them all in order within the span of a year. (That didn't happen.) E is for Evidence, the fifth in the series, gives the reader an opportunity to see Grafton’s singular private investigator Kinsey Millhone in an atypical situation where she has to investigate on her own behalf. Kinsey finds that she has an extra $5000 in her bank account. Normally, that would result in a joyous celebration, but this is not the case when someone is trying to set you up, making you look guilty of taking payoffs as an insurance investigator. This is something which she occasionally does (work as an independently contracted investigator for the insurance company) as payment for an office space. Kinsey winds up finding herself mixed up in a squabble involving a childhood friend’s family, and wait, an ex-husband is involved too! I believe this is the best one so far. (I keep saying that.)

[Ed · Rating 4 out of 5]

Every few months, I've been checking out a Sue Grafton alphabet title.
"E" now makes for eleven, according to my Goodreads account, that I've read. This week I saw on Goodreads that Ms.Grafton has V IS FOR...coming out (does anybody know what the "V" stands for? Vengeance? Vendetta?). "E" is a compact, peppy, and scrappy entry in the series. In short, it rocked. Kinsey investigates an insurance fraud and gets sucked into a dysfunctional rich family (as the rich families are often depicted in private eye books). Her second husband Daniel shows up again. H'm. Better watch out, Kinsey. You gotta root for her. And I always do.

[Brenda · Rating 4 out of 5]

Private Investigator Kinsey Millhone was working on a routine insurance claim – a fire in a factory a few days before – when she came to the uncomfortable realization that she was being set up. After discovering $5000 had been deposited anonymously into her account, then documents going missing with false, incriminating papers in their place, she knew she needed to find answers quickly.

As her investigation took her into the wealthy but messed up Wood family, owners of the business where the factory fire took place, Kinsey also was approached by her ex-husband. Daniel had left her without a word eight years prior; what on earth could he want now? With danger surrounding the investigation and people being murdered, Kinsey felt on edge. She knew she was close, but would she find the murderer before it was too late?

E is for Evidence is my second Kinsey Millhone by author Sue Grafton, and I thoroughly enjoyed it. Fast paced with a gripping plot, it also has pockets of humour – namely from Kinsey herself. A great character, well developed, independent and tough, I can’t wait to read more of Kinsey’s story. Highly recommended.

[Jack Heath · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 Stars. Eventually she realizes that it's a frame-up. Kinsey Millhone will quickly tell you that she's not getting rich in her private investigator gig. But $5,000 deposited in her account anonymously on Christmas Eve? It has to be another banking mistake. Irritating because they take time to correct. Kinsey's not in a good mood. It's the holidays and she's trying to justify being alone to her biggest critic, herself. No close family, two ex-husbands, her friendly landlord Henry in Michigan with his brothers and sisters, the Hungarian restaurant operated by Rosie is closed for the week, and even Jonah Robb is away. On several occasions she snaps at people, her usual short fuse even shorter. At issue is a request by California Fidelity Insurance to investigate a warehouse fire at one of their clients, Wood / Warren, a family firm run by Lance Wood. There is one red flag - they seem too anxious to have the claim settled fast. Could it be arson? Nothing indicates it, but then comes the frame - a call to her contact at CFI accusing her of taking a brown envelope to fix the claim. Ah, the $5,000. She finds the Wood family to be a nest of vipers. It's all a mess. I loved it. (Se2021/Jun2025)

[Quenya · Rating 3 out of 5]

For me E is for Evidence is almost forgettable as one of the series but it does provide us with some background on Kinsey. The motive for this book is crazy and exposes some very dark topics as compared to previous books. For the first time, Kinsey is actually working to clear her own name and find a killer.

She is probably more personally involved in this case because of her past relationship with the Wood family and the fact she has been pulled into their family drama. The story takes a toll on Kinsey and you see her go through a small amount of depression and see her reach out for personal connections. The reader also starts to see that the relationship between Kinsey and California Fidelity is reaching a breaking point – not sure where this will lead in future books.

I feel I need to spend some time discussing Kinsey’s second ex-husband Daniel. He is not someone I would have ever seen Kinsey getting married to and the plot twist with him was very predictable. I guess with how Sue Grafton wrote and described the character I just felt I couldn’t understand how Kinsey would ever waste her time with him much less marry him. It gives us some background on Kinsey which is good considering how little we have gotten in the previous books.

What can I say about the greatness of Judy Kaye except she was able to give each sibling in the Wood family their own voice that matched flawlessly to the description Sue Grafton wrote. She will now be the only acceptable voice for Kinsey Millhone to me.

[Nandakishore Mridula · Rating 3 out of 5]

I decided I had enough heavy reading for a time now, so decided to chill-out with a lightweight mystery this weekend.

Sue Grafton writes mysteries in alphabetical order, with her female private investigator Kinsey Millhone as the protagonist. This is the fifth one (obvious from the title!), where Kinsey is framed for collaboration in an insurance fraud. As an investigator for California Fidelity Insurance Company, she is investigating what she thinks is a routine fire claim at the Wood/ Warren Company - however, the file given to her has been tampered, as it is arson in reality. Kinsey realises that she has got caught in a set up which is actually meant for Lance Wood, the proprietor of the company: now she must race against the clock to find the real culprit or must contemplate going to jail herself.

As mysteries go, this is average. It is well-plotted with no obvious holes, and the there is the appropriate "aha!" reaction at the end, and is a reasonably fast read. But these American mysteries rely too much on investigative procedure and less on the whodunit than their British counterparts. No doubt they are more true to life, but the magic of the detective pulling the villainous rabbit out of the hat in the last chapter cannot be replaced by any amount of gritty realism, IMO.

A quick, breezy, enjoyable read.

[hotsake (André Troesch) · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.25/5
This was a decent novel with a Gialloesque finale.

[Obsidian · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow! Nonstop action in this one and a man from Kinsey's past shows up. Kinsey gets an unexpected $5,000 deposited in her account which leads to her bring fingered as taking kick backs at the insurance company she rents space from as well as does work for at times. Tracking down who is setting her up leads Kinsey involved in a family at each other's throats and her seeing one of her ex husband's.

This was a cool case to follow. Kinsey is working for herself and doing her best to clear her name. She's at loose ends on the home front cause Henry is gone to visit his siblings. Maybe that's why she was naive enough to allow her ex husband Daniel to stay with her. Though I have to say the guy shows his true colors pretty fast.

There's a lot of going back and forth with characters we are introduced to in this one. It's a winding road to get to how Kinsey was set up and how it has to do with the insurance company she works at. We also get an ugly reveal about a family that still gives me the creeps.

The writing was good and the flow worked. Kinsey is running injured for a good portion of this book and often I kept thinking how like the Energizer Bunny she was. I would have laid down somewhere and been done.

This is always one of my favorite reads cause the events in this book lead Kinsey to getting a new home.

The setting of Santa Teresa though it's Christmas time feels desolate and lonely. It could be though cause Kinsey is left with few friends since some wonder could she be guilty of taking bribes. With Henry gone, she doesn't even have someone to talk things over with.

The epilogue has Kinsey injured and homeless and turning her back on her ex husband.

[Christine (KizzieReads) · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love Kinsey! She is so set in her ways, and has a down to earth personality. She is not a flamboyant person, and really does not like to have notice put on her. This one had her facing fraud charges for something she has not clue about what is going on. It happens to deal with a family she used to know when she was a teenager. She really gets into some scrapes in this book, and I had no idea what would eventually happen, although I had some inkling part way through. Still a good read and it kept me engaged from start to finish.

[Emma · Rating 5 out of 5]

This one was perfect! I felt sorry for Kinsey in this one and the plot was great. You always hit the ground running with this series of Grafton’s. I am really beginning to like Kinsey. She loves her job and is really good at it. Great read!

[Deborah Markus · Rating 3 out of 5]

I learned three things from reading this:

1. You can read these books out of alphabetical order and you'll be fine, other than the crippling guilt and terror you'll sustain if you're as OCD as I am.

2. Kinsey Millhone feels the same way I do about medical "care":

Staying here was out of the question. Hospitals are dangerous. People make mistakes. Wrong blood, wrong medication, wrong surgeries, wrong tests. I was checking out of this place "toot sweet."

3. When it comes to anything outside of an ordinary work day outfit of jeans and a T-shirt if it's hot and a sweater if it's cold, Kinsey Millhone is just as bad at figuring out what to wear as I am:

I tiptoed to the loo and locked myself in, staring at my reflection in the mirror with despair. Of course, I was dressed wrong. I never could guess right when it came to clothes. I'd gone to the Edgewater Hotel in my all-purpose dress to eat lunch with Ashley, who'd worn an outfit suitable for bagging game. Now I had down-dressed to the point where I looked like a bum.

I find all of this deeply reassuring.

[Mark Baker · Rating 5 out of 5]

A couple of days before Christmas, Kinsey is asked to investigate a fire for the insurance company she sometimes works for. Everything looks routine until she is called in to defend her findings and sees pages that were not part of her original file. Afraid she might find herself accused of insurance fraud, she starts investigating the situation. But is she the target or an innocent bystander?

I truly enjoyed this book since it starts out with a great mystery that doesn’t involved a murder. Of course, when murder does enter the picture, it only gets more compelling from there. What few supporting characters there are in the series are mostly missing thanks to the Christmas time frame, but I found it a great way to develop Kinsey more, and the new characters were fabulous, doing their job as suspects perfectly.

Read my full review at Carstairs Considers.

[Laura · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love the humor in this series. This was a reread for me, with many LOL moments throughout. I especially enjoyed Mary Pfeiffer's audio narration, although I switched between audio and paper books.

I may reread a few more of these this year. They move fast, and I just love Kinsey and all the recurring characters. Every woman could use a few extra teaspoons of Kinsey inside her. :)

[Julie · Rating 4 out of 5]

E is for Evidence by Sue Grafton is a 2005 publication.

I am obviously very behind in this series, but one of my new year’s resolutions is to catch all the way up with at least one series, and this one gets first choice.

By now, Kinsey is quite well known amongst mystery readers, most of whom agree she paved the way for many more heroines in this genre with her wit, grit, and sassy determination. With the storyline set back in the 1980’s, there is a little nostalgia involved too, plus our favorite PI must solve crimes the old fashioned way without the benefit of the internet, smart phones, or countless other technological wonders we take for granted today.

This installment gives the reader a closer glimpse at Kinsey as a person, clues us in on some information about Kinsey’s past, including one of her ex-husbands. Kinsey discovers she is being framed for insurance fraud, so this investigation has a very personal feel to it, this time around.

I enjoyed the book, and the personal insights into Kinsey’s character, and the mystery was solid enough. This wasn’t my favorite book in the series, but it was still enjoyable and quite entertaining. These books are very easy to read, most of them are not very long, but are action packed and filled with smart banter, humor and dry wit. Kinsey is a great character, which is why I am giving this series top priority in 2016.

I’m ready for F is for Fugitive which I hope to squeeze in by the end of January. Overall 3.5 stars

[Christine PNW · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this book in about two hours. I don't think I can quite call it "amazing," as I reserve that rating for books that are a bit less ordinary, and this is, at the end of the day, a pretty ordinary mystery.

But it was a pacey, peppy read with a convoluted plot that sucked me right in and kept me going until the end. The solution relied on a technological world that no longer exists, but it was convincing for its time and entertaining as all get out. My favorite of this series so far!

[Una Tiers · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fifth book in series drops the plot intensity and contains characters and fallback reveals. A husband from her past is part of a secondary plot.

[Jaksen · Rating 2 out of 5]

DNF

I'm putting this one back on the shelf, or in the giveaway bag. Just can't do it. A mystery centering on insurance fraud, etc., is just not my cup of tea or coffee or any drink. I hate to use the 'B' word, as it's the worst word me or my kids can use, but it is; it was...

Sorry, Ms. Grafton, (and who I miss), because though I love 90% of your work, this one is BORING.

[Susan (on hiatus) · Rating 4 out of 5]

I've read every one in the series pretty much in order. I'm usually a fan of stand alone books but I was taken in by the author's writing and unique characters.

[Katelyn (old soul country girl's version) · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is now my favorite Kinsey Millhone mystery so far (I wonder how many times I am going to be saying that)! Not only was the reveal truly shocking and disturbing with all the family drama, but there was also a new vulnerable, lonely side of Kinsey that I had yet to see until now.

[Daniel · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 stars ...

The books in this series always start off quite *ho-hum* 🥱. Then ... sooner rather than later ... you find yourself completely sucked in and totally invested, without a clue exactly when or how it happened. 😅 I really love the 80s, pre-technology, "old school" vibe! 🕵️ This is prob'ly my favorite so far. Five thumbs up! 👍👍👍👍👍

[Book Concierge · Rating 3 out of 5]

Digital audiobook read by Mary Peiffer


Book five in the “alphabet” series has PI Kinsey Milhone dreading a not very merry Christmas. Her ex-husband, Daniel, pops in to complicate matters, and she can’t get the bank to take seriously the $5,000 mistake they’ve clearly made by crediting her account for a check she did not deposit. So, she’s pleased to have a case to investigate. But not for long; she’s accused of insurance fraud and finds herself out on her own trying to clear her name.

What I love about the series is the time frame – no cell phones or computers. Kinsey has to rely on her wits and good old-fashioned footwork to ferret out the information she needs. There are a lot of characters, most of whom are suspects, and enough twists and turns to keep this reader guessing right up to the reveal.

Mary Peiffer does a fine job of narrating the audiobook. If I actually read the text of one of these books, I’m sure I’ll hear Peiffer’s voice as Kinsey.

[Joanne Farley · Rating 4 out of 5]

Kinsey finds herself on the wrong side of an investigation in E is for Evidence. I read these books because they are easy reading, no graphic violence no convoluted plots and a heroine that I have no trouble loving. This novel has the added benefit of giving us a sneak peak into in to Kinsey's past when we get to meet one of her ex-husbands. I listen to these books and the narrator does an amazing job of keeping me interested in the story.
If you a looking for a read to cleanse your palate these books are perfect.

[Carol Brill · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is my second of Sue Grafton's alphabet series- also read A. I don't usually read popular mysteries.
Recurring POV heroine, PI Kinsey Millhone is a down to earth, likable character.
This is a fun, easy read with enough suspense to keep turning pages. Just the break I needed after binge reading Wuthering Heights, Jane Eyre, and Sense and Sensibilities in the last couple weeks. Talk about opposite ends of the literary spectrum :)

[Debra · Rating 3 out of 5]

Barely squeaking by as a 3 star for me.

Secret identities, ex-husbands, incest, bombs, murder all should make for a good mystery but this seemed flat for me. I read C is for Corpse and enjoyed that one much more than this. In this book, I did learn more about Kinsey's background but had a hard time getting into this book.

[Linda · Rating 4 out of 5]

A nice short one that is non stop action. There was one part of this one that has stuck in my head all these years and as I read a few more details came back to me, so I’d have to say this book is more memorable than some of the others in the series.