P is for Peril

Kinsey Millhone #16

by Sue Grafton

Kinsey Millhone never sees it coming. She is mired in the case of a doctor who disappeared, his angry ex-wife, and beautiful current one–a case that is full of unfinished business, unfinished homes, and people drifting in and out of their own lives. Then Kinsey gets a shock. A man she finds attractive is hiding a fatal secret–and now a whole lot of beauty, money, and lies are proving to be a fatal distraction from what Kinsey should have seen all along: a killer standing right before her eyes. . . .

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

532 pages, Kindle Edition

First published October 27, 2000

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

[Jilly · Rating 2 out of 5]

Missing person case that ends without an actual end. I looked around for a minute like a dog who gets fooled by the fake ball throw thing.



It turned out that my ebook wasn't defective. This one had a non-ending. I mean, there was an implication, but it wasn't enough!!

The hatred is getting stronger. It is burning!

Also, Kinsey, or Sue Grafton, discovered Sauconys in this book. (It's a brand of tennis shoe). I don't know if the author was getting some sort of kick-back, or if she just thought it was a cool brand of shoe, but holy shit did Kinsey mention Sauconys a lot. She was like Anita Blake and her Nikes. It was that bad! Anita Blake bad! Kinsey never just put on her shoes, she put on her Sauconys. It was like American Psycho, but a white trash version. Was it supposed to prove she's a serious runner? Because... Number One: My tennis shoes are Sauconys and I ain't serious about running unless either an ax murderer is chasing me or the Cheesecake Factory is closing down and I've got to get the last piece of Godiva before it's gone. And, Number Two: In this book she goes running in her Sauconys and a pair of jeans. (We don't know the brand of jeans.... maybe Levis?)
What kind of psycho goes running in jeans?
On purpose???


See? It's weird.
Look at this guy's face. He looks like he was going to have a beer with his redneck friends, but someone slapped a sticker on his shirt and shoved him into the middle of a race.
"WTF's going on? Where's the beer?"

As I was warned in the past, the books are actually getting wordier as they go on. There are endless descriptions of what Kinsey sees in every room she steps into and tons of scenes that are nothing but time-wasting ramblings. I don't, in any way, need to hear about when she uses the bathroom, and yet we get to hear about her bathroom habits like a mother who's potty-training her baby. Make sure to give us all the details, times, and duration's. We're on the edge of our seats here.


Well, at least someone is enjoying himself...

I need to really hone my skimming skills. I spent way too much time on this one. Of course, I could just stop reading these, but I can't do it. I'm going to finish this if it kills me. And, it probably will.
I'm not stubborn. Actually, according to my horoscope, I'm a moody jerk. Can't argue with science.

[James · Rating 4 out of 5]

Book Review
4 out of 5 stars to P is for Peril, the 16th book in the "Kinsey Millhone" mystery series, written in 2000 by Sue Grafton. What's Kinsey to do when she has the possibility of taking a case for a recently missing doctor who has two wives? OK, well, he did divorce the first wife. But she desperately wants to find him. His second wife, a former stripper, doesn't seem to think he's still alive. Kinsey takes the case, deals with both of them, and tries to find a way to stay out of the middle of it. Except, Tommy, a hot younger guy is chasing after Kinsey, wanting to get much closer to her. Does she want to? He is her junior by close to a decade. She also doesn't date much. A treat for fans as we don't often see her in romantic situations. As usual, all is not what it seems. Grafton adds on a few humorous layers in this one, and it's always a strong mystery when there are two wives involved in the investigation -- should you really trust what's on the surface or does Kinsey need to dig much deeper to solve this one? Spoiler Alert - she solves the case... haha, I'm sure you knew that... and she's still alive at the end to move on to Q is for Quarry, one of the strongest in the series.

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.

[Ladyslott · Rating 3 out of 5]

P is for puzzled, as I think most fans will be when they reach the end of this book. I have read and enjoyed all the alphabet books, and have really enjoyed Kinsey and her eccentric band of friends and relations. But there was far too little of that in this mystery. The story of the missing physician Dow Purcell was fairly uninvolving. The people in his life were people you cared little about, and the solution, or lack of one, at the conclusion of the book is very puzzling. Although I think I understood what Kinsey "was looking at all along", it surely could have had a much clearer ending. The secondary story line involving the Hevener brothers was far more interesting, and also left quite a few ends dangling. I expect Mariah Talbot to turn up in Q is for Quarry. Lets hope it's a better addition to the series than this. The book would normally rate 2 stars, one star is awarded because I still like Kinsey.

[Phrynne · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not one of Grafton's best but not bad either. Kinsey floundered around a bit and was actually exceedingly lucky not to be dead in a garage next to another character who was not so lucky.

There were several investigations going on at once and Kinsey gets taken for a ride in one of them. I was pretty pleased with myself because I suspected trouble from the outset. On the other hand I was totally wrong about the murderer.

The ending was unusual in that it was remarkably sudden and abrupt. Usually the author does a round up of all the whys and wherefores at the end which can be very repetitive. I rather liked leaving Kinsey relaxing by the pool with a glass of wine. That's where we should all end up after a hard day at work.

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

EXCERPT: By the time I rang the bell, my breathing had slowed and I'd done a quick mental review of the subject I was here to discuss. Fiona Purcell's ex-husband, Dr. Dowan Purcell, had been missing for nine weeks. She'd had a messenger deliver a manila envelope filled with newspaper clippings that recapped events surrounding his disappearance. I'd sat in my office, tilted back in my swivel chair, my Sauconys propped on the edge of my desk while I studied the articles she'd sent. She'd arranged them chronologically but had otherwise presented them without editorial comment. I'd been following the story in the local papers, but I'd never anticipated my involvement in the case. I found it helpful to have the sequence laid out again in this truncated form.

I noticed that over the course of nine weeks, the character of the coverage had shifted from the first seventy-two hours of puzzlement, through days of feverish speculation, and into the holding pattern that represented the current state of the investigation. Nothing new had come to light--not that there was ever much to report. In the absence of fresh revelations, the public's fascination had begun to dwindle and the media's attention to the matter had become as chilly and abbreviated as the brief November days. It is a truth of human nature that we can ponder life's mysteries for only so long before we lose interest and move on to something else. Dr. Purcell had been gone since Friday, September 12, and the lengthy column inches initially devoted to his disappearance were now reduced to an occasional mention nearly ritual in its tone. The details were recounted, but the curiosity had shifted to more compelling events.

Dr. Purcell, sixty-nine years old, had practiced family medicine in Santa Teresa since 1944, specializing in geriatrics for the last fifteen years. He'd retired in 1981. Six months later, he'd been licensed as the administrator of a nursing care facility called Pacific Meadows, which was owned by two businessmen. On the Friday night in question, he'd worked late, remaining in his office to review paperwork related to the operation of the nursing home. According to witnesses, it was close to nine o'clock when he stopped at the front desk and said good-night to the nurses on duty. At that hour, the occupants had settled down for the night. The corridors were empty and the residents' doors were closed against the already dimmed hall lights. Dr. Purcell had paused to chat with an elderly woman sitting in the lobby in her wheelchair. After a cursory conversation, less than a minute by her report, the doctor passed through the front door and into the night. He retrieved his car from his reserved space at the north side of the complex, pulled out of the lot, and drove off into the Inky Void from which he'd never emerged. The Santa Teresa Police and the Santa Teresa County Sheriff's Departments had devoted endless hours to the case, and I couldn't think what avenues remained that hadn't already been explored by local law enforcement.

THE BLURB: It is now nine weeks since Dr Dowan Purcell vanished without trace. The sixty-nine-year-old doctor had said goodnight to his colleagues at the Pacific Meadows nursing home, had climbed into his car and driven away - never to be seen again.

His embittered first wife Fiona is convinced he is still alive. His second wife, Crystal - a former stripper forty years his junior - is just as sure he is dead. Enter private investigator Kinsey Malone, hired by Fiona to find out just what has happened to the man they loved.

Enter also Tommy Hevener, an attractive flame-haired twenty-something who has set his romantic sights on Kinsey. And Tommy is a man with a very interesting past . . .

MY THOUGHTS: The Kinsey Millhone series is my literary equivalent to junk food. It's a fast easy read that is always fun, never complicated, and leaves me feeling happy. And I just keep coming back for more.

I listened to P is for Peril by Sue Grafton on audiobook via OverDrive. It was beautifully narrated by Judy Kaye. All opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own. Please refer to my Goodreads.com profile page or the 'about' page on sandysbookaday.wordpress.com for an explanation of my rating system. This review and others are also published on my blog sandysbookaday.wordpress.com page https://wordpress.com/post/sandysbook...

[Louie the Mustache Matos · Rating 2 out of 5]

P is for Peril is the 16th entry to the Kinsey Millhone alphabet series by Sue Grafton. I really did not enjoy this one. Here, Kinsey is hired by an ex-wife to investigate the disappearance of a husband. (I think I read this one before, but apparently, I am wrong. This is a totally new novel re-using an old storyline. UGH!) To differentiate we have the possibility of a new beau, but wait, this new beau might have a history of murder. Uhm, Kinsey way back in A is for Alibi had the same complexity of relationship, but it winds up different. I was a little disgusted with this one. I am not giving this a one star, but this is definitely not one of her best. They can not all be winners, but this was ultra-disappointing.

[Quenya · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was good. It seemed much lighter after having listened to M, N and O which were especially dark stories in my opinion. I’m realizing more and more as I go through the stories that very rarely are any of the characters likable except for those in Kinsey’s immediate circle. What made this one a little different was the side story of Kinsey needing new office space and her involvement with the Heavener brothers. With the main mystery being fairly straight forward, this side story provided the intensity and suspense Kinsey’s main case was lacking. Kinsey also shows her inability to let something go until she gets to the truth and I loved seeing her doggedness really shine in this one. Whether she was tracking down missing money, a possible illicit affair or fraud, she didn’t give up until she got a satisfactorily answer for herself. Judy Kaye continues to be epitome of a great narrator. I look forward to reading Q.

[Tina Loves To Read · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the 16th book in the Kinsey Millhone. I have read/listen to the other 15 books in this series, and I have posted reviews for most of the other books in the series. I listen to audiobook of this book. The main character is Kinsey who is a PI. Kinsey hired by Fiona to find out just what has happened to Dr Dowan Purcell. Fiona is Dr. Purcell first wife not his current wife. Dr. Purcell just vanished without trace. I found this book very good. I love the path that Kinsey had to take to solve this case.

[catechism · Rating 2 out of 5]

what the hell was that ending? i seriously thought there was an entire chapter missing from my ebook and went looking for it. but no!

also, no one was really in peril, except for kinsey, who is always in peril, and in this instance said peril had nothing to do with the case. i wish the whole book had been the brother subplot instead of some medicare scam involving a lesbian stripper. (...put that way, it doesn't sound half-bad! but i assure you, it is bad.) probably my least favorite of the series so far.

[Obsidian · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was such a good Kinsey Millhone mystery. I loved that I did not see the ending coming until Kinsey finally grasped what really went on. There were so many players in this one that I was wondering who was the murderer. I also liked we get to see Kinsey contemplating a new romantic interest who was not all that he seemed.

"P is for Peril" has Kinsey employed by an ex-wife of a missing man (Dr. Dowan Purcell). His ex-wife Fiona believes his current wife, Crystal had something to do with things. Crystal has a somewhat shady past as an ex-dancer/stripper but now is a devoted mother to their son. When Kinsey starts investigating she soon realizes that Dr. Purcell had a lot of reasons to want to disappear. With him dealing with his ex-wife and their family, his current's wife's family, and some issues at his job, Purcell could be long gone. Kinsey being Kinsey though quickly starts to realize something is amiss. Along with that, Kinsey comes across to two brothers with her becoming a possible interest to one, Tommy Hevener.

Kinsey was a little bit off for me in this book, in a good way. She starts to question herself once she starts to realize she is getting so many things wrong along the way with Dr. Purcell's case. She also wonders about getting romantically involved with Tommy. That one was a bit murkier, but Kinsey appears to like it when someone pushes back on her and her attitude. I thought it was interesting to have her involved with someone that wasn't her constantly missing ex or whatever he is, Robert Dietz.

I think it was a nice showcase to show that Kinsey's work at times is mostly lucky guesses. She gets shown as being arrogant and naive at times in this book which we know the fictional Kinsey would hate.

This one ends a bit differently than other Millhone books though. Usually Grafton ends with an epilogue that ties up the case. However, I liked how she ended this one with you realizing what would come next, without you having it spelled out for you.

[mitchell dwyer · Rating 3 out of 5]

P is for Peril is such an unusual book in its own series that the discussion of this novel on the Sue Grafton message board has been turned into a sticky; it is permanently affixed near the top of the topic order so it can easily be found by visitors in search of some kind of explanation.

I hadn't even noticed that the book doesn't include Grafton's now-customary epilogue, which takes the form of Kinsey Milhone typing up a quick summary of the case and ties up some of the loose ends, but I had noticed a different vibe in this sixteenth Kinsey novel, a strange detachment from the case and its players as if this is nothing more than a job Kinsey takes for pay. Kinsey does seem to like some of the people involved; however, where the previous installment, O is for Outlaw, immerses her in a case involving her own history, the case she takes here seems the exact opposite, almost as if she had been dropped into some other mystery series written for someone else but needing a main character. Some describe the story here as noir. I wouldn't go that far, but there is a noirish feel here, a shadowy, black-and-white procedural told as if Kinsey is narrating the story about someone else.

It's fine. As stories go, it doesn't suck, and I didn't mind the change in mood, even though I had high hopes since O is for Outlaw had been so terrific. Other reviewers feel that the end leaves the reader hanging, and it does that. I kind of like it that way. Nothing really turns out the way I want, yet I was not left feeling disappointed. Rather, it seemed like the kind of thing that might occasionally fall into Kinsey's lap, and if it is too soon after the events in O is for Outlaw for her to allow us a delve into her emotional state, I can understand. That was a lot for Kinsey to deal with, and if anything surprises me, it's that the entire text of P is for Peril isn't simply, "After what I just went through, I've decided to go on vacation in Hawaii. Please proceed to Q is for Quarry where we will return to our usual madness."

Nothing to rave about here, but nothing really to disappoint, either, and interesting enough a story that I was engaged throughout, even if Kinsey wasn't.

[Jack Heath · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 Stars. A good one. The jacket mentions surprises; that's an understatement when two of them occur close together and really change the direction of this enjoyable read. Kinsey Millhone solves several crimes, most of which she didn't even know about when she was retained to track down a disappearing doctor. He just vanished one evening after work. She was called in when the police trail ran cold after several weeks with no leads. She was reluctant to get involved as it seemed more like continuing fall-out from a nasty divorce. A few years earlier, Dr. Dowan Purcell had left his first wife Fiona, for his second wife Crystal. Much younger and a former stripper! Although Fiona was more like the wife / husband many of us would like to divorce, Kinsey as usual needs the money when Fiona implores her to find the man she still desires. How much do you know about the American Medicare system? Prepare yourself to be informed. On GR, some reviewers didn't like the ending, but me? Loved it. There was one ingenious crime not fully wrapped-up at the end; you'll find it. Maybe Sue Grafton will glance backwards and fill us in when she gets to "Q." Can't wait. (December 2018)

[Kerri · Rating 3 out of 5]

Still love Kinsey Milhone...but there were 2 things I didn't like about this one. First, the narrator...I listen to these on my long commute, and I REALLY don't like the new narrator (Judy Kaye). I miss Mary Peiffer. I can get past it, but not happily. Kaye says too many of the lines with inappropriate ironic inflection, which I find really annoying. Second, I hated the ending. I like Grafton's books because she ties everything into a neat bow at the end. All i's dotted, all t's crossed, all questions answered. I like this in light, drive-to-work entertainment. But she didn't do that here. The story felt like it ended abruptly. I would've thought I had lost a disc if the narrator hadn't said, "The End." Harumph.

[Fiona · Rating 3 out of 5]

Fairly standard Sue Grafton. I sometimes wonder why I stick with this series but they’re well written and I like the familiarity and predictability of Kinsey Millhone’s character. This one centres on fraud in different guises. It has a few tense moments here and there and a few twists to keep the reader interested. I suspect the issues with Medicare and Medicaid fraud would be much more interesting to a US audience, however. Average fare so an average 3 stars from me.

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

Two underwhelming and uninteresting cases running parallel to each other kept the story moving forward but not much else.
2.75/5

[Jaksen · Rating 4 out of 5]

A solid four. A good read. I was aiming for five stars but about halfway through things got muddied up with a weird subplot, and so...

Kinsey Millhone is asked to look into the case of a missing, retired doctor who's taken a position as a nursing home director. Seems he just got in his car and drove off and no one's heard from him since. Now, nine weeks later, his first wife, an older woman with a penchant for looking/acting forty years younger than she is, and fancies herself an interior designer - she has a thing for cement - asks Kinsey to find out where he is/what happened to him.

Kinsey goes about her business in an orderly way. Ms. Grafton always spells out exactly how Kinsey researches, using the library, city archives, newspapers, and interviewing witnesses. (This book predates the internet, set in the late 1980's. But for anyone starting out as a PI or similar, any of Sue Grafton's many books would be a good primer about what to do - and not to do.) Kinsey's single, but open to romance, if and when it comes. But it's not a necessity in her life; she's somewhat of a loner with a few good friends.

Anyhow, the plot thickens the further she gets into the doctor's many-faceted past. Is he a kind, loving and honest man? Or one who's got a thing for weird sexual fetishes. Is he dull and mundane? Or is he a duplicitous sort, fudging the books at the nursing home? It all depends on WHO you ask and Kinsey asks a multitude of people. There's possible malfeasance going on involving health insurance, 'over-billing,' and charging for medical procedures not done - does that have anything to do with his disappearance? (There's a lot of that here for those who love a richly-detailed trek into health fraud.) But then, about two-thirds in, Kinsey gets involved with two brothers from whom she's considering renting office space. There's a touch of romance, but it also felt a bit hoary. I honestly felt it distracted from the main story.

Maybe it's just me. But a good read nevertheless; plus I always like reading about Kinsey.

Four stars

[Baba · Rating 3 out of 5]

Kinsey Millhone mystery No. 16!: A 69 year old doctor vanishes and his two ex-wives have different viewpoints on what's happened, one thinks he's a live, the other thinks he's dead! Kinsey is on the case, as is her new admirer, who is on her case! One of her most interesting dealing with concerning duality and the nature of Kinsey's assumptions and intuitions. 6 out of 12

[Tom · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ending although obvious was to say the least too rushed for me.

[Benjamin Thomas · Rating 2 out of 5]

I’ve enjoyed all of the Kinsey Millhone novels so far but this one was a bit of a letdown. I did some quick research after I finished it and “P” is almost always ranked near or at the bottom of all of the books in the series.

Unfortunately it is easy to see why. There are two mystery plots at work in this novel. The main one concerns a missing nursing home administrator. Kinsey is hired by his ex-wife and she proceeds to do her research from every angle imaginable. I always enjoy her methodical approach and this was no exception. But it grew frustrating for both Kinsey and me as she encountered one dead end after another. Meanwhile, the other subplot involves Kinsey trying to rent new office space and getting stuck in a dangerous situation with her future landlords. This part is more thriller than mystery and is what spawns the “Peril” part of the title.

Most of the novel was just fine, even if frustrating. I was confident that Kinsey would get to the end like she always does. But I thought the thriller plot just wasn’t realistic, especially at the end when Kinsey was in the most peril and the murderer just walked away instead of dealing with the loose end that Kinsey had become. Just not the way it would happen. In addition, Kinsey finds out she had been duped the entire time and that criminal gets away scot free. I had hopes that the follow-on novel, “Q is for Quarry” might be about the search for that criminal but alas, it doesn’t appear to be the case.

The mystery part of the plot suffered from too many characters and dead ends as well as several mistakes by Kinsey. She remarks on that herself, kicking herself for her poor performance on this case. The ending was rushed. Kinsey has a eureka moment and solves the mystery in about two sentences. The bigger problem is she doesn’t share the result with us. She implies the solution but we are left guessing at the end. None of the other books in the series has been like this and I wonder if the author was trying to “keep things fresh” and not succumb to formula. Whatever…it didn’t work well.

Having said all that, I generally enjoy reading about Kinsey’s day-to-day activities and I did this time as well. I like the simplicity of her life and the author’s easy flowing descriptions. Most readers think this one was an anomaly of the series and I am happy to keep on trucking with it.

[Mohamed Metwally · Rating 2 out of 5]

Book No.16 of the series, and I'm intending to finish the whole lot this year, in this book we go with Kinsey to investigate another missing persons case, and come along with a side story where Kinsey almost falls for the wrong kind of guy, which gives some sideline action.
Why am i giving it 2 stars? beause unlike the other books of the alphabet series, this one was all clear for me from the get go, and every twist was expected, up to the last page. And speaking of the ending, although the story itself is concluded with a clear enough solution to the case, it was quite different from the usual wrap up, with an epilogue and the signature submission of Kindey's report, I actually though thaat there is something wrong with the book and the final chapter was missing!

MiM

[John · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good page turner. Kinsey investigates the disappearance of a Doctor. She is hired by Fiona is first wife who stands to inherit a million dollars if he is dead. His current wife Crystal an ex stripper seems on the surface a nice person.

Kinsey uncovers malfeasance at the old people’s home the doctor was the financial administrator. The two owners are suspicious. On top of that while hiring a new office she meets Tommy and his brother Richard. This leads her into trouble as she finds out they have a troubled past.

The ending was abrupt and her drinking wine on the terrace with Crystal was odd. Still an enjoyable read with Henry her octogenarian neighbor helping out.

[Taveri · Rating 4 out of 5]

I thought the story was just fine - (at least) two mystery lines going on - although I thought the "personal" one wrapped up too neatly. I didn't understand others saying there was not much to the invetigation.

[LJ · Rating 2 out of 5]

P IS FOR PERIL - Okay
Grafton, Sue - 16th in series

In her latest adventure, Kinsey Millhone enters the world of noir. A shadowland in which the mysterious disappearance of a prominent physician leads Kinsey into a danger-filled maze of duplicity and double-dealing... It is now nine weeks since Dr Dowan Purcell vanished without trace. The sixty nine-year-old doctor had said goodnight to his colleagues at the Pacific Meadows nursing home, had climbed into his car and driven away - never to be seen again. His embittered first wife Fiona is convinced he is still alive. His second wife, Crystal - a former stripper forty years his junior - is just as sure he is dead. Enter private investigator Kinsey Malone, hired by Fiona to find out just what has happened to the man they loved. Enter also Tommy Hevener, an attractive flame-haired twenty-something who has set his romantic sights on Kinsey. And Tommy is a man with a very interesting past...

Neither the author, nor the character, have grown. I may have to relegate Grafton to paperback.

[Jenn · Rating 2 out of 5]

Out of the first 15 books in this series this is the first one that left me just hanging. This book seemed to miss out on the usual depth of the mystery series which surprised me. Kinsey's main case was drawn out and just lacked any real significance. The other personal case of Kinsey's kind of just popped up and seemed almost like a page filler.

My gripe is the way it ended. Out of all the books there is usually a letter type of epilogue that Kinsey writes to end the book. This time the story just ended.I usually don't mind having to draw my own conclusions on how a story ended but for this book it just made me feel that I should of read the last page.

This has got to be my least favorite book so far out of this series.

[Carol Jones-Campbell · Rating 4 out of 5]

FIRST READ: I hadn't read one of her books for about 2-3 years. It was good to pick her up again. I like the independent single woman. I was single for a long time and appreciate her attitude.

SECOND READ: PI Kinsey Millhone's trademark dry sense of humor is largely absent in the first half of the 15th book in this justifiably popular series, though it resurfaces as the suspense finally begins to build in the second half. In the bleak November of 1986, Kinsey looks into the disappearance of Dr. Dowan Purcell, who's been missing for nine weeks. Dr. Purcell is an elderly physician who runs a nursing home that's being investigated for Medicare fraud. His ex-wife, Fiona, hires Kinsey when it seems as though the police have given up on the search. Fiona thinks that he could be simply hiding out somewhere, especially since he's pulled a disappearance stunt twice before. However, Purcell's current wife, Crystal, believes that he may be dead. Kinsey is dubious about finding any new leads after so much time has elapsed. She's also worried about having to move out of the office space she now occupies in the suite owned by her lawyer, and between her interviews with suspects she tries to rent a new office from a pair of brothers whose mysterious background begins to make her suspicious. Grafton's Santa Teresa seems more like Ross Macdonald's town of the same name than ever before, with dysfunctional families everywhere jostling for the private eye's attention. The novel has a hard-edged, wintry ambience, echoed in Fiona Purcell's obsession with angular art deco furniture and architecture. Unfortunately, Grafton's evocation of the noir crime novels and styles of the 1940s, although atmospheric, doesn't make up for a lack of suspense and lackluster characters.

Though Fiona Purcell is still seething over Dow's marriage to Crystal, a former stripper, the two have remained friends. While discovering that Dow is being investigated for Medical Fraud, Kinsey finds a new office to rent and becomes romantically involved with one of her landlords. Unfortunately, Mr. Right and his brother probably murdered their parents ten years earlier, pinning the crime on someone who is now conveniently dead. Her effort to escape the relationship is overpowered by the urging of an insurance company investigating the missing family jewels. As always, Grafton mixes an intriguing plot with well-developed characters into an entertaining story. Was good to visit my old friends again. Obviously out of order, but still a hoot to read these books my Mom and I so much enjoyed. Recommend.

[Mark Baker · Rating 3 out of 5]

Nine weeks ago, Dr. Dowan Purcell vanished without a trace. Now, his ex-wife, Fiona, has hired PI Kinsey Millhone to figure out what happened to him. Kinsey isn’t sure she can cover any ground that the police haven’t already covered because they have been as thorough as they can be, but she gamely agrees anyway. Soon, she is caught in a web of speculation. It seems everyone has a theory, from Fiona to Dr. Purcell’s current wife, Crystal, to family and friends. But can Kinsey find any clue to figure out what actually happened to him?

The mystery starts well as always, and I was soon caught up in the case. There is a very strong sub-plot that helped draw me further into the story. I love Kinsey and the other regulars, so it is always fun to spend time with them, and the new characters are just as strong. Even the weather, a cold November rain, helped add the right atmosphere to the book. Then I got to the ending. The book just stops. It’s very abrupt. While I have a theory on what happened and why, it would have been nice to have it confirmed, especially since I can come up with another equally as compelling theory on what happened and why. These kinds of endings work for literary novels, but are frustrating for mystery readers. Fans of the series will still be glad they read this entry, but new readers definitely shouldn’t jump in here since there are stronger books in the series.

Read my full review at Carstairs Considers.

[Stephen Hoogerhyde · Rating 3 out of 5]

Maybe not one of her better ones, but a Kinsey Millhone mystery is always an enjoyable read (in my estimation). As always, she has a handful of characters who appear in all the books, making it comfortable to ease into the story. She introduces a number of characters, and multiple plot lines, and both end up intersecting, often when you did not expect them to do so.

I'm always amazed at how adept Grafton is at keeping all the characters straight, and not forgetting about them, and how well she complicates the situation but not to the point of confusion. As with previous books, she kept me guessing until the end at the identity of the culprit.

Funny thing is that Kinsey's repeated desire for a McDonald's quarter-pounder with cheese had me jonesing for one of those myself by the time I finished the book.

[Gail · Rating 5 out of 5]

I especially liked this one! I'm listening to this series on CD in the car. The reader is Judy Kaye. I listened to a few with a different reader who I liked. "O is for Outlaw" is the first one I listened to with Judy Kaye. I wasn't sure I liked what she brought to the character of Kinsey Milhone, but she started to grow on me. I thought she did a great job with the characters in "P".

I like that only a few months have passed in Kinsey's life when the next book comes along. In "P", she's still in 1986, so she's more of an old-fashioned gum-shoe than she'd be if the books skipped ahead in real time. She doesn't have the advantages and disadvantages of modern technology.

[Renee · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm very, very glad that I started reading Sue Grafton again. There was something about P that reminded me of my favorites in the series (I, J and K) and has me eager to get caught up. That said, I'm not sure what it is. It could be the way Kinsey's personal troubles mess with her life while she's working on a case, or it might just be her attitude while working -- I'd need to re-read Grafton's earlier books to be sure. Or, it could just be that P is well written and tightly plotted. No matter the reason, though, I'll be reading Q sometime soon.

[Christie Thomas · Rating 1 out of 5]

Kinsey is judgemental and kind of obnoxious. This book was about 125 pages too long and made me want to quit Sue Grafton.