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Kinsey Millhone #1
A Is for Alibi
A IS FOR AVENGER. A tough-talking former cop, private investigator Kinsey Millhone has set up a modest detective agency in a quiet corner of Santa Teresa, California. She's a twice-divorced loner with few personal possessions and fewer personal attachments but with a soft spot for underdogs and lost causes.
A IS FOR ACCUSED. That's why she draws desperate clients like Nikki Fife. Eight years ago, she was convicted of killing her philandering husband. Now she's out on parole and needs Kinsey's help to find the real killer. But after all this time, clearing Nikki's bad name won't be easy.
A IS FOR ALIBI. If there's one thing that makes Kinsey Millhone feel alive, it's playing on the edge. When her investigation turns up a second corpse, more suspects, and a new reason to kill, Kinsey discovers that the edge is closer--and sharper--than she imagined.
A IS FOR ACCUSED. That's why she draws desperate clients like Nikki Fife. Eight years ago, she was convicted of killing her philandering husband. Now she's out on parole and needs Kinsey's help to find the real killer. But after all this time, clearing Nikki's bad name won't be easy.
A IS FOR ALIBI. If there's one thing that makes Kinsey Millhone feel alive, it's playing on the edge. When her investigation turns up a second corpse, more suspects, and a new reason to kill, Kinsey discovers that the edge is closer--and sharper--than she imagined.
308 pages, Paperback
First published April 15, 1982
4765 people are currently reading
83034 people want to read
About the author
Sue Grafton
143 books6,525 followersSue 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.
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.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 6,305 reviews
January 2, 2018
Find all of my reviews at: http://52bookminimum.blogspot.com/
Two reviews in the same morning? I guess it’s your lucky day (ha-ha - NOT). And just look at that bright and shiny 1 Star rating. That should be a sure fire way to earn me some new friends. If you’re not interested in reading through my reasons behind not liking this book, here’s the Cliff’s Notes version of my reaction upon finishing . . .
So the long story of how I began my relationship with Kinsey Millhone at this late date is as follows: In general I am not a fan of books in a series. Added on to that fact, I alreadysold my soul broke my own rule for Janet Evanovich and her eleventy billion Plum stories. Friends were constantly telling me if I liked Stephanie Plum, I was sure to simply looooove Kinsey (basically because Kinsey supposedly had her shit together and wouldn’t get kidnapped every 42 seconds). I kept fighting the good fight and said I wouldn’t begin reading these books until I found “A” in hardback for wicked cheap. Well, I found A-F for a buck each.
My rating started out at a solid 3 Stars (which is about as good as it gets from me when it comes to a light mystery like this). The premise was familiar, but still A-Okay in my book: Nikki is a recently-released-from-prison convicted murderer who shows up seeking Kinsey’s help in order to find the true killer of her philandering husband. Kinsey takes the case and starts tracking down the various ex-Mrs. Fife’s in order to piece part the crime together. It was all very . . .
and I was digging it.
“He was like some old tomcat, always sniffin’ around the same back porch.”
By the halfway point, though, I was really starting to struggle. There was just SO. MUCH. FILLER. This book could have easily been cut in half. Here are some examples (nickel’s worth of free advice – drink a 5 Hour Energy before reading these quotes):
“The interior was done with polished uneven red-tile flooring, mirrors floor to ceiling, and panels of raw gray wood, hung here and there with clusters of dried corn.”
“The roof was nearly flat, peppered with rocks, the iron railings sending streaks of rust down the sides of the building. The landscaping was rock and yucca and cactus plants.”
Oh, and I can’t forget all of the jogging:
“I jogged south on Wilshire, just for variety, cutting across to San Vicente at Twenty-sixth Street.”
And if Kinsey is supposed to have her shit together, then why is she the dumbest bitch EVER?!?!?! I mean, do y’all remember what happens in this book????
I had been sitting at 2 Stars, but that ending? HELL NAH! 1 Star it is. I mean, I thought I had the whodunit it figured out right away, but I kept trying to convince myself I was wrong. I just had to be wrong. Sadly I wasn’t. As for the rest of this series? Well, it can . . .
Men authors get grief all the time for not writing quality women characters. Ms. Grafton should be forced to wear the cone of shame for eternity for writing someone as stupid as Kinsey. Give me back my Plum novels. At least she knows she’s an idiot. Throw in some Hiassen for more guffaws, some Leonard in order to obtain some cool points, and some Lehane when I need some grit and I think I can easily live without ever taking another gander at Kinsey Millhone.
Two reviews in the same morning? I guess it’s your lucky day (ha-ha - NOT). And just look at that bright and shiny 1 Star rating. That should be a sure fire way to earn me some new friends. If you’re not interested in reading through my reasons behind not liking this book, here’s the Cliff’s Notes version of my reaction upon finishing . . .
So the long story of how I began my relationship with Kinsey Millhone at this late date is as follows: In general I am not a fan of books in a series. Added on to that fact, I already
My rating started out at a solid 3 Stars (which is about as good as it gets from me when it comes to a light mystery like this). The premise was familiar, but still A-Okay in my book: Nikki is a recently-released-from-prison convicted murderer who shows up seeking Kinsey’s help in order to find the true killer of her philandering husband. Kinsey takes the case and starts tracking down the various ex-Mrs. Fife’s in order to piece part the crime together. It was all very . . .
and I was digging it.
“He was like some old tomcat, always sniffin’ around the same back porch.”
By the halfway point, though, I was really starting to struggle. There was just SO. MUCH. FILLER. This book could have easily been cut in half. Here are some examples (nickel’s worth of free advice – drink a 5 Hour Energy before reading these quotes):
“The interior was done with polished uneven red-tile flooring, mirrors floor to ceiling, and panels of raw gray wood, hung here and there with clusters of dried corn.”
“The roof was nearly flat, peppered with rocks, the iron railings sending streaks of rust down the sides of the building. The landscaping was rock and yucca and cactus plants.”
Oh, and I can’t forget all of the jogging:
“I jogged south on Wilshire, just for variety, cutting across to San Vicente at Twenty-sixth Street.”
And if Kinsey is supposed to have her shit together, then why is she the dumbest bitch EVER?!?!?! I mean, do y’all remember what happens in this book????
I had been sitting at 2 Stars, but that ending? HELL NAH! 1 Star it is. I mean, I thought I had the whodunit it figured out right away, but I kept trying to convince myself I was wrong. I just had to be wrong. Sadly I wasn’t. As for the rest of this series? Well, it can . . .
Men authors get grief all the time for not writing quality women characters. Ms. Grafton should be forced to wear the cone of shame for eternity for writing someone as stupid as Kinsey. Give me back my Plum novels. At least she knows she’s an idiot. Throw in some Hiassen for more guffaws, some Leonard in order to obtain some cool points, and some Lehane when I need some grit and I think I can easily live without ever taking another gander at Kinsey Millhone.
December 12, 2007
Kinsey Millhone is a single female working as a private investigator in Santa Theresa, California. She is hired by Nikki Fife, the convicted murdered of Lawrence Fife (her husband), to find out who really killed him. Her investigation leads her into a series of other murders that seem to be connected.
I don't know if I can even justify one star on this book. I was at no point able to "connect" with Kinsey. I love a strong female character, but she does not fit that bill. She is crass which makes her seem uneducated and low-class. Attempts at presenting emotion from her were not believable; she simply came across as apathetic the entire novel. And how she could solve any crime with the amount of alcohol she consumed in this book is beyond me. Aside from the lack of dimension in her character, I am also not a fan of Grafton's writing style. This is the first book I've read of hers and from the get go, I was not impressed. At first I thought maybe I would try reading a couple of her books before I made a decision, but I don't think I could make it through another book of this caliber. The book was completely predictable. The outcome was obvious before you even hit the midpoint. Grafton tends to include pointless detail that does nothing to further the plot. And there are so many problems with the logic throughout the novel. For example, she says that Kinsey wipes down her Las Vegas hotel room to get rid of prints. Yet she paid her bill, SIGNED the bill and both owners of the hotel saw and talked to her. If she's trying to get rid of her presence in the hotel, she left an awfully bright trail...afterall, if someone were trying to establish she was there, wouldn't fingerprinting be further down the road from eyewitness accounts and paper records?
This was definitely a let-down, and I will not be pursuing any further letters of the alphabet. There are far more interesting books out there to fill my time.
I don't know if I can even justify one star on this book. I was at no point able to "connect" with Kinsey. I love a strong female character, but she does not fit that bill. She is crass which makes her seem uneducated and low-class. Attempts at presenting emotion from her were not believable; she simply came across as apathetic the entire novel. And how she could solve any crime with the amount of alcohol she consumed in this book is beyond me. Aside from the lack of dimension in her character, I am also not a fan of Grafton's writing style. This is the first book I've read of hers and from the get go, I was not impressed. At first I thought maybe I would try reading a couple of her books before I made a decision, but I don't think I could make it through another book of this caliber. The book was completely predictable. The outcome was obvious before you even hit the midpoint. Grafton tends to include pointless detail that does nothing to further the plot. And there are so many problems with the logic throughout the novel. For example, she says that Kinsey wipes down her Las Vegas hotel room to get rid of prints. Yet she paid her bill, SIGNED the bill and both owners of the hotel saw and talked to her. If she's trying to get rid of her presence in the hotel, she left an awfully bright trail...afterall, if someone were trying to establish she was there, wouldn't fingerprinting be further down the road from eyewitness accounts and paper records?
This was definitely a let-down, and I will not be pursuing any further letters of the alphabet. There are far more interesting books out there to fill my time.
July 27, 2017
Review
4 stars to A is for Alibi by Sue Grafton, the first book in the Kinsey Millhone private investigator cozy mystery series. It's the book that started it all for me...
The opening lines of the book grab you when the narrator tells you that she killed a man. You want to know more about this situation. Then you get to know a little bit about Kinsey. Twice-divorced. 32. New to PI work. You already start to root for her as much as you ask questions about her former life.
In this one, it's all about divorce and a cheating ex-husband. Nikki, not very likable, is released from prison and goes straight to Kinsey for help. She served time for killing her husband, but she claims she didn't do it. Years later, she wants answers so she can move on with her life. And she gets them. Kinsey finds a second body and actually has to protect herself. Right out of the gate, you know this series won't be a traditional cozy. But at the same time, it's a very formulaic story. And that's OK... I like those, too.
Kinsey is mostly a good character. Her attitude is sometimes a little annoying. She is still learning her job to some degree... not quite as good as VI Warshawski, but not as silly as Stephanie Plum. Lots to like about her too... except no real family to speak of. She eventually has Henry, but not enough for me.
The setting is Santa Teresa, California... a beautiful place among the vineyards and not too far from the ocean. Makes a good backdrop and some pretty scenes.
For an intro book, it's strong. It was started back in the 1980s... so if you're looking for something more current, this series isn't for you.
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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4 stars to A is for Alibi by Sue Grafton, the first book in the Kinsey Millhone private investigator cozy mystery series. It's the book that started it all for me...
The opening lines of the book grab you when the narrator tells you that she killed a man. You want to know more about this situation. Then you get to know a little bit about Kinsey. Twice-divorced. 32. New to PI work. You already start to root for her as much as you ask questions about her former life.
In this one, it's all about divorce and a cheating ex-husband. Nikki, not very likable, is released from prison and goes straight to Kinsey for help. She served time for killing her husband, but she claims she didn't do it. Years later, she wants answers so she can move on with her life. And she gets them. Kinsey finds a second body and actually has to protect herself. Right out of the gate, you know this series won't be a traditional cozy. But at the same time, it's a very formulaic story. And that's OK... I like those, too.
Kinsey is mostly a good character. Her attitude is sometimes a little annoying. She is still learning her job to some degree... not quite as good as VI Warshawski, but not as silly as Stephanie Plum. Lots to like about her too... except no real family to speak of. She eventually has Henry, but not enough for me.
The setting is Santa Teresa, California... a beautiful place among the vineyards and not too far from the ocean. Makes a good backdrop and some pretty scenes.
For an intro book, it's strong. It was started back in the 1980s... so if you're looking for something more current, this series isn't for you.
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.
[polldaddy poll=9729544]
[polldaddy poll=9719251]
February 28, 2019
Wait, should I shelved this in "Historical Fiction"?
So, yeah, you can call me a trend-setter. I'm up on the hip scene of today. I know what is cool... or as you kids might say, I'm DTF. (That means Definitely Trendy and Fresh, right?)
Oh, I'm sure you are wrong Inigo Montoya. I'm very fleek and shit.
Alright, so I've had this book since childhood and decided now was the perfect time to read it. Yes, my TBR pile is slightly unruly....
I was okay with the idea that this was written in the 1980's, so I expected all of the lack of civilization that I have no idea how we lived without. I mean, people drove around in cars without texting and walked through the grocery store without talking on the phone. How did they kill time while waiting for a restaurant table or a doctor's appointment? Did they actually touch those nasty old magazines at the doctor's office with the germs of a billion sick people writhing like a primordial bacteria soup just waiting for the next victim? And, there wasn't even Purell back then. It's like we lived like filthy animals or something. They used payphones! payphones!
Yeah, so that's the world this is set in. Just think: no technology, lots of germs, and giant hairdos held up with cans and cans of ozone-killing hairspray.
A timely reminder... Holy crap, is that guy's gold medallion necklace tangled in his chest hair? *gagging*
Didn't they have Crest White Strips yet?
Where's my Purell?
Okay. So, Kinsey is a private investigator who is looking into an old murder after the person who was wrongfully convicted gets out of prison. This story is completely procedural as she goes through her steps of solving the crime. Did I solve it before her? Yes. Of course I did. But, there was one little detail that surprised me, so that was fun.
And, despite this reading a little bit like an old Murder She Wrote episode, I liked Kinsey. She was very human and easy to understand. She wasn't a special snowflake. She wasn't so beautiful that every guy wanted her. She wasn't even the smartest person in the room most of the time. But, I found her likable because of all of that.
As for the writing style - well, it got a bit wordy in the descriptions. A lot of skimming is necessary when reading about the characteristics of a rooftop or which streets she passed while jogging. And, there's a lot of jogging in this book. I mean, we actually go with her on her jogs. I didn't quite get why we couldn't have just read the words, "after her jog...." instead of reading about where she jogged, how long she jogged, and her after-jog shower. But, hey, maybe the author wanted to inspire us to get off our fat asses, put down the book, and run for no reason. Whatever. I read it with no guilt while eating cookie dough straight from the package like a banana.
You aren't the boss of me!
I'm going to keep reading this series, because, what the hell... reasons....But, I'm also curious if the books will morph through the years as the series was written to reflect the changes in the real world as they happened, or if it will stay set in the 1980's.
So, yeah, you can call me a trend-setter. I'm up on the hip scene of today. I know what is cool... or as you kids might say, I'm DTF. (That means Definitely Trendy and Fresh, right?)
Oh, I'm sure you are wrong Inigo Montoya. I'm very fleek and shit.
Alright, so I've had this book since childhood and decided now was the perfect time to read it. Yes, my TBR pile is slightly unruly....
I was okay with the idea that this was written in the 1980's, so I expected all of the lack of civilization that I have no idea how we lived without. I mean, people drove around in cars without texting and walked through the grocery store without talking on the phone. How did they kill time while waiting for a restaurant table or a doctor's appointment? Did they actually touch those nasty old magazines at the doctor's office with the germs of a billion sick people writhing like a primordial bacteria soup just waiting for the next victim? And, there wasn't even Purell back then. It's like we lived like filthy animals or something. They used payphones! payphones!
Yeah, so that's the world this is set in. Just think: no technology, lots of germs, and giant hairdos held up with cans and cans of ozone-killing hairspray.
A timely reminder... Holy crap, is that guy's gold medallion necklace tangled in his chest hair? *gagging*
Didn't they have Crest White Strips yet?
Where's my Purell?
Okay. So, Kinsey is a private investigator who is looking into an old murder after the person who was wrongfully convicted gets out of prison. This story is completely procedural as she goes through her steps of solving the crime. Did I solve it before her? Yes. Of course I did. But, there was one little detail that surprised me, so that was fun.
And, despite this reading a little bit like an old Murder She Wrote episode, I liked Kinsey. She was very human and easy to understand. She wasn't a special snowflake. She wasn't so beautiful that every guy wanted her. She wasn't even the smartest person in the room most of the time. But, I found her likable because of all of that.
As for the writing style - well, it got a bit wordy in the descriptions. A lot of skimming is necessary when reading about the characteristics of a rooftop or which streets she passed while jogging. And, there's a lot of jogging in this book. I mean, we actually go with her on her jogs. I didn't quite get why we couldn't have just read the words, "after her jog...." instead of reading about where she jogged, how long she jogged, and her after-jog shower. But, hey, maybe the author wanted to inspire us to get off our fat asses, put down the book, and run for no reason. Whatever. I read it with no guilt while eating cookie dough straight from the package like a banana.
You aren't the boss of me!
I'm going to keep reading this series, because, what the hell... reasons....But, I'm also curious if the books will morph through the years as the series was written to reflect the changes in the real world as they happened, or if it will stay set in the 1980's.
April 29, 2022
Lo leí con ganas de descubrir a una autora con mucho renombre y me quedé un poco desilusionado.
No fue una lectura muy convincente.
Creo que, personalmente, leo pocas novelas de escritoras. No es por nada. Tal vez me dejo llevar por la inercia y no caen en mis manos.
Debo mejorar.
I read it with the desire to discover a renowned author and I was a little disappointed.
It wasn't a very convincing read.
I think I personally read few novels by women writers. It's not for nothing. Perhaps I get carried away by inertia and do not fall into my hands.
I must improve.
No fue una lectura muy convincente.
Creo que, personalmente, leo pocas novelas de escritoras. No es por nada. Tal vez me dejo llevar por la inercia y no caen en mis manos.
Debo mejorar.
I read it with the desire to discover a renowned author and I was a little disappointed.
It wasn't a very convincing read.
I think I personally read few novels by women writers. It's not for nothing. Perhaps I get carried away by inertia and do not fall into my hands.
I must improve.
September 13, 2016
It's interesting that Kinsey Millhone and Vic Warshawski both appeared for the first time in the same year. I wonder why the market suddenly felt the need for two female P.I.s. It was a very good thing anyway!!!
Vic has been a favourite of mine for some time now but this is the first time I have tried this series by Sue Grafton and I did enjoy it. Kinsey's approach to detecting was reasonably realistic, I liked the old style feel to everything(was the 1980's really that long ago!) and the writing was good. The story built up quite slowly but picked up the pace at the end and it was easy to read the whole thing in a fairly short time.
I will certainly move on to the next book and it is very likely that I will make my way through the whole series:)
Vic has been a favourite of mine for some time now but this is the first time I have tried this series by Sue Grafton and I did enjoy it. Kinsey's approach to detecting was reasonably realistic, I liked the old style feel to everything(was the 1980's really that long ago!) and the writing was good. The story built up quite slowly but picked up the pace at the end and it was easy to read the whole thing in a fairly short time.
I will certainly move on to the next book and it is very likely that I will make my way through the whole series:)
May 19, 2019
For some dumb reason, I've been reading Sue Grafton's wonderful alphabet mystery series out of order. At any rate, A is what got them all started, and it's a corker of a story. I like Kinsey: tough, relentless, and empathetic. Hopefully, I'll return to the series very soon. They're addictive in a marvelous way.
September 19, 2009
I read this book as part of an interdisciplinary course in law school entitled "Law in Literature." While the book was acceptable/average in terms of its overall plot, development, and color, my enjoyment of the novel came from the fact that until the last half of the book (when the protagonist - a female detective - sleeps with a man she is investigating) I hadn't realized that the main character was a woman. I thought of myself as suitably progressive when the novel described the main character wanting to date a guy, and putting on pantyhose. "Wow?! A gay, cross-dressing detective? That's unique!" Nope. Novel is totally about a woman instead. Don't know how I managed to make it halfway through the book before that lightbulb clicked on, but the absolutely hilarious part is that most of the men in the class apparently hadn't figured it out until the middle of the book either.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 9, 2013
Godinama sam pokušavala da nagovorim srpske izdavače da objavljuju ovu divnu autorku... Detektivski romani, a pritom i duhoviti i zabavni... I uvek sam dobijala isti odgovor... "Problem su naslovi... Autorka ide po abecedi... Prvi naslov ne bi bio problem, a šta s drugim i ostalim naslovima..." Svesrdnu pomoć pružao mi je i Zvonimir Majdak (preko koga se završavaju autorska prava), ali nismo uspeli... U Hrvatskoj je prevedeno nekoliko naslova, ali se izdavači nisu marketinški pretrgli tako da ni tamo ova autorka nije "zaživela", a to i te kako zaslužuje... No, ne gubimo nadu da će jednog dana biti i prevedena... Dotle, uživajmo u originalima... :)
April 24, 2024
A is for Accused, A is for Alibi, but most importantly, A is for Awesome Adventures with Kinsey Millhone leading the charge! Get ready to grip the edge of your seat because when Kinsey's on the case, you know it's going to be a heart-pounding thrill ride! I blasted through this introduction to the series faster than Kinsey chasing down a suspect, and you better believe I'm strapping in for the rest of the journey. Bring on the next installment—I'm all in!
December 19, 2020
Kinsey Millhone case No. 1:
So it took me nearly a year to get a hold of the first book in this series; but I finally got to read it. Kinsey's debut book/case after opening her private investigator agency. It starts off with bang, with Kinsey fatally shooting someone! The book then goes back in time detailing the events that led to the shooting. Interesting debut for this character, and no doubt a refreshing take of the detective genre when first published. 6 out of 12.
So it took me nearly a year to get a hold of the first book in this series; but I finally got to read it. Kinsey's debut book/case after opening her private investigator agency. It starts off with bang, with Kinsey fatally shooting someone! The book then goes back in time detailing the events that led to the shooting. Interesting debut for this character, and no doubt a refreshing take of the detective genre when first published. 6 out of 12.
July 5, 2019
I began reading the 'alphabet 'series written by Sue Grafton when the first book, 'A is for Alibi' featuring private detective Kinsey Millhone, was published in 1982. Over the years, I continued to read each new offering in the series, with the exception of the last book written, 'Y is for Yesterday'. At the time of Sue Grafton's death in December 2017, I had not yet read this book. I decided that since so much time has gone by since the series started.. 37 years... that I would make a kind of project out of rereading the series. I decided to start at the beginning but this time, I would listen to the audiobook of each novel. I'm curious to discover how these novels have held up to the passage of time. Will they feel dated and unreliable? Or will I love them as much as the first time I read them?
Upon finishing 'A is for Alibi', narrated on audiobook by Mary Peiffer, I'm happy to say that I enjoyed this first book in the series as much as when I read it in 1982. Certainly, as you might expect, a story set in 1982 which was years before the explosion of the technological advances we now enjoy DOES feel dated in some ways. There are no cell phones in this story; instead, Kinsey Millhone is always on the hunt for a public pay phone. Since the internet hadn't been created, Kinsey must conduct her research and background checks on individuals at the public library where she frequently uses microfiche or through public records available at the county courthouse. And of course, instead of organizing the data she collects on a computer, she assembles a collection of 3" x 5" index cards on a bulletin board and she produces her finished case reports for clients on her Smith Corona typewriter. Oddly enough, I didn't find any of these aspects of the story annoying. Perhaps it's because I didn't grow up with the current available technologies. Regardless, the absence of cell phones and computers didn't lessen my enjoyment of this novel. In fact, this absence of technology leant a sort of classic detective noir feeling to the novel.
The book is narrated by Kinsey Millhone herself and opens with a perfect intrpoduction of who she is....
"My name is Kinsey Millhone. I'm a private investigator, licensed by the state of California...
I'm thirty-two years old, twice divorced, no kids... I'm a nice person and I have a lot of friends.
My apartment is small but I like living in a cramped space. I've lived in trailers most of my
life, but lately they've been getting too elaborate for my taste so now I live in one room, a
'bachelorette'. I don't have pets. I don't have houseplants. I spend a lot of time on the road
and I don't like leaving things behind. Aside from the hazards of my profession, my life has
always been ordinary, uneventful and good...... "
In this, Kinsey Millhone's first case, she is visited at her office by a woman named Nikki Fife who has just been paroled after serving an 8-year prison sentence for the murder of her divorce attorney-husband Laurence Fife. Nikki insists that she is innocent and she wants to hire Kinsey to reinvestigate the murder. Although Kinsey is skeptical, she admits to herself that it makes no sense for a guilty woman who has just been released from prison to want to dredge up old controversies and scandals. So she agrees that she will see what she can find but makes no promises.
Kinsey begins her reinvestigation into Laurence Fife's murder with a visit to the Santa Teresa Police Department where she asked Lieutenant Con Dolan for a look at the Fife case files. Because Nikki had been convicted by a jury who purportedly weighed the evidence presented by both the prosecuting and defense attorneys, she wasn't expecting to discover any new evidence. But she was startled to find that just 4 days after Laurence Fife died after ingesting allergy medication laced with oleander, a young woman named Libby Glass, who had been an accountant in Fife's law firm, had also died from oleander poisoning. The police had been aware of Libby Glass's death but hadn't been able to connect her death to Nikki Fife. Con Dolan was certain that Nikki had also murdered Libby Glass but Kinsey wasn't so sure. Kinsey believed Nikki had been telling her the truth and she was determined to follow the new clues to get to the bottom of the mystery of just who murdered Laurence Fife and Libby Glass.. and why.
Kinsey started her investigation the old fashioned way... using plenty of 'shoe leather' and interviewing all of the people in Laurence Fife and Libby Glass's life at the time of their murders. Her potential suspect list was long. She interviewed and reinterviewed Laurence's ex-wife Gwen and their two grown children, Greg and Diane; Laurence's former business partner and colleague, Charlie Scorsoni; Laurence's former secretary, Sharon Rapier and of course, she also tracked down and interviewed Libby Glass's family and colleagues, including her emotionally devastated parents and her rude and bad-tempered ex-boyfriend Lyle. These interviews keep Kinsey on the road, traveling from Santa Teresa to Los Angeles and finally to Las Vegas and with each of these interviews, she began to form a mental picture of what had been happening in the victims' lives right before the murder. Kinsey realized she was getting closer to the murderer and who one of her interviewees is murdered, Kinsey also realizes that the murderer is getting closer to HER and her life is in danger. Can she wrap up this case before it's too late?
I was happy and a little surprised at how much I enjoyed rereading 'A is for Alibi' after so many years. Although the plot was vaguely familiar to me, I had no memory of how the case was ultimately resolved. And despite the fact that Kinsey drives around in her '68 VW 'Bug' and has terrible dietary habits (or maybe BECAUSE of those things), I find that I still really like her character. I enjoy her independence and the fact that although she's tough on the outside, she isn't all that tough on the inside and can empathize with her clients, regardless of how unsavory some of them may seem. I look forward to making my way through the 'alphabet' series once again.
Upon finishing 'A is for Alibi', narrated on audiobook by Mary Peiffer, I'm happy to say that I enjoyed this first book in the series as much as when I read it in 1982. Certainly, as you might expect, a story set in 1982 which was years before the explosion of the technological advances we now enjoy DOES feel dated in some ways. There are no cell phones in this story; instead, Kinsey Millhone is always on the hunt for a public pay phone. Since the internet hadn't been created, Kinsey must conduct her research and background checks on individuals at the public library where she frequently uses microfiche or through public records available at the county courthouse. And of course, instead of organizing the data she collects on a computer, she assembles a collection of 3" x 5" index cards on a bulletin board and she produces her finished case reports for clients on her Smith Corona typewriter. Oddly enough, I didn't find any of these aspects of the story annoying. Perhaps it's because I didn't grow up with the current available technologies. Regardless, the absence of cell phones and computers didn't lessen my enjoyment of this novel. In fact, this absence of technology leant a sort of classic detective noir feeling to the novel.
The book is narrated by Kinsey Millhone herself and opens with a perfect intrpoduction of who she is....
"My name is Kinsey Millhone. I'm a private investigator, licensed by the state of California...
I'm thirty-two years old, twice divorced, no kids... I'm a nice person and I have a lot of friends.
My apartment is small but I like living in a cramped space. I've lived in trailers most of my
life, but lately they've been getting too elaborate for my taste so now I live in one room, a
'bachelorette'. I don't have pets. I don't have houseplants. I spend a lot of time on the road
and I don't like leaving things behind. Aside from the hazards of my profession, my life has
always been ordinary, uneventful and good...... "
In this, Kinsey Millhone's first case, she is visited at her office by a woman named Nikki Fife who has just been paroled after serving an 8-year prison sentence for the murder of her divorce attorney-husband Laurence Fife. Nikki insists that she is innocent and she wants to hire Kinsey to reinvestigate the murder. Although Kinsey is skeptical, she admits to herself that it makes no sense for a guilty woman who has just been released from prison to want to dredge up old controversies and scandals. So she agrees that she will see what she can find but makes no promises.
Kinsey begins her reinvestigation into Laurence Fife's murder with a visit to the Santa Teresa Police Department where she asked Lieutenant Con Dolan for a look at the Fife case files. Because Nikki had been convicted by a jury who purportedly weighed the evidence presented by both the prosecuting and defense attorneys, she wasn't expecting to discover any new evidence. But she was startled to find that just 4 days after Laurence Fife died after ingesting allergy medication laced with oleander, a young woman named Libby Glass, who had been an accountant in Fife's law firm, had also died from oleander poisoning. The police had been aware of Libby Glass's death but hadn't been able to connect her death to Nikki Fife. Con Dolan was certain that Nikki had also murdered Libby Glass but Kinsey wasn't so sure. Kinsey believed Nikki had been telling her the truth and she was determined to follow the new clues to get to the bottom of the mystery of just who murdered Laurence Fife and Libby Glass.. and why.
Kinsey started her investigation the old fashioned way... using plenty of 'shoe leather' and interviewing all of the people in Laurence Fife and Libby Glass's life at the time of their murders. Her potential suspect list was long. She interviewed and reinterviewed Laurence's ex-wife Gwen and their two grown children, Greg and Diane; Laurence's former business partner and colleague, Charlie Scorsoni; Laurence's former secretary, Sharon Rapier and of course, she also tracked down and interviewed Libby Glass's family and colleagues, including her emotionally devastated parents and her rude and bad-tempered ex-boyfriend Lyle. These interviews keep Kinsey on the road, traveling from Santa Teresa to Los Angeles and finally to Las Vegas and with each of these interviews, she began to form a mental picture of what had been happening in the victims' lives right before the murder. Kinsey realized she was getting closer to the murderer and who one of her interviewees is murdered, Kinsey also realizes that the murderer is getting closer to HER and her life is in danger. Can she wrap up this case before it's too late?
I was happy and a little surprised at how much I enjoyed rereading 'A is for Alibi' after so many years. Although the plot was vaguely familiar to me, I had no memory of how the case was ultimately resolved. And despite the fact that Kinsey drives around in her '68 VW 'Bug' and has terrible dietary habits (or maybe BECAUSE of those things), I find that I still really like her character. I enjoy her independence and the fact that although she's tough on the outside, she isn't all that tough on the inside and can empathize with her clients, regardless of how unsavory some of them may seem. I look forward to making my way through the 'alphabet' series once again.
September 12, 2012
This is the book that introduced Kinsey Millhone and helped inaugurate a new era in crime fiction when female investigators like Millhone and Sara Paretsky's V. I. Warshawski could go toe-to-toe with the bad guys and more than hold their own with their male counterparts like Spenser, Sam Spade and Philip Marlowe.
Millhone has a modest solo practice as a P.I. that she runs out of a small office in the fictional town of Santa Teresa, California. Orphaned as a child and twice divorced, she lives a quiet, solitary life, eschewing the kinds of possessions and personal connections that most people take for granted. But this is her life and she's perfectly happy with it. Certainly she would never be mistaken for Miss Marple or Jessica Fletcher. And unlike any number of other female sleuths, she is perfectly capable of solving difficult mysteries without the assistance of a cat.
Enter Nikki Fife, recently released after an eight-year stint in prison for murdering her husband. One might wonder why Nikki got only eight years for a premeditated murder, but this is never explained. Nikki continues to insist that she was innocent and she hires Kinsey to find the Real Killer.
The husband, Laurence Fife, was a philandering attorney with a loose moral code who had antagonized any number of potential suspects. But the police and prosecutors argued that only Nikki could have poisoned one of Laurence's allergy capsules and she was thus convicted on this rather flimsy evidence.
Kinsey takes the case and almost immediately discovers that there was a lot more going on in the case than the police and prosecutors revealed at the time of the trial. To make matters worse, as soon as Millhone begins poking around, people with ties to the case start turning up dead, and before long, Kinsey may find herself in the line of fire.
This is a good introduction to a series that would develop very long legs and attract a huge fan base. Thirty years after the publication of "A" Is for Alibi, Kinsey Millhone still soldiers on and Grafton has nearly reached the end of the alphabet. Some have questioned Grafton's decision to leave her protagonist and these stories glued to the 1980s, and the books have become, as a practical matter, historical crime novels in which there are still no personal computers, cell phones or Internet and where the heroine remains perpetually in her middle thirties. But Grafton has attracted legions of fans to the series, so she must be doing something right. And certainly any fan of crime fiction should be at least marginally acquainted with Kinsey Millhone.
Millhone has a modest solo practice as a P.I. that she runs out of a small office in the fictional town of Santa Teresa, California. Orphaned as a child and twice divorced, she lives a quiet, solitary life, eschewing the kinds of possessions and personal connections that most people take for granted. But this is her life and she's perfectly happy with it. Certainly she would never be mistaken for Miss Marple or Jessica Fletcher. And unlike any number of other female sleuths, she is perfectly capable of solving difficult mysteries without the assistance of a cat.
Enter Nikki Fife, recently released after an eight-year stint in prison for murdering her husband. One might wonder why Nikki got only eight years for a premeditated murder, but this is never explained. Nikki continues to insist that she was innocent and she hires Kinsey to find the Real Killer.
The husband, Laurence Fife, was a philandering attorney with a loose moral code who had antagonized any number of potential suspects. But the police and prosecutors argued that only Nikki could have poisoned one of Laurence's allergy capsules and she was thus convicted on this rather flimsy evidence.
Kinsey takes the case and almost immediately discovers that there was a lot more going on in the case than the police and prosecutors revealed at the time of the trial. To make matters worse, as soon as Millhone begins poking around, people with ties to the case start turning up dead, and before long, Kinsey may find herself in the line of fire.
This is a good introduction to a series that would develop very long legs and attract a huge fan base. Thirty years after the publication of "A" Is for Alibi, Kinsey Millhone still soldiers on and Grafton has nearly reached the end of the alphabet. Some have questioned Grafton's decision to leave her protagonist and these stories glued to the 1980s, and the books have become, as a practical matter, historical crime novels in which there are still no personal computers, cell phones or Internet and where the heroine remains perpetually in her middle thirties. But Grafton has attracted legions of fans to the series, so she must be doing something right. And certainly any fan of crime fiction should be at least marginally acquainted with Kinsey Millhone.
May 12, 2018
EXCERPT: My name is Kinsey Millhone. I 'm a private investigator, licensed by the state of California. I'm thirty-two years old, twice divorced, no kids. The day before yesterday I killed someone, and the fact weighs heavily on my mind.
ABOUT THIS BOOK: A IS FOR AVENGER
A tough-talking former cop, private investigator Kinsey Millhone has set up a modest detective agency in a quiet corner of Santa Teresa, California. A twice-divorced loner with few personal possessions and fewer personal attachments, she's got a soft spot for underdogs and lost causes.
A IS FOR ACCUSED
That's why she draws desperate clients like Nikki Fife. Eight years ago, she was convicted of killing her philandering husband. Now she's out on parole and needs Kinsey's help to find the real killer. But after all this time, clearing Nikki's bad name won't be easy.
A IS FOR ALIBI
If there's one thing that makes Kinsey Millhone feel alive, it's playing on the edge. When her investigation turns up a second corpse, more suspects, and a new reason to kill, Kinsey discovers that the edge is closer--and sharper--than she imagined.
MY THOUGHTS: Is there anyone out there who has never read one of Sue Grafton's Kinsey Millhone books? I have, at some point, read most of the earlier ones in the series. This, the very first, is, I still believe, one of the best of the series.
I plan on working my way through the full series eventually. They are not particularly gripping, or shocking. But they are good in a comfortable way. You don't have to concentrate, or go back and replay bits. It is what it is. I am going to miss Sue Grafton. Like a comfortable pair of slippers.
I listened to the audiobook of A Is For Alibi by Sue Grafton, narrated by Mary Peiffer and published by Books on Tape via OverDrive. All opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own personal opinions.
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
ABOUT THIS BOOK: A IS FOR AVENGER
A tough-talking former cop, private investigator Kinsey Millhone has set up a modest detective agency in a quiet corner of Santa Teresa, California. A twice-divorced loner with few personal possessions and fewer personal attachments, she's got a soft spot for underdogs and lost causes.
A IS FOR ACCUSED
That's why she draws desperate clients like Nikki Fife. Eight years ago, she was convicted of killing her philandering husband. Now she's out on parole and needs Kinsey's help to find the real killer. But after all this time, clearing Nikki's bad name won't be easy.
A IS FOR ALIBI
If there's one thing that makes Kinsey Millhone feel alive, it's playing on the edge. When her investigation turns up a second corpse, more suspects, and a new reason to kill, Kinsey discovers that the edge is closer--and sharper--than she imagined.
MY THOUGHTS: Is there anyone out there who has never read one of Sue Grafton's Kinsey Millhone books? I have, at some point, read most of the earlier ones in the series. This, the very first, is, I still believe, one of the best of the series.
I plan on working my way through the full series eventually. They are not particularly gripping, or shocking. But they are good in a comfortable way. You don't have to concentrate, or go back and replay bits. It is what it is. I am going to miss Sue Grafton. Like a comfortable pair of slippers.
I listened to the audiobook of A Is For Alibi by Sue Grafton, narrated by Mary Peiffer and published by Books on Tape via OverDrive. All opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own personal opinions.
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
December 6, 2020
I think by the time I began reading the Grafton alphabet books she was on R or S... This first one was okay-- it's a great quick read for the beach or a few empty evenings. I think the series gets better with each book.
PS— Since Grafton’s passing, I feel compelled to go back to the series (I think I got thru H or I). Maybe next year.
PS— Since Grafton’s passing, I feel compelled to go back to the series (I think I got thru H or I). Maybe next year.
December 22, 2024
Oh Kinsey. How we will miss you. We really, really wanted to see you get to Z. Unfortunately your mentor Ms. Grafton passed away. (Prayers to her family.) So, everyone will have to be satisfied with A-Y.
Ms. Grafton's intention was to write Z for Zero, but, her will was very clear that nothing would be published after her death, nor would any of her publications be turned into movies or television series. So, everyone would have to be happy with A-Y.
(For information - I read this years ago, and I'm now bringing this review to Goodreads.)
In A is for Alibi we meet Kinsey for the first time in which she hangs out her shingle as a PI. We find her intelligent and a fairly competent detective. But far from perfect.
She's not good at intimate relationships and she is rather stubborn and prickly. She makes her share of mistakes, and over the course of several books, we find she doesn't really age, and can eat lots of terrible food, and not gain an ounce. How lucky is she?
Still, how can we not love Kinsey Milhone, forever 32!
Of course, I didn't tell you anything about the case in this book...so let me just say this... It tells the credible story of a set of deaths and the people involved with the victims.
The story takes place in a distinctive setting (which we believe is Santa Barbara, CA), and its pacing and action are solid fits with the plot. And of course, there is Kinsey...
Ms. Grafton's intention was to write Z for Zero, but, her will was very clear that nothing would be published after her death, nor would any of her publications be turned into movies or television series. So, everyone would have to be happy with A-Y.
(For information - I read this years ago, and I'm now bringing this review to Goodreads.)
In A is for Alibi we meet Kinsey for the first time in which she hangs out her shingle as a PI. We find her intelligent and a fairly competent detective. But far from perfect.
She's not good at intimate relationships and she is rather stubborn and prickly. She makes her share of mistakes, and over the course of several books, we find she doesn't really age, and can eat lots of terrible food, and not gain an ounce. How lucky is she?
Still, how can we not love Kinsey Milhone, forever 32!
Of course, I didn't tell you anything about the case in this book...so let me just say this... It tells the credible story of a set of deaths and the people involved with the victims.
The story takes place in a distinctive setting (which we believe is Santa Barbara, CA), and its pacing and action are solid fits with the plot. And of course, there is Kinsey...
August 17, 2013
Me and Kinsey on Santa Teresa Boulevard. And Las Vegas Boulevard. Sorry wrong decade, but I was having a nostalgic Paul Simon moment, and I just couldn’t turn it down. And yeah I figured I would use improper grammar and discreetly reference KINSEY AND ME: STORIES which I haven’t yet read and I may never get to based on my current TBR shelf and future book endeavors. For those of you curious about the Paul Simon reference that would be “Me and Julio Down by the Schoolyard,” which graced the world with its presence in 1972 exactly 10 years before “A” IS FOR ALIBI was first published. If you’re looking for another piece of random trivia, the first printing was 7,500 copies, of which about 6,000 were sold. Needless to say, Sue Grafton took a ride up mystery mountain (she didn’t actually quit her day job until “G” IS FOR GUMSHOE”) where she currently looks down at the rest of us mere mystery mortals and probably laughs occasionally. Or at least that’s what I’d do if I were her since I can smile and laugh on command. And we’re back on track.
What immediately struck me with this novel was the voice that popped off the page. Kinsey Millhone reminded me of the hardboiled voices of old, which isn’t surprising since Ms. Grafton’s strongest influence was Ross Macdonald. Being fascinated with mysteries of related titles, similar to John D. MacDonald and Harry Kemelman, led her to create a mystery series of linked titles and shackled her to one series and character for 26 books, 22 of which have been published as of this review. Of those, I have the first 15 on my Kindle, so Kinsey and I will be joined at the hip through letter O. But I’ll be taking my time as I slowly meander my way up the mountain.
In her first outing, Kinsey reminded me of a piece of wood that hadn’t been sanded or varnished or even painted for that matter. I know there’s a splinter in there somewhere, and if I poke around too long, I’ll find it, or it’ll find me. Either way, I’ll need the tweezers, and there’ll be more poking and prodding and I’m probably not going to like that much either. But she does show promise and potential if she can just manage to get her house in order and sand off those rough edges. She’s thirty-two years old and twice divorced, which means she has bad taste in men, or men unwisely choose her as marriage material, or she likes the thought of being married but doesn’t like the whole commitment aspect. Based on the fact that she’s a loner and unsentimental, I’ll toss option C out the window. I haven’t learned enough about her character to really give a definitive answer, but she does exhibit signs she might be a praying mantis or a tarantula. I don’t really have a problem with her being slightly unlikable, since interest and intrigue keeps me turning the pages, and she does exhibit both qualities rather nicely.
The plot felt a bit nebulous to me, instead of being compact and fully-formed. Sure, there’s a murder—well, multiple ones actually—and there’s a case of insurance fraud that Kinsey investigates, but it all proved a bit simpler than I would have liked. Maybe it was the climax and ending that whipped me completely out of alignment, with their rifle-like resolutions where my ears were still ringing from the blasts.
While this is Kinsey’s story, her female compatriots—Gwen and Nikki Fife and Sharon Napier and even Marcia Threadgill, whose boobs “sagged down like flesh melons bursting through the bottom of a string bag”—proved more interesting than the male counterparts, who always seemed about a half mile behind and rather worse for wear.
I’m interested enough to continue on with the series, especially since Ms. Grafton is a three-time Anthony and Shamus Award winner and is a recipient of the Grand Master Award from the Mystery Writers of America. But I won’t rush right to my Kindle and pop open the next book.
Cross-posted at Robert's Reads
What immediately struck me with this novel was the voice that popped off the page. Kinsey Millhone reminded me of the hardboiled voices of old, which isn’t surprising since Ms. Grafton’s strongest influence was Ross Macdonald. Being fascinated with mysteries of related titles, similar to John D. MacDonald and Harry Kemelman, led her to create a mystery series of linked titles and shackled her to one series and character for 26 books, 22 of which have been published as of this review. Of those, I have the first 15 on my Kindle, so Kinsey and I will be joined at the hip through letter O. But I’ll be taking my time as I slowly meander my way up the mountain.
In her first outing, Kinsey reminded me of a piece of wood that hadn’t been sanded or varnished or even painted for that matter. I know there’s a splinter in there somewhere, and if I poke around too long, I’ll find it, or it’ll find me. Either way, I’ll need the tweezers, and there’ll be more poking and prodding and I’m probably not going to like that much either. But she does show promise and potential if she can just manage to get her house in order and sand off those rough edges. She’s thirty-two years old and twice divorced, which means she has bad taste in men, or men unwisely choose her as marriage material, or she likes the thought of being married but doesn’t like the whole commitment aspect. Based on the fact that she’s a loner and unsentimental, I’ll toss option C out the window. I haven’t learned enough about her character to really give a definitive answer, but she does exhibit signs she might be a praying mantis or a tarantula. I don’t really have a problem with her being slightly unlikable, since interest and intrigue keeps me turning the pages, and she does exhibit both qualities rather nicely.
The plot felt a bit nebulous to me, instead of being compact and fully-formed. Sure, there’s a murder—well, multiple ones actually—and there’s a case of insurance fraud that Kinsey investigates, but it all proved a bit simpler than I would have liked. Maybe it was the climax and ending that whipped me completely out of alignment, with their rifle-like resolutions where my ears were still ringing from the blasts.
While this is Kinsey’s story, her female compatriots—Gwen and Nikki Fife and Sharon Napier and even Marcia Threadgill, whose boobs “sagged down like flesh melons bursting through the bottom of a string bag”—proved more interesting than the male counterparts, who always seemed about a half mile behind and rather worse for wear.
I’m interested enough to continue on with the series, especially since Ms. Grafton is a three-time Anthony and Shamus Award winner and is a recipient of the Grand Master Award from the Mystery Writers of America. But I won’t rush right to my Kindle and pop open the next book.
Cross-posted at Robert's Reads
February 16, 2017
“My own mystery, unplumed, undetected, was sorted into files that were neatly labeled but really didn't say much.”
Kinsey Millhone, an average detective with a conscience and a relaxed lifestyle, lands a whopper of a case to open this first of many, many books. Her client's wishes? To find out who really killed her husband AFTER she's released from prison for doing the deed.
Mildly paced with other mediocre tension, the book mainly wins through the point of view of the detective. She's a down-to-earth, relatable protagonist. Divorced and eager to help solve crimes for the underdog, even if she doesn't go to those cases intentionally, her thorough skills show a mystery where the clues are solved by actual logical work and not just nifty clue falling into her lap like most mysteries do. We get to go through random phone calls, ponderings of a next step, legwork, and misleading interviews. Good old detective classics.
While Kinsey is likable, she's not a detective I fell in love with. You could enter any other detective and get this technique and outcome. The writing style puts in enjoyable humor in serious situations, but it's mainly kept to the point and focused on the story at hand. The ending wasn't a surprise because it had been bouncing in the back of my head as a possibility, but it still dealt an ending that was the shine of the story. I won't be forgetting the twist of who it was and how no one is safe from being the big bad villain.
I'd have liked to have a follow-up and longer ending that shows the after-effects, especially Nikki learning what really went down that fateful night years ago, but oh well. A good mystery for those who did modern golden-age detectives.
Kinsey Millhone, an average detective with a conscience and a relaxed lifestyle, lands a whopper of a case to open this first of many, many books. Her client's wishes? To find out who really killed her husband AFTER she's released from prison for doing the deed.
Mildly paced with other mediocre tension, the book mainly wins through the point of view of the detective. She's a down-to-earth, relatable protagonist. Divorced and eager to help solve crimes for the underdog, even if she doesn't go to those cases intentionally, her thorough skills show a mystery where the clues are solved by actual logical work and not just nifty clue falling into her lap like most mysteries do. We get to go through random phone calls, ponderings of a next step, legwork, and misleading interviews. Good old detective classics.
While Kinsey is likable, she's not a detective I fell in love with. You could enter any other detective and get this technique and outcome. The writing style puts in enjoyable humor in serious situations, but it's mainly kept to the point and focused on the story at hand. The ending wasn't a surprise because it had been bouncing in the back of my head as a possibility, but it still dealt an ending that was the shine of the story. I won't be forgetting the twist of who it was and how no one is safe from being the big bad villain.
I'd have liked to have a follow-up and longer ending that shows the after-effects, especially Nikki learning what really went down that fateful night years ago, but oh well. A good mystery for those who did modern golden-age detectives.
August 23, 2022
I have collected and read Sue Grafton novels for several years, but I read them out of order as I acquired them. This year, I intend to read them in order. A is for Alibi is the first of the Kinsey Millhone novels. Kinsey is a tough, twice-divorced, former cop with her own detective agency situated adjacent to an insurance company in Santa Teresa, California. In this first installment, we get acquainted with some of the characters in Kinsey’s orbit. Here, the story revolves around a convicted female felon that hires Kinsey to find out who actually murdered her husband. Of course, the murder happened five years ago and trying to dredge up history is never easy, but if it were easy everyone would want to do it. Extremely cool, with a dash of noir, and a healthy dose of estrogen. I will always be grateful for my sister, Dee, who introduced me to Grafton and Millhone, and for other more important reasons as well.
May 17, 2016
I've read D,F,H and O before and F was my favorite. But now it's A. I'mean it was filled with twists till the end, and has some thrill in the final chapter.
The story revolves around the murder of a divorce attorney named Laurence Fife. His wife Nikki was found guilty for the murder even though she claimed to be innocent till the end.
After she went out of jail eight years later, Nikki hires Kinsey Millhone, a private Investigator to find out who killed her husband and framed her. However, as Kinsey search for clues, people related to the case are being killed, and she realize that the case has more than it meets the eye.
The story revolves around the murder of a divorce attorney named Laurence Fife. His wife Nikki was found guilty for the murder even though she claimed to be innocent till the end.
After she went out of jail eight years later, Nikki hires Kinsey Millhone, a private Investigator to find out who killed her husband and framed her. However, as Kinsey search for clues, people related to the case are being killed, and she realize that the case has more than it meets the eye.
February 20, 2018
4.5 stars. Really surprised by how much I enjoyed this! It's dated of course, set and written in the 1980s, at the forefront of PI novels with ballsy female protagonists. I loved that no one had mobiles, but relied on a call service, and that case files were handwritten or typed. The case was a good one. I'm looking forward to continuing with this series. I believe the author died while writing the 'Z' story...a shame she didn't quite get to finish..
August 5, 2019
An enjoyable mystery crime thriller
'My name is Kinsey Millhone. I’m a private investigator, licensed by the state of California. I’m thirty-two years old, twice divorced, no kids. The day before yesterday I killed someone and the fact weighs heavily on my mind. I’m a nice person and I have a lot of friends. My apartment is small but I like living in a cramped space. I’ve lived in trailers most of my life, but lately they’ve been getting too elaborate for my taste, so now I live in one room, a “bachelorette.” I don’t have pets. I don’t have houseplants. I spend a lot of time on the road and I don’t like leaving things behind. Aside from the hazards of my profession, my life has always been ordinary, uneventful, and good. Killing someone feels odd to me and I haven’t quite sorted it through. I’ve already given a statement to the police, which I initialed page by page and then signed. I filled out a similar report for the office files. The language in both documents is neutral, the terminology oblique, and neither says quite enough.'
'I’d been out for most of the morning, only stopping by the office to pick up my camera. Nikki Fife was standing in the corridor outside my office door. I’d never really met her but I’d been present at her trial eight years before when she was convicted of murdering her husband, Laurence, a prominent divorce attorney here in town.
“Maybe you’ve heard this one before,” she went on, “but I didn’t kill Laurence and I want you to find out who did.”
“Why wait this long? You could have initiated an investigation from prison and maybe saved yourself some time.”
She smiled faintly. “I’ve been claiming I was innocent for years. Who’d believe me? The minute I was indicted, I lost my credibility. I want that back. And I want to know who did me in.”
I had thought her eyes were dark but I could see now that they were a metallic gray. Her look was level, flattened-out, as though some interior light were growing dim. She seemed to be a lady without much hope. I had never believed she was guilty myself but I couldn’t remember what had made me so sure. She seemed passionless and I couldn’t imagine her caring enough about anything to kill.
“You want to fill me in?”'
********
A is for Alibi by Sue Grafton started off pretty slow for me for most of the first half of the book but then it picked up after that and was fast paced all the way to the conclusion.
I enjoyed Kinsey and the storyline was entertaining, especially when the action picked up throughout the second half of the book and I read it in one sitting.
The ending wasn't too much of a surprise for me but I enjoyed it all the the same.
Overall an okay mystery and I might consider reading more in this series in the future.
'My name is Kinsey Millhone. I’m a private investigator, licensed by the state of California. I’m thirty-two years old, twice divorced, no kids. The day before yesterday I killed someone and the fact weighs heavily on my mind. I’m a nice person and I have a lot of friends. My apartment is small but I like living in a cramped space. I’ve lived in trailers most of my life, but lately they’ve been getting too elaborate for my taste, so now I live in one room, a “bachelorette.” I don’t have pets. I don’t have houseplants. I spend a lot of time on the road and I don’t like leaving things behind. Aside from the hazards of my profession, my life has always been ordinary, uneventful, and good. Killing someone feels odd to me and I haven’t quite sorted it through. I’ve already given a statement to the police, which I initialed page by page and then signed. I filled out a similar report for the office files. The language in both documents is neutral, the terminology oblique, and neither says quite enough.'
'I’d been out for most of the morning, only stopping by the office to pick up my camera. Nikki Fife was standing in the corridor outside my office door. I’d never really met her but I’d been present at her trial eight years before when she was convicted of murdering her husband, Laurence, a prominent divorce attorney here in town.
“Maybe you’ve heard this one before,” she went on, “but I didn’t kill Laurence and I want you to find out who did.”
“Why wait this long? You could have initiated an investigation from prison and maybe saved yourself some time.”
She smiled faintly. “I’ve been claiming I was innocent for years. Who’d believe me? The minute I was indicted, I lost my credibility. I want that back. And I want to know who did me in.”
I had thought her eyes were dark but I could see now that they were a metallic gray. Her look was level, flattened-out, as though some interior light were growing dim. She seemed to be a lady without much hope. I had never believed she was guilty myself but I couldn’t remember what had made me so sure. She seemed passionless and I couldn’t imagine her caring enough about anything to kill.
“You want to fill me in?”'
********
A is for Alibi by Sue Grafton started off pretty slow for me for most of the first half of the book but then it picked up after that and was fast paced all the way to the conclusion.
I enjoyed Kinsey and the storyline was entertaining, especially when the action picked up throughout the second half of the book and I read it in one sitting.
The ending wasn't too much of a surprise for me but I enjoyed it all the the same.
Overall an okay mystery and I might consider reading more in this series in the future.
January 13, 2023
Autoarea a inceput Seria Alfabetului in 1982 si pana in 2016 a ajuns la litera T - "T is for trespass". Cartile sale au fost publicate in 28 de tari si traduse in 26 de limbi.
In "A de la alibi" naratiunea se face la persoana intai din perspectiva detectivei particulare Kinsey Millhone. Ea locuieste in California iar actiunea are loc in pitorescul orasel Santa Teresa.
Intr-o zi protagonistei i se prezinta un caz destul de complicat: Nikki Fife vine la ea si ii cere sa cerceteze moartea sotului sau Laurence, un avocat de divorturi foarte controversat, ce a fost implicat in numeroase scandaluri erotice dar si legate de tribunal. Moartea sa a fost dorita asadar de foarte multe persoane insa Nikki a fost cea gasita vinovata de aceasta fapta si a facut 8 ani de inchisoare pentru crima savarsita din gelozie. Recent eliberata pe cautiune doreste sa i se faca dreptate si o angajeaza pe Kinsey sa descopere adevaratul faptas.
Detectiva accepta cazul si rascolind in trecutul avocatului agita un intreg stup de viespi scotand la iveala o gramada de lucruri socante si incomode pentru care merita sa ucizi.
Avem de-a face cu un romant politist agreabil, desi probabil ca nu cel mai bun pe care il veti citi, insa destul de bine condus si echilibrat.
Mi-a placut descrierea orasului Santa Teresa iar detectiva aduce cu varianta feminina a celebrului Philip Marlowe fiind destul de descurcareata si simpatica.
Fiecare capitol incepe cu o mica ilustrata cu doi palmieri, unul mai mare si celalalt mai mic, asemeni unei carti postale. Mi s-a parut dragut. Cel mai mult mi-a placut insa cum se termina povestea:
"I-am tras un glont in cap". Scurt si la obiect.
In "A de la alibi" naratiunea se face la persoana intai din perspectiva detectivei particulare Kinsey Millhone. Ea locuieste in California iar actiunea are loc in pitorescul orasel Santa Teresa.
Intr-o zi protagonistei i se prezinta un caz destul de complicat: Nikki Fife vine la ea si ii cere sa cerceteze moartea sotului sau Laurence, un avocat de divorturi foarte controversat, ce a fost implicat in numeroase scandaluri erotice dar si legate de tribunal. Moartea sa a fost dorita asadar de foarte multe persoane insa Nikki a fost cea gasita vinovata de aceasta fapta si a facut 8 ani de inchisoare pentru crima savarsita din gelozie. Recent eliberata pe cautiune doreste sa i se faca dreptate si o angajeaza pe Kinsey sa descopere adevaratul faptas.
Detectiva accepta cazul si rascolind in trecutul avocatului agita un intreg stup de viespi scotand la iveala o gramada de lucruri socante si incomode pentru care merita sa ucizi.
Avem de-a face cu un romant politist agreabil, desi probabil ca nu cel mai bun pe care il veti citi, insa destul de bine condus si echilibrat.
Mi-a placut descrierea orasului Santa Teresa iar detectiva aduce cu varianta feminina a celebrului Philip Marlowe fiind destul de descurcareata si simpatica.
Fiecare capitol incepe cu o mica ilustrata cu doi palmieri, unul mai mare si celalalt mai mic, asemeni unei carti postale. Mi s-a parut dragut. Cel mai mult mi-a placut insa cum se termina povestea:
"I-am tras un glont in cap". Scurt si la obiect.
November 5, 2014
When Nikki Fife appeared on her doorstep, Private Investigator Kinsey Millhone was surprised to see her. She had only recently been released from prison after serving eight years for the murder of her husband Laurence. Now she was hiring Kinsey to find out who really killed him – she knew she didn’t, but no-one had believed her when she was convicted. Now she needed the truth…
Kinsey had been to the trial eight years previously and formed an opinion then – she felt that Nikki was innocent but with the length of time since it had all happened, the case was definitely a cold one. She would be starting from scratch on her very first case. As she began digging into the lives of the people who had been connected to the divorce lawyer – his ex-wife, his children, his law partner – she was frustrated. She couldn’t get anything to gel; nothing felt right. She travelled from California to LA, to Vegas, to the various places that she deemed necessary; but it seemed she had a lot of paperwork and not much else.
And then suddenly she knew she was on the right track; was she being followed? Was there someone out there who didn’t want the truth to come out? And who would stop at nothing to prevent that happening? Her danger antenna was vibrating…
This is my first Sue Grafton book, and I really enjoyed it! I found Kinsey to be a very likeable character; the plot was fast paced and the twists enjoyable. I feel that maybe I’ll be continuing this series now! Highly recommended.
Kinsey had been to the trial eight years previously and formed an opinion then – she felt that Nikki was innocent but with the length of time since it had all happened, the case was definitely a cold one. She would be starting from scratch on her very first case. As she began digging into the lives of the people who had been connected to the divorce lawyer – his ex-wife, his children, his law partner – she was frustrated. She couldn’t get anything to gel; nothing felt right. She travelled from California to LA, to Vegas, to the various places that she deemed necessary; but it seemed she had a lot of paperwork and not much else.
And then suddenly she knew she was on the right track; was she being followed? Was there someone out there who didn’t want the truth to come out? And who would stop at nothing to prevent that happening? Her danger antenna was vibrating…
This is my first Sue Grafton book, and I really enjoyed it! I found Kinsey to be a very likeable character; the plot was fast paced and the twists enjoyable. I feel that maybe I’ll be continuing this series now! Highly recommended.
October 6, 2019
This is one of my favorite series. Will never forget the first time I met Kinsey Millhone. Thought I would try revisiting via audiobook. In any format, it is an adventure to go sleuthing with Kinsey. She is tenacious and ever ready with a snarky comeback. And I have B-Y out there whenever I want to spend more time with her. If you haven't met Kinsey yet, what are you waiting for?
March 18, 2023
Kinsey Milhouse is a PI that's hired by a recently released convicted murderer (Nikki) who professes her innocence and wants to find out who really killed her husband.
Kinsey is honestly a dull lead character. The story wasn't as interesting as it could have been.
Kinsey is honestly a dull lead character. The story wasn't as interesting as it could have been.
June 26, 2022
This is a mystery, and this is the first book in the Kinsey Millhone series. I have to say I found this book hard to get into. I did not really love the writing style of this book. I found the Kinsey character fun and I can see this series getting better.
November 14, 2022
I've been eying down the Kinsey Millhone books for years. I've always wanted to read them, but I could never find this first book! I always found the books near the middle or the end of the alphabet. It was so frustrating, but my luck turned a few weeks back - I found A is for Alibi. I truly want to read all of these books, solely because the titles are fun. Sure, don't judge a book by it's cover, but why not judge for a cool title?
This book was slow for a thriller, but it was a real good read. We follow Kinsey, a private investigator who's recent job is for Nikki. She's been released from prison after a stint due to the murder of her husband. But, Nikki is insistent she didn't murder him and there's definitely others out there who had a reason to kill him. Kinsey is down for the challenge, and she starts looking into his ex wives, ex business partners, and even his kids...
There's a lot of filler in this book that could have been left out and the story would have been the same. I did enjoy it, but I also started getting drained by just how MUCH filler there was. The story itself wasn't obvious either. Sure, the odd clue was left behind, but I couldn't piece the mystery together myself which is my preferred kind of mystery/thriller book. If we get all of those details... Can they at least be important?
I'll still work on continuing this series. The first books aren't always the best, so here's hoping the books go up.
Two out of five stars. Just too darn slow and too much fluff for my personal tastes.
This book was slow for a thriller, but it was a real good read. We follow Kinsey, a private investigator who's recent job is for Nikki. She's been released from prison after a stint due to the murder of her husband. But, Nikki is insistent she didn't murder him and there's definitely others out there who had a reason to kill him. Kinsey is down for the challenge, and she starts looking into his ex wives, ex business partners, and even his kids...
There's a lot of filler in this book that could have been left out and the story would have been the same. I did enjoy it, but I also started getting drained by just how MUCH filler there was. The story itself wasn't obvious either. Sure, the odd clue was left behind, but I couldn't piece the mystery together myself which is my preferred kind of mystery/thriller book. If we get all of those details... Can they at least be important?
I'll still work on continuing this series. The first books aren't always the best, so here's hoping the books go up.
Two out of five stars. Just too darn slow and too much fluff for my personal tastes.
November 30, 2017
3.5 stars
No. 1 in a series I had planned to start reading for ages. Not disappointed, but not ecstatic either. It's a nice detective story, straightforward and pleasant to read. I always think that an author has to find his or her feet in the first part of a series anyway.
No. 1 in a series I had planned to start reading for ages. Not disappointed, but not ecstatic either. It's a nice detective story, straightforward and pleasant to read. I always think that an author has to find his or her feet in the first part of a series anyway.
March 7, 2018
I've wanted to read Sue Grafton for years, but never did so. WELL, I'm so glad I finally read A is for Alibi. Such a great and easy read. I thoroughly enjoyed getting to know Kinsey Millhone.
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