“A is for Alibi” by Sue Grafton

“A is for Alibi” by Sue Grafton
1987, Bantam
ISBN: 0-553-27991-2

Hi. I just finished reading “A is for Alibi” by Sue Grafton. Kinsey Millhone, intrepid detective in her first alphabet mystery. I was so pleased to see this in the library because I had despaired of ever getting my hands on it.

The reason I wanted to read the first one is that I am a Virgo. We like to do things in an orderly fashion. Nowadays you can go into the store and pick up Sue Grafton’s books farther, way farther down the alphabet. For instance, the latest one is “T is for Trespass”. I’ve read a few of the others and from the first one I read Kinsey Millhone has captivated me.

She is everything I am not. She’s brave. She’s no nonsense. And, then to prove she’s not super human she’s got foibles just like the rest of us. But, she is one smart detective lady.

In this first book I thought I might be seeing the unfolding of Kinsey, the beginnings, the first time in a story. I was surprised. Sue Grafton shot Kinsey right into the action. Kinsey was the same character who appears in all the other books; the same smart lady, the same funny to the bone lady, the same soft-hearted lady. And, I was pleased. No surprises there.

“A is for Alibi” had me on the edge of my seat the entire time I was reading it. Moving from one hint to another, with danger lurking in many places, Kinsey wrapped it up.

In a nutshell and not giving away the ending? Nikki served an eight year sentence in prison for a crime she didn’t do. She has been released and went to Kinsey to ask her to find the real killer. There were a great many people who didn’t feel it worthwhile to dig into this crime again, especially the real killer. Danger at every turn. I think you might like this one. I sure did.

By the way, the kitty in the picture is Sheba. She is our neighbor Phil's cat, but she also spends time at our place.

“What Matters Most” by Luanne Rice

“What Matters Most” by Luanne Rice
2007, Bantam Books
ISBN: 978-0-553-80533-8


“What Matters Most” by Luanne Rice delves deeply into love; the love between a man and a woman who can’t love each other but who do so anyway; the love between a clan and a newly discovered clansman; the love between two people who have known each other since birth.

Sister Bernadette and Tom Kelly are at the heart of the story. It’s got chaos, heartache and beauty. It’s especially interesting to me how Ms. Rice absolutely nails it about love and conflict and how love can win out every time.

Trust me and read it. I began it in the morning and finished it that evening. I was sitting on the edge of my seat. This is a really special love story.

“The Perfect Summer” by Luanne Rice

“The Perfect Summer” by Luanne Rice

2003, Bantam Books

ISBN: 0-7394-3708-9

“The Perfect Summer” by Luanne Rice is an engaging story with endearing characters. And, for those Action Jackson types there’s mystery and danger involved too.

This is a story about two families who have each undergone terrible tragedies, people who were linked in the far, far away past and who return to each other in the present. I know I’m dancing around the point here, but if you’re into romance, if you’re into mystery, if you’re into what goes on in the minds of kids read this book. I enjoyed it so much that I just couldn’t hardly stand to put it down.

Luanne Rice wrote a good one.

“N is for Noose” by Sue Grafton

Yow. I just finished reading “N is for Noose” by Sue Grafton. Kinsey Millhone, our intrepid private investigator is doing a favor for a fellow private eye who is unable to take a case. Selma is hiring Kinsey to find out what was on her husband’s mind in the weeks before his death. He’d died of an apparent heart attack and Selma said that Tom was worried during those last weeks.

Tom was well liked in the little sleepy town of Nota Lake in the high country of the Sierras in California. He was a police detective. But, the strange thing is that every time Kinsey turned around people just did not want to talk to her.

There is a rhythm to the way many people write and I can be assured of a very nice, soothing rhythm when I read any of the Kinsey Millhone stories. But, when the action picks up it goes 98 miles an hour. I almost screamed when my husband asked me where the ding donged magnifying glass was when I was on the last page of the book.

I think you’ll enjoy yourself if you read this book, or, actually, any of the alphabet mysteries featuring Kinsey Millhone. By the way the picture I took is me holding the book in question and my smallest cat, Shelby, playing with the bookmarker.