“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.