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Kinsey Millhone #23
W is for Wasted
Goodreads Choice Award
Nominee for Readers' Favorite Mystery & Thriller (2013)Two dead men changed the course of my life that fall. One of them I knew and the other I’d never laid eyes on until I saw him in the morgue.
The first was a local PI of suspect reputation. He’d been gunned down near the beach at Santa Teresa. It looked like a robbery gone bad. The other was on the beach six weeks later. He’d been sleeping rough. Probably homeless. No identification. A slip of paper with Millhone’s name and number was in his pants pocket. The coroner asked her to come to the morgue to see if she could ID him.
Two seemingly unrelated deaths, one a murder, the other apparently of natural causes.
But as Kinsey digs deeper into the mystery of the John Doe, some very strange linkages begin to emerge. And before long at least one aspect is solved as Kinsey literally finds the key to his identity. “And just like that,” she says, “the lid to Pandora’s box flew open. It would take me another day before I understood how many imps had been freed, but for the moment, I was inordinately pleased with myself.”
In this multilayered tale, the surfaces seem clear, but the underpinnings are full of betrayals, misunderstandings, and outright murderous fraud. And Kinsey, through no fault of her own, is thoroughly compromised.
W is for . . . wanderer . . . worthless . . . wronged . . .
W is for wasted.
The first was a local PI of suspect reputation. He’d been gunned down near the beach at Santa Teresa. It looked like a robbery gone bad. The other was on the beach six weeks later. He’d been sleeping rough. Probably homeless. No identification. A slip of paper with Millhone’s name and number was in his pants pocket. The coroner asked her to come to the morgue to see if she could ID him.
Two seemingly unrelated deaths, one a murder, the other apparently of natural causes.
But as Kinsey digs deeper into the mystery of the John Doe, some very strange linkages begin to emerge. And before long at least one aspect is solved as Kinsey literally finds the key to his identity. “And just like that,” she says, “the lid to Pandora’s box flew open. It would take me another day before I understood how many imps had been freed, but for the moment, I was inordinately pleased with myself.”
In this multilayered tale, the surfaces seem clear, but the underpinnings are full of betrayals, misunderstandings, and outright murderous fraud. And Kinsey, through no fault of her own, is thoroughly compromised.
W is for . . . wanderer . . . worthless . . . wronged . . .
W is for wasted.
486 pages, Hardcover
First published September 4, 2013
2754 people are currently reading
13071 people want to read
About the author
Sue Grafton
134 books6,491 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 3,453 reviews
July 30, 2022
When Sue Grafton passed away about 3 months ago, and her family said they wouldn't be publishing the final 26th book of the Alphabet series, I was very disappointed. The world lost a fantastic writer, creator and author, not to mention human being and literary supporter. Grafton's books kept me sane for a decade... I immersed myself in the world of Kinsey Millhone and Santa Teresa, California. It's one of the most vividly drawn series of books I have ever found. I hadn't finished the last few books in the previous five years, so I bought the remaining three and started W is for Wasted last week. It was like coming home again... I really missed the characters and found the book quite good. It wasn't her best, certainly not the worst, but somewhere in that middle comfort zone. I can't wait to read X and Y, but I know they'll be the end. All good things have to embrace it sometimes...
In this story, we see the perspective of the dead investigator for whom Kinsey needs to re-trace some steps. How did he get himself killed? We also meet more of Kinsey's family -- always an exciting adventure. Throw in a great plot (and sense of humanity) in talking about the life of the homeless in a balanced way (not just throwing shade at them)... Grafton provides keen insight into the minds and thoughts of people stuck in a situation with nowhere to turn. I enjoyed this style, found myself with eyes opening wider, and laughed out loud way too many times.
It's a strong book in the series, and I think it shows a lot of the early reasons why I feel in love with the stories and characters. The only thing that pushed my buttons a little bit was an excessive amount of sideline backstories that really had nothing to do with the main stories... meaning 3 or 4 pages would be devoted to the history of some building that had little to do with the plot. Solid writing, interesting, but not connected. Not enough to be painful, but it crossed the line a few times where I found myself taking breaks at times I would normally just plow right through the story.
Kudos to another solid plot and re-introduction of past characters we hadn't seen in a long time. Thx!
In this story, we see the perspective of the dead investigator for whom Kinsey needs to re-trace some steps. How did he get himself killed? We also meet more of Kinsey's family -- always an exciting adventure. Throw in a great plot (and sense of humanity) in talking about the life of the homeless in a balanced way (not just throwing shade at them)... Grafton provides keen insight into the minds and thoughts of people stuck in a situation with nowhere to turn. I enjoyed this style, found myself with eyes opening wider, and laughed out loud way too many times.
It's a strong book in the series, and I think it shows a lot of the early reasons why I feel in love with the stories and characters. The only thing that pushed my buttons a little bit was an excessive amount of sideline backstories that really had nothing to do with the main stories... meaning 3 or 4 pages would be devoted to the history of some building that had little to do with the plot. Solid writing, interesting, but not connected. Not enough to be painful, but it crossed the line a few times where I found myself taking breaks at times I would normally just plow right through the story.
Kudos to another solid plot and re-introduction of past characters we hadn't seen in a long time. Thx!
February 28, 2017
Kinsey Millhone is a 38 year old private investigator from Santa Teresa .
The year is 1988, way before cell phones and computers (Yikes!). Kinsey is called into the coroner's office in an attempt to identify the body of a homeless man found with her phone number in his pocket. This was about to be a life-changer.
This book delves into Kinsey's background and family. Slow at times, even considered putting it away for a while but kept pushing on. Once you are that far into a series it’s personal! And skipping one book might make you miss out on important details in the main character's life. At least that's what I assume...not always correctly.
I have been reading these Sue Grafton novels right from the beginning with A is for Alibi. By mid alphabet I felt the character and story were slipping. Now that we are nearing the end (or are we?) The stories have once again picked up. Did I enjoy this as much as the last few (U &V)? Well no, but I am still a huge fan and will be looking forward to turning the pages on X.
3.5*
The year is 1988, way before cell phones and computers (Yikes!). Kinsey is called into the coroner's office in an attempt to identify the body of a homeless man found with her phone number in his pocket. This was about to be a life-changer.
This book delves into Kinsey's background and family. Slow at times, even considered putting it away for a while but kept pushing on. Once you are that far into a series it’s personal! And skipping one book might make you miss out on important details in the main character's life. At least that's what I assume...not always correctly.
I have been reading these Sue Grafton novels right from the beginning with A is for Alibi. By mid alphabet I felt the character and story were slipping. Now that we are nearing the end (or are we?) The stories have once again picked up. Did I enjoy this as much as the last few (U &V)? Well no, but I am still a huge fan and will be looking forward to turning the pages on X.
3.5*
November 15, 2013
What could be better than curling up with another installment of the award-winning Kinsey Millhone series? Long live Kinsey.
July 13, 2024
3.5 rounded up
December 4, 2013
W is for waste of time! I've read all of Sue Grafton's books and generally really enjoy them. However, this book was too long, tedious and didn't have enough plot or character to hold my interest.
Kinsey Millhone is generally witty, smart and bold. Here she seems a shadow of her former self. It's as though she had a personality transplant.
The plot isn't engaging enough to carry the story and seems trite and forced. When the lawyer stripped out of her wet running clothes I nearly put the book down for good and I wouldn't have missed much. Her portrayal of the homeless community is grating and the medical malpractice is far fetched.
Sadly, this series is running out of steam before it reaches the end of the alphabet. Like Jonathan Kellerman and Patricia Cornwall, Grafton coasted on this last book and duped her long-time fans into buying into the series. I probably won't bother ready X, Y and Z after this attempt, just as I've written off Kellerman and Cornwall after their last disappointing efforts.
Kinsey Millhone is generally witty, smart and bold. Here she seems a shadow of her former self. It's as though she had a personality transplant.
The plot isn't engaging enough to carry the story and seems trite and forced. When the lawyer stripped out of her wet running clothes I nearly put the book down for good and I wouldn't have missed much. Her portrayal of the homeless community is grating and the medical malpractice is far fetched.
Sadly, this series is running out of steam before it reaches the end of the alphabet. Like Jonathan Kellerman and Patricia Cornwall, Grafton coasted on this last book and duped her long-time fans into buying into the series. I probably won't bother ready X, Y and Z after this attempt, just as I've written off Kellerman and Cornwall after their last disappointing efforts.
Read
September 12, 2013If Grafton keeps on switching out of Kinsey's voice in the first person (which is why I read the books) to her third-rate third-person narration, I'm not going to buy these new anymore (yeah yeah, some threat, what are there, three more to go at this point?) because her non-Kinsey writing is so bad. This sucks, because I've been reading this series since about 1988. It's just really limping toward the finish line.
April 29, 2019
Oh my gaawd! How are these books getting longer when there is so much less story????
This one could have been wrapped up in a bow (and been the worst gift ever) in about 100 pages, but noooo! 500 pages!
We get such amazing things, such as the step-by-step details of Kinsey changing a light bulb. Why did she change the light bulb? It still worked! Did she really need to, let's read all about her reasoning with the pros and cons of this life-changing move.
What steps did it take for her to acquire the new light bulb? It's not as easy as you think it is. How about the process of screwing in the new one? It didn't happen as quickly as you might have thought. There was a delay - the phone rang. Oh, the hijinx that ensued! Make sure we get every word of the phone conversation, you say? Done! Now, onto...
"The Bulbening - The Aftermath"
Did this new light bulb change things? How was Kinsey's life affected by the illumination? Also, we need to know what happened to the light bulb later. Don't worry, we get a follow-up. You don't get a 500-page book out of nothing unless all of the juicy details are included.
Some light bulbs don't want to change...
So, yes, there is a story, but no, it's not interesting. Two dead guys, one obvious mystery, zero fucks given.
Also, Kinsey acts as stupidly as we expected her to. She makes so many dumb moves that I was thinking that she is the one who needs an intervention. And by intervention, I mean she needs to be appointed a guardian by the court system. This woman is not equipped to make her own decisions.
This is me every time I write about Kinsey:
But, I'm the one who keeps reading....
Crap.
Anyway, aside from the stupidity, there is bitchiness, gross eating habits, rambling thoughts about the history of things, lists of things in a room, conversations that are said and then repeated word-for-word again, and words and expressions that are not used in California, etc...
But now, a new annoying phenomenon has cropped up in this crap-fest:
Since the author decided to keep this setting in the 1980's, even though she wrote this in the 2000's, she has now started to have Kinsey explain to us what was happening at that time period. She has also decided we need to be reminded of pop culture references from that time. So, Kinsey will be reading a magazine and make sure to give us the low-down on the stars from that time.
Kinsey never mentioned a word about celebrities or pop culture in the books that were written in the 1980's, but now she's suddenly interested. *sigh*
This book sucked hard. Like, worse than all of the past ones. I feel like a kid who is considering dropping out the day before graduating. Do I really want to finish this? Is it worth it? I need to put almost as much thought into this as Kinsey did when she changed that light bulb.
This one could have been wrapped up in a bow (and been the worst gift ever) in about 100 pages, but noooo! 500 pages!
We get such amazing things, such as the step-by-step details of Kinsey changing a light bulb. Why did she change the light bulb? It still worked! Did she really need to, let's read all about her reasoning with the pros and cons of this life-changing move.
What steps did it take for her to acquire the new light bulb? It's not as easy as you think it is. How about the process of screwing in the new one? It didn't happen as quickly as you might have thought. There was a delay - the phone rang. Oh, the hijinx that ensued! Make sure we get every word of the phone conversation, you say? Done! Now, onto...
"The Bulbening - The Aftermath"
Did this new light bulb change things? How was Kinsey's life affected by the illumination? Also, we need to know what happened to the light bulb later. Don't worry, we get a follow-up. You don't get a 500-page book out of nothing unless all of the juicy details are included.
Some light bulbs don't want to change...
So, yes, there is a story, but no, it's not interesting. Two dead guys, one obvious mystery, zero fucks given.
Also, Kinsey acts as stupidly as we expected her to. She makes so many dumb moves that I was thinking that she is the one who needs an intervention. And by intervention, I mean she needs to be appointed a guardian by the court system. This woman is not equipped to make her own decisions.
This is me every time I write about Kinsey:
But, I'm the one who keeps reading....
Crap.
Anyway, aside from the stupidity, there is bitchiness, gross eating habits, rambling thoughts about the history of things, lists of things in a room, conversations that are said and then repeated word-for-word again, and words and expressions that are not used in California, etc...
But now, a new annoying phenomenon has cropped up in this crap-fest:
Since the author decided to keep this setting in the 1980's, even though she wrote this in the 2000's, she has now started to have Kinsey explain to us what was happening at that time period. She has also decided we need to be reminded of pop culture references from that time. So, Kinsey will be reading a magazine and make sure to give us the low-down on the stars from that time.
Kinsey never mentioned a word about celebrities or pop culture in the books that were written in the 1980's, but now she's suddenly interested. *sigh*
This book sucked hard. Like, worse than all of the past ones. I feel like a kid who is considering dropping out the day before graduating. Do I really want to finish this? Is it worth it? I need to put almost as much thought into this as Kinsey did when she changed that light bulb.
January 20, 2023
It is possible that these later books in the series should only be read by those of us who are already addicted. This one is a little too long, a little bit too inflated with descriptions, a little lacking in action, but still worth reading for the characters and the relationships.
I loved the new addition of the cat - trust Henry to fall in insta love. It should be noted too that at last Kinsey makes some money. Real money! I have been living for this moment. However, apart from making her single life a little more secure, Kinsey herself does not change at all. She really has not altered significantly in 23 books. Maybe that is why I keep reading them!
This is actually my last Kinsey Millhone novel as I read X and Y out of order, and Z will now never be completed. It is a shame Sue Grafton was unable to finish what was probably her life's work. Still I enjoyed the 25 books.
I loved the new addition of the cat - trust Henry to fall in insta love. It should be noted too that at last Kinsey makes some money. Real money! I have been living for this moment. However, apart from making her single life a little more secure, Kinsey herself does not change at all. She really has not altered significantly in 23 books. Maybe that is why I keep reading them!
This is actually my last Kinsey Millhone novel as I read X and Y out of order, and Z will now never be completed. It is a shame Sue Grafton was unable to finish what was probably her life's work. Still I enjoyed the 25 books.
November 4, 2021
In this 23rd book in the 'Kinsey Millhone' series, the California private detective investigates two suspicious deaths. The book can be read as a standalone though familiarity with the characters is a plus.
*****
Private Detective Kinsey Millhone is between jobs when she becomes involved with the deaths of two men. Pete Wolinksy, a disreputable P.I. acquaintance is found shot to death in a Santa Teresa park, presumably by a mugger.
And R.T. Dace, an alcoholic, ex-convict vagrant who Kinsey never met has left her a small fortune and made her executor of his will.
Turns out R.T. Dace is Kinsey's distant relative, and wanting to do the right thing Kinsey sets out to tell his disinherited children what happened. Though they had all rejected their father, the Dace children are furious and combative.
Meanwhile Kinsey's friend/sometimes lover Robert Dietz turns up, angry because Pete Wolinsky cheated him out of a fee.
Thus Kinsey starts looking into the deaths of both Wolinksy and Dace and discovers some intriguing connections between them. Seems that Wolinsky was investigating a doctor who may have falsified data in a pharmaceutical study involving alcoholics.
There are a slew of interesting characters in this story including old favorites like Kinsey's handsome 88-year-old landlord Henry, who loves to bake;
his hypochondriac brother William;
and the restaurateur Rosie, who serves only one dish per day at her eatery.
Grafton does a masterful job of intertwining the Wolinksy/Dace story lines leading to a completely satisfactory conclusion. This is a treat of a mystery book.
You can follow my reviews at http://reviewsbybarbsaffer.blogspot.com/
September 16, 2013
"W" is for Wonderful, Wise, and Winning, and also for Weeping as it makes me sad to realize Grafton will writing only three more of these. I have been a huge fan since she started with "A is for Alibi" and have loved following Kinsey's development.
I was surprised at the length of this book (almost 500 pages) but I couldn't put it down and the pages just flew by. Grafton is doing a superb job of starting to tie up the loose and unknown ends of Kinsey's life in preparation for the final "Z" book ("Z is for Zero"--as in zero more books?). It was also very poignant as Kinsey discovers even more relatives, only these are on her father's side. There are also a couple of unexpected happenings, such as who knew Kinsey could be a cat-lover? And I won't spoil the other surprise.
If you haven't read this series, by all means start with "A" and have a blast reading one after another. For me I plan on starting over after "Z" is read.
I was surprised at the length of this book (almost 500 pages) but I couldn't put it down and the pages just flew by. Grafton is doing a superb job of starting to tie up the loose and unknown ends of Kinsey's life in preparation for the final "Z" book ("Z is for Zero"--as in zero more books?). It was also very poignant as Kinsey discovers even more relatives, only these are on her father's side. There are also a couple of unexpected happenings, such as who knew Kinsey could be a cat-lover? And I won't spoil the other surprise.
If you haven't read this series, by all means start with "A" and have a blast reading one after another. For me I plan on starting over after "Z" is read.
November 15, 2013
I have to imagine that fans of Kinsey Millhone read these ever more tedious books for their love of the character (which I share), and their beautiful sense of place in the fictional North California town of St. Theresa, and whatever additional burg (here, Bakersfield), that Kinsey finds herself forced to visit. Otherwise, the books are problematic. The mysteries are always easily solved; shame on you if you didn't figure this one out early on, but the primary problem is the appalling lack of editing to a descriptive mind gone wild. I don't know if Sue Grafton is the elephant in the parlor of Grafton's publisher, or if some deluded editor finds Grafton's lengthy descriptions of the mundane charming, but someone should really stop her NOW. The books could be one third the length and much tighter, and hence, much more enjoyable. Let me give an example: p.292, Kinsey is washing lettuce. "I opened the cabinet and removed the spinner, took out the perforated inner bowl, dumped the loose lettuces in, and ran water over the greens. I popped the bowl back into the spinner and pulled the cord, which made the inner bowl rotate at a high speed, excess water flung off by the centrifugal force. The rapidly retracting cord snapped back and caught me by the hand." Uh, gee, thanks for the salad spinning tutorial, but boring as hell. There are unfortunately many examples like this.
Now, I don't think my little critique is going to affect Grafton's sales in any way, but really, she ought to respect her reader enough not to be publishing dreck like this. So, a la Sue Grafton, I'm going to raise my head a little to look at my computer screen, take both of my hands and position them over the key board in a typewriting fashion and methodically, typing each word using my fingers for the letters and my right thumb for the spacer bar, and looking back and forth from the screen to the key board, finish this paragraph.
Now, I don't think my little critique is going to affect Grafton's sales in any way, but really, she ought to respect her reader enough not to be publishing dreck like this. So, a la Sue Grafton, I'm going to raise my head a little to look at my computer screen, take both of my hands and position them over the key board in a typewriting fashion and methodically, typing each word using my fingers for the letters and my right thumb for the spacer bar, and looking back and forth from the screen to the key board, finish this paragraph.
September 24, 2013
Not my favorite by this author.
• I felt like I was slogging through this. It took me nearly a week to finish - a rarity for me. I didn't even like the title, nit-picker that I am.
• Characterization was uneven. Anna was so unlikeable she was almost a caricature. Yet Henry, a long-time recurring person was a cardboard silhouette. Kinsey herself was less dimensional than I would expect after having been the focus of 23 books. Really, it feels like Ms. Grafton is herself losing interest.
• I didn't care for the two separate story arcs. Neither one was really very interesting on its own and it took so long to tie them together that I wasn't sure I even cared anymore.
• This book had an agenda. Had I known this, I might not have read it. I dislike when writers use fiction as a soapbox.
Someone remarked to me that they were surprised that Ms. Grafton is still writing, wondered if she would manage to finish up the alphabet. I'd be fine if the alphabet ended at W.
• I felt like I was slogging through this. It took me nearly a week to finish - a rarity for me. I didn't even like the title, nit-picker that I am.
• Characterization was uneven. Anna was so unlikeable she was almost a caricature. Yet Henry, a long-time recurring person was a cardboard silhouette. Kinsey herself was less dimensional than I would expect after having been the focus of 23 books. Really, it feels like Ms. Grafton is herself losing interest.
• I didn't care for the two separate story arcs. Neither one was really very interesting on its own and it took so long to tie them together that I wasn't sure I even cared anymore.
• This book had an agenda. Had I known this, I might not have read it. I dislike when writers use fiction as a soapbox.
Someone remarked to me that they were surprised that Ms. Grafton is still writing, wondered if she would manage to finish up the alphabet. I'd be fine if the alphabet ended at W.
October 30, 2013
I'm usually Grafton's biggest fan but this... this was just a disappointment all around. Kinsey was both too unpredictable (since when has she liked CATS?? She's never had any affection for cats.) and too predictable (how many pieces of rye toast can one detective eat in a novel?). The issue of homelessness felt preachily addressed in my opinion.
I've never been a fan of the swinging from POV to POV -- mainly because it feels as though we're getting info Kinsey isn't and yet **BOOM** she solves the mystery anyway. I keep wanting to reread one of the later novels where Grafton does this and see if that's actually true -- if Kinsey is solving the mystery without all the pertinent info -- but so far I have not.
I was irked by the appearance of a whole new branch of paternal cousins after the maternal cousins, who figured prominently in several of the books, just inexplicably disappeared. All of these new kin felt flat and yawnworthy to me. Henry felt flat and yawnworthy to me. Come to think of it, so did Dietz, and even Kinsey herself.
The eulogy was beautifully written, one of the high points of the book IMHO.
Grafton has pulled off 23 books in the series more or less well (some astoundingly well, some rather dismally), and that's a fair assessment of anyone's life work, I imagine. No one bats a thousand.
I'll definitely finish X, Y, and Z when they come out. Kinsey has been one of the favorite parts of my reading life for well over a decade and I wouldn't quit her just because this one is a disappointment.
Here's hoping for better things from X, and a sincere thanks to Sue Grafton for the many years of happiness that Kinsey has given me.
I've never been a fan of the swinging from POV to POV -- mainly because it feels as though we're getting info Kinsey isn't and yet **BOOM** she solves the mystery anyway. I keep wanting to reread one of the later novels where Grafton does this and see if that's actually true -- if Kinsey is solving the mystery without all the pertinent info -- but so far I have not.
I was irked by the appearance of a whole new branch of paternal cousins after the maternal cousins, who figured prominently in several of the books, just inexplicably disappeared. All of these new kin felt flat and yawnworthy to me. Henry felt flat and yawnworthy to me. Come to think of it, so did Dietz, and even Kinsey herself.
The eulogy was beautifully written, one of the high points of the book IMHO.
Grafton has pulled off 23 books in the series more or less well (some astoundingly well, some rather dismally), and that's a fair assessment of anyone's life work, I imagine. No one bats a thousand.
I'll definitely finish X, Y, and Z when they come out. Kinsey has been one of the favorite parts of my reading life for well over a decade and I wouldn't quit her just because this one is a disappointment.
Here's hoping for better things from X, and a sincere thanks to Sue Grafton for the many years of happiness that Kinsey has given me.
September 30, 2015
So here's the thing. I enjoy the Kinsey Millhone books – this is the longest I have ever stuck with a series- but I don't remember the individual books at all. I have the impression that "L" was my favourite, but I couldn't tell you why. When I read one of the books I remember Henry, William, Dietz & the rest of the crew, but a month later I won't be able to tell you any of the names. I certainly don't remember the plots! But these books have always been a good, quick escapist read.
This is no longer the case as “W” weighs in at a whopping 484 pages. I don't think there was much more story but there was a lot more filler. I guess when a writer is as successful as Grafton, copy editors are reluctant (or are firmly told not to be!) to be too heavy with the red pen! Fortunately not so much about Kinsey's limited diet or lousy dress sense (which she/Grafton has always been weirdly proud of) but a lot of meandering on side issues like how to dry lettuce... The down home feel of Kinsey's life & how well she relates to some of the minor characters has always been part of the books' charm but in this case it is overdone & I think the book could have been pruned by about 100 pages. &
I'm sure in terms of the books' timelines that it's only been a few weeks since “V” but Kinsey seems so much older on this outing. - worried about finding places to pee,complaining she is too old to be staying in budget motels. I'm quite sure that both Kinsey & I will be ready for her retirement by Z!
This is no longer the case as “W” weighs in at a whopping 484 pages. I don't think there was much more story but there was a lot more filler. I guess when a writer is as successful as Grafton, copy editors are reluctant (or are firmly told not to be!) to be too heavy with the red pen! Fortunately not so much about Kinsey's limited diet or lousy dress sense (which she/Grafton has always been weirdly proud of) but a lot of meandering on side issues like how to dry lettuce... The down home feel of Kinsey's life & how well she relates to some of the minor characters has always been part of the books' charm but in this case it is overdone & I think the book could have been pruned by about 100 pages. &
I'm sure in terms of the books' timelines that it's only been a few weeks since “V” but Kinsey seems so much older on this outing. - worried about finding places to pee,complaining she is too old to be staying in budget motels. I'm quite sure that both Kinsey & I will be ready for her retirement by Z!
November 4, 2013
This is the author's 23rd installment in the Kinsey Milhone alphabet mystery series, and I sense Weariness setting in. The previous several entries have focused on topics (elder abuse, long missing persons) and the underlying focus here is homelessness. "W is for Weak" could have been the title, as the plot meanders along until the last 20% of the book, when a Wee bit of suspense is introduced. The climactic action between Kinsey and the bad guy was ridiculous: she carried on being attacked IN SILENCE even though this was in a fairly busy area. We know that Kinsey can yell when necessary.
And the characters are "W is for Wearisome." Her newly revealed relatives are downright unpleasant. Kinsey herself has always had a rather constrained life, living in an apartment the size of a single car garage, hanging out with her 85 year old landlord, Henry, her only friend, and trimming her hair with nail scissors. But wait - Kinsey gets her first manicure! Woo, hoo - but not enough to keep me interested. "W is for Wasted" indeed - Wasted my time!
And the characters are "W is for Wearisome." Her newly revealed relatives are downright unpleasant. Kinsey herself has always had a rather constrained life, living in an apartment the size of a single car garage, hanging out with her 85 year old landlord, Henry, her only friend, and trimming her hair with nail scissors. But wait - Kinsey gets her first manicure! Woo, hoo - but not enough to keep me interested. "W is for Wasted" indeed - Wasted my time!
September 13, 2013
So--I was sitting in the dentist's chair, my mouth full of cotton rolls and sucking tubes, and he started talking about a mystery series he follows (with a well-known male author). He asked me if I read mysteries, and I mumbled the Grafton alphabet series, probably my favorite of several I read. "The alphabet books? Eh. Read a couple, and they're too formulaic for me," he says.
It was too hard to finish that conversation (which wasn't going anywhere) while being drilled and filled, but I would strongly argue that the series is very NON-formulaic; the absence of male anti-hero shooting-his-way-to-victory nature of Grafton's books is what hooked me into the series. Kinsey Millhone's deadpan delivery, and the gradual accumulation of detail about her life are what keep me reading, and loving, the books.
I count "W" among her best, because it begins with two seemingly unrelated deaths, and morphs into a very complex and layered plot. Better still, characters from Kinsey's somewhat romantic checkered past--Dietz, Cheney Phillips, Jonah Robb--make an appearance. Best of all, there's a little bit of fill-in on Kinsey's father and his family. Just a couple of puzzle pieces, but Grafton must be keeping in mind the fact that she has only three more letters to reveal all the facts that Kinsey keeps avoiding: Who am I, really? Where did I come from?
Read this in one big, delicious gulp, loving every minute of it.
It was too hard to finish that conversation (which wasn't going anywhere) while being drilled and filled, but I would strongly argue that the series is very NON-formulaic; the absence of male anti-hero shooting-his-way-to-victory nature of Grafton's books is what hooked me into the series. Kinsey Millhone's deadpan delivery, and the gradual accumulation of detail about her life are what keep me reading, and loving, the books.
I count "W" among her best, because it begins with two seemingly unrelated deaths, and morphs into a very complex and layered plot. Better still, characters from Kinsey's somewhat romantic checkered past--Dietz, Cheney Phillips, Jonah Robb--make an appearance. Best of all, there's a little bit of fill-in on Kinsey's father and his family. Just a couple of puzzle pieces, but Grafton must be keeping in mind the fact that she has only three more letters to reveal all the facts that Kinsey keeps avoiding: Who am I, really? Where did I come from?
Read this in one big, delicious gulp, loving every minute of it.
December 4, 2022
PI Kinsey Millhone is facing a stretch with no clients over the next couple of weeks, which she isn’t quite sure how she will fill. That is, until she gets a phone call from the coroner’s office. A homeless man has died, and the coroner has no idea who he is. The only thing they have to go on is Kinsey’s name and office number. Who might he be? Why did he have Kinsey’s contact information in his pocket?
The premise of this book captured my attention from the start. Unfortunately, the plot wandered, with a sub-plot taking over the middle of the book before Kinsey really even discovers there is a crime for her to solve. We know that sooner thanks to some flashback chapters written in third person. Both parts of the book are rushed in their resolution, leaving a couple of things dangling. However, I still found myself engaged in the book thanks to the characters, who I still love. It might have helped that I listened to the audio instead of reading it. Judy Kaye, the narrator, does a great job once again here. Fans of the series will want to see what happens here, but if you haven’t met Kinsey yet, I recommend you start earlier and work your way to this book.
Read my full review at Carstairs Considers.
The premise of this book captured my attention from the start. Unfortunately, the plot wandered, with a sub-plot taking over the middle of the book before Kinsey really even discovers there is a crime for her to solve. We know that sooner thanks to some flashback chapters written in third person. Both parts of the book are rushed in their resolution, leaving a couple of things dangling. However, I still found myself engaged in the book thanks to the characters, who I still love. It might have helped that I listened to the audio instead of reading it. Judy Kaye, the narrator, does a great job once again here. Fans of the series will want to see what happens here, but if you haven’t met Kinsey yet, I recommend you start earlier and work your way to this book.
Read my full review at Carstairs Considers.
October 1, 2013
Sue Grafton's books are always enjoyable. But my expectations are high, and this one fell just a little short. For instance, the book was written both from the point of view of Kinsey, and from the viewpoint of one of the victims. So we know "whodunnit" and since that person has only one main interest in life, it becomes clear "whyhedunnit". So all that is left is to follow Kinsey as she works out for herself what the reader already knows.
I also didn't like the fact that the murdererer turns out to be insane at the end. The dialog between him and Kinsey at the very end was stilted because of that reason.
On the plus side, Kinsey once again finds some long-lost relatives, now on her father's side. That always makes for some good verbal sparring, and I did enjoy the bickering that ensued when she comes face to face with her fourth cousins twice removed..by marriage (or something like that).
Kinsey also becomes acquainted with a small group of homeless people, and these scenes are written with compassion and insight, without losing sight of Kinsey's habitual cynicism.
Bottom line : not the worst, but not the best Kinsey Millhone book, either
I also didn't like the fact that the murdererer turns out to be insane at the end. The dialog between him and Kinsey at the very end was stilted because of that reason.
On the plus side, Kinsey once again finds some long-lost relatives, now on her father's side. That always makes for some good verbal sparring, and I did enjoy the bickering that ensued when she comes face to face with her fourth cousins twice removed..by marriage (or something like that).
Kinsey also becomes acquainted with a small group of homeless people, and these scenes are written with compassion and insight, without losing sight of Kinsey's habitual cynicism.
Bottom line : not the worst, but not the best Kinsey Millhone book, either
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 27, 2013
I read "A is for Alibi" as a young teenager, and I've followed Kinsey steadily ever since. This series is my equivalent of comfort food, taking me back to the days when I first discovered the joys of getting lost in a good mystery novel. Kinsey Millhone, V.I. Warshawski and Carlotta Carlyle were such exciting finds for a teenage girl like I was then.
Now at letter W, Grafton spreads her wings a bit in crafting a more complex plot than she usually does. But the eventual resolution feels more than a little forced, and the recurring characters we've known for so long seem stuck. Kinsey spends a lot of time in "W" taking stock of her emotional baggage, which makes me think Grafton is setting her up for some big life changes before the series (presumably) fades to black in just 3 more books.
I have a lot of loyalty for this series and I'll stick with Kinsey all the way to Z. But I'm not on the edge of my seat for it, and right now I don't have a lot of faith that I'll be sorry to see it end.
Now at letter W, Grafton spreads her wings a bit in crafting a more complex plot than she usually does. But the eventual resolution feels more than a little forced, and the recurring characters we've known for so long seem stuck. Kinsey spends a lot of time in "W" taking stock of her emotional baggage, which makes me think Grafton is setting her up for some big life changes before the series (presumably) fades to black in just 3 more books.
I have a lot of loyalty for this series and I'll stick with Kinsey all the way to Z. But I'm not on the edge of my seat for it, and right now I don't have a lot of faith that I'll be sorry to see it end.
September 17, 2013
It's never a good sign when an author has her characters spend a lot of time reading menus. I lost the thread of the story at Denny's and it took a while to pick it up again. Also, perhaps because Grafton is getting older, there are several mentions of needing to pee or finding ladies' rooms. Cut to the chase, please!
I found the side story confusing and confusingly presented, and frankly most of the main story bored me. Kinsey is developing too many family connections, none of them interesting or appealing. I like a good MYSTERY, please! If the sleuth is going to hang around in bars, at least let her get a clue there!
I found the side story confusing and confusingly presented, and frankly most of the main story bored me. Kinsey is developing too many family connections, none of them interesting or appealing. I like a good MYSTERY, please! If the sleuth is going to hang around in bars, at least let her get a clue there!
August 8, 2015
This series featuring PI Kinsey Millhone has been going for over thirty years now and dipping into this one immediately felt like slipping on a favourite soft and cosy sweater. All our old friends are there in Santa Teresa, her landlord Henry, his brother William and wife Rosie and one time lovers Dietz and Cheney make cameo appearances. The novel opens with two seemingly unrelated deaths, a shady PI and a homeless man. Kinsey has ties to both and becomes involved in investigating their deaths. Along the way she befriends some homeless people, stumbles on a case of scientific fraud and finds some connections to her father's side of the family. With only three novels left in this series it will be interesting to see how it all ties up.
September 21, 2013
I'm sure it's not what Sue Grafton had in mind when she picked "wasted" to represent the 23rd in the popular alphabet-based series featuring private investigator Kinsey Milhone, but it sure seemed appropriate to me as I slogged my way through this book. In fact, it wasn't until the 30th chapter or so - 82% of the way through on my Kindle Fire - that things really started to get interesting.
I'm not exactly sure why, except much of what I read in those other chapters just seemed tedious. Page after page was devoted to details like what a character had for breakfast and why, or what her sixth cousin once removed wore to the prom and how it stacked up to what everyone else was wearing. Long before the mid-point, I started to think Grafton was channeling J.K. Rowling, from whom I've come to expect minute details that flesh out her characters. And perhaps that was my problem: No matter how well written it is (and it is), I simply wasn't expecting it in a Kinsey Milhone novel.
Reading the Booklist explanation that "wasted lives, wasted time and wasted opportunities are at the heart" of the story, which describes how the deaths of two men impact Kinsey's life, gave me insight on the reason behind the title after the fact. But at no place in the book did I make that connection; in that regard, I got more insight into relationships by reading about Kinsey's interaction with Ed, the stray cat that gets dragged into her life.
The two dead men are Pete Wolinsky, a wayward investigator Kinsey doesn't much like who is found murdered, and R.T. Dace, a homeless man she's never heard of but who turns out to be a relative. Somehow, though, he found out about her - and leaves her his entire estate of half a million dollars. As Kinsey sets out to learn more about both, she uncovers several other relatives she didn't know she had (for better or worse) and discovers the two deaths may be connected.
All that detail, and almost none of the witty banter I've come to expect from Kinsey, meant it took forever for whole thing to come together and also meant I didn't hesitate to put the book down if something more fun to do came up - say, clipping my toenails. That said, the last few chapters really took off in terms of action - almost making up for the rest. But alas, it was just too little, too late.
Now the end of the alphabet is near - only three to go. Now I'm hoping the "X" of the next one will mark Grafton's spot-on writing once again.
I'm not exactly sure why, except much of what I read in those other chapters just seemed tedious. Page after page was devoted to details like what a character had for breakfast and why, or what her sixth cousin once removed wore to the prom and how it stacked up to what everyone else was wearing. Long before the mid-point, I started to think Grafton was channeling J.K. Rowling, from whom I've come to expect minute details that flesh out her characters. And perhaps that was my problem: No matter how well written it is (and it is), I simply wasn't expecting it in a Kinsey Milhone novel.
Reading the Booklist explanation that "wasted lives, wasted time and wasted opportunities are at the heart" of the story, which describes how the deaths of two men impact Kinsey's life, gave me insight on the reason behind the title after the fact. But at no place in the book did I make that connection; in that regard, I got more insight into relationships by reading about Kinsey's interaction with Ed, the stray cat that gets dragged into her life.
The two dead men are Pete Wolinsky, a wayward investigator Kinsey doesn't much like who is found murdered, and R.T. Dace, a homeless man she's never heard of but who turns out to be a relative. Somehow, though, he found out about her - and leaves her his entire estate of half a million dollars. As Kinsey sets out to learn more about both, she uncovers several other relatives she didn't know she had (for better or worse) and discovers the two deaths may be connected.
All that detail, and almost none of the witty banter I've come to expect from Kinsey, meant it took forever for whole thing to come together and also meant I didn't hesitate to put the book down if something more fun to do came up - say, clipping my toenails. That said, the last few chapters really took off in terms of action - almost making up for the rest. But alas, it was just too little, too late.
Now the end of the alphabet is near - only three to go. Now I'm hoping the "X" of the next one will mark Grafton's spot-on writing once again.
October 2, 2013
This latest installment in the Kinsey Millhone series was not up to Grafton's usual standards. As Kinsey slowly moves through the 1980's, the anachronisms in the series become more frequent, which bothers me. I want to volunteer my services to read the galleys and identify these gaffs for removal before they go to press. It's a small thing, I know, but anachronisms are a distraction and annoyance.
More troubling, however, was the social issue of homelessness, central to the theme because two of the victims are homeless men. Kinsey admits to being ambivalent about the subject, having both compassion for the homeless and also resenting sheltering and feeding shiftless people on the taxpayer's dime. At the end of the novel there is a memorial service for the two homeless victims in which the eulogy portrays "the homeless" as a monolithic entity that chooses homelessness for its own reasons and simply wants that choice to be respected. This made me gag. Especially now when so many people are homeless because of the mortgage crisis and economic downturn. The subject of homeless children didn't even come up. Better to have left the moralizing alone, I think.
The novel also lacked the energy and snap of the usually spirited, wisecracking PI. But there were gems of Kinsey's wry sense of humor in evidence, mostly in her internal rumination, such as on p. 417: "I propelled them like Ken and Barbie paper dolls...I pictured them in the Swiss Alps, flying down the ski slopes in expensive matching outfits. Did it snow mid summer in the Alps? I hoped so. Otherwise their little paper legs would get all bent and torn." And on p. 437: "There was a certain, subterranean moral code in play, but surely, I could think my way around that old thing." That's the stuff!
The mystery itself is suitably complex and involves two seemingly unrelated murders in the beginning that are tied together at the end. The reader is in on most of the facts of the mystery, so the fun is in reading how Kinsey puts the puzzle pieces together. There is a lot of unnecessary detail that bogged down the story in the beginning and some bits that seem oddly out of place or senseless, but overall the story is definitely worth a read if you've been a loyal follower of the series. As a stand-alone, I'm not sure I would recommend it. I would recommend anyone new to the series start with "A" and work forward. I hope that the next book in the series returns Kinsey to her old vigor and sarcasm.
More troubling, however, was the social issue of homelessness, central to the theme because two of the victims are homeless men. Kinsey admits to being ambivalent about the subject, having both compassion for the homeless and also resenting sheltering and feeding shiftless people on the taxpayer's dime. At the end of the novel there is a memorial service for the two homeless victims in which the eulogy portrays "the homeless" as a monolithic entity that chooses homelessness for its own reasons and simply wants that choice to be respected. This made me gag. Especially now when so many people are homeless because of the mortgage crisis and economic downturn. The subject of homeless children didn't even come up. Better to have left the moralizing alone, I think.
The novel also lacked the energy and snap of the usually spirited, wisecracking PI. But there were gems of Kinsey's wry sense of humor in evidence, mostly in her internal rumination, such as on p. 417: "I propelled them like Ken and Barbie paper dolls...I pictured them in the Swiss Alps, flying down the ski slopes in expensive matching outfits. Did it snow mid summer in the Alps? I hoped so. Otherwise their little paper legs would get all bent and torn." And on p. 437: "There was a certain, subterranean moral code in play, but surely, I could think my way around that old thing." That's the stuff!
The mystery itself is suitably complex and involves two seemingly unrelated murders in the beginning that are tied together at the end. The reader is in on most of the facts of the mystery, so the fun is in reading how Kinsey puts the puzzle pieces together. There is a lot of unnecessary detail that bogged down the story in the beginning and some bits that seem oddly out of place or senseless, but overall the story is definitely worth a read if you've been a loyal follower of the series. As a stand-alone, I'm not sure I would recommend it. I would recommend anyone new to the series start with "A" and work forward. I hope that the next book in the series returns Kinsey to her old vigor and sarcasm.
November 2, 2013
It was so wonderful to be in Kinsey’s company once again, and Henry’s, the only landlord I’ve ever loved, let alone liked. Henry is one of my very favorite people/characters.
My only 2 quibbles with this book, it’s that I’d have wanted even more of Henry than was provided and the author’s reflections on homelessness, particularly in the last few pages, when she writes a bit of here own philosophy, I think, and I believe misses the mark.
William is a hoot; I love him. Best of all, there is a new character in this book: a wonderful cat.
This book has, for me, the perfect balance of Kinsey alone vs. Kinsey with family ties, such as they are. I love the atypical mystery. There are just a few scary parts. Most of the story was a comfort read for me, as I reveled in the familiar and likeable (for whatever reasons) characters.
These alphabet series books have become nearly ideal comfort reads for me. I hope I’m around to read X, Y, and Z. (Hurry up, Sue!!!) I feel relieved knowing that Henry, and I assume Kinsey, will survive throughout.
Overall, Sue Grafton’s books keep improving. This book is one of my very favorites, maybe even my favorite of the bunch.
I know the times are back in the late 80s, and in a somewhat different type of place from what I’m used to, but I do remember to back then too, and the summary of and philosophizing about the homeless situation didn’t work for me, not enough for me to bring my rating to 4 stars though.
I borrowed my copy from the library. Virtually all libraries, at least in the U.S., are likely to have it. If you want to buy it, I heartily recommend independent bookstores. At Sue Grafton’s website, it lists her signing events, and the sites range from independent bookstores to libraries to book fairs, and yes some major chains and big box stores also. I’ve heard her speak (I forget what book she was promoting at the time) but I’ve never gotten a book signed by her. (I do own several of the alphabet series books, some in hardcover, some in paperback.) I’d love signed copies! Otherwise, I’m happy and grateful to be reading copies borrowed from the library.
My only 2 quibbles with this book, it’s that I’d have wanted even more of Henry than was provided and the author’s reflections on homelessness, particularly in the last few pages, when she writes a bit of here own philosophy, I think, and I believe misses the mark.
William is a hoot; I love him. Best of all, there is a new character in this book: a wonderful cat.
This book has, for me, the perfect balance of Kinsey alone vs. Kinsey with family ties, such as they are. I love the atypical mystery. There are just a few scary parts. Most of the story was a comfort read for me, as I reveled in the familiar and likeable (for whatever reasons) characters.
These alphabet series books have become nearly ideal comfort reads for me. I hope I’m around to read X, Y, and Z. (Hurry up, Sue!!!) I feel relieved knowing that Henry, and I assume Kinsey, will survive throughout.
Overall, Sue Grafton’s books keep improving. This book is one of my very favorites, maybe even my favorite of the bunch.
I know the times are back in the late 80s, and in a somewhat different type of place from what I’m used to, but I do remember to back then too, and the summary of and philosophizing about the homeless situation didn’t work for me, not enough for me to bring my rating to 4 stars though.
I borrowed my copy from the library. Virtually all libraries, at least in the U.S., are likely to have it. If you want to buy it, I heartily recommend independent bookstores. At Sue Grafton’s website, it lists her signing events, and the sites range from independent bookstores to libraries to book fairs, and yes some major chains and big box stores also. I’ve heard her speak (I forget what book she was promoting at the time) but I’ve never gotten a book signed by her. (I do own several of the alphabet series books, some in hardcover, some in paperback.) I’d love signed copies! Otherwise, I’m happy and grateful to be reading copies borrowed from the library.
October 27, 2017
Not my favorite book in this series--but then again, there is no such thing as a bad Sue Grafton alphabet series book. This one shared some Kinsey early family background. I found some of the plots outside the realm of believable even for a fiction novel. That being said, I still enjoyed reading it and you will also if you are a Sue Grafton fan.
February 26, 2024
Fun with Kinsey.
January 25, 2015
Con ‘W de whisky’ (W is for Wasted, 2013), la escritora norteamericana Sue Grafton alcanza su novela número veintitrés de su Alfabeto del Crimen, protagonizado por la detective Kinsey Millhone. Esta serie de novelas empezó a publicarse en la década de los 80, en la que se desarrolla la acción. Kinsey es una investigadora privada que vive en Santa Teresa (ciudad inventada que se correspondería con Santa Barbara, California). La presente novela comienza con la noticia de dos muertes, que en apariencia no tienen nada en común. El primero de los fallecidos, muerto a tiros, es Pete Wolinsky, un detective privado amoral y con pocos escrúpulos, sobre todo cuando surge la oportunidad de hacer algo de dinero. El segundo es un sintecho, cuya historia se cruzará en el camino de Kinsey.
Como siempre, la historia está narrada en primera persona por Kinsey, a la que acompañaremos en el transcurso de su investigación. Entre los detalles de la misma, también tendrá que lidiar con los problemas y rutinas de su vida diaria. La narración se alterna con algunos capítulos protagonizados por Pete, meses antes de su fallecimiento. De esta manera, siguiendo los pasos tanto de Kinsey como de Pete, y sus pesquisas, llegaremos a la solución final. Durante la investigación, como es habitual, Sue Grafton nos muestra algunos temas interesantes. En este caso, la falta de vivienda y los ensayos con medicamentos.
Es un gusto volver a leer una nueva novela de protagonizada por Kinsey Millhone, inteligente y tenaz. Es un gran personaje, fresco, informal y honesto. En fin, un buen misterio y una buena novela.
Como siempre, la historia está narrada en primera persona por Kinsey, a la que acompañaremos en el transcurso de su investigación. Entre los detalles de la misma, también tendrá que lidiar con los problemas y rutinas de su vida diaria. La narración se alterna con algunos capítulos protagonizados por Pete, meses antes de su fallecimiento. De esta manera, siguiendo los pasos tanto de Kinsey como de Pete, y sus pesquisas, llegaremos a la solución final. Durante la investigación, como es habitual, Sue Grafton nos muestra algunos temas interesantes. En este caso, la falta de vivienda y los ensayos con medicamentos.
Es un gusto volver a leer una nueva novela de protagonizada por Kinsey Millhone, inteligente y tenaz. Es un gran personaje, fresco, informal y honesto. En fin, un buen misterio y una buena novela.
April 1, 2014
This was a tedious book to get through. I feel obligated to finish all the Kinsey Millhone books, but this was so slow to get off the ground and when it finally did it was predictable and trite. And enough already about her elderly neighbors and about her jogging, showering and eating icky sandwiches. There was a ridiculous amount of filler detail. Descriptions of everything you can imagine. The descriptions, mind you, have nothing to do with the plot. There is one totally gratuitous scene where Kinsey goes to consult a female lawyer, who arrives on a bicycle to their meeting, and strips naked down to thong underwear, and puts on her business suit, right in front of Kinsey. And then, that's it for that character. Many descriptions of what everyone had to eat. And again, I must say it again, enough with the elderly neighbors! It seems to be that Sue Grafton has lost her mojo for this series.
January 19, 2018
I read this after the death of Sue Grafton. Bittersweet but she was an amazing storyteller. We finally get to know something about her father's side of the family. Homeless people, fraudulent medical research, murder, family relationships and so many twists and turns.
August 31, 2013
This is an uncorrected proof copy I won through Goodreads in a ‘First Reads’ giveaway. I noticed very few errors, site for sight the only one that comes to mind.
I admire Grafton for not cranking out the same basic novel over the last 30 years. She took chances in many of the later ones, telling the stories in different formats to keep the series from getting stale. She does that again here.
W Is For Wasted has two main plots – the death of a shady PI Kinsey knows only slightly and the death of a man she never met – that eventually mesh into one. Both are complex and well executed, but I figured out how they would come together long before they did in the book. When that happens, instead of wondering what will happen next, I wondered when Kinsey was going to catch up.
Again, Kinsey gave us a detailed tour of her home and how it came to be. Long before this 22nd novel in the series, it had become tedious. Now, it’s downright annoying. The same applies to repeat telling of Kinsey's backstory. Readers who have stuck with the series this far know both by heart and new readers probably won't pick up a book this far into the series for their first foray into Grafton's work.
This book felt like Grafton crammed too much into it, as if she’s trying to tie up some unfinished sub-plots from earlier books in the series before she runs out of letters. In addition to the main plots there were story lines involving more of Kinsey’s relatives popping out of the woodwork and the return of two former lovers. It made for a novel that seemed to drag on too long and too slow in many spots – many scenes between Kinsey and the newly discovered relations really didn’t seem to advance the plot, only the word count – and random chapters in the shady PI’s point of view broke the flow of the story.
Mysteries should be tightly written and taut with tension. This one just sort of ambled along with no real tension until almost the end. And the tension there wasn’t that taut.
I don’t know how long the commercial editions of this book will run, but this one ran 484 pages. That borders on epic mainstream novel length.
Most of the books in this series have been good. Grafton slipped a bit around the middle of the alphabet – say K thru N – then picked up again. This entry in the series is a step back to those so-so entries.
So, as much as I like the Kinsey Millhone series, the best I can rate this one is 2 stars.
I admire Grafton for not cranking out the same basic novel over the last 30 years. She took chances in many of the later ones, telling the stories in different formats to keep the series from getting stale. She does that again here.
W Is For Wasted has two main plots – the death of a shady PI Kinsey knows only slightly and the death of a man she never met – that eventually mesh into one. Both are complex and well executed, but I figured out how they would come together long before they did in the book. When that happens, instead of wondering what will happen next, I wondered when Kinsey was going to catch up.
Again, Kinsey gave us a detailed tour of her home and how it came to be. Long before this 22nd novel in the series, it had become tedious. Now, it’s downright annoying. The same applies to repeat telling of Kinsey's backstory. Readers who have stuck with the series this far know both by heart and new readers probably won't pick up a book this far into the series for their first foray into Grafton's work.
This book felt like Grafton crammed too much into it, as if she’s trying to tie up some unfinished sub-plots from earlier books in the series before she runs out of letters. In addition to the main plots there were story lines involving more of Kinsey’s relatives popping out of the woodwork and the return of two former lovers. It made for a novel that seemed to drag on too long and too slow in many spots – many scenes between Kinsey and the newly discovered relations really didn’t seem to advance the plot, only the word count – and random chapters in the shady PI’s point of view broke the flow of the story.
Mysteries should be tightly written and taut with tension. This one just sort of ambled along with no real tension until almost the end. And the tension there wasn’t that taut.
I don’t know how long the commercial editions of this book will run, but this one ran 484 pages. That borders on epic mainstream novel length.
Most of the books in this series have been good. Grafton slipped a bit around the middle of the alphabet – say K thru N – then picked up again. This entry in the series is a step back to those so-so entries.
So, as much as I like the Kinsey Millhone series, the best I can rate this one is 2 stars.
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