When Kinsey Millhone first arrives in Floral Beach, California, it's hard for her to picture the idyllic coastal town as the setting of a brutal mu...
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Feb 17, 2009
Ed
rated it: 
Top-notch entry in the series, for me. P.I. Kinsey investigates an old murder in a small CA town. I liked her eye for detail and toughness in this book. Good interaction with the minor characters.
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Dec 21, 2011
Mary Ronan
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Another complex Kinsey Millhone mystery. Here's Amazon's description:
"When Kinsey Millhone first arrives in Floral Beach, California, it's hard for her to picture the idyllic coastal town as the setting of a brutal murder. Seventeen years ago, the body of Jean Timberlake--a troubled teen who had a reputation with the boys--was found on the beach. Her boyfriend Bailey Fowler was convicted of her murder and imprisoned, but he escaped.
After all this time, Bailey's fina More...
"When Kinsey Millhone first arrives in Floral Beach, California, it's hard for her to picture the idyllic coastal town as the setting of a brutal murder. Seventeen years ago, the body of Jean Timberlake--a troubled teen who had a reputation with the boys--was found on the beach. Her boyfriend Bailey Fowler was convicted of her murder and imprisoned, but he escaped.
After all this time, Bailey's fina More...
Jan 27, 2012
Susan
rated it: 
Well, yes, I'm ticking these off at an amazing rate, and for those of you following my reviews carefully…sigh…no, I didn’t abandon Kinsey as promised to tackle my beckoning to-do list. I did, however, take time out from reading today for our Friday couples golf on the par 3 course where Don and I have a 3 handicap for this weekly event. Today…we posted even par!!! Hope that doesn’t mean our handicap for next week is 2.
For me, this was the most compelling of the alphabet series since “A More...
For me, this was the most compelling of the alphabet series since “A More...
Dec 03, 2010
Angela
rated it:
The 6th book in Grafton's series, Kinsey is hired by a family who's son was accused of murdering his girlfriend over 10 years previously. While he was initially in prison for her murder, he escaped and made a life for himself, most recently being picked up because the identity he stole happened to have a warrant issued on it.
I still struggle with wrapping my mind around what year it is. I'll be reading along and everything meshes with the present, until Kinsey does something that r More...
I still struggle with wrapping my mind around what year it is. I'll be reading along and everything meshes with the present, until Kinsey does something that r More...
Sep 29, 2011
Natalie
rated it:
Grafton seems to have fallen into a pattern with these mystery novels: Kinsey runs, eats little, gets absorbed into the world of the person she's investigating, finds out things very slowly, things come right together in the end, and she almost gets killed. Without fail, these themes constantly recur. This novel is certainly no different, except Kinsey is not in her home of Santa Teresa, she's out of her element in a small town called Floral Beach. I've read that Grafton's favorite death is in t
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Nov 20, 2011
Sue
rated it:
Kinsey accepts a job in another town partly because it gives her something to do while her apartment is restored. She's in the small town of Floral Beach looking into a murder investigation from 17 years ago. Bailey Fowler confessed at the time to the murder and did some time but escaped and lived free for years. Now he's been recaptured and has changed his tune about the murder. Bailey's father believes he's innocent and hires Kinsey to find the real killer. Problem is...in a small town
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Nov 18, 2010
Beth
rated it:
A Kinsey Millhone I had't read before. The action takes place north of Santa Teresa (Kinsey's usual hangout). Seventeen years ago, a young man accused of murder pleaded guilty for a reduced sentence. Later he escaped and disappeared but he's now resurfaced and his family (namely his father) wants to clear him. Kinsey becomes involved with the family because she stays at their motel: the dying father who is abrasive and at times brutal, the whiny diabetic mother, and the put-upon older sister
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Nov 14, 2011
This book moved a little slow for me compared to Grafton's previous books in the Kinsey Millhone series. Whether that was because of a plot I just couldn't get interested in or because I just wasn't in the mood to read it is hard to tell. It seemed like the first 80% of the book was a bit rambling and boring, with only the last 20% really important in terms of wrapping up the mystery.
I read this series once before and had stopped because I felt it was getting boring. Seems like th More...
I read this series once before and had stopped because I felt it was getting boring. Seems like th More...
Jun 04, 2011
AnEyeSpy
rated it:
(one review for series) ***** for the first book because I like the series enough to last till about R, now want more to find new authors, and finish another year. The rest get 3-4* because I cannot remember my favorites. I like strong, brave females who make choices and deal with consequences successfully. I like mysteries. I like funny eccentric, her odd sandwich and cute old landlord choices. Southern California feels warm and dry on a long cold Canadian winter. She always seems to go alone i
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Mar 07, 2010
Patty
rated it:
These "alphabet novels" are nothing short of perfect mystery. Grafton's cleverly crafted characters will stay with you long after you are finished reading the books. Kinsey Milhone, her landord/best friend, Henry and all the others seem so much like real people it is hard to imagine a world without them. I was on the edge of my seat with all the twists and turns, never forseeing what was coming next. I felt that each novel, as Grafton advanced through the alphabet, improved in ever
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Aug 17, 2008
Kellie
rated it:
"Floral Beach wasn't much of a town: six streets long and three deep, its only notable feature a strip of sand fronting the Pacific. It was on that sandy beach seventeen years ago that the strangled body of Jean Timberlake had been found.
The people of floral Beach didn't pay a whole lot of mind to past history, especially when Bailey Fowler, the self-confessed killer, had been properly processed and convicted. They weren't even unduly concerned when, a year after the murder, Fowler wa More...
The people of floral Beach didn't pay a whole lot of mind to past history, especially when Bailey Fowler, the self-confessed killer, had been properly processed and convicted. They weren't even unduly concerned when, a year after the murder, Fowler wa More...
Sep 28, 2011
Christy
rated it:
I love Sue Grafton's short bursts of stories. I read this one in a day. It kept me turning the pages and surprised, but there were a couple characters that don't necessarily tie in with the ending but seem to exist purely as distractions to the "whodunnit." It left me wondering what happened to them if anything.
I'm learning to enjoy Kinsey's personality more, but man...she goes through a LOT of experiences that the typical PI doesn't ever experience. Put that fact aside, a More...
I'm learning to enjoy Kinsey's personality more, but man...she goes through a LOT of experiences that the typical PI doesn't ever experience. Put that fact aside, a More...
Jul 31, 2011
Kerri
rated it:
Another great audiobook for my commute. Grafton made me laugh out loud at least three times with this one, and giggle many more. Milhone is a character I'd like as a friend in real life, so it's fun to go on these adventures with her. F was a good story all the way through, too, and there were several plausible culprits. I like a story that ties up all the loose ends for me (I'm simple-minded like that), and Grafton is always good for that. Moving on to the next letter the library has on the she
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Mar 25, 2011
Carol
rated it:
Have read the whole series up to now. My mother and I have read them together, and we both have enjoyed them very much. I really like Kinsey Millhone. I was quite a bit older when I got married for the first time, so I can appreciate her "singleness." I liked my "singleness" too. I realize that the character has been married a couple times, but she is good at picking up her pieces and moving on. I like the new characters she introduces, and I especially like Henry and R
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Jan 07, 2011
Kathryn
rated it:
Another good Kinsey Milhone mystery. Hard to put down, once I get into the story. For the second time, however, in one of the books I've read of Grafton's, one of the major twists in the case just doesn't feel right. You have to "suspend disbelief" for the purpose of the story. Would be better if I didn't have to do that. But, I don't know how anyone writes a mystery with plots and sub-plots that all hang together in the first place.
May 22, 2010
Michelle
rated it: 
This is the worst book of this series yet. I actually thought maybe it would be better than the first 5 books. It had some potential at the beginning. But by the end, I was annoyed. Like all her other books, this book had a surprise ending. Now, I love surprise endings, I really do. In fact, books with surprise endings are my favorite kind of book. In the past, her surprise endings have been reasonable, and all the pieces leading up to the ending made sense. Not so in this case. It's cl
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Oct 28, 2011
Addie
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Amazing! This one was my favorite so far. Kinsey can certainly sass people, and the author has keen observations about the human condition. I was up all night finishing the last 50 or so pages. I had to know what was going to happen! I immediately went put and bought the next three in the series. I'm averaging 2 of these books every three weeks. At this rate I'll finish the series way too soon!
Jul 20, 2011
Emily
rated it:
Another murder mystery from Sue Grafton, unlike the rest of her books though, this time she is investigating a murder that occurred in the past!
This one didn't really feature many of the normal regulars, there was mention of Kinsey’s neighbour at the beginning...as she was staying with him as a result of her home being blown up in E is for Evidence!!
Some interesting new characters but lacking some personalisation in this one and some of the new characters were a little More...
This one didn't really feature many of the normal regulars, there was mention of Kinsey’s neighbour at the beginning...as she was staying with him as a result of her home being blown up in E is for Evidence!!
Some interesting new characters but lacking some personalisation in this one and some of the new characters were a little More...
Jun 23, 2011
Darcy
rated it:
It was interesting how no one in this tiny town really cared about what happened to Jean. They didn't care that she was the town slut, that she was killed, or that she was pregnant at the time. And 17 years later when Kinsey starts looking into this again it is the same. It was really easy to pick out the bad guy early on. Just goes to show you that sometimes family isn't worth it.
Jul 29, 2011
Catherine
rated it:
I started reading this series over 15 years ago and they have been competently written throughout and while there was a dip in quality around 'P' or so, it is back up to snuff. Kinsey has changed in some ways over time, as you would expect given her aging, but also remained true to her values. Not getting irritating either, which is a risk for this type of series.
Feb 06, 2009
Sandra
rated it:
Set in a motel in a small Californian town, I wasn't at all surprised at the ending, though there was no closure as to who did that final killing and who knew all along what was going on.
There are a lot of psycho people out there. And to think that in a small town like that, no one thought to interview the person who actually committed the crime.
There are a lot of psycho people out there. And to think that in a small town like that, no one thought to interview the person who actually committed the crime.
Apr 02, 2011
Judy
rated it:
I liked this installation of the Kinsey Millhone mysteries very well. It had its usual low-life scummy people with whom she has to interact, and some scary situations, but I like how she goes about her investigation -- I think I'd have given up on this one a lot earlier than she did. I especially would never have agreed to eat dinner with that awful family every night! Great ending! And now on to "G".
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Jul 30, 2011
Ronald
rated it:
This book furthered my budding relationship with private detective Kensey Millhone, and I'm glad she got through another case OK. I had a short list of suspects in this one, but was as surprised as she at the end of the case. This book was included in the "I Love a Mystery" reading list in Nancy Pearl's Book Lust, and my interest was further sparked by my enjoyment of the author's "D" Is for Deadbeat.
Jan 21, 2011
Greg
rated it:
F is turning out to be a good tight read, we are learning more about Kinsey and what drives her. She has seriously deep depths. I am looking forward to how that is going to pan out. Wow what a dry finish. The style of the author is wonderful. We are now learning more about the past of Kinsey it does explain a lot, but I hope we do not go into her to much, I want to just accept who she is now.
May 08, 2011
Marissa
rated it:
This series continues to grow on me-- I think this was the best one yet so far. Kinsey heads out to Floral Beach to clear the name of Bailey Fowler, who was accused of his girlfriend's death 17 years prior... Bailey's family has the potential to make one appreciate their own family more.
Dec 25, 2011
Shrihari
rated it:
This is the shortest suspense thriller I have read in a long time. Kinsey is a very shrewd detective who thinks beyond the obvious, and goes by her instincts. Bailey, A fugitive on the run, has all the world come down for murdering a girlfriend who m he used to hang out with, but the plot is neatly revealed, after so many twists and turns that a different mindset is required to do independent thinking.
In a nutshell, enjoyed it as a quick break.
In a nutshell, enjoyed it as a quick break.
Mar 21, 2011
Shannon
rated it:
This book struck me as a placeholder in the series. I didn't like the plot as well and there wasn't enough suspense. I thought there were too many suspects and they weren't developed enough or not enough time was spent with any of them to raise enough suspicion. Ori reminded me too much of my parents.
Aug 06, 2009
Tabatha
rated it:
Oh, I really thought I was going to solve this one. There were so many likely suspects, but I'm really not good at this mystery thing, Sue Grafton always surprises me at the end. Kinsey is getting to be like a friend though and I'm always looking forward to the next book.
Apr 30, 2011
Carol
rated it:
This is one of the best series of books I've read in quite a while. Each of Kinsey Millhone's P.I. jobs gets more and more adventerous, dangerous as well as there is almost always a great twist to them. At the same time Sue Grafton ensures we are up to date with Kinsey's personal life as well as her tragic past. We are reminded of the hurt she experienced growing up and not being acknowledged by her late Mother's family, other than one of the Aunts. Can't wait to start on 'G'.
Nov 15, 2010
fyc
rated it:
It had me going all the way to the end! I just couldn't figure how who really killed the girl! Finally, as the book was nearing the final pages I realized who it was. That's the way I like 'em. Thrilling and suspenseful. Kinsey Milhone is a great characater.
