She was a "Jane Doe," an unidentified white female whose decomposed body was discovered near a quarry off California's Highway 1. The case fell to ...
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Jan 29, 2012
Writerlibrarian
rated it: 
This was like meeting an old friend by chance on the street that you haven't seen in 10 years. My last Kinsey Millhone was the letter J or K. Q like Quarry kinda picks up where I left off because we get a glimpse of Kinsey's family on her mother's side again. The case in itself is not that hard to guess, based on a true case of an unknown young woman stabbed to death and left in quarry near Santa Barbara. Grafton imitates life but also creates or fleshes out two characters that I grew to like :
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Mar 06, 2009
Kittenshhhhh
rated it: 
Sue Grafton is the sweetest smartest woman that you'd ever hope to meet. When she comes for book signings she takes time with EVERYONE who wants to have a moment to talk to her. Also, she signs any books that people bring from home..I have seen her sit for over an hour pulling book after book out of a cardboard box that some fan brought. With Q she stepped a little out of her usual format to base this novel on a true story. She also spent her own time and money to help identify a woman whose
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Jan 27, 2012
Joy
rated it: 
She was a "Jane Doe," an unidentified white female whose decomposed body was discovered near a quarry off California's Highway 1. The case fell to the Santa Teresa County Sheriff's Department, but the detectives had little to go on. The woman was young, her hands were bound with a length of wire, there were multiple stab wounds, and her throat had been slashed. After months of investigation, the murder remained unsolved.
That was eighteen years ago. Now the two men who foun More...
That was eighteen years ago. Now the two men who foun More...
Nov 07, 2011
Robert
rated it:
My mother was a big fan of detective novels in general and of Sue Grafton's fiction in particular. Partly as a gesture to Mom, I suppose, I selected "Q Is for Quarry," as my second beach book of the trip, from the bookshelf at a B & B on St. Croix last month. (The other beach book was "Buddenbrooks.") It was my first exposure to Grafton.
For a popular writer, she is surprisingly good at holding the interest of readers of literary fiction. There is enough of Tr More...
For a popular writer, she is surprisingly good at holding the interest of readers of literary fiction. There is enough of Tr More...
May 10, 2011
Rebekah (Silver Lily)
rated it:
Q is for Quarry.
In my ongoing re-read /inspiration/learning quest (and in anticipation of the soon to be released V is for Violence in November of this year) I picked up Q is for Quarry over the weekend. This is 17th book in the Kinsey Millhone series and while I adore Sue Grafton’s work, this was not exactly my favorite of the series. Grafton is a master of pacing, giving both Kinsey and the reader just enough time to catch our breath in between scenes. I found this one just a tad slower t More...
In my ongoing re-read /inspiration/learning quest (and in anticipation of the soon to be released V is for Violence in November of this year) I picked up Q is for Quarry over the weekend. This is 17th book in the Kinsey Millhone series and while I adore Sue Grafton’s work, this was not exactly my favorite of the series. Grafton is a master of pacing, giving both Kinsey and the reader just enough time to catch our breath in between scenes. I found this one just a tad slower t More...
Aug 09, 2010
Julianne
rated it:
This is a great, but extra long Kinsey Millhone story! Somebody was murdered eighteen years ago and her body was found near a stone quarry. Who was she? Two of the original detectives, now long retired, ask Kinsey to help them find out, and answer some questions about this case. They start out in Santa Teresa and Lompoc, two coastal communities of Southern California. But quickly the action takes them to the desert communities near Blythe, and the clues begin to pile up.
I counte More...
I counte More...
Jul 23, 2010
Jerry
rated it:
The Grafton/Millhone we know and love are back !!
After a "perilously" weak outing with "P", a book with which even her ardent fans were disenchanted (mostly for the many loose ends at the conclusion, atypical of our leading lady...}, Sue and Kinsey are back not only in fine form, but maybe in one of the best stories to date of this 17-book series. A fairly straightforward plot links private eye Kinsey with two older cops -- one retired (Stacey Oliphant) and o More...
After a "perilously" weak outing with "P", a book with which even her ardent fans were disenchanted (mostly for the many loose ends at the conclusion, atypical of our leading lady...}, Sue and Kinsey are back not only in fine form, but maybe in one of the best stories to date of this 17-book series. A fairly straightforward plot links private eye Kinsey with two older cops -- one retired (Stacey Oliphant) and o More...
Oct 11, 2011
Elizabeth
rated it:
This is my first Kinsey Millhone mystery in a couple of years, and a discovery I made while reading it may explain why I've kind of lost my taste for this series. Grafton is in good form here, teaming up Kinsey with a couple of retired cops working a cold case -- the murder of a Jane Doe found dumped in a quarry 18 years before. A subplot involving Kinsey's long-lost grandmother, aunts, and cousins appears promising but ultimately goes nowhere. The fact that Grafton's murder is patterned on a ac
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Aug 24, 2011
David
rated it:
The 17th book in Sue Grafton's bestselling alphabet crime fiction series. This one was published some 20 years after the first A is for Alibi novel (1982), but in female PI Kinsey Millhone's world it is still the 1980's, a time before widespread computer use, mobile phones or social media. Research had to be done in libraries, phone calls made from payphones and investigations required immense amounts of legwork.
In this case, a Jane Doe was found murdered in an old quarry and never i More...
In this case, a Jane Doe was found murdered in an old quarry and never i More...
Jul 08, 2011
Jim
rated it:
The alphabet mystery series by Sue Grafton is predictably enjoyable. After reading the previous sixteen you look forward to seeing what private detective Kinsey Milhone has gotten involved in this time. The book finds Kinsey helping two retired cops revive the investigation into an unsolved murder that they had investigated eighteen years before, a young girl whose body had been dumped into a quarry wrapped in a tarp. Very little is known about the victim. She is a Jane Doe.
Sever More...
Sever More...
Jul 30, 2011
I liked the change of setting; that Kinsey's working with others to investigate an old murder. It's a little less predictable and the dialogue made reading more interesting. Also more detail about her family added another dimension. I can't help wondering if she's going to be married and settled near to her new found family by the end of the series?!I
noticed in P as well as this installment that Kinsey's doing a lot of putting on her saucony's- whatever they might be! Did Sue G. make an adverti More...
noticed in P as well as this installment that Kinsey's doing a lot of putting on her saucony's- whatever they might be! Did Sue G. make an adverti More...
Mar 17, 2011
Carol
rated it:
This is a great, but extra long Kinsey Millhone story! Somebody was murdered eighteen years ago and her body was found near a stone quarry. Who was she? Two of the original detectives, now long retired, ask Kinsey to help them find out, and answer some questions about this case. They start out in Santa Teresa and Lompoc, two coastal communities of Southern California. But quickly the action takes them to the desert communities near Blythe, and the clues begin to pile up. Sue does a good job with
More...
Mar 10, 2010
Peter
rated it:
Another in her alphabet of crime - what will she do when she gets to z?
A good beach of hammock book, or to read curled up on a couch on a winter's day. A 'Jane Doe' case is ressurected after 18 years and the culprit is found out.
On the way, since this is set in the late 1980's, we see a stunning contrast between then and now, a distance of barely 20 years. There are no cell phones, no computer/word processors, no internet or Google or email. Telephone books, public library reference se More...
A good beach of hammock book, or to read curled up on a couch on a winter's day. A 'Jane Doe' case is ressurected after 18 years and the culprit is found out.
On the way, since this is set in the late 1980's, we see a stunning contrast between then and now, a distance of barely 20 years. There are no cell phones, no computer/word processors, no internet or Google or email. Telephone books, public library reference se More...
Sep 21, 2010
Jenn
rated it:
Ahh now we get back to why I love this series. After the disappointment with P is for Peril I am glad to see the series get back on track.
The beginning did take me a bit to get into but after the first 50 pages I was hooked. The basis of the story was based off an old unsolved mystery. There were a lot of characters but the plot came together very well.
I also enjoyed seeing Kinsey interacting with her family members. I must admit that at time she gets on my nerves with More...
The beginning did take me a bit to get into but after the first 50 pages I was hooked. The basis of the story was based off an old unsolved mystery. There were a lot of characters but the plot came together very well.
I also enjoyed seeing Kinsey interacting with her family members. I must admit that at time she gets on my nerves with More...
Apr 27, 2009
Suzanne
rated it:
I haven't read a Sue Grafton in about 5 years, but I picked up Q, R and S in a used books store and after starting Q, I remember why I had read A through P...The main character, Kinsey Millhone, is so interesting. She's a Private Investigator in Santa Teresa, California and she is ultra cool in every way I like: smart as a whip, energetic, relaxed about the details of daily living, her own person in every situation (or laughing at herself for not being herself), unaffected, I could go on and o
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Jul 14, 2008
Kevin
rated it:
Great to see Kinsey working in partnership with two old guys to solve an 18 year mystery.
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Jun 04, 2011
AnEyeSpy
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(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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May 05, 2010
Lisa
rated it:
This was my first Sue Grafton book. I liked her main character, Kinsey Milhouse, who is flawed enough to be interesting but not a bad person.
The only distracting part -- and this isn't Grafton's fault -- is that the book is now old enough that the lack of certain technological advances (e.g., cell phones, broadband internet) is noticeable by their absence.
I bought four of her novels for Kindle (Q, R, S and T) and have now read Q and R. I'm happy to pass the time reading them, More...
The only distracting part -- and this isn't Grafton's fault -- is that the book is now old enough that the lack of certain technological advances (e.g., cell phones, broadband internet) is noticeable by their absence.
I bought four of her novels for Kindle (Q, R, S and T) and have now read Q and R. I'm happy to pass the time reading them, More...
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Feb 02, 2011
Ibis3
rated it:
A solid addition to the series. I liked that Kinsey had some company along the way (seems she likes the company of older guys) for this one. Kinsey's got her usual wit and humourous way of looking at the world, and the mystery was intriguing (as most cold cases are bound to be). There were a few coincidences that were a little far-fetched or unexplained. <spoiler>For a while I thought the girl would have some connection to Kinsey's family since she was found on Grand's property, but that t
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Aug 13, 2011
Amanda
rated it:
Seventeen down, nine more to go.
When Sue Grafton created a female detective in 1982 with "A Is for Alibi," she committed herself to 26 books.
I jumped at the chance to review this Kinsey Millhone novel. I bought my first Sue Grafton book when she was on the E (is for Evidence) of the series. I promptly bought A – D and have invested in every letter of her alphabet up to and including P.
Eighteen years ago police officers, Stacey Oliphant and Con Dolan found a decomposing More...
When Sue Grafton created a female detective in 1982 with "A Is for Alibi," she committed herself to 26 books.
I jumped at the chance to review this Kinsey Millhone novel. I bought my first Sue Grafton book when she was on the E (is for Evidence) of the series. I promptly bought A – D and have invested in every letter of her alphabet up to and including P.
Eighteen years ago police officers, Stacey Oliphant and Con Dolan found a decomposing More...
Dec 15, 2007
Johnsergeant
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Downloaded from Audible.com
Narrator: Judy Kaye
Publisher: Random House Audio, 2002
Length: 12 hours and 33 min.
Publisher's Summary
She was a "Jane Doe," an unidentified white female whose decomposed body was discovered near a quarry off California's Highway 1. The case fell to the Santa Teresa County Sheriff's Department, but the detectives had little to go on. The woman was young, her hands were bound with a length of wire, there were multiple stab woun More...
Narrator: Judy Kaye
Publisher: Random House Audio, 2002
Length: 12 hours and 33 min.
Publisher's Summary
She was a "Jane Doe," an unidentified white female whose decomposed body was discovered near a quarry off California's Highway 1. The case fell to the Santa Teresa County Sheriff's Department, but the detectives had little to go on. The woman was young, her hands were bound with a length of wire, there were multiple stab woun More...
Feb 17, 2009
Sarah
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Quarry (noun): 1) one that is sought or pursued : prey; 2) an open excavation usually for obtaining building stone, slate, or limestone; 3) a rich source; 4) a diamond shaped pane of glass. Quarry (verb); to delve in or as if in a quarry (to query). Source: Merriam Webster online.
Q is for Quarry by Sue Grafton is a bit of a departure for the Kinsey Millhone series. The book was inspired by an actual cold case, one mentioned during a dinner party. The idea, though not immediately set More...
Q is for Quarry by Sue Grafton is a bit of a departure for the Kinsey Millhone series. The book was inspired by an actual cold case, one mentioned during a dinner party. The idea, though not immediately set More...
Sep 02, 2011
Chris
rated it:
Sue Grafton's alphabet mysteries are like comfort food to me. After reading a sprawling, drawn-out book (in this case, "A Dance with Dragons"), this was the perfect read. I just love Kinsey Millhone. I love that Grafton keeps her in the 1980s. Most of all, I love how Kinsey herself is completely self-aware, yet is unapologetic about all of her issues. "Q" was a fine story, with just the right amount of suspense and twists that I've come to expect from a Grafton novel.
Jan 16, 2012
Jennipher
rated it:
I rushed into reading Q is for Quarry right after I read P. Sometimes Kinsey will allude to her prior mysteries in her books. Well, she never did mention any of the previous players but I found myself embroiled in the mystery with her old cop buddies. I really enjoyed the mystery and stayed up late a few nights trying to find out what is going to happen next. The ending provided closure for the characters but sad about the unsolved mystery of Jane Doe. I wonder if anyone had recognized her up to
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Sep 25, 2011
Darcy
rated it:
I think this is my favorite so far. I haven't been a fan of the family angle that the series has gone towards with Kinsey, but this time around I liked that aspect. But my favorite was Kinsey with Lt. Dolan and Det. Stacey. These 2 "old" me were so cantankerous with each other and Kinsey that I found myself laughing a lot. They mystery of the book was fairly easy to figure out as soon as all the players were introduced. I hope Dolan and Stacey continue to make appearances.
Feb 04, 2009
Penny
rated it:
A departure from her normal style. This book is "...Based on an unsolved homicide that occured in 1969. "Q is for Quarry", and Sue Grafton's interest in the case, has generated renewed police efforts. In the last year, the body has been exhumed, and a facial reconstruction made that appears in the last pages of the novel. It is hoped that the photograph will trigger memories that may lead to a positive identification."
Aug 01, 2010
Jean
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Sue Grafton explains in the epilogue of this novel that it was based on a true Jane Doe unsolved murder from 1969. Many of the facts in the case were from the actual murder book put together in the original investigation but never solved. She used these facts to construct a fictional account of solving the murder 18 years later. Her plot lines and characters once again were well conceived and provide a wonderful read.
Feb 04, 2012
Betty
rated it:
The continuing saga of Kinsey Millhone one of my favorite characters to read about.....quirky privite investigator who gets into all kinds of siturtions. This one was a good plot/situation but it had a lot of draggy moments for me.....Kinsey hooks up with two retired police detectives to try to solve an 18 year old murder investigation of a woman who has never been identified.Sue Grafton based the story on a true unsolved crime that she heard about.
Mar 10, 2009
Lynn Kay
rated it:
Even more interesting after I read that the book was based on a true crime that happened. Involves a missing girl who disappeared in 1969. The case is reopened in 2002 by Kinsey and a former co-worker. The case is solved at the end with an ending that suprised me, which i like. I thought it to be a predictable book which I dislike, but turned out they fooled me right up to the end.
