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460th out of 657 books
—
227 voters
L is for Lawless (Kinsey Millhone #12)
by
Sue Grafton
Both new readers and old fans will welcome this 12th Kinsey Milhone adventure in the "A" is for Alibi series by Sue Grafton. In this case, Kinsey agrees to do a favor for a friend of a friend and gets herself into so much trouble that she promises at the outset never to do such a thing again without careful consideration.
Henry Pitt, her longtime landlord asks her to help...more
Henry Pitt, her longtime landlord asks her to help...more
Paperback, 336 pages
Published
July 31st 1996
by Random House Publishing Group
(first published September 5th 1995)
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In this case, Kinsey agrees to do a favor for a friend of a friend and gets herself into so much trouble that she promises at the outset never to do such a thing again without careful consideration.
Henry Pitt, her longtime landlord asks her to help a fellow neighbor find evidence that his grandfather served in the military during the Second World War. With such proof, the man can be decently buried, courtesy of the U.S. government. It seems such a simple thing, but with Kinsey, it rarely is. Be...more
Henry Pitt, her longtime landlord asks her to help a fellow neighbor find evidence that his grandfather served in the military during the Second World War. With such proof, the man can be decently buried, courtesy of the U.S. government. It seems such a simple thing, but with Kinsey, it rarely is. Be...more
The 12th book in the Kinsey Milhone alphabet series - and another good read. This one had Kinsey working a case for a friend of a friend for free. A "simple case" that turns out to be not so simple after all.
I have not been a great fan of Grafton. I'd started her alphabet series many years ago and read a few books, but wasn't passionate enough about them to continue. The reason I read this one was because I had to wait at a bus station after work and had forgotten to bring my Kindle, so I picked this out of the $1 Bargain Box bins outside the store. It was OK. Nothing to make me want to go back to where I stopped and pick up reading the series again.
Detective Kinsey Millhone is asked to do a favor...more
Detective Kinsey Millhone is asked to do a favor...more
L is for Lee, a recently deceased occupant of Kinsey's neighborhood. Henry Pitts, her landlord, asks her to do a favor for him before his brother's wedding. Kinsey soon finds herself immersed in conspiracy theories and lies, traveling around the South to find answers.
Kinsey's taking a vacation before she has to be a bridesmaid in a Thanksgiving wedding. During her time off, Henry stops by and asks her to do a favor - help a neighbor find information on his grandfather's army service, so he can g...more
Kinsey's taking a vacation before she has to be a bridesmaid in a Thanksgiving wedding. During her time off, Henry stops by and asks her to do a favor - help a neighbor find information on his grandfather's army service, so he can g...more
Kinsey Millhone is actually taking a vacation. Thanksgiving is quickly approaching and she has promised to stand up at the wedding of two good friends, but that doesn't stop her from taking on a case. Her good friend and landlord has asked her to talk to the Lees. Johnnie Lee recently passed away, and the family was hoping to get some money from the government to put toward his funeral expenses. He was was a World War II veteran, but their is no record of his service.
After visiting with Lee's gr...more
After visiting with Lee's gr...more
Having finished my judging for Florida Scholastic Press Association, I dived right into “L,” hoping Kinsey hadn’t missed me for the few days I was away from her.
In this installment, set in November of 1985 even though it was published in 1995, Kinsey is 35, having had a birthday May 5. Her adored and adoring landlord, Henry, asks her to do him a favor. My guess is this experience pays her up for years to come.
Her adventures take her from her California hometown via air to Dallas and, eventually,...more
In this installment, set in November of 1985 even though it was published in 1995, Kinsey is 35, having had a birthday May 5. Her adored and adoring landlord, Henry, asks her to do him a favor. My guess is this experience pays her up for years to come.
Her adventures take her from her California hometown via air to Dallas and, eventually,...more
Kinsey gets herself in another weird and interesting situation in L is for Lawless. By trying to help a neighbor, pro-bono, she ends up in a cross-country trip with plenty of danger and mystery.
Her landlord Henry asks her to help a neighbor down the street with a little problem of trying to get death benefits from the army for his grandfather who served in Burma in WWII and has now died. Kinsey is willing to help because she's taking some time off from her usual PI work to help Rosie and William...more
Her landlord Henry asks her to help a neighbor down the street with a little problem of trying to get death benefits from the army for his grandfather who served in Burma in WWII and has now died. Kinsey is willing to help because she's taking some time off from her usual PI work to help Rosie and William...more
Kinsey gets herself in another weird and interesting situation in L is for Lawless. By trying to help a neighbor, pro-bono, she ends up in a cross-country trip with plenty of danger and mystery.
Her landlord Henry asks her to help a neighbor down the street with a little problem of trying to get death benefits from the army for his grandfather who served in Burma in WWII and has now died. Kinsey is willing to help because she's taking some time off from her usual PI work to help Rosie and William...more
Her landlord Henry asks her to help a neighbor down the street with a little problem of trying to get death benefits from the army for his grandfather who served in Burma in WWII and has now died. Kinsey is willing to help because she's taking some time off from her usual PI work to help Rosie and William...more
Where would Kinsey be if she had a cellular phone? Well, probably in much less interesting books for starters. But what makes
L is for Lawless
work is how suited the storyline is for pulling at the strings Grafton has built up around the PI over the last four novels. Yes, Kinsey is still too often caught surprised by things she should see coming, but the character owns these faults and becomes somehow more real in the process.
My one complaint is a consistent one: Grafton does too poor a job in...more
My one complaint is a consistent one: Grafton does too poor a job in...more
(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...more
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 every way. I would...more
This wasn't too bad. It was kind of slow in the beginning, but it got better. I still wish the endings were a little more detailed.
Kinsey's skills are about to be sorely tested. She is about to meet her duplicitous match in a couple of world-class prevaricators who quite literally take her for the ride of her life.
"L" Is for Lawless: Call it Kinsey Millhone in bad company. Call it a mystery without a murder, a treasure hunt without a map, a quest novel with truly mixed-up motives. Call it the re...more
Kinsey's skills are about to be sorely tested. She is about to meet her duplicitous match in a couple of world-class prevaricators who quite literally take her for the ride of her life.
"L" Is for Lawless: Call it Kinsey Millhone in bad company. Call it a mystery without a murder, a treasure hunt without a map, a quest novel with truly mixed-up motives. Call it the re...more
My favorite so far. I think this would make a really good film -- the old timey bits would work especially well on screen. I'm surprised no one has made a Kinsey movie yet. It's not like there's a shortage of material.
But oh the ending. Would it kill you, Sue Grafton, to write a satisfying ending?!? I want details. I want to know what happened. The last couple of pages read like SG's publishers were only allowing her so many pages and she ran out. If there's any justice in the world, somewhere i...more
But oh the ending. Would it kill you, Sue Grafton, to write a satisfying ending?!? I want details. I want to know what happened. The last couple of pages read like SG's publishers were only allowing her so many pages and she ran out. If there's any justice in the world, somewhere i...more
Kinsey Milhone gets roped into helping some fellows who are trying to get burial reimbursement from the government for their newly deceased father/grandfather. Funny, the government doesn't recognize him at all...even with all those wonderful SSN's, military ID, etc. Unbeknownst to them, granddaddy spent a bunch of years in the clink and made up this delightful military story. Now Kinsey's involved with his robbery cohorts and her curiosity just won't let her go home. If she doesn't watch out sh...more
I think maybe I am feeling a little bit of a Kinsey burnout. I just don't get into these stories as much as I did when I first started reading them.
With L is for Lawless we find Kinsey traveling away from her usual stomping grounds in California to track down answers for a friend of a friend. She is not being paid but she just can't seem to let things go once she gets started. She sets off to find proof that a neighbor's grandfather had served in WWII so the family can give him a military burial...more
With L is for Lawless we find Kinsey traveling away from her usual stomping grounds in California to track down answers for a friend of a friend. She is not being paid but she just can't seem to let things go once she gets started. She sets off to find proof that a neighbor's grandfather had served in WWII so the family can give him a military burial...more
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 Rosie. They are great.
I gave it only a 4 star because I was disappointed in the ending.....Kinsey gets herself involved in a case which she has no contract thus no pay! She spends her own money and get into BIG trouble! There is suspense and mystery in this one, but the characters who start the book literally disappear and have nothing to do with the ending! Of course, I love the basic characters: Henry, Rosie,etc. At the beginning they seem to be important characters then they disappear too. Henry usually is right t...more
Not one of my favorite Kinsey novels. I found myself frustrated with her. Her personality quirks (relentless, curious, "terrier" nature) are not enough reasons for her to follow along on the ride proposed. And she gets it (on her head) in the end. Left me feeling unsatisfied with the storyline and round-up. Kinsey's stubbornness felt like a back-tracking in her growth over the past few books. Enjoyed the attention to detail, just wished she had played it smarter/tougher.
Audio version
Audio version
Second time through this --- fast read, familiar characters. Kinsey becomes involved in a neighbor's problem: Chester wants to give his dad an honorable burial because of his contribution during WWII but when he calls the air force, there's no record. Dad's apartment is broken into, and Kinsey follows a woman who appears to be pregnant, becoming involved with ex-cons and highly dysfunctional families. She meets a gun toting granny and impersonates hotel staff. A lighthearted caper.
MACMILLAN READERS level5 intermediate
time 160min
7word information key follow fake tell help lawless
Disucussion question
1The main character is Kinsey Millhone. She is so brave.
She faked someone because she wanted to get information.
Have you ever faked someone?
Yes When I was a junior high school student, I facked high school student.
Because It's secret.
2 When you flight somewhere, what are 3 things which are very important?
Money, Phone, Sightseeingbook
time 160min
7word information key follow fake tell help lawless
Disucussion question
1The main character is Kinsey Millhone. She is so brave.
She faked someone because she wanted to get information.
Have you ever faked someone?
Yes When I was a junior high school student, I facked high school student.
Because It's secret.
2 When you flight somewhere, what are 3 things which are very important?
Money, Phone, Sightseeingbook
This one was kind of crazy :)
The high-jinx in the hotel especially made me chuckle. They were a combination of Keystone Cops and a 70s-era sitcom. It bothered me that Kinsey went to the store for 15 minutes and ended up halfway across the country. Didn't Henry's sister wonder where those cleaning products were?
I can't wait until enough time passes (or the books become more current) and Kinsey has a mobile phone! Some of these situations make me edgy :)
The high-jinx in the hotel especially made me chuckle. They were a combination of Keystone Cops and a 70s-era sitcom. It bothered me that Kinsey went to the store for 15 minutes and ended up halfway across the country. Didn't Henry's sister wonder where those cleaning products were?
I can't wait until enough time passes (or the books become more current) and Kinsey has a mobile phone! Some of these situations make me edgy :)
Let me say at the outset that I'm a big fan of Kinsey Millhone! Years ago I read some of her books out of order, so I decided to start at the beginning, which I did -- two or three times. I wasn't good at keeping track of what I had read in those days, so I kept getting confused and starting over. Enjoyed the same books again.
Now I have a better tracking system, plus you can keep a record of everything on "Goodreads", can't you? So I'm finally up to "L". Loved it! This one isn't even a real case...more
Now I have a better tracking system, plus you can keep a record of everything on "Goodreads", can't you? So I'm finally up to "L". Loved it! This one isn't even a real case...more
L IS FOR LAWLESS - VG
Grafton, Sue - 12th in series
When Kinsey Millhone agrees to do a favor for Henry Pitts, her lovable octogenarian landlord, she literally gets taken for the ride of her life. The family of a recently deceased WWII veteran wants her to find out why the military has no record of his service. All Kinsey has to do, she thinks, is cut through some government red tape. But when the dead man's house is ransacked and his old army buddy is beaten up, she quickly realizes he was not a...more
Grafton, Sue - 12th in series
When Kinsey Millhone agrees to do a favor for Henry Pitts, her lovable octogenarian landlord, she literally gets taken for the ride of her life. The family of a recently deceased WWII veteran wants her to find out why the military has no record of his service. All Kinsey has to do, she thinks, is cut through some government red tape. But when the dead man's house is ransacked and his old army buddy is beaten up, she quickly realizes he was not a...more
-#12 of the Kinsey Malone series-It’s been years since I’ve read one of these. I enjoyed the humor and the interesting plot. This is one of those plots where it reminds me of a bad dream. Imagining you get on a plane because you are following someone. You don’t really know where they are going but you follow them anyway. You have no luggage and almost no money. Very risky but adventurous at the same time. Well, that’s what happens to Kinsey. She gets involved in trying to figure out the history...more
3.5 stars.
This is my first Sue Grafton mystery. Kinsey is a PI investigating a case of no funeral benefits for a war veteran. She does this for free for her 80 year old landlord, who is about to get married. The landlord is very grumpy and I found it all a bit unrealistic. I didn't much like the other characters, especially Laura. An ok mystery, but I'll have to try some others in her series.
This is my first Sue Grafton mystery. Kinsey is a PI investigating a case of no funeral benefits for a war veteran. She does this for free for her 80 year old landlord, who is about to get married. The landlord is very grumpy and I found it all a bit unrealistic. I didn't much like the other characters, especially Laura. An ok mystery, but I'll have to try some others in her series.
Aug 09, 2011
Melanie Hicks
added it
I enjoyed this book immensely. I don't really dislike any of the books in the series so far. I just like the character, and I know that she is going to have some adventures that are better than others. Once I find an author or character I like, I usually like anything he/she writes. I'm so loyal that Grafton could write D is for Doodoo and I'd love it! Guess I'm not much of a critic. Ha!
It's kind of amusing to read this series which seems to be set in the 90s. At least, it's pre-cell phone and internet, and when Kinsey pulls out the yellow book, it makes me remember how life used to be. Kinsey moves forward a little bit in her character development and it was encouraging that she reached out to someone to help her at the end of the book. Otherwise, it was slow-going through this book since the last third of the book involves what must be the world's longest road trip.
Kinsey learns a valuable lesson in this book - don't do favors for friends. What starts out as a simple investigation into what happened to a man living in a shed owned a young couple, turns into an ugly story of greed and chance meetings and as Kinsey unravels the mystery she nearly loses her life.
A story that was well crafted but did tip it's a hand just a little. Still a great read.
A story that was well crafted but did tip it's a hand just a little. Still a great read.
Kinsey is taking a week of vacation because her good friend and land lord Henry Pitt's brother is getting married to Rosie. Rosie owns a local restaurant where Kinsey often eats. Kinsey is one of the bridesmaids. Henry Pitts asks her to help one of his friends who is having trouble finding what branch of service his Dad Johnnie Lee was in. This is the best Sue Crafton book I have read so far. They are getting better. L is for Lawless is fast paced. Enjoyed it very much.
I've been getting back into these novels the past couple of summers after a good decade away. I am not exactly sure where I left off, so after I read Q-U, I picked up a few 'mid-alphabet' entries to see if they seemed familiar. This one was boring. Maybe that's what caused me to stop reading them. I think I'll read other things on my "to-read" shelf and wait for V before rejoining Kinsey.
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Connect with Sue herself on Facebook! www.facebook.com/suegrafton
Received the Shamus Award, "The Eye" (Lifetime achievement award) in 2003.
Family History:
Father: C.W. Grafton, born 1909, third son of Presbyterian Missionaries, born and raised in China, educated Presbyterian College, Clinton, South Carolina; practicing attorney in Louisville, Kentucky with a 40-year specialty in municipal bonds. Au...more
More about Sue Grafton...
Received the Shamus Award, "The Eye" (Lifetime achievement award) in 2003.
Family History:
Father: C.W. Grafton, born 1909, third son of Presbyterian Missionaries, born and raised in China, educated Presbyterian College, Clinton, South Carolina; practicing attorney in Louisville, Kentucky with a 40-year specialty in municipal bonds. Au...more
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