A is for Alibi (Kinsey Millhone Mystery)
by Sue Graftonpublished
November 1st 2005
(first published 1983)
by St. Martin's Paperbacks
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binding
Mass Market Paperback, 320 pages
characters
setting
United States
isbn
0312938993
(isbn13: 9780312938994)
description
This first novel in the "Alphabet" series introduces the character of Kinsey Millhone, a twice-divorced private eye based in Santa Teresa, C...more
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avg 3.65
Read in December, 2007
Kinsey Millhone is a single female working as a private investigator in Santa Theresa, California. She is hired by Nikki Fife, the convicted murdered of Lawrence Fife (her husband), to find out who really killed him. Her investigation leads her into a series of other murders that seem to be connected.
I don't know if I can even justify one star on this book. I was at no point able to "connect" with Kinsey. I love a strong female character, but she does not fit that bill. She is...more
I don't know if I can even justify one star on this book. I was at no point able to "connect" with Kinsey. I love a strong female character, but she does not fit that bill. She is...more
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I read this book as part of an interdisciplinary course in law school entitled "Law in Literature." While the book was acceptable average in terms of its overall plot, development, and color, my enjoyment of the novel came from the fact that until the last half of the book (when the protagonist - a female detective - sleeps with a man she is investigating) I hadn't realized that the main character was a woman. I thought of myself as suitably progressive when the novel described the m...more
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Read in January, 2008
Listened to this on book tape downloaded from the library because I wasn't feeling good and had to stay in bed. Not a very believable murder mystery that I will probably forget all about listening to, but it was entertaining while I was sick.
"Eight years after her release from prison, Nikki Fife hired California Private Investigator, Kinsey Millhone, to find out who killed her husband and framed her for the crime. As Kinsey investigates, she finds out that almost everyone wanted Mr. Fi...more
"Eight years after her release from prison, Nikki Fife hired California Private Investigator, Kinsey Millhone, to find out who killed her husband and framed her for the crime. As Kinsey investigates, she finds out that almost everyone wanted Mr. Fi...more
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I won't bother to review the whole A through S (so far) series, and I doubt I could remember my reaction to each individual book in any case. As a whole, though, I love this series. Sure, it's total pulp fiction, but it's enjoyable nonetheless. First, the series is based in Santa Teresa, CA, a very thinly disguised Santa Barbara, which makes it great fun for anyone who's lived in SB. (My *favorite* alteration is that Mission Street become Missile Street!) Second, Kinsey Millhone is your prototy...more
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Read in July, 2007
I’ve only recently discovered Kinsey Millhone, and while I’m very late to do so, its true what they say - better late, than never. This is a series that I will continue to follow.
For anyone else who is unfamiliar with Sue Grafton’s alphabet series, these soft-boiled mysteries follow Kinsey Millhone, a 30-something, no-nonsense, one-time cop turned PI as she navigates herself through one case after another.
In the first installment, “A is for Alibi”, we get a feel for Kinsey as...more
For anyone else who is unfamiliar with Sue Grafton’s alphabet series, these soft-boiled mysteries follow Kinsey Millhone, a 30-something, no-nonsense, one-time cop turned PI as she navigates herself through one case after another.
In the first installment, “A is for Alibi”, we get a feel for Kinsey as...more
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Read in July, 2006
'A' is for Alibi," by Sue Grafton, is narrated in the first-person by California private investigator Kinsey Millhone--a twice-divorced, childless 32-year old woman who lives in a one-room "bachelorette" apartment. Kinsey is hired by Nikki Fife, a woman who had been sent to prison after being convicted of murdering her husband. Nikki maintains her innocence and wants Kinsey to find the real killer--eight years after the murder. This assignment leads to deceit and danger for the sl...more
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I've read every single one of Sue Grafton's mysteries through R. They're quick, fun, not usually too violent or graphically bloody, and exciting enough they keep me wanting to read more. I've never been disappointed. Fiercely independant private investigator Kinsey Millhone almost always gets herself stuck in a few tight spots, and has at least one close call in every book. I'm not going to rate everyone because I would give them all 4 stars. They're really that consistently good!!
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Es bastante mañoso, porque se trata de un personaje cool metido en un mundo más o menos cool, de gente bien, bonita, que comete sus crímenes con cierta decencia y que no se adentra demasiado en algún demonio o cosa por el estilo. Formaría parte de esta literatura del bienestar burgués posmoderno, aunque claro, tiene su lado divertido y se deja leer muy bien. La investigadora es divertida, pero sospecho que llegando hacia la G puede empezar a volverse tediosa. Para playita.
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Read in April, 2008
A good book, not great. I found the little details she added to the story, like getting a cheesburger at McDonalds, annoying and pointless. There was little action, little character development. But then, this was a very early book. Given Grafton's popularity now she has either improved in her story telling or the general reading public is more easily entertained than I thought.
Some day I will have to try out one of her more recent novels.
Some day I will have to try out one of her more recent novels.
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Read in January, 1980
OK, I have read every one of Sue Grafton's books, from A to T, and I keep trying to get folks to read them. Sue Grafton is an incredible writer and each novel gets better and better. Her books are to savor, not race through. BTW, you can go onto ebay and get this entire series used for about $20, which includes shipping--though this set usually will only include the paperbacks so it may be missing the most recent books in the series.
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I really enjoyed these books when I first started them and then they all started seeming the same to me and I have to say I gave up on the series. I don't remember how high I went (will have to look that up sometime on Amazon) but when I do, I will add them. :)
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Suspenseful up to the last pages! I'm glad to have started this series. Releasing it into the wild through www.BookCrossing.com. :D
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At Barnes & Noble, cheapster that I am, I discovered a 3-in-1 superthick novel with the alphabetical titles A-B-C. I read all about Kinsey Millhone, went on the hunt for the bad guys (and gals) with her and went back for D-E-F combo. I will read her book in two days and then moan because one has to wait two years for another one. I bought T is for Trepass before Christmas and in an unusual move of patience I told my husband he could wrap it up for me and put it under the tree. He did so (wel...more
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These are well known, so I won't spend much time. If you like mysteries, especially with P.I.'s, then these are well-worth reading.
Has the same implausabilites of every other book in this genre (how much abuse can one detective take over the years?), but I like the fact the author has kept this set in the 1980's specifically to avoid having the internet avaialable to Kinsey Milhone.
The last book, Trespass, was terrible. Suspense, weak at that, and not a mystery at all. As happens with s...more
Has the same implausabilites of every other book in this genre (how much abuse can one detective take over the years?), but I like the fact the author has kept this set in the 1980's specifically to avoid having the internet avaialable to Kinsey Milhone.
The last book, Trespass, was terrible. Suspense, weak at that, and not a mystery at all. As happens with s...more
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I'm not going to review all of the Grafton books; suffice it to say that I keep up with the series, and that they should be considered in that context. Grafton has done a good job with the mystery genre: she has developed compelling, flawed, repeating characters who bind the novels together. The plots are usually not as contrived as are many mysteries. Her heroine is the L.A. version of Rebus: single, perversely unable to act in her own best interests, a supporting cast of interesting [flawe...more
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Has a copy to sell/swap
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Read in February, 2006
This was the first Sue Grafton book I read. I was curious about her books, especially the fact that my dearest Larry loved her books, which did play a factor in me reading this. However I admit I am not really a fan of mystery novels and this book did not capture my attention, nor was unique enough. Not only that, but Kinsey, the detective/main character of the book/series was a kind of a woman I am not too fond of. She is the cut-and-dry kind. All throughout the book, I've had to go "This...more
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I'm not going to review all these books - they're all pretty similar. This is one of my "guilty pleasures" though I'm not sure how much guilt I actually feel about reading them. LOL ;) These modern day gumshoe mysteries are great; I have never read one I was disapointed in. I especially like that the gumshoe is a woman, but still has that classic hardened detective vibe about her. If you want a lighter, but entertaining, read and you like detective/mystery stories pick up this series. ...more
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Read in April, 2008
recommended to Jami by:
mystery lovers
This is the first book in a series. The main character is a private investigator by the name of Kinsey Millhone. Each of the books in the series is labeled by a letter of the alphabet. This book was a quick read. It is a great read for anyone who likes mystery books. The case that Kinsey Millhone is investigating involves the death of a man named Lawrence Fife. His wife, Nikki Fife, has served an eight year prison sentence after being convicted of the murder. She has been released form prison,...more
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Read in January, 2007
All of Sue Grafton's alphabet series are pretty good. They are about Private Investigator Kinsey Milhone. The series is set in the 80's, so it's a lot of "old fashioned" detective work. Even though she just came out with T is for Trespass in 2007 the series stays in the 80's, I think possibly even in the same year. I like them when I need a break from the cruelty of crimes found in Lisa Gardner or Tess Gerritsen books. She doesn't go into as much detail because she's not actually ...more
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Read in January, 2006
recommends it for:
Crime fans
I love this full series of Sue Grafton. I studied these as part of my Media degree on the Feamle Detecitve and these books are light, amusing, an easy read and rdeliver time after time after time. I love Kinsey Millhone, the heroine and her exploits which are fun but action packed and very believable at the same time. Once you read one you will be hooked.
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