"Ms. Grafton writes a smart story and wraps it up with a wry twist."
THE NEW YORK TIMES BOOK REVIEW
Wendell Jaffe has been dead for... read full description
THE NEW YORK TIMES BOOK REVIEW
Wendell Jaffe has been dead for... read full description
reviews
Jan 02, 2009
Antof9
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Review from BookCrossing: I've been reading 1 or 2 books in the series at a time. I realize I should space them out further, though, as the use of "detritus" when Kinsey goes through someone else's trash in both this book and "I" back-to-back bothered me :) I am also getting tired of the smoking. There are a lot of cigarettes in these books, and they seem to be becoming more popular, not less. Last, I don't remember the "f" word at all in the first several books, b
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Jan 05, 2010
Sarah
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I've gotta admit...in between finding new authors to read and catching up on the newest books in the series that I love, Kinsey is a great break! Sue Grafton's Alphabet Series is my go-to easy read and J is for Judgment was no exception.
In this book, Kinsey is working on a case for California Fidelity. After the way that their working relationship ended, it's no surprise that this assignment is a personal favor for Mac. Kinsey ends up tailing a con-man that bilked millions of doll More...
In this book, Kinsey is working on a case for California Fidelity. After the way that their working relationship ended, it's no surprise that this assignment is a personal favor for Mac. Kinsey ends up tailing a con-man that bilked millions of doll More...
Feb 03, 2011
Angela
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Several years ago, a man disappeared off his boat in the Pacific Ocean. He was recently declared dead and his insurance monies were paid out to his wife and two sons. The drawback? The insurance agent who sold him his policy is certain he saw him during a recent vacation to Mexico. Kinsey Millhone gets contacted by California Fidelity, her previous employer, to spend some time in Mexico to see if the agent was correct. If so, they will need to reverse the claim payment and reinstute the pre
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Dec 29, 2008
Eric_W
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In "J" is for Judgment, Sue Grafton's Kinsey Milhone is hired to find a man who supposedly committed suicide several years earlier. She locates the scoundrel in Mexico in the company of a woman whose husband had died several years previously, and her subject is using the dead man's name. Millhone manages to dig up plenty of dirt in her search for the truth behind the obvious. It's a good story for a long trip, although being abridged, much of Grafton's caustic writing has been los
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Aug 09, 2011
Marilyn
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"Once again, Kinsey Millhone, America's favorite female P.I., embroils herself in a complex and entertaining Alphabet Murder Mystery.
When Wendell Jaffe, mastermind of a real-estate scam, disappeared at sea, nobody was found. Now, five years later, he's declared legally dead and California Fidelity has to pay up on his life insurance policy . . . to the tune of half a million dollars. Soon after, the tune slides off-key when Jaffe is spotted in Mexico - and Fidelity hires Kinsey M More...
When Wendell Jaffe, mastermind of a real-estate scam, disappeared at sea, nobody was found. Now, five years later, he's declared legally dead and California Fidelity has to pay up on his life insurance policy . . . to the tune of half a million dollars. Soon after, the tune slides off-key when Jaffe is spotted in Mexico - and Fidelity hires Kinsey M More...
Mar 23, 2010
Kricket
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in which kinsey visits mexico on the lookout for wendell jaffe, a ponzi schemer who staged his own suicide before leaving the country.
the thing that struck me yet again is that, for a self-alleged misanthrope, kinsey is really good at getting people to talk to her and trust her. she's constantly showing up unannounced at people's homes demanding information and they all invite her in for coffee and a chat, and allow her to come back even after she pisses them off. i know that this st More...
the thing that struck me yet again is that, for a self-alleged misanthrope, kinsey is really good at getting people to talk to her and trust her. she's constantly showing up unannounced at people's homes demanding information and they all invite her in for coffee and a chat, and allow her to come back even after she pisses them off. i know that this st More...
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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
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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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Sep 07, 2008
Kellie
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This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers.
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Aug 10, 2008
Aaron
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Kinsey Milhone's adventures keep her fairly local in this 10th volume of the popular series by Sue Grafton. She is hired by her former imployer, insurance company California Fidelity, to look into what might be the reappearance of Wendell Jaffe, a man with questionable business tactics who supposedly committed suicide five years earlier as a result of business deals gone bad. CF just recently paid out a $500,000 claim on his death after he was declared dead. He had actually sailed his boat out t
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Jun 22, 2008
Rose
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In J is for Judgment, the 1993 installment of Sue Grafton's popular "alphabet" series, private investigator Kinsey Millhone is hired by her former employer California Fidelity Insurance (CFI) to track down Wendell Jaffe. Five years prior, Jaffe took his boat, The Captain Stanley Lord, out to sea off the California coast and was never heard from again. Due to the recent collapse of Jaffe's shady real estate deals, which bankrupted his investors and landed his partner in jail, and his re
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Mar 25, 2011
Carol
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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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Jul 02, 2011
Jeannette
rated it:
This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers.
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Jan 21, 2009
Julianne
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This one takes Kinsey off to Mexico to find a dead man! She finds him, and that makes her insurance company happy, as maybe they can recover the $500,000 they just paid out to his "widow". But knowing he is there and proving it may be two different things, plus maybe the mistreated widow isn't the only one who was mistreated. Could there be another side to this story? And how did Kinsey end up with cousins? Wasn't she all alone in the world?
Dec 07, 2011
April the Cheshire Meow
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It's great. The only quibble is how the involved suspects tell Kinsey their parts played in criminal activities without holding much back despite her job in bringing them to justice. Plus she seems oblivious as to how the seeking of truth and justice can wipe out whatever gains any innocent participants may have inadvertently won through wayward events. However, Kinsey's unusual perseverance never fails to impress me.
Nov 21, 2008
Sarah
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I liked this book. The story was at times slow, and the author writes in way too much detail for my taste, ie..."she opened the door and walked down the hall passing two flights of stairs, blah, blah, blah." Her books could easily be 100 pages less with some editing of nonessential information. The best part of this book was the ending and the characters last thoughts on the case. I'm glad I finished this one.
Aug 21, 2011
Darcy
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I thought that this one was aptly titled as there was a lot of judgement going on. People judged the supposed dead man and Kinsey learned she actually has family and judges them. Kinsey's new facts of life were the most interesting. I was excited for her until she came up with some great reason why she was mad, or at least leery of them, because they were great ones. I hope we learn more in the next few books.
Apr 10, 2010
Lola4
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Maybe it was the mood I was in, but I just couldn't get interested in this book. It took me forever to finish it, just little bits at a time. I can't say anything specific I disliked about it, except that a lot of the time the protagonist's behavior and choices just made no sense to me, I just never felt any enthusiasm and had to force myself to persist to the end. The most enjoyment I got from it was closing it when it was finally over.
Jun 30, 2011
Jon
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I like Grafton's style and the character of Kinsey Millhone is still a winner, but this book didn't work as well for me in the plot department. The central mystery never really picks up momentum and the side plot of delving into Kinsey Millhone's long estranged extended family doesn't come into any sort of conclusion (maybe later titles in the series). Anyway, just a "meh" for me.
Jul 29, 2011
Catherine
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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.
Jan 18, 2011
Kathryn
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This one is about a man who disappeared and was presumed dead, being seen alive. As usual, I had no idea who did the deed until the very end. As usual, there were a couple spots with inconsistencies. But, overall, I had trouble putting it down; I wanted to see what happened next. And I enjoy the strong, smart, no-nonsense female lead.
Feb 18, 2011
Susan
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I stopped reading this series around "D" or "E" years ago because I didn't think that the main character, Kinsey, was growing much. I decided to give these another try and am working my way through them on audio. This book introduced some new elements of Kinsey's personal life, so I think there may be further character development.
Jul 30, 2011
Bit more depth in this book about Kinsey's feelings and her family background. Is this paving the way for a future house move and more characters? Will Henry be alive still by X is for.....?
A good plot which kepy me guessing to the end. One of the better ABC murders along with G and H.
A good plot which kepy me guessing to the end. One of the better ABC murders along with G and H.
Jan 07, 2012
Christine
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This story was more engaging than a lot of the earlier ones, but I wasn't happy with the ending. I am used to Grafton tying up all the loose ends, and this one actually ended with a few questions hanging out there. Still a nice series to break up the other reading with, though.
Dec 08, 2011
Rachel
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Kinsey Milhone is a fun and spunky PI heroine. The alphabet series is great because it takes place starting in 1982. PI work seems terribly rudimentary before cellphones, the internet and other modern technology. References to gabardine suits and Chardonnay are greatly appreciated.
Nov 07, 2009
Chris
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This was another 3 CD book from the library, and again, I believe they just leave out too much in these abridged versions. I was fun listening to it on a road trip to California, but it was just too short for me. And this was about my least favorite book of her series also.
May 10, 2009
Mary
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I read "I" and "J" one right after the other. "J" was better in my opinion. It was somehow more of a mystery, whatever that means. I like the heroine's "voice." And in this one, we start to get more of a glimpse into her childhood, a backstory which brings more interest.
May 06, 2009
Jenn
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Am I losing interest in Kinsey? I'm not sure, but I found myself being bogged down in this book. I read and reread paragraphs with no interest. I couldn't wait for the book to end. At the end, I couldn't care less who did it or why? I hope it was just this book and not the series.
Mar 27, 2011
Betty
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I have been working my way thorugh Sue Grafton's A to U mysteries featuring Kinsey Millhone detective for a while and think this is one of the best I have read. I still like quirky Kinsey, and liked the plot, and characters in this novel plus we find out more about Kinsey.
Aug 20, 2010
Beth
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I re-read this for a long plane journey. Both plot and character hold up well. Kinsey (ironic with an amusing edge to her commentary) tracks down a presumed suicide (who turns out not to have committed suicide) as she learns more about her own family background.
