A Is for Alibi & B Is for Burglar

Kinsey Millhone #1-2

by Sue Grafton

A Is for Alibi & B Is for Burglar collects the first two novels in the #1 New York Times bestselling Kinsey Millhone series by Sue Grafton…

In A is for Alibi , tough-talking private investigator Kinsey Millhone has set up a modest detective agency in a quiet corner of Santa Teresa, California. A twice-divorced loner with few personal attachments, she's got a soft spot for lost causes. That's why she draws clients like Nikki Fife. Nikki is out on parole after serving time for allegedly killing her husband, and needs Kinsey's help to find the real killer. But clearing Nikki's name won't be easy....

In B is for Burglar , Kinsey is reluctant to take on the case of locating Beverly Danziger's sister Elaine. It's a small matter that Beverly should be able to handle herself. So why is she enlisting Kinsey's services? And if there's something she's learned in her line of work, it's to always follow your instincts…

Genres: Mystery

640 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published January 1, 2001

About the author

Sue Grafton was a #1 New York Times bestselling author. She is best known for her “alphabet series” featuring private investigator Kinsey Millhone in the fictional city of Santa Teresa, California. Prior to success with this series, she wrote screenplays for television movies. Her earlier novels include Keziah Dane (1967) and The Lolly-Madonna War (1969), both out of print. In the book Kinsey and Me she gave us stories that revealed Kinsey's origins and Sue's past.

Grafton never wanted her novels to be turned into movies or TV shows. According to her family she would never allow a ghost writer to write in her name. Because of these things, and out of respect for Sue’s wishes, the family announced the alphabet now ends at “Y”

Grafton was named a Grand Master by the Mystery Writers of America and received the Lifetime Achievement Award from the Private Eye Writers of America, the Ross Macdonald Literary Award, three Shamus Awards, and many other honors and awards.

Grafton had three children from previous marriages and several grandchildren, including a granddaughter named Kinsey. She and her husband lived in Montecito, California, and Louisville, Kentucky.

Reviews

[Gwen Kelly · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent writing, excellent stories, so excellent experience. I will be continuing on with the series as it delivered on all that you want in a novel. The storyline moved along, had the right amount of tension and desire to make you want to keep reading on.

[delaney :) · Rating 4 out of 5]

had a lot of fun reading these books and look forward to reading the rest of the series!!

[Janis · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the first of the Sue Grafton alphabet mysteries that I have read. I really enjoyed her private investigator character Kinsey Millhone. The story has a lot of twist and turns facing Millhone as she takes on the case of Nikki Fife who having served eight years in prison for the murder of her husband, Laurence Fife, wants to learn who really did kill her former husband. For the reader and Kinsey it seems like an unsolvable case. Grafton presents the facts of the case in the first chapter and slowly introduces the characters who could be the murderer. Trying to figure out how anyone could have replaced his allergy capsules with the poison from the white oleander flower that grows everywhere in California proves a daunting task. Kinsey soon learns that Laurence has a lot of enemies, but the finger of the case still points to his wife until Kinsey slowly gets to know his enemies. I really like a mystery that keeps me guessing and where the investigator takes those types of lost causes cases. I know I will be reading the rest of the alphabet series in 2023

[Mary Rowland · Rating 4 out of 5]

A is for alibi was truly a great book this is been one of the best series I’ve ever read there’s always a little something in each book you wish was a little better or a little different but Sue Grafton is truly been a brilliant writer and this is one the best mystery series featuring a woman

B it’s for burglar truly another great book in the series enjoyed learning about Kinsey Millhone as you go along in each story
No one of these books is the same mystery each time it’s always something different and new place and new face but Kenzie and her friend stay the same just really enjoyed the series

[Octavia Cade · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read and reviewed the two books collected here separately, so this is basically just for my own records. I gave both of them three stars, so the collected rating's easy to figure. I did like the second more than the first, as I think it was a little pacier, and the story generally more interesting. Basically, though, these are popcorn mystery reads with an increasingly likeable protagonist. Kinsey was perhaps a little bland in A is for Alibi, but by the second book she's getting more compelling secondary characters to bounce off, and that's helping to keep my interest.

[Will McGee · Rating 4 out of 5]

My first and second by Sue Grafton and the first two books in the... I guess ABCs of murder? series? I'm not sure what the official name is. Anyway, these stories follow private investigator Kinsey Millhone as she reopens an 8 year old murder case and looks for a missing woman on behalf of her sister. They're great page-turners with fun characters and an interesting setting and at some point I'd be glad to check out the rest of the series - I just need to get through some of the other series I've already started on first.

[Colleen Earle · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed b is for burglar more than a is for alibi
A felt a little overwritten and like it was trying too hard, but b felt a lot more natural
After finishing a I wasn’t sure I’d continue in the series, but b has convinced me
I really like the characters and I’m excited to see how they develop

[Carrie Billig]

0

[Chris · Rating 3 out of 5]

somehow I missed all of the profanity the first time around. Of course this time I was listening to it read on a CD. I guess things are more offensive outloud. And you can't skip. I still love this character and the mystery was very intriguing, but please tell my that Kinsie cleans up her language! I may have to rerate all of this series!