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Kinsey Millhone #17-18
Q is for Quarry & R is for Ricochet
2 Books in 1 Omnibus
Q is for Quarry
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 found the body, both nearing the end of long careers in law enforcement, want one last shot at the case. Old and ill, they need someone to help with their legwork and they turn to Kinsey Millhone. They will, they tell her, find closure if they can just identify the victim. Kinsey is intrigued and agrees to the job.
But revisiting the past can be a dangerous business, and what begins with the pursuit of Jane Doe's real identity ends in a high-risk hunt for her killer.
R is for Ricochet
Reba Lafferty was a daughter of privilege, the only child of an adoring father. Nord Lafferty was already in his fifties when Reba was born, and he could deny her nothing. Over the years, he quietly settled her many scrapes with the law, but he wasn't there for her when she was convicted of embezzlement and sent to the California Institution for Women. Now, at thirty-two, she is about to be paroled, having served twenty-two months of a four-year sentence. Nord Lafferty wants to be sure she stays straight, stays at home and away from the drugs, the booze, the gamblers." "It seems a straightforward assignment for Kinsey: babysit Reba until she settles in, make sure she follows all the rules of her parole. Maybe all of a week's work. Nothing untoward - the woman seems remorseful and friendly. And the money is good." But life is never that simple, and Reba is out of prison less than twenty-four hours when one of her old crowd comes circling round.
Q is for Quarry
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 found the body, both nearing the end of long careers in law enforcement, want one last shot at the case. Old and ill, they need someone to help with their legwork and they turn to Kinsey Millhone. They will, they tell her, find closure if they can just identify the victim. Kinsey is intrigued and agrees to the job.
But revisiting the past can be a dangerous business, and what begins with the pursuit of Jane Doe's real identity ends in a high-risk hunt for her killer.
R is for Ricochet
Reba Lafferty was a daughter of privilege, the only child of an adoring father. Nord Lafferty was already in his fifties when Reba was born, and he could deny her nothing. Over the years, he quietly settled her many scrapes with the law, but he wasn't there for her when she was convicted of embezzlement and sent to the California Institution for Women. Now, at thirty-two, she is about to be paroled, having served twenty-two months of a four-year sentence. Nord Lafferty wants to be sure she stays straight, stays at home and away from the drugs, the booze, the gamblers." "It seems a straightforward assignment for Kinsey: babysit Reba until she settles in, make sure she follows all the rules of her parole. Maybe all of a week's work. Nothing untoward - the woman seems remorseful and friendly. And the money is good." But life is never that simple, and Reba is out of prison less than twenty-four hours when one of her old crowd comes circling round.
977 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2008
3 people are currently reading
199 people want to read
About the author
Sue Grafton
143 books6,548 followersSue 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.
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.
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
August 5, 2012
Q is for Quarry:
This was quite a long book in the Alphabet series but one I greatly enjoyed. Kinsey hooks up with 2 retired cop pals to help them see if they can close a cold case. A girl's body had been found 18 years previously and she had never been identified nor anyone convicted of killing her.
It was very well put together and a lot of the characters were interesting people she encounters along the way too.
One comment made me smile about Kinsey's version of digital research-walking her fingers through a phone book !! Hehehe....
A postscript to this particular book was that this book was based on a true story and this girl was never identified either and Sue Grafton tells what she knows of her story which is very close indeed to the fiction she created and also added a forensic artist's mockup of what she looked like. So who knows, perhaps in time she can rest in peace.
R is for Ricochet:
I wasn't as keen on this one as the previous books, I have to say. There was a load of unnecessary bogged down stuff all about money laundering which I was glazing over reading and I just wasn't as happy with this tale. I did like Kinsey's new friend Reba and I'd like to see her again in future books. She didn't make a bad private investigator herself !!
Kinsey herself seemed a bit watered down in comparison with Reba and not as plucky as she usually is. Of course I'll be looking out for more but this was not one of the best for me.
This was quite a long book in the Alphabet series but one I greatly enjoyed. Kinsey hooks up with 2 retired cop pals to help them see if they can close a cold case. A girl's body had been found 18 years previously and she had never been identified nor anyone convicted of killing her.
It was very well put together and a lot of the characters were interesting people she encounters along the way too.
One comment made me smile about Kinsey's version of digital research-walking her fingers through a phone book !! Hehehe....
A postscript to this particular book was that this book was based on a true story and this girl was never identified either and Sue Grafton tells what she knows of her story which is very close indeed to the fiction she created and also added a forensic artist's mockup of what she looked like. So who knows, perhaps in time she can rest in peace.
R is for Ricochet:
I wasn't as keen on this one as the previous books, I have to say. There was a load of unnecessary bogged down stuff all about money laundering which I was glazing over reading and I just wasn't as happy with this tale. I did like Kinsey's new friend Reba and I'd like to see her again in future books. She didn't make a bad private investigator herself !!
Kinsey herself seemed a bit watered down in comparison with Reba and not as plucky as she usually is. Of course I'll be looking out for more but this was not one of the best for me.
July 31, 2022
Always love Sue Grafton and Kinsey Millhone
May 18, 2013
Just discovered Sue Grafton! Love her books ... reading up to 3 a week!
Read
August 31, 2014enjoyed reading this
October 27, 2016
Thought they really were interesting. I learn a lot from Grafton.
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews