Can I read these out of order?

[Katie]

I have read A, I am now reading B, but after that I have N, T, and U. If, I read them out of order will I be terribly confused?

[Randee]

Not terribly but there are definitely reoccuring themes and incidents in each book that affect the continuing story line. If you can read them in order, it's best. If you can't read them in order, I wouldn't let that stop you from reading the ones you have. They are all good!

[Rho]

I read them out of order as I found them at garage sales. Did not find it a problem but after I was hooked read R through W from the library. It is probably best to read them in order - the stories are sequential. The thing I love best is that she is stuck in the 1980's without Google and a cell phone - great fun.

[Jack]

That's something, Rho. I read R is for Ricochet first, too. Recently I decided to read A is for Alibi as a cozy book. I did not see such a disconnect but, if I continue, B is for Burglar Sue Grafton would be next.

[L Y N N]

I always recommend reading A is for Alibi first simply because I feel it is the quintessential introduction to Kinsey overall. Beyond that I would agree with everyone else, probably better to read them in sequential order, but not absolutely necessary! One of my absolute favorite authors and series!

[Jack]

I think Sue Grafton is on "X" now. I see V is for Vengeance and W is for Wasted all over in bookstores.

[Vern]

Not reading them in order doesn't mess you up as far as plots and cases from book to book. It might mess you up in the details of Kinsey's life and some of the things that are referred to in later books might not make sense because you've perhaps skipped a book that details some of her history. Not a HUGE problem but I think it is fun to watch a character grow and develop along the way.

[Patricia]

Lynn wrote: "I always recommend reading A is for Alibi first simply because I feel it is the quintessential introduction to Kinsey overall. Beyond that I would agree with everyone else, probably better to read ..."

Couldn't agree more on both counts. Sue Grafton is a gift to mystery readers.

[Jon]

I agree with everyone else. Reading them out of order doesn't create any problems. However, if you decide to tackle Walter Mosley's Easy Rawlins series, then you HAVE to read them in order. Each book takes place during a specific time frame and Mosley will often reference events from earlier stories with major plot giveaways.

[Donna]

It's more fun if you read them in order. She develops her protagonist a lot more in the second half of the alphabet, which makes sense, because even a PI can only have so many attempts on her life, etc. to keep the story line interesting. She starts with a very noir, hard-boiled style and then gradually fills in the edges of her character and the other repeating characters as well.

[Pamela]

Yes, but why?
At least with this series, it's easy to know the order they are in, unlike so many others.

[Kirstina]

I read F is for Fugitive first. Then I read A is for Alibi and continued them in order after that. Reading them out of order doesn't create any problems.

[[deleted user]]

I have read A,B,C and didn't feel like it mattered much so I skipped to K as doing a summer reading bingo with my son and that was one of the squares. She made comments about things I remembered in previous books but didn't feel lost.

[Jack]

My first was R is for Ricochet. Years later and most recently I read A is for Alibi. I enjoyed R more than A and it didn't seem like I was missing anything as each story stands on its own.

[[deleted user]]

I agree some are definitely better than others. I have read A,B,C,K. I liked K best then A,C, and didn't really care for B.

[Holly]

I read them out of order at first it didn't matter although once I read them 2nd in order like any series when something pops up in a later book it makes more sense.
Enjoy!

[Nel]

Definitely read them in order!! This is true with almost all books that are in a series. You learn the characters and what is really going on behind the scenes. If you go to your local library you can get the books for free by checking them out or by putting a book on hold if it's not available at your local library. They will order it from another library within your county. First check out the author's website and they will have a list of their books so you'll know the order in which they should be read.

[Kirstina]

Nel wrote: "Definitely read them in order!! This is true with almost all books that are in a series. You learn the characters and what is really going on behind the scenes. If you go to your local library y..."
You can also get the list of books in a series at fantastic fiction.

[David]

Another resource for finding mystery/suspense/thriller authors' works is Stop You're Killing Me (www.stopyourekillingme.com). You can sign up for their twice monthly emails. The first (on the first of the month) lists authors they've added and the second (on the 15th) list new releases by their listed authors.

[Keith]

I have to agree. Read Alibi first if you can.

[Art (aka Whistler Reads)]

But GUESS WHAT !!! The best source for series order is goodreads!!!

[Sharon]

I read them in order. Each mystery is complete at the end of each book, but the personal issues and character growth carry over from book to book. Sue Grafton is my favorite author. I fell in love with first person mystery when I read her. Modeled my own Ruby Taylor mysteries after that series when I wrote it. Not that my writing compare. Sue Grafton is an absolute master.

[R.]

I started in the middle of the series and then doubled back. If you have a choice, start from the beginning. The characters really grow in this series and you'll get the full impact if you read them in order.

[Sharon]

I agree with reading them in order to see the growth of Kinsey. I don't think I'm giving anything away when I say I loved the book where Kins finds out she has relatives. That still has to be resolved. What does she have left to write? Three more books x,y, and z. Sue Grafton better get cracking. She like a grandma now and I read an interview she did that said she takes 14 months to write each book.

[Kirstina]

I agree that Sue Grafton better get busy writing them. She will be 80 by the time she writes the last one. I heard her speak last year right after W is for Wasted came out. I am dying to know the titles of the X and Y. In the talk she said that the last one would be Z is for Zero.

[Sharon]

x is going to be a tough one. let's see y…why is for yarn, yardstick, yodel. Just kidding. She usually has it be a word that connects back to crime somehow. We'll see what she does.

[Kirstina]

What about Y is Youth? Y is for Yardbird? ( another name for a criminal)

[David]

Y is for Yegg (safecracker)?

[Sharon]

yardbird is good. how about yellow for coward. or yesterday for a crime the happened in the past

[Janlee]

Katie wrote: "I have read A, I am now reading B, but after that I have N, T, and U. If, I read them out of order will I be terribly confused?"

Yes, you really need to read any series in order. Can you get the missing ones from your library?

[Shasta]

It's not completely necessary to read them in order, though sometimes she'll make slight references to previous cases. The main issue with reading them out of order is that her own personal life will be out of order for you, especially her relationships, like with her landlord Henry or cops she frequently deals with...

[Rose]

Katie wrote: "I have read A, I am now reading B, but after that I have N, T, and U. If, I read them out of order will I be terribly confused?"

Yes you can read them "out of order" ~ Sue Grafton writes her books & explains alot in the first few pages of each book so that you know what's going on :)

[P]

I have read all of the books, and you can read them out of order but reading A first gives a good introduction to the main character. Can't wait for the last 3.

[Thatreviewplace]

I've read all of them. It won't really matter reading them out of order, but you sort of chop and change with the continuity of Kinsey's life story.

[James]

I agree with the above comment. Out of order is ok, but in order is better. At times her personal life leaps if out of order.

[P]

I agree that reading in order is better, I felt that Sue's writing style changed somewhat in the last 4 or 5 books, although W was similar to her original style.

[Carrie]

I think it is better to read them in order, but it won't really hurt too much if you read them out of order, as each sort of gives a recap on who Kinsey is, and is a stand alone story within itself.

[CrisTina]

I started with D I believe (that is when I first discovered them) and a friend said "Why wouldn't you start with A?" Of course I was told you don't really have to and I didn't, lol. I don't feel I have missed anything by not reading them in order. I still have yet to read N, P and I believe L but have read all the others. I did the same with Janet Evanovich...started with 7 because that is when I first discovered her. I never have read 1 thru 6. Sometimes I feel both are repetitive and it bores me a little. To each his own, eh?! :)

[sublimosa]

I know I didn't start at A, I found one second hand, think it was D is for Deadbeat? and didn't know it was an alphabet series. Probably bounced around between A and G, once I was through them (picked them up as I found them second hand) read them in order.

[sonya]

I got a lot of these from my local library. So I tread through C so far

[Bimbim]

The books can be read in any order. Each books provides a background of the characters (Kinsey, her landlord, her current boyfriend, etc.) and events that happened previously.

I buy mine through bargain book sales so I do not have the luxury of reading them in order.

[Patricia]

Katie wrote: "I have read A, I am now reading B, but after that I have N, T, and U. If, I read them out of order will I be terribly confused?"

I have read all of them (mostly in order) however have found that each is a story unto itself and although there are sometimes references to an earlier book, the current plot does not depend on it. I enjoy rereading one every now and then.

[[deleted user]]

You can definitely read them out of sequence. All the mysteries and story lines stand on their own. There are references and subplots in each book to Kinsey's social life, as well as some continuing themes, but unlike some books you won't be lost if you haven't read prior books. Sue Grafton is a fabulous writer, she doesn't leave you lost if you haven't read prior books, but unlike some authors she doesn't fill pages by writing about old history that you can figure out yourself as you go along.

[Lorraine]

You can but there are psychological things going on in Kinsey's mind that make more sense if you read them in order. If you don't, then you'll be going along in an earlier book and definitely have an "ahah!" moment! Either way will work.

[Nd]

You may, but I wouldn't. Much better in sequence.

[Jean]

Katie wrote: "I have read A, I am now reading B, but after that I have N, T, and U. If, I read them out of order will I be terribly confused?"
Each book stands on its own. However, there are characters introduced or incidents that happened in a ceetain alphabet that if u read the book two alphabets down, you'll wonder "who is that?"or "what happened to her?"

[Julie]

I started somewhere in the middle and went back to the beginning and the to the end. Kinsey's life doesn't change much, and she starts each book with background as to who she is.

So, no start anywhere you like. I recommend that you listen to the audio versions too.

[Betty]

By now everyone has put their opinions in. I have read all in order. However, each book contains enough backstory where necessary to be read independent of each other. After A-W Kinsey hasn't aged a day, the years haven't advanced much, she still doesn't have a cellphone, and her neighbor is still a spry senior citizen that she adores. Plus she still has the same "little black dress". Grafton is one of life's guilty pleasures. Just enjoy the writing.

[Lorraine]

Pamela wrote: "Yes, but why?
At least with this series, it's easy to know the order they are in, unlike so many others."

Precisely!

[Carrie]

Betty wrote: "By now everyone has put their opinions in. I have read all in order. However, each book contains enough backstory where necessary to be read independent of each other. After A-W Kinsey hasn't aged ..."

Aww man, I have been waiting for the day she gets a cell phone! I guess I'll keep on waiting!