Feb / Mar 2017 Group Read - A is for Alibi by Sue Grafton

[Bill]

This is the thread for A is for Alibi by Sue Grafton. Moderator will be Cassia.

Thanks for voting. Enjoy the book and discussions. Welcome to the world of Private Investigator Kinsey Millhone.

[Cassia]

Hi everyone!

I stayed for a long time without reading books. This year I decided to return but to know and read other authors.

"A is for Alibi" caught my attention by curiosity about "alphabet mysteries" and also because I had not read yet.

I'm still reading, but this book Sue Grafton describes the events as simply and clearly that sometimes I feel physically close, seeing and hearing Kinsey Millhone narrating the facts.

As soon as it's finished, I'll write more comments.

Enjoy reading.

[Bill]

I read this many moons ago and it's become a comfortable series that I dust off once or twice a year. Next on my list will be S... I hope you all enjoy the book and the discussions.

[Skye]

Hi Cassia and Bill; I am up to U in this series, but I have read each one in order. I'll be honest here, I can't find this one and I have kept this series, and had I not read B is for Burglar immediately afterwards, I may not have stayed with the series. However, I ADORE Kinsey Millhone and her entourage of unusual but very likeable characters: her landlord, a former baker, his family, the Hungarian woman who forces her to eat bizarre food at the local restaurant, and Kinsey's persona. I read many intense books and Grafton's books give me a sense of peace and humor.

[Thomas]

I read A is for Alibi in Jan 1996 and no longer have it. But I am also a fan and have read all of her books including X

[Skye]

How were the last four, Thomas?

[Thomas]

I gave the last 4 4 out of 5 stars, but only wrote a review for X. See
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

[Skye]

Thanks, Thomas!!!

[Thomas]

You're Welcome

[Susanna - Censored by GoodReads]

I think I've read this one, but long ago; will see if I can find a copy.

[Skye]

Susannah, the series is wonderful; a 90 degree change from Tudor, however.

[Suzy]

I'm excited that this was picked. I read it when it first came out in paperback in the early 80's and just started listening to an audio copy - available from my library on Overdrive.

It's fun to reconnect to Kinsey and to all the "unusual characters", as Skye described them. While I've forgotten the details of the plot of this book, I immediately remember all these characters and many of the scenes in Santa Teresa. Grafton has a talent for helping us see and feel everything that's going on. One thing that's struck me this time, is that by writing in first person, Grafton can avoid the trap of overblown descriptions that some mystery writers fall prey to. I look forward to more discussion.

[Skye]

Suzy, I agree with what you said. I adore the fact she cuts her hair, and her one and only dress, she throws in her bag and pulls it out for special occasions. I adore her first- person narrative and the way she introduces herself and gives a brief recap of who she is, what she does and why. I adore her manner of eating and all the crazy guys she falls for AND her infamous VFW.

[Suzy]

Skye wrote: "Suzy, I agree with what you said. I adore the fact she cuts her hair, and her one and only dress, she throws in her bag and pulls it out for special occasions. I adore her first- person narrative a..."

And don't forget her one-room garage/apartment. :) This group read may just get me running through the alphabet again. I'm not sure I got past H anyway.

[aPriL does feral sometimes]

I am still following Kinsey's adventures as I have for almost two decades! My next intended book is 'W'. If I remember, 'A' was not the author's best, but she got much better very fast.

[Skye]

I agree that A is For Alibi was a disappointment. I am ready to buy U, did you read that, and if so, your thoughts.

[aPriL does feral sometimes]

As far as the plot of U, I thought it a bit stretched, so I gave it only three stars, but it is significant for Kinsey personally as she learns something about her family.

If you want to read my review, here is a link. I don't believe I had any spoilers if you have been reading these books in order (people just starting with 'A' shouldn't click on my link at all), but at the same time, you may not want to see anything at all about the plot anyway! : )

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/6...

[Skye]

Thanks, aPril; I'm heading there now.

[Maria]

Found it today in the library. Looks like a nice read.

[Skye]

:))

[Bill]

Hi all! I've seen Sue Grafton around for ages, but I think that at most I only ever read a short story. I'd forgotten that she had a great sense of humor and quirky characters -- I love both and feel like they're hard to find in mysteries. Excited to check this out and hear what you all think!

[Skye]

That's great: she's one of my favorites.

[Suzy]

It's so interesting to read books written before the era of technology and the internet. Kinsey writes up her notes on 3x5 cards, is constantly making phone calls to get information, has a secretary to take phone messages, gets some info by telex, stops at a gas station to ask for directions (!). I haven't gone very far in the series over the years to know if she adapts to changing technology.

Also, I wonder if I had just been reading this for the first time, how I would feel about the book. For me, half the delight was reconnecting with Kinsey after a number of years. But the mystery/thriller category has exploded since this was written and it seemed a little tame to me. I'm pondering my review. I'm curious how many of you are reading Grafton for the first time with this group read, and if so what you think.

[Skye]

Suzy; this is the only book of hers I can't find; it has to be here somewhere, and yes, you are so right about the lack of technology and the fact the story lines in her books are tame. I have read through T and ready for U and I keep waiting for her to make a 'slip.' I think I like the characters more than the actual mysteries; it's her voice/tone that is so appealing, and when I have finished a series of books that are graphic, violent, gruesome or just 'heavy,' Grafton makes things seem normal.

[Thomas]

Grafton gave an interview where she explained that all of the books take place in the 80s, only months apart. So there is very little advance in technology.
If you want some background on Grafton, see Kinsey and Me: Stories
My review, 4/5 https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

[Skye]

:)

[Suzy]

Thomas wrote: "Grafton gave an interview where she explained that all of the books take place in the 80s, only months apart. So there is very little advance in technology.
If you want some background on Grafton, ..."

Thanks, Thomas! I think you mentioned this earlier in the thread, but I appreciate your reminder.

[Suzy]

Skye wrote: "Suzy; this is the only book of hers I can't find; it has to be here somewhere, and yes, you are so right about the lack of technology and the fact the story lines in her books are tame. I have read..."

I was thinking something similar, Skye, about graphic, gruesome and violent. The ante has been raised for gruesomeness and the bar raised for tough-as-nails female protagonists after Lisbeth Salander! We need a break after too many of those - my usual go-to for a break, but still in the mystery genre, is Maisie Dobbs.

[Skye]

I will have to check out your link above, Suzy; btw, I adore Lisbeth Salander; in fact, the three Stieg Larsson books were my favorite reads.

[Thomas]

Skye, if you liked Larsson, you might like "There Are Things I Want You to Know" about Stieg Larsson and Me
written by Larsson's common law wife.

[Skye]

I had heard she took up where he left off: Yes, Thomas, I thought the books were extraordinary and that Lisbeth was by the far the most unusual person to grace a series.

[Cassia]

Suzy wrote: "It's so interesting to read books written before the era of technology and the internet. Kinsey writes up her notes on 3x5 cards, is constantly making phone calls to get information, has a secretar..."

Suzy, it's a time travel when I was reading "A is for Alibi."
Today technology help us all the time, but then we got a little lazy. Our current detectives felt lost in the decade 80 without the tools that solve faster cases. But then the detectives of the decade 80 and 90 get along without much technology, so their stories are rich in details.

[Cassia]

I finished reading I review this book.
I admit that I read most British authors. The famous British Detectives are methodical, accurate deduction and with great knowledge that make them very interesting.

Kinsey Millhone is off the scale and that makes it really cool. In addition, she is intelligent, has a sense of humor, has a very advanced view of the facts and knows how to analyze people. But her methods of investigation are very peculiar but work out.

[Cassia]

aPriL does feral sometimes wrote: "As far as the plot of U, I thought it a bit stretched, so I gave it only three stars, but it is significant for Kinsey personally as she learns something about her family.."

aPriL, now I started this, I would like to continue reading the next in the series. So I can read the stories improve over time and the characters follow their life and mature.

[Suzy]

Cassia wrote: "Suzy wrote: "It's so interesting to read books written before the era of technology and the internet. Kinsey writes up her notes on 3x5 cards, is constantly making phone calls to get information, h..."

That's a great point, Cassia, about the stories being rich in details . . . perhaps details that have gone by the wayside in the era of technology, DNA testing, etc. I do like stepping back in time to books that are either written in the past or focus on a past era for those reasons. Thanks for nominating this book for our group read!

[Terri]

I loved the character of Kinsey Millhone. She was written by a author who understood what being a true loner entails. I would love to re-read it again!

[Skye]

I love the entire series, and it is clearly refreshing to have it set back during a time frame contemporary but still naïve to high technology.

[Susan]

I really love this series and have been faithfully reading her for 20 years. My first was B is for Burglar and then I went back and read this one. It is hard in a series to have a great first book because you have to introduce the characters and the set-up. I have read all of them and enjoy the fact they're set in the 1980's. That's my comfort zone and I feel both comfortable and nostalgic. I love Henry and his baking.

[Skye]

I agree, Susan; I am up to U, and the first book was not the best, but it was a 'shoe in,' after that book, it really took off, in my opinion. I also adore Henry and then his ladies and his old car.

[Susan]

And Henry's siblings are such a kick too.

[Skye]

And his brother the hypochondriac who marries the crazy Slavic restaurant owner.

[Susan]

I am laughing just reading your post. I think her name is Rosie and his is William but that's off the top of my head so don't be upset if I am wrong.

[Skye]

She is a tyrant and forces them to eat what she considers 'delicacies.'
I also love the various men Kinsey gets involved with, her 'shake out' black dress that she stuffs into her bag, and the way she chomps Big Macs while she's driving.

[shanghao]

I'm late to the party, but have got an ebook copy and am reading it now.

[E.]

Reading this thread has brought a flood of memories of first reading the paperbacks as they were published. I kind of fell in love with Kinsey, even named a cat after her >^..^<
I think I've read up to "Q". I might pull out "A" and read again for nostalgia's sake.

[Suzy]

E. wrote: "Reading this thread has brought a flood of memories of first reading the paperbacks as they were published. I kind of fell in love with Kinsey, even named a cat after her >^..^<
I think I've read u..."

Same for me E.! I highly recommend giving A another whirl. I've downloaded B and C as a result . . . to listen to.

[Skye]

This is the only one ( up through U) that I can't find :(

[Linda]

This was a great read. I loved the characters. I can't wait to read more from this author

[Skye]

A for Alibi, believe it or not, was not as good as her other books; I bought A and B together and if I hadn't read B is for Burglar, I might have stopped with the series. Linda, whenever I read a Sue Grafton book is like 'coming home.'

[Cassia]

sanny wrote: "I'm late to the party, but have got an ebook copy and am reading it now."

You still have enough time, we wait for your review after reading. Many people had read, I loved everyone's comments and I'm excited to continue reading the series.