Q Is for Quarry (Kinsey Millhone, #17)

by Sue Grafton

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, and 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 . . . and they turn to Kinsey Millhone to help them find closure. 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.

Based on an unsolved homicide that occured in 1969, Q is for Quarry, and Grafton's interest in the case, has generated renewed police efforts. In the last year, the body has been exhumed, and a facial reconstruction made that appears in the last pages of the novel. It is hoped that the photograph will trigger memories that may lead to a positive identification.

• ISBN10: 0786243708
• ISBN13: 9780786243709
• Publish Date: 31 December 2002 (first published 1 October 2002)
• Publish Status: Out of Print
• Out of Print: 1 July 2021
• Publish Country: US
• Imprint: Thorndike Press
• Edition: Large type / large print edition
• Format: Hardcover
• Pages: 620
• Language: English

Reviews

[Mystereity Reviews]

I didn't realize I already read this one a few months ago (Before I discovered Goodreads!) and I really liked it. I read the early books in the series years ago, and this was sort of a reintroduction. Love Sue Grafton, she consistently top notch, it was like seeing an old friend.

I love Kinsey Millhone. But she's not everyone's cup of tea. I started reading the Alphabet series a few years ago - I think at the time it was up to O is for Outlaw. The idea of a mystery series each title beginning with a new letter amused me. I don't know why. I don't think it's particularly original. At least - I've seen a few others since. At the time though it was new to me and it just struck me as perfect. I flew through the series. Kinsey is riveting. She's brash and harsh and charming. She's fierce and flawed. She gets scared. She holds her own. She pushes herself to run often and tackles cases without judgement and with an open mind. Rosie and Henry are brilliant and I love the little family she builds around her.

But Kinsey Millhone isn't Jack Reacher - her speed is more Tracy Crosswhite. [b:My Sister's Grave|22341263|My Sister's Grave (Tracy Crosswhite, #1)|Robert Dugoni|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1405267054l/22341263._SY75_.jpg|41739579] Her cases aren't full of action and high speed chases - they're slowly nitpicking away until something clicks into place. She writes down all her thoughts and places her facts and ideas on 3x5 index cards - which she often shuffles and rearranges to help her solve her case. And I love it. Kinsey Millhone is great - but she's not for everyone.

For some reason I've seen reviewers compare this to Stephanie Plum - I don't know why - this is absolutely NOTHING like that. Stephanie Plum is a very different character and an extremely different type of book. That's more fluff. Kinsey Millhone is more procedural mysteries. And this series isn't current - it was first published in the 80's - there's not really technology. Messages were relayed by calling the landlines. Paper files were still the main form of storage. Not everyone will enjoy reading this. But if you like your mysteries to be more like procedurals with a determined and fierce character - Kinsey Millhone is for you.




Dolan is back! I loved his relationship with Stacey Oliphant - his friend and mentor. I loved that they both jumped on solving an old case for the same reasons - to keep the other one occupied and focused on something other than their health/bad habits, etc. I enjoyed getting to see Kinsey bounce ideas off of someone else too. And her converting Stacey to junk food.

The mystery was interesting but I didn't really like any of the characters involved. I was fascinated by the idea this is based on a real case. I hope that one day they can identify the girl and bring some closure to the family.



4 stars.