G Is for Gumshoe (Kinsey Millhone, #7)

by Sue Grafton

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.


Robert Dietz. I'm not sure I love him. Romance and Kinsey is kind of weird. Jonah, Dietz, the ex musician husband (I can't think of his name off the top of my head and I'm too lazy to look it up). For some reason the idea of Kinsey and love just makes me cringe. And makes me feel awkward reading it. I love Kinsey but something about her and men just ugh.

I love that even when she's run off the road, car totaled, belongings drowned, packed up and shipped back to her days later - the all purpose dress survives. It only needs a wash. Lol. I want a dress like that. Sounds perfect.

I enjoyed the mystery of this case. I like cold cases that slowly get unraveled. I liked Kinsey interacting with everyone a bit more and opening up. Vera. Darcy. Henry. Poor Henry - running out when Kinsey accidentally sets off the alarm in his underwear and a butcher's knife - she's going to give him a heart attack. On the other hand the new apartment sounds awesome.



3.5 stars rounded up to 4.