U Is for Undertow (Kinsey Millhone, #21)

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.




I really enjoyed this one. I liked the changing viewpoints and they way the pieces all fitted together. Although I did want to know if Memory's father was Jon?

Plus after all the effort Michael's brother and sister went to give Kinsey evidence he was wrong - I kind of wanted her to meet with them and be like well gee, now who was wrong?

I was amused by the ending to the case. Kinsey is a total badass. And I was pretty impressed with Kinsey's shot, even if she was all, oh anyone could do it.

Kinsey's family. Man. What a bloody disaster that lot is. I felt sorry for Kinsey when she has to return the photo album. She hardly needs more reasons not to bother getting to know them all. The reveal at the end of Grand being a wheelchair bound old lady was surprising. I feel sorry that Kinsey's probably not going to get the answers she's looking for.



4.5 stars, rounded up to 5.