T Is for Trespass (Kinsey Millhone Mysteries (eBook)) (Kinsey Millhone, #20)

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 hate this book. Not the writing - the writing is fine, mystery well plotted, etc - it's the content. Elder abuse particularly upsets me. I've known and been around many old people and it always angers me and saddens me when I see them taken advantage of by their children. Just because someone is old doesn't mean they shouldn't have the ability to make any decisions. Or that you shouldn't look after them to the best of your ability. People don't become worthless because they get old.

The abuse of Gus in this book horrifies me. The older I get, the more it horrifies me. Like Kinsey, I was deeply unsettled reading about Solana. The only redeeming part of this book is the fact that Tiny and Solana are dead by the end of it.



2.5 stars, rounded up to 3. And honestly I'm probably biased, most of the loss of stars are influenced by my sensitivity to the subject.