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siobhanward's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
Well it only took me four books of this series to realize that the antagonist's/main focus of the book's last name starts with the letter of the book. How fun. I'm still kind of on the fence about this series. I've yet to read any that I've loved, but there are 25 books in the series and they're easy to find used, so at this point I'll keep reading.
You can tell this series is kind of dated because of how cheap everything is. Everything costs Kinsey $3. Deposit a bad cheque? $3 fee. Need to get a new copy of your license? That'll be $3 please. Dang, the 80s were a different time. Anyway, apart from that this was a solid but really sad read. Part of my struggle with this series is that 10% of the book is an intro to the case, 80% of the book is Kinsey talking to people and then the last 10% is where everything happens and things wrap up. I just wish there was more variety in the structure, or at the very least that more happened in that middle 80%.
You can tell this series is kind of dated because of how cheap everything is. Everything costs Kinsey $3. Deposit a bad cheque? $3 fee. Need to get a new copy of your license? That'll be $3 please. Dang, the 80s were a different time. Anyway, apart from that this was a solid but really sad read. Part of my struggle with this series is that 10% of the book is an intro to the case, 80% of the book is Kinsey talking to people and then the last 10% is where everything happens and things wrap up. I just wish there was more variety in the structure, or at the very least that more happened in that middle 80%.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death and Murder
Moderate: Suicide, Child death, Car accident, and Death of parent
sameda's review against another edition
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
gossamerwingedgazelle's review against another edition
4.0
As usual with this series, this story was interesting, well written and moving.
jbrito's review against another edition
adventurous
lighthearted
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.75
burritapal_1's review against another edition
funny
informative
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
book_concierge's review against another edition
3.0
Digital audio read by Mary Peiffer.
3.5***
Book four in the series. PI Kinsey Millhone gets a new client whose story seems a bit fishy. He wants her to deliver a certified check to a teen-aged boy. Her suspicions are aroused, especially when he refuses to explain why he can’t (or won’t) deliver it himself. But it’s the end of the month, rent is due, and she accepts his retainer. Then his check bounces and she quickly discovers that he isn’t who he claimed to be. When he turns up dead the police call it accidental drowning, but Kinsey thinks he was murdered. The question is why and by whom?
I really like this series. I had started it years ago and probably got to about book 8 or 9 before I stopped reading. Now I’ve started over from the beginning and am enjoying the retro feel. There are no cell phones or computers; Kinsey has to rely on her intellect, her network of connections and good old-fashioned leg work. She’s smart, determined, self-sufficient and never has to rely on a man to get her out of a tight spot.
Mary Peiffer does a fine job reading the audio version. She sets a good pace and I really like how she interprets Kinsey’s personality.
3.5***
Book four in the series. PI Kinsey Millhone gets a new client whose story seems a bit fishy. He wants her to deliver a certified check to a teen-aged boy. Her suspicions are aroused, especially when he refuses to explain why he can’t (or won’t) deliver it himself. But it’s the end of the month, rent is due, and she accepts his retainer. Then his check bounces and she quickly discovers that he isn’t who he claimed to be. When he turns up dead the police call it accidental drowning, but Kinsey thinks he was murdered. The question is why and by whom?
I really like this series. I had started it years ago and probably got to about book 8 or 9 before I stopped reading. Now I’ve started over from the beginning and am enjoying the retro feel. There are no cell phones or computers; Kinsey has to rely on her intellect, her network of connections and good old-fashioned leg work. She’s smart, determined, self-sufficient and never has to rely on a man to get her out of a tight spot.
Mary Peiffer does a fine job reading the audio version. She sets a good pace and I really like how she interprets Kinsey’s personality.
blondierocket's review against another edition
3.0
It’s been awhile since I picked up a Kinsey Millhone book, but this one did not disappoint, moved quicker than the others, and help my attention to the very end.
It’s taken me awhile to get into these books, but I’m finding that after each one I enjoy them a little more. Kinsey Millhone is a great private investigator who is just a regular woman working in the world. There is no drama associated with her, which is probably why its hard to get into them. She cuts straight through to the important stuff and doesn’t dwell on unnecessaries.
This time Kinsey is hired by a man to deliver a check, not knowing the real circumstances behind it. She soon comes to find out that she was tricked, no one is who they say they are, and everyone is keeping a secret. I even had doubts about who the possible killer could be until the very end when all pieces started fitting together.
It’s taken me awhile to get into these books, but I’m finding that after each one I enjoy them a little more. Kinsey Millhone is a great private investigator who is just a regular woman working in the world. There is no drama associated with her, which is probably why its hard to get into them. She cuts straight through to the important stuff and doesn’t dwell on unnecessaries.
This time Kinsey is hired by a man to deliver a check, not knowing the real circumstances behind it. She soon comes to find out that she was tricked, no one is who they say they are, and everyone is keeping a secret. I even had doubts about who the possible killer could be until the very end when all pieces started fitting together.
willbefunorelse's review against another edition
3.0
For the full review (and to see me use the word 'candyfloss' as if I say it everyday), click the link to the entry at That's What She Read.
gabmc's review against another edition
3.0
I'm enjoying going back and re-reading some of the early books in this series. I like the heroine, Kinsey Millhone - she loves her independence. In this book she and Jonah become more than friends, so I look forward to how that relationship will develop. The book opens with a man walking into her office and giving her the job of delivering $25,000 to a 15 year old boy. When Kinsey tries to bank his retainer cheque, it bounces and she finds out that he's an ex-convict, alcoholic who killed 5 people in a car accident. He turns up dead and Kinsey is sure it's not an accident. I like how Sue Grafton sets up the story so there are several potential candidates for the murderer.