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J is for Judgement by Sue Grafton
13th September 2023. In the tenth outing for PI Kinsey Millhone, she’s faced with two challenges. The first involves an insurance fraud involving Wendell Jaffe, who was declared dead after going missing from his boat out in the ocean. Five years ago, his wife received a substantial payout on his life insurance. When he’s spotted in Mexico, Kinsey’s despatched to confirm the sighting. This she does, but he escapes before she can confront the man. His son, Brian, has escaped from jail in Santa Teresa, and Wendell is believed to be heading there. Back on home soil, Kinsey continues her investigation. She interviews a couple who seem to shed light…
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Hercule Poirot’s Christmas by Agatha Christie
11th September 2023. The tense build up in this locked room murder provides the foundation for another classic Hercule Poirot investigation. It’s a couple of days before Christmas and the various members of the dysfunctional Lee family have gathered at the behest of patriarch Simeon. This is the first time they have been together under one roof for many years. Add in a wayward son, the son of Simeon’s former partner in a diamond mine in South Africa and a half Spanish granddaughter, and there are plenty of suspects when the old man is murdered and left to die in his room, which is locked from the inside. Enter Hercule…
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Appointment with Death by Agatha Christie
19th August 2023. Once more, Hercule Poirot is on hand to investigate a suspicious death. This time it’s a domineering matriarch who keeps such a tight control of her family, they are plotting to kill her. They’re on holiday, but it seems no one is enjoying themselves. On a trip to Petra Mrs Boynton dies. With a puncture mark on her wrist, a missing hypodermic syringe and digitoxin, it looks like the family’s wish has been fulfilled. But nothing is ever that simple in a Poirot murder mystery. With only 24 hours to get to the truth, and enough suspects to keep him occupied, he sets about in his usual…
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Death on the Nile by Agatha Christie
4th August 2023. This is another deftly plotted and ingenious murder mystery, featuring Hercule Poirot. He’s taking a break with a cruise down the Nile when Linnet Ridgeway, a rich and beautiful woman is murdered – shot in the head. The obvious suspect, who has expressed her desire to kill Linnet for taking her lover, has a solid alibi. The story begins by revealing many of the characters that will feature in the drama. The build-up is gentle but intriguing as Linnet is shown as a person everyone loves and admires. But once she’s killed, a number of suspects and subplots are uncovered by the Belgian detective. Never anything less…
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I is for Innocent by Sue Grafton
27th July 2023. Revisiting these novels has given me more pleasure than I imagined. The stories and characters have lost none of their original magic, and feel as fresh and original as they did 30 years ago. This time, Kinsey is employed to complete an investigation carried out by another PI who unexpectedly died. The case concerns the murder of Isabella Barney, whose husband was acquitted of her murder. Unhappy with this verdict, her former husband is mounting his own lawsuit, seeking justice. While all the evidence is there to see, Kinsey’s investigation soon starts to find gaps in the evidence. It isn’t long before she finds herself doubting her…
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H is For Homicide by Sue Grafton
28th June 2023. Over 30 years ago, I started reading Sue Grafton’s brilliant Alphabet series. This time around the books are still as fresh and brilliant, driven by Kinsey Millhone’s determination and her irreverent humour and sometimes acerbic observations. In her eighth outing, she’s looking into an insurance scam that starts out with Bibianna Diaz, who appears to be a small fish in a large pond. Kinsey catches up with her one evening, only to end up involved in a shooting that lands them both in jail. Then the police approach Kinsey to go undercover and stick with Bibianna, who’s involved with the mastermind running the insurance scam, and more.…
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G is for Gumshoe by Sue Grafton
16th May 2023. In the seventh book in the series, PI Kinsey Millhone has an eventful birthday. She moves into her new apartment, gets a straightforward job to track down a missing mother, and discovers a criminal’s hired an assassin to kill her. Being feisty, determined and independent, Kinsey’s certain she can deal with the death threat until she’s attacked and then run off the road while trying to track down the missing mother. When she learns a judge, who is also on the hit list, has been killed, it’s time to call in Dietz to protect her. Dietz is a bit of a handful, invading Kinsey’s space, but he…
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F is for Fugitive by Sue Grafton
7th April 2023. In the sixth novel of the series, Kinsey’s hired to find out who killed Jean Timberlake seventeen years ago in Floral Beach. Bailey Fowler, her boyfriend at the time, was convicted of her murder, but escaped gaol soon after. Now he’s been caught and Bailey’s father wants Kinsey to find the real killer. In a small, tight knit community, convinced of Bailey’s guilt, it’s not going to be easy for Kinsey. From almost the moment she arrives at the Fowler’s hotel, she’s subjected to intimidating phone calls. Naturally, the residents are reluctant to help, more so when Bailey’s friend springs him from the courtroom, getting shot in…
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D is for Deadbeat by Sue Grafton
12th January 2023. I first read this novel in the 1990s. While I’ve long since forgotten the story I’m enjoying Sue Grafton’s series more this time around. The stories and characters stand the test of time with ease and the writing is superlative, drawing you in from the opening lines. This time it’s a shady character called Alvin, who wants Kinsey to deliver a cheque. Being a canny private eye, she’s suspicious, but she’s got to eat and pay the rent. When her retainer cheque bounces, she starts to uncover the truth about Alvin. He’s not who he says he is. He’s only recently come out of prison. And now…
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More than a Murder Mystery
Isn’t it lovely when readers surprise you? Here I am, writing murder mysteries for crime fiction lovers, doing my best to create the most baffling and convoluted plots possible. Being a huge fan and admirer of Agatha Christie, I’ve studied her approach and techniques, determined to learn from the best-selling crime writer of all time. When the reviews and feedback come in, I’m delighted when readers enjoy the plots, the complexity and the unexpected twists that lead to an exciting climax. But many of them love the characters and the backstory. They want Kent Fisher to find the woman of his dreams, to deal with his boss and the bureaucracy…
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A hero for today’s murder mysteries
Have you ever read a book or watched a TV programme and wished you could write something as good? Neither had I until I saw the original Inspector Morse series. The superb characterisation, complex and intriguing plots, and the beautiful Oxford settings captivated me. About the same time, BBC 1 aired the Miss Marple series, adapted from Agatha Christie’s books. Both programmes evoked the same emotion and desire to write a complex murder mystery. At this point, I should tell you I was already a writer. Not a successful one, unless you include the national short story competition I won at the age of 12. That early enthusiasm and promise…