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K is for Killer by Sue Grafton
In her 11th outing in the series, Kinsey Millhone is asked to investigate the death of Lorna Kepler by her mother. While a thorough police investigation was carried out at the time, the mother believes Lorna was murdered. After a few initial inquiries to find her bearings, Kinsey is intrigued enough to take on the case. Slowly, she learns that Lorna was a feisty loner with quite a few secrets. Smart, intelligent and beautiful, she kept to herself, chose her few friends carefully and enjoyed life to the full. The trail takes Kinsey to San Francisco, a water treatment plant where she worked and various clubs and hotels as she…
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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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E is for Evidence by Sue Grafton
28th February 2023. In her fifth outing in the series, private investigator Kinsey Millhone finds herself caught in an elaborate fraud. It starts with a mystery deposit of $5000 into her bank account, closely followed by her report into an insurance claim for a warehouse fire being replaced by a false account. The insurance company suspends her, leaving her angry and helpless. But not for long. With a little help from an employee at the insurance company and her usual dogged approach, she’s soon on the trail. Even the reappearance of her ex-husband doesn’t shift her focus as she strives to clear her name. And then someone from the family…
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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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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…