Most Helpful Customer Reviews
90 of 93 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Kinsey is the first female hard-boiled P.I., May 29, 2000
I love all these recent reviews calling "A" trite and typical--Grafton wrote this in 1982, and if it seems trite now it's because Grafton revolutionized the genre, and everyone has been copying her plots and style ever since! Kinsey Millhone is a hard-boiled, gun-toting, loner--a private investigator who keeps to herself and does whatever it takes to solve her case. I first read this book as a teenager, and Kinsey's toughness and un-sentimentality turned me off (young romantic that I was). Coming back to this series as an adult has given me an appreciation for the character and the genre that I lacked before. What you see is what you get with Kinsey Millhone, and that simplicity is her strength. This book is not only truly groundbreaking, it is also a plain ol' great mystery. Grafton keeps Kinsey busy interviewing suspects, following leads, and stirring up trouble. Kinsey's work is pretty much her life, and except for the occasional evening with a handsome stranger, you can expect her to stay focused on the case. Unless you prefer your mysteries soft and cozy, you'll enjoy Kinsey Millhone and her straight-forward approach to crime. Best of all, if you enjoy this one, there are 14 more (so far) to keep you busy.
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39 of 39 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
A Fun Read!!, June 11, 2003
"A is for Alibi" is the first book in Sue Grafton's alphabet mystery series centering on Kinsey Millhone a 32 year old Private Investigator living in California. I have just started this series but I really enjoyed this book. The mystery keeps pages turning as it intriguing, suspenseful and a real fast read. The character Kinsey is very independent, you feel as you now know her and she is portrayed as somebody you do know. Nikki Fife has just been released from prison after doing 8 years for the murdering her husband, Laurence. Nikki wants Kinsey to find the person who really killed Laurence. Kinsey begins to investigate and finds out about another murder committed only days after Laurence's that is extremely similar. The victim was the accountant for Laurence's law firm, Libby Glass, and she was killed using an identical method of poisoning. This trail is 8-years-old and Kinsey knows it won't be easy to find the truth. Kinsey begins to put together a picture of the people involved and the circumstances that lead up to Laurence's murder. But somebody is not too pleased with Kinsey investigating and unveiling facts that could lead to the true murderer. Kinsey gets herself into danger, and as she struggles to put the pieces together, someone is trying to stop her. Grafton does a great job with the suspense and "who done it " in this book. Makes you ready for more of Kinsey Millhone. The book was a fun, simple read that I managed in an evening. You don't want to miss this one and I have a feeling they will get addictive.
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18 of 18 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Solid start for Kinsey Millhone, January 3, 2006
Sue Grafton's Kinsey Millhone series of Alphabet mysteries has been a huge seller since its inception in 1982. I've wanted to read the books for years but didn't for one reason or another. I finally sat down with the first entry, "A is for Alibi," and plunged into it. Nikki Fife is a young widow who was recently released from prison; she served eight years for killing her husband. She insists that she's innocent and hires Kinsey to clear her name.
Kinsey's first case is interesting and filled with a number of suspects. It's a solid mystery book. Kinsey is a likeable protagonist, who has just enough shades of gray and quirks. She's the kind of lead who doesn't distract too much from the mystery at hand, but she's interesting enough to carry the book. Grafton's writing is good - straight-forward but filled with nice details. At times, she spends perhaps a bit too much time describing Nikki and the murder suspects. However, that's a minor quibble. I wasn't blown away by "A is for Alibi," but it was good enough that I've already ordered the next entry, "B is for Burglar."
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