Status
Available
Call number
Library's review
USA, Californien, Santa Teresa, ca 1982, sidst i oktober
Kinsey Millhone er privatdetektiv og 32 år gammel. Hun har været gift et par gange, blandt andet med musikeren Daniel Wade, men er nu single igen. En John Daggett opsøger hende under falsk navn, Alvin Limardo, og hyrer hende til at finde en
Kinsey leder videre og finder en Daggett i telefonbogen, som viser sig at være en Essie Daggett, som er gift med John og har været det i mange år og tror at han stadig er i fængsel. Hun bor sammen med sin bror, Eugene Nickerson. De kan fortælle om en af Johns venner, Billy Polo. Mens hun kigger efter ham, dukker Johns datter, Barbara Daggett op. Hun er helt normal (bortset fra at hun er uendelig træt af at være vokset op med en alkoholiker som far) og beder Kinsey fortælle hende det, hvis hun finder faderen. Det går stærkt, for Kinsey har kontaktet politimanden Jonah Robb og han ringer og fortæller at Daggett er druknet og drevet i land på stranden.
Barbara hyrer Kinsey til at finde ud af lidt mere om hvad der er sket. Kinsey holder øje med Billy Polo (der deler campingvogn og seng med en Coral) og forskrækker ham ved at vide en hel del allerede, fx at han og Daggett sad i fængsel sammen.
Daggett kørte spritkørsel og slog fem mennesker ihjel, Doug Polokowski, Megan Smith og Tony Gahans forældre og hans søster på 6 år.
Kinsey snuser videre og tager til stranden, hvor Daggett blev fundet. Hendes bil bliver brudt op og hendes mappe og revolver stjålet. Lidt træt af situationen får hun begyndt på at genbestille kørekort, checkhæfte osv. Hun får kontakt til Tony Gahan og da han bor ved sin moster, får Kinsey dem overtalt til at tage imod checken og sætte pengene ind på en spærret konto til Tony. Daggett har iflg Billy Polo nappet et stort beløb som en myrdet medfange havde skjult og det er så nr 2 forklaring på pengene. Men Kinsey er ikke overbevist.
Daggett bliver begravet og det kommer til en scene, da Lovetta dukker op for hun er ret træt af at opdage at Daggett allerede var gift, da han giftede sig med hende. Kinsey går Billy på klingen og får lidt mere at vide om Daggetts sidste par dage. Hun lurer lidt på ham, da hun er gået og finder ud af at han boller Lovetta, men det kommer jo ikke hende ved.
Hun inspireres til at gå i seng med Jonah Robb, der er gift med Camilla, som ønsker et "åbent forhold".
Efter således at have ladet batterierne op, opsøger hun Lovella, der fortæller at Billy Polo ved hvem der myrdede Daggett og at han er taget til et møde med ham. Kinsey skynder sig derhen, men hører tre skud og finder Billy hårdt såret. Hun holder ham i hånden, mens han dør af blodtabet.
Politiet holder op med at behandle Daggetts død som et ulykkestilfælde og hægter nu Billy og Daggett sammen til et dobbeltmord.
Kinsey opsøger Coral og får mere af historien. Hun og Billy ville hævne sig på Daggett, fordi han havde dræbt Billys bror Doug. Daggett havde hugget 30000 $ og der var ingen efter ham, så planen var at få Lovella til at hægte sig på Daggett og få pengene fra ham.
Kinsey går til politiet og de har fundet en sodavandsflaske, brugt som lyddæmper. Kinsey genkender flasken og nogle klude i den, for hun har set den tidligere ved Ramona Westfall, dvs Tony Gahans moster, så hun tager derud og møder Tony. Han stikker af og tager trappen op til toppen af bygningen. Han snakker lidt med Kinsey og forklarer at han har slået både Daggett og Billy ihjel. Og at han havde forklædt sig som blondine, da han slog Daggett ihjel. Og så hopper han ellers ud over kanten og begår selvmord.
Historien er sådan set god nok omend plottet er lidt skørt.
Oversættelsen er ikke god. Fx på side 84, hvor Højsangen bliver kaldt Solomos Højsang. Eller side 180, hvor "I pictured a citizen's arrest... me and Billy Polo saving the day." bliver til "Jeg forestillede mig anholdelsen af en borger ... at jeg og Billy Polo reddede dagen for politiet." Side 204: "mord af første grad", osv osv.
Kinsey Millhone er privatdetektiv og 32 år gammel. Hun har været gift et par gange, blandt andet med musikeren Daniel Wade, men er nu single igen. En John Daggett opsøger hende under falsk navn, Alvin Limardo, og hyrer hende til at finde en
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dreng Tony Gahan på femten år. Når hun finder Tony, skal hun give ham en bankcheck på 25000 dollar. Han betaler Kinseys honorar på firehundrede dollar forud med en check, men den viser sig at være dækningsløs. Kinsey forsøger at finde ham. Hun opdager at navnet Alvin Limardo er en joke. Alle i hele blokken bruger det som falsk navn, så der er tit nogen og spørge efter det. Daggett har efterladt sin ret nygifte kone, Lovetta, som er et nyt bekendtskab efter at han kom ud fra fængsel. Han er begyndt at drikke igen og de hun påtaler det, får hun et par på hovedet. Han får en opringning og skrider.Kinsey leder videre og finder en Daggett i telefonbogen, som viser sig at være en Essie Daggett, som er gift med John og har været det i mange år og tror at han stadig er i fængsel. Hun bor sammen med sin bror, Eugene Nickerson. De kan fortælle om en af Johns venner, Billy Polo. Mens hun kigger efter ham, dukker Johns datter, Barbara Daggett op. Hun er helt normal (bortset fra at hun er uendelig træt af at være vokset op med en alkoholiker som far) og beder Kinsey fortælle hende det, hvis hun finder faderen. Det går stærkt, for Kinsey har kontaktet politimanden Jonah Robb og han ringer og fortæller at Daggett er druknet og drevet i land på stranden.
Barbara hyrer Kinsey til at finde ud af lidt mere om hvad der er sket. Kinsey holder øje med Billy Polo (der deler campingvogn og seng med en Coral) og forskrækker ham ved at vide en hel del allerede, fx at han og Daggett sad i fængsel sammen.
Daggett kørte spritkørsel og slog fem mennesker ihjel, Doug Polokowski, Megan Smith og Tony Gahans forældre og hans søster på 6 år.
Kinsey snuser videre og tager til stranden, hvor Daggett blev fundet. Hendes bil bliver brudt op og hendes mappe og revolver stjålet. Lidt træt af situationen får hun begyndt på at genbestille kørekort, checkhæfte osv. Hun får kontakt til Tony Gahan og da han bor ved sin moster, får Kinsey dem overtalt til at tage imod checken og sætte pengene ind på en spærret konto til Tony. Daggett har iflg Billy Polo nappet et stort beløb som en myrdet medfange havde skjult og det er så nr 2 forklaring på pengene. Men Kinsey er ikke overbevist.
Daggett bliver begravet og det kommer til en scene, da Lovetta dukker op for hun er ret træt af at opdage at Daggett allerede var gift, da han giftede sig med hende. Kinsey går Billy på klingen og får lidt mere at vide om Daggetts sidste par dage. Hun lurer lidt på ham, da hun er gået og finder ud af at han boller Lovetta, men det kommer jo ikke hende ved.
Hun inspireres til at gå i seng med Jonah Robb, der er gift med Camilla, som ønsker et "åbent forhold".
Efter således at have ladet batterierne op, opsøger hun Lovella, der fortæller at Billy Polo ved hvem der myrdede Daggett og at han er taget til et møde med ham. Kinsey skynder sig derhen, men hører tre skud og finder Billy hårdt såret. Hun holder ham i hånden, mens han dør af blodtabet.
Politiet holder op med at behandle Daggetts død som et ulykkestilfælde og hægter nu Billy og Daggett sammen til et dobbeltmord.
Kinsey opsøger Coral og får mere af historien. Hun og Billy ville hævne sig på Daggett, fordi han havde dræbt Billys bror Doug. Daggett havde hugget 30000 $ og der var ingen efter ham, så planen var at få Lovella til at hægte sig på Daggett og få pengene fra ham.
Kinsey går til politiet og de har fundet en sodavandsflaske, brugt som lyddæmper. Kinsey genkender flasken og nogle klude i den, for hun har set den tidligere ved Ramona Westfall, dvs Tony Gahans moster, så hun tager derud og møder Tony. Han stikker af og tager trappen op til toppen af bygningen. Han snakker lidt med Kinsey og forklarer at han har slået både Daggett og Billy ihjel. Og at han havde forklædt sig som blondine, da han slog Daggett ihjel. Og så hopper han ellers ud over kanten og begår selvmord.
Historien er sådan set god nok omend plottet er lidt skørt.
Oversættelsen er ikke god. Fx på side 84, hvor Højsangen bliver kaldt Solomos Højsang. Eller side 180, hvor "I pictured a citizen's arrest... me and Billy Polo saving the day." bliver til "Jeg forestillede mig anholdelsen af en borger ... at jeg og Billy Polo reddede dagen for politiet." Side 204: "mord af første grad", osv osv.
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Genres
Publication
Århus : Klim, 1992.
Description
Fiction. Mystery. HTML:The client came to Kinsey Millhone with an easy job �?? just deliver $25,000 to a fifteen-year-old kid. A little odd, and a little too easy, but Kinsey took Alvin Limardo's retainer check anyway. It turned out to be as phony as he was. In real life, his name was John Daggett, a chronic drunk with a record as long as your arm and a reputation for sleazy deals. But he wasn't just a deadbeat. By the time Kinsey caught up with him, he was a dead body �?? with a whole host of people who were delighted to hear the news. But how do you make a stiff pay up what he owe
User reviews
LibraryThing member Jim53
In her fourth adventure, Kinsey gets an intriguing visit from a man who wants her to track down a teenager and deliver a check. The man who visited her turns up dead and his bizarre and unattractive history is disclosed. His daughter engages Kinsey to investigate his death.
The story is only mildly
The story is only mildly
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interesting, a typical lightweight mystery. None of the secondary characters are developed or attractive. The writing is adequate but certainly not a plus. Just another mildly enjoyable, light read, which will be familiar to those familiar with th eseries. Show Less
LibraryThing member lamotamant
I felt like this book underlined my previous review/thoughts on C is for Corpse. I like Millhone's sarcasm but find her judgement of the emotional pain of Daggett's victims off. Her inability to comprehend or have compassion for others seems to make her really blunder through this case in
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particular. I just find myself really hoping that there's more warmness in her character looming in the books ahead. I couldn't come away from the final scenes having a lot of heart for Millhone. Show Less
LibraryThing member tjsjohanna
The ending of the this book is probably a good example of why I haven't really enjoyed this series. It was a very realistic ending but it was also depressing and more realistic than I want my escapist reading to be. The book is well-written and the mystery had me guessing almost right to the end.
LibraryThing member whybehave2002
This was okay....
LibraryThing member kaulsu
Female detective story written in a brusque Dashill Hammet manner. Storyline interesting....or I should say my reaction to it was interesting in that I didn't, until the end, really believe the victim had redemptive qualities. Hmmm. Not sure I believe it yet, but I am at least ready to suspend my
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disbelief. A step forward? Show Less
LibraryThing member riverwillow
OK, but quite formulaic. Not that this is necessarily a bad thing.
LibraryThing member lhlady
I thoroughly enjoy the Kinsey Millhone mystery novels. They are entertaining, well written, and easy to read in a few hours.
LibraryThing member CAL7014
This book is a continuation of Sue Grafton's letter books. In D is for Deadbeat, the main character Kinsey Milhorne becomes a more dynamic character and it is a page-turner in the end. This book is an excellent read.
LibraryThing member samantha.1020
Kinsey Millhone is back and better than ever in D is for Deadbeat. She comes across a suspiciously easy case: deliver a cashier's check to a young teenage boy. Against her better judgement, Kinsey agrees to take on the case. But she soon finds that her new case isn't as it seems as the man who
D is for Deadbeat is another amazing read in Grafton's alphabet mystery series! Easily one of the best mystery series that I've read in a long time. I have a hard time putting these books down! I love Kinsey as a main character, love how realistic she comes across, and how unapologetic she is when it comes to her personality. She is who she is and doesn't seem to care what anyone thinks. This book was another read that kept me on my seat as I read it...I just kept thinking one more chapter until I had over half of the book read :) I thought that the mystery was both original and unconventional. Especially the ending and who the killer was. I didn't see that one coming from a mile long! But what I enjoy most about these books is the entire process and watching Kinsey figure out who the killer/bad guy is. I usually never see the ending coming and of course this book didn't disappoint. It was just a great read for me!
All in all, another exceptional read from this author! I love Kinsey and these books....I just can't get enough! They are fast-paced, easy reads that keep me coming back for more. Highly recommended to mystery lovers! And if you haven't begun this series yet, what are you waiting for????
Bottom Line: Hand's down a must read series, and this book is another great addition to it!
Disclosure: I bought my copy of this book from the used book store. (Finally, I read something off of my own shelves!)
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hired her winds up dead. And everyone that knows him has reasons for wanting him dead. Kinsey can't seem to let the case go, even if it means that danger lurks around every corner.D is for Deadbeat is another amazing read in Grafton's alphabet mystery series! Easily one of the best mystery series that I've read in a long time. I have a hard time putting these books down! I love Kinsey as a main character, love how realistic she comes across, and how unapologetic she is when it comes to her personality. She is who she is and doesn't seem to care what anyone thinks. This book was another read that kept me on my seat as I read it...I just kept thinking one more chapter until I had over half of the book read :) I thought that the mystery was both original and unconventional. Especially the ending and who the killer was. I didn't see that one coming from a mile long! But what I enjoy most about these books is the entire process and watching Kinsey figure out who the killer/bad guy is. I usually never see the ending coming and of course this book didn't disappoint. It was just a great read for me!
All in all, another exceptional read from this author! I love Kinsey and these books....I just can't get enough! They are fast-paced, easy reads that keep me coming back for more. Highly recommended to mystery lovers! And if you haven't begun this series yet, what are you waiting for????
Bottom Line: Hand's down a must read series, and this book is another great addition to it!
Disclosure: I bought my copy of this book from the used book store. (Finally, I read something off of my own shelves!)
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LibraryThing member TerriBooks
So it's not great literature. It's easy to follow and relaxing to read. I enjoyed it for what it is.
LibraryThing member brokenangelkisses
Sue Grafton is a crime fiction writer with one series to her name: the alphabet murders, starring female PI Kinsey Milhone. After reaching ‘G is for gumshoe’ she was able to give up her day job writing screenplays. So far she has written 22 books in the series (up to ‘V is for vengeance’)
The premise
Alvin Limardo hires Kinsey Milhone to deliver a cheque to a young boy. The job seems like easy money, but when Kinsey’s pay check bounces she sets out to find Limardo and discovers that he’s really a drunk called John Daggett who was fresh out of prison – and he’s now dead. Although the police think his death was accidental, Kinsey’s not so sure: it seems unlikely that a man with so many enemies would die by accident…
My thoughts
I didn’t find the premise of this crime story particularly interesting and the reading experience lived up to that lack of expectation. It doesn’t help that Daggett is such an unpleasant character: even Kinsey wonders what she’s doing bothering to investigate his fate. It isn’t clear that a crime has been committed until over half way through the story (and even then it could still be an accident), which meant that I struggled to care about the investigation – which is meant to be the focus of any decent crime novel in my opinion.
So what is the focus here? Kinsey Milhone. Writing in the first person, Grafton quickly introduces readers to Kinsey on the first page of the first chapter. We learn that she’s a PI, that she’s writing after the events of the story she’s about to tell, and a bit about her character. Obviously, when a series has already run to 22 books and you’re about to read the fourth, it’s obvious that nothing too terrible can befall your protagonist. When they tell you that this case started because they didn’t want to gain a reputation for letting clients have freebies, and this is the major element of the case they prioritise, it appears that nothing even a little bit bad can happen to them. While Kinsey is a perfectly likeable and sympathetic protagonist – she just wants to make her money and get on with her life – I wanted a protagonist I could fear for to make the narrative more gripping. No matter how unsavoury the characters this PI spoke to were, I never had any sense that she might find herself in danger and, for me, this meant that the book was very easy to put down and not pick up for a while – it wasn’t gripping.
However, it was a quite pleasant, gentle read. I thought the choice of first person narration worked well as Kinsey is quite personable and her voice often lends events a faintly comic perspective. In some ways, this book reminded me of Janet Evanovich’s number crime series starring comically inept Stephanie Plum – except that Kinsey knows what she’s doing. Her contacts at the police station are helpful and she gradually puts the pieces of the case together using research and the conviction that her interviewees know more than they’re letting on. Although there are no stunning twists or startling discoveries, there are sufficient plot developments to keep the plotline developing; whether there’s enough to keep readers really engaged is another question. The evidence is rather thin and takes a lot of chasing. Ultimately, it is hard to see how Kinsey can really make a case of what she’s found.
The ending is in keeping with the characters and settings established in the rest of the book. In this world, life is generally rather harsh and unfair. Some readers may find the ending a little sad as it really reinforces this idea. There is a full explanation of events offered which should please readers who like everything to be wrapped up neatly. There is a very short epilogue so the ending could feel a little abrupt, but in fact it felt like a natural finishing point to the story; there was nothing further a reader needed to know or see.
I read this as a standalone book rather than reading it as part of a series and felt that it worked well. There is a very brief introduction to Kinsey on the first page and there are a couple of other characters who are clearly series regulars, but I did not feel that I needed more back-story. The story keeps within its boundaries and there are no big inducements to read the next in the series. I like this approach because I feel it means the author is trusting that their story telling abilities will bring the reader back, rather than relying on a big hook. Regular readers will probably find the developments in Kinsey’s love life interesting. Personally, I was not really interested in these developments but found that this was not a problem as they did not get a lot of ‘screen time’ in the story.
Interestingly, Grafton originally tried her hand at novel writing but had limited success. After that she spent 15 years writing screenplays for television films. I definitely think this experience has influenced her writing style: she describes scenes in just the right amount of detail so that they are conveyed vividly to the reader but ensuring that the reader does not become bogged down in irrelevant descriptive detail. This was a feature of her writing I really enjoyed and I could imagine this book being adapted successfully for TV. However, don’t expect it on your screens anytime soon: after 15 years involved in the industry, Grafton is not interested in turning her books into films and has apparently barred her children from doing so after she has died.
Conclusions
I found this an easy, pleasant read despite the darkness of the characters’ lives. Kinsey’s narration is mildly enjoyable, as is Grafton’s descriptive style. While the plot is a little thin and the crime could not be described as gripping there is sufficient interest to reach the end of the storyline which fits well with what has gone before. There are several suitable twists and turns as the plot develops and the reader is able to solve the crime with Kinsey: there are no extra revelations at the end that mean the reader could never have solved the mystery. Personally, I found this an unmemorable read and I won’t be seeking out another book in the series anytime soon. However, it was a mildly satisfying read and if I came across one, in a holiday cottage for instance, I would be happy to curl up with it.
The story was first published in 1986 but it didn’t feel particularly dated. My copy is quite old so it has an RRP of £4.99, which feels like quite good value for 229 pages written in small font. Newer copies have an RRP of between £7-9 which feels a little too pricey for something so simple. This isn’t a book I would reread for the pleasure of the writing or to look at how it all fit together; if I reread it at all it would be in years to come when I’ve forgotten the plot completely. For that reason, unless you’re a keen fan of this series, I would recommend purchasing or borrowing a second hand copy, which is available cheaply from the usual places.
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and she has stated that the final book will be called ‘Z is for zero’. Although this is a writer one of my friends had previously recommended, I always felt the titles were actually rather off-putting and it took the author becoming a book group read for me to finally open this book, which had sat on my shelf for many years. Could it be better than the rather dull title suggested?The premise
Alvin Limardo hires Kinsey Milhone to deliver a cheque to a young boy. The job seems like easy money, but when Kinsey’s pay check bounces she sets out to find Limardo and discovers that he’s really a drunk called John Daggett who was fresh out of prison – and he’s now dead. Although the police think his death was accidental, Kinsey’s not so sure: it seems unlikely that a man with so many enemies would die by accident…
My thoughts
I didn’t find the premise of this crime story particularly interesting and the reading experience lived up to that lack of expectation. It doesn’t help that Daggett is such an unpleasant character: even Kinsey wonders what she’s doing bothering to investigate his fate. It isn’t clear that a crime has been committed until over half way through the story (and even then it could still be an accident), which meant that I struggled to care about the investigation – which is meant to be the focus of any decent crime novel in my opinion.
So what is the focus here? Kinsey Milhone. Writing in the first person, Grafton quickly introduces readers to Kinsey on the first page of the first chapter. We learn that she’s a PI, that she’s writing after the events of the story she’s about to tell, and a bit about her character. Obviously, when a series has already run to 22 books and you’re about to read the fourth, it’s obvious that nothing too terrible can befall your protagonist. When they tell you that this case started because they didn’t want to gain a reputation for letting clients have freebies, and this is the major element of the case they prioritise, it appears that nothing even a little bit bad can happen to them. While Kinsey is a perfectly likeable and sympathetic protagonist – she just wants to make her money and get on with her life – I wanted a protagonist I could fear for to make the narrative more gripping. No matter how unsavoury the characters this PI spoke to were, I never had any sense that she might find herself in danger and, for me, this meant that the book was very easy to put down and not pick up for a while – it wasn’t gripping.
However, it was a quite pleasant, gentle read. I thought the choice of first person narration worked well as Kinsey is quite personable and her voice often lends events a faintly comic perspective. In some ways, this book reminded me of Janet Evanovich’s number crime series starring comically inept Stephanie Plum – except that Kinsey knows what she’s doing. Her contacts at the police station are helpful and she gradually puts the pieces of the case together using research and the conviction that her interviewees know more than they’re letting on. Although there are no stunning twists or startling discoveries, there are sufficient plot developments to keep the plotline developing; whether there’s enough to keep readers really engaged is another question. The evidence is rather thin and takes a lot of chasing. Ultimately, it is hard to see how Kinsey can really make a case of what she’s found.
The ending is in keeping with the characters and settings established in the rest of the book. In this world, life is generally rather harsh and unfair. Some readers may find the ending a little sad as it really reinforces this idea. There is a full explanation of events offered which should please readers who like everything to be wrapped up neatly. There is a very short epilogue so the ending could feel a little abrupt, but in fact it felt like a natural finishing point to the story; there was nothing further a reader needed to know or see.
I read this as a standalone book rather than reading it as part of a series and felt that it worked well. There is a very brief introduction to Kinsey on the first page and there are a couple of other characters who are clearly series regulars, but I did not feel that I needed more back-story. The story keeps within its boundaries and there are no big inducements to read the next in the series. I like this approach because I feel it means the author is trusting that their story telling abilities will bring the reader back, rather than relying on a big hook. Regular readers will probably find the developments in Kinsey’s love life interesting. Personally, I was not really interested in these developments but found that this was not a problem as they did not get a lot of ‘screen time’ in the story.
Interestingly, Grafton originally tried her hand at novel writing but had limited success. After that she spent 15 years writing screenplays for television films. I definitely think this experience has influenced her writing style: she describes scenes in just the right amount of detail so that they are conveyed vividly to the reader but ensuring that the reader does not become bogged down in irrelevant descriptive detail. This was a feature of her writing I really enjoyed and I could imagine this book being adapted successfully for TV. However, don’t expect it on your screens anytime soon: after 15 years involved in the industry, Grafton is not interested in turning her books into films and has apparently barred her children from doing so after she has died.
Conclusions
I found this an easy, pleasant read despite the darkness of the characters’ lives. Kinsey’s narration is mildly enjoyable, as is Grafton’s descriptive style. While the plot is a little thin and the crime could not be described as gripping there is sufficient interest to reach the end of the storyline which fits well with what has gone before. There are several suitable twists and turns as the plot develops and the reader is able to solve the crime with Kinsey: there are no extra revelations at the end that mean the reader could never have solved the mystery. Personally, I found this an unmemorable read and I won’t be seeking out another book in the series anytime soon. However, it was a mildly satisfying read and if I came across one, in a holiday cottage for instance, I would be happy to curl up with it.
The story was first published in 1986 but it didn’t feel particularly dated. My copy is quite old so it has an RRP of £4.99, which feels like quite good value for 229 pages written in small font. Newer copies have an RRP of between £7-9 which feels a little too pricey for something so simple. This isn’t a book I would reread for the pleasure of the writing or to look at how it all fit together; if I reread it at all it would be in years to come when I’ve forgotten the plot completely. For that reason, unless you’re a keen fan of this series, I would recommend purchasing or borrowing a second hand copy, which is available cheaply from the usual places.
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LibraryThing member Barb_H
Another good, quick audiobook in this series by Sue Grafton. It's fun to listen to while I am crocheting or playing games or walking.
LibraryThing member Mrsbaty
Again, Sue Grafton has written a completely different type book from the 3 that precede it in the series. She always manages to come up with something new for Kinsey Millhone. The only flaw I find in the books is that Kinsey, at times, seems so patronizing about the normal things that regular
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people do in their day-to-day lives. I get that she's independent with no family ties and feels no need to do the socially acceptable things but she really seems to look down on those who do have family ties and like doing the socially acceptable things. That is the only thing that mars my enjoyment of an excellent set of mysteries. I'll keep reading them as long as Sue Grafton keeps writing them. Show Less
LibraryThing member miyurose
These books are quick reads. The plots aren't overly complex, they're just good little mystery stories. It's the kind of book I consider a "beach read"�.
LibraryThing member lamour
A client comes to Kinsey with an easy job but so easy Kinsey felt she was not being told the truth. The job was to deliver a $25,000 cheque to a 15 year old kid. The client who had given her a fictitious name turned out to be a chronic drunk with a sleazy background and he had just been released
Soon Kinsey has a list of questionable people who are very happy when the client turns up dead. For Kinsey at first it was how to get her money from the dead client as his retainer cheque had been a phony. However, soon she wanted to find out who had killed him even though the police had thought his death was an accident. Of course those people also want the money as well.
Complicated plot together with an interesting heroine who has her own personal issues to sort out made this a book I could not put down. As I was reading, I would ask why dosen't she just use her phone to head off that problem or to contact the police, but then I realize there were no cell phones in the late 1980's. Otherwise much of the social life of the characters could be taking place today.
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from jail. Where did he get $25,000? Why was he giving it to the kid?Soon Kinsey has a list of questionable people who are very happy when the client turns up dead. For Kinsey at first it was how to get her money from the dead client as his retainer cheque had been a phony. However, soon she wanted to find out who had killed him even though the police had thought his death was an accident. Of course those people also want the money as well.
Complicated plot together with an interesting heroine who has her own personal issues to sort out made this a book I could not put down. As I was reading, I would ask why dosen't she just use her phone to head off that problem or to contact the police, but then I realize there were no cell phones in the late 1980's. Otherwise much of the social life of the characters could be taking place today.
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LibraryThing member DocWalt10
As always, a great read. Never a dull moment. Her books could be read in one seating if one had the time. I never tire of Kinsey Millhone, the main character in Sue Grafton's books. She is an independent young woman, self-employed, doing what she loves to do and is good at it. As a private
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investigator, she is a minority in her field. If you enjoy suspense, this is book and series for you. Show Less
LibraryThing member gayla.bassham
My favorite of the Kinsey Millhones so far.
LibraryThing member StarKnits
3.5 Stars really So this installment was good I didn’t expect the ending till the end.
LibraryThing member polywogg
BOTTOM-LINE:
An okay but very depressing case.
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PLOT OR PREMISE:
Kinsey is hired to deliver a cashier's cheque to a 15-year-old, but the client stiffs her on the fee so she hunts for him before delivering it.
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WHAT I LIKED:
There isn't a lot of mystery early on, just a few simple unanswered questions
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WHAT I DIDN'T LIKE:
I never really felt much sympathy or empathy for the murder victim, so it's hard to get too excited about the case. Overall, most of the characters and the outcomes are all negative, so the whole storyline is rather a downer.
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DISCLOSURE:
I received no compensation, not even a free copy, in exchange for this review. I am not personal friends with the author, nor do I follow her on social media.
An okay but very depressing case.
.
PLOT OR PREMISE:
Kinsey is hired to deliver a cashier's cheque to a 15-year-old, but the client stiffs her on the fee so she hunts for him before delivering it.
.
WHAT I LIKED:
There isn't a lot of mystery early on, just a few simple unanswered questions
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until a body drops. Now suddenly there's a murder to solve. The initial premise of the lying client sounded a bit familiar to one of her other novels, but not quite the same, which was good. And while Jonah features in the story, the rest of the ancillary characters are non-existent, leaving the story to run along at a decent pace..
WHAT I DIDN'T LIKE:
I never really felt much sympathy or empathy for the murder victim, so it's hard to get too excited about the case. Overall, most of the characters and the outcomes are all negative, so the whole storyline is rather a downer.
.
DISCLOSURE:
I received no compensation, not even a free copy, in exchange for this review. I am not personal friends with the author, nor do I follow her on social media.
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LibraryThing member tkcs
I've been doing audio books in the car lately. Although this one is on CD, I discovered that there are many books to download for free from my library system. Very cool. You download them and they expire in 21 days.
LibraryThing member BookConcierge
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
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
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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. They 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.
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LibraryThing member TVNerd95
I have to admit this one was hard to listen to. Most of the characters were reprehensible and the background on the case was a very sad story. Throughout the book you are not sure about the John Daggett character and wonder all the times at his motives for doing things.
Kinsey has to deal with a
Judy Kaye continues to deliver one of the most consistent narrations of a book series that I have ever listened to. You always know when Kinsey is speaking and you can easily discern the voices of the other characters without any confusion.
Kinsey has to deal with a
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very diverse group of characters in this book. There are ex-cons, teenagers, siblings, multiple wives and a very anger daughter. Kinsey also finds herself just waiting for a break in the case to move to the next clue. This is probably the first book where I actually felt some sympathy for the killer. When this book was over, I think I felt as tired and emotionally drain as Kinsey did – it just wasn’t a story with any light to dark places. Judy Kaye continues to deliver one of the most consistent narrations of a book series that I have ever listened to. You always know when Kinsey is speaking and you can easily discern the voices of the other characters without any confusion.
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LibraryThing member ValerieAndBooks
***This is a project of e-reading Grafton's series -- I started reading these back in the 1980s and would read each release as they came out over the years. To prevent spoilers, I will not attempt to summarize in detail. ***
A bit less memorable than A - C, which may be why “whodunnit” didn‘t
A bit less memorable than A - C, which may be why “whodunnit” didn‘t
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come back to me until near the end in this re-read. Show Less
LibraryThing member cbloky
once again the author has you thinking and trying to figure out who done it. this time i didnt figure it out but loved the twist
LibraryThing member Carmenere
I think I'm changing my middle initial to B for blindsided. For the second time this year, a novel took me off guard. D is for Deadbeat did just that and I'd even venture to say this book in the ABC series has been the best so far.
It starts off with an ex-con wanting a cashier's check for $25,000
It starts off with an ex-con wanting a cashier's check for $25,000
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delivered to a 15 year old boy. Before Kinsey can deliver the check, the deadbeat is murdered and the suspects are numerous. Could the deadbeat's sins of the past have played into it or maybe some under the table drug deals in prison has some revenge minded criminals seeking their cash back? Hmm. Definitely worth the time to read this one and find out. Show Less
Subjects
Language
Original language
English
Original publication date
1987-05-15
Physical description
208 p.; 22 cm
ISBN
8777242548 / 9788777242540
Local notes
Omslag: Per Kramer
Omslaget viser et stort D
Indskannet omslag - N650U - 150 dpi
Oversat fra engelsk "D is for Deadbeat" af Ulla Warren
Side 23: Jeg elsker at være enlig. Det er næsten ligesom at være rig.
Side 26: At være sammen med fromme kristne er som at være sammen med de meget rige. Man fornemmer, at der er visse regler, en eller anden besynderlig etikette, som man uforvarende kan komme til at forsynde sig imod.
Side 39: Henry Pitts er enogfirs, og alle ved, at jeg er småforelsket i ham.
Side 59: Jeg drak det sidste af kaffen i termokanden, og min hjerne knitrede praktisk talt af al den koffein.
Omslaget viser et stort D
Indskannet omslag - N650U - 150 dpi
Oversat fra engelsk "D is for Deadbeat" af Ulla Warren
Side 23: Jeg elsker at være enlig. Det er næsten ligesom at være rig.
Side 26: At være sammen med fromme kristne er som at være sammen med de meget rige. Man fornemmer, at der er visse regler, en eller anden besynderlig etikette, som man uforvarende kan komme til at forsynde sig imod.
Side 39: Henry Pitts er enogfirs, og alle ved, at jeg er småforelsket i ham.
Side 59: Jeg drak det sidste af kaffen i termokanden, og min hjerne knitrede praktisk talt af al den koffein.
Similar in this library
Series
Pages
208
DDC/MDS
| 813 |