Saralee Says
She attended nearby Western Kentucky, graduated from the University of Louisville and still has a home in the Bluegrass state. It has been my privilege to meet many authors, but Sue Grafton is absolutely one of the nicest, smartest, wittiest writers that I have ever encountered.
In 1982, the first of Grafton's alphabet books, A is for Alibi, (Holt, Rinehart and Winston) was published and with her newest addition R is for Ricochet (Putnam) the author has rewarded her fans who have patiently waited with a first rate who-done-it yarn.
For those who have never read a Grafton book, Kinsey Millhone is her protagonist who is a private investigator. The story takes place in the 1980's before e-mail and cell phones. Southern California's Santa Teresa is the fictionalized beach home of Millhone and the setting for most of R is for Ricochet. I adore Grafton's recurring characters like Millhone's eccentric landlord Henry and Rosie who really cannot cook but owns the diner where Millhone regularly eats and socializes. Grafton brings back another character that is once again a love interest for Millhone. Do you think this love interest is a good choice for Millhone?
How does Grafton compare with other female suspense writers such as Patricia Cornwell, Kathy Reichs, Karin Slaughter, Jan Burke or Sallie Bissell? In my opinion Grafton is one of the wittiest and has mastered a way to keep you on the edge of your seat. She is not as complex as Reichs, more light hearted than Cornwell and not as graphic as Slaughter. Do you agree?
How does Grafton rank with other mystery writers? Do you think she is in the same category as some of the classics including Raymond Chandler, John D. McDonald or Agatha Christie? I think she is as sophisticated a story teller as any of those writers. Where these writers used fedoras, trench coats and martinis, Grafton is one of the best with making the reader feel a part of the world of Kinsey Millhone.
Larry's Language
Grafton is good, very good. Grafton, author of R is for Ricochet, should count as a local writer who has done it all from conquering Hollywood to winning Edgar awards for the best mystery novel. Then she went to Hollywood to win relative fame and fortune writing television scripts and one young adult novels before producing A is for Alibi. The instant success of that first book has resulted in this series of 18 crime novels.
Like most of us, Grafton's fictional heroine Millhone enjoys the simple pleasures: fast food at McDonald's, her clothes, her friends, and her family. Of course, she knows the fast food will kill her, her clothes consist of a pair of jeans and one all-purpose black dress, the friends are pretty limited, and her family is very dysfunctional. But she lives near the beach in sunny southern California so there are compensations. Meanwhile, Millhone gives in again to her usual bias of dating less than star quality men and also gets entangled in her elderly landlord's love life that resulted from his Caribbean cruise.
Best of all, for those of us sharing a bloodthirsty nature, she gets to play with dead bodies and bad people. This time the bad guy is Reba Lafferty who is a classic 32-year-old spoiled rich kid and instead of graduating from finishing school, she has just finished serving a prison sentence at the California Institute for Women.
Lafferty's father retains Millhone to shepherd, mentor, look out for, and look after his wayward daughter in hopes of keeping her away from drugs and her poor choices in companions. Millhone succeeds about as well as most parents trying to discipline an unruly two-year-old. Just like a toddler, Lafferty knows what she wants and goes for it, making this a fun read about financial crimes, corporate skullduggery, sex, drugs, music and how many Big Macs Lafferty and Millhone can consume.
Their road to indigestion and treachery may be paved with good intentions but instead of Millhone having a good influence on Lafferty, just the opposite happens.
Join us for our next book club discussion which will feature the best books adored by animal lovers.
