"Another success for Grafton, May 8, 2005"
Reviewer: Carolyn Rowe Hill, author: "so far, R is for Ricochet is my favorite. I see the point another reviewer made about entitling the book R is for Reba as this character is definitely the lead in this story, which at times I found disconcerting. However, I grew to like Reba, so it turned out to be OK by me. While the book is not riveting (I could easily set it down and return to it later), I found it comfortable to read in parcels and finished it in a few days (which gave me time to absorb many of its details). Whatever else is going on, it's always interesting to see what's up with landlord Henry Pitts, his brother William and wife Rosie the Hungarian, and this time with Michigan brother, Lewis, who arrives for an unscheduled visit.

It does seem to me Grafton has increased her descriptive narrative as she proceeds through the alphabet. Perhaps this has become convenient filler. She has been roundly criticized for this practice, but if the reader absorbs the descriptions, he/she learns much about the places Detective Kinsey Millhone has been and how precisely she takes in the scene around her (makes for a good detective). I do think one can only describe bars so many times before the descriptions become grudgingly repetitious, and counting down the digital readout on an elevator door panel (twice) is carrying things a bit far, "...4 to 3 to 2 to 1." I was also surprised at how easily Kinsey allowed Reba to manipulate her... as in the shopping spree. If she didn't want Reba in the changing room with her, I would've expected her to just say NO.

Having said all this, I found the book an enjoyable read and continue to be impressed with Grafton's way with words. Her description of the July heat as being "thick as sour milk" and smelling like "feedlots" made me feel the unpleasantness of the day even as we experience an unusually long, snowy, cold winter in Michigan. She follows this sentence with a description of her T-shirt sticking to her back and the "sheen of moisture" on her face, "...the sort of clamminess that wakes you from a dead sleep when you've just come down with the flu." Yuck!

I intend to eventually read all Grafton's alphabet novels and to learn from her as an author." Carolyn Rowe Hill

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The best part of the series detective stories is that you get to know the character - Kinsey Millhone. Starting another day which sometimes might seem a bit boring but suddenly takes a turn to which boring doesn't look quite as bad. You might cringe at the cheese and pimento sandwiches, or chuckle at the tarantula spider scurrying across the office floor; but you will always be on the alert to what ever could possibly happen next!

This is a great "get away" book to stimulate the senses in the lifestyle of a female detective who shares human need and desire at multiple layers. The balance of priorities and how to handle those gray areas in life, but make it through in one piece. With lessons learned and a positive attitude towards approaching her next case, she finds that sometimes you do not have to be looking for trouble. It can find you!

The great part about the whole story is not guessing the ending half way through the book. Your challenged right through to the end and satisfied with a just ending.

good

excellent book you just have to read it

My husband and I love these books because they are set in thinly disguised Santa Barbara, Ventura and Oxnard California,my home town and stompin ground. Plus they have a gritty spunky protagonist that catches your heart and often the stories have good twists.This story has Kinsey babysitting a parolee who has friends in the underworld.Good stuff!

Reba Lafferty was a daughter of privilege, the only child of an adoring father. Nord Lafferty was already in his fifties when Reba was born, and he could deny her nothing. Over the years, he quietly settled her many scrapes with the law, but wasn't there for her when she was convicted of embezzlement and sent to the California Institution for Women. Now, at thirty-two, she is about to be paroled, having served twenty-two months of a four-year sentence. Nord Lafferty wants to be sure she stays straight, stays at home and away from the drugs, the booze, the gamblers.
It seems a straightforward assignment for Kinsey:
babysit Reba until she settles in, make sure she follows all the rules of her parole. Maybe all of a week's work. Nothing untoward-the woman seems remorseful and friendly. And the money is good.
But life is never that simple, and Reba is out of prison less that twenty-four hours when one of her old crowd comes cirdling around.....

Reba Lafferty was a daughter of privilege, the only child of an adoring father. Nord Lafferty was already in his fifties when Reba was born, and he could deny her nothing. Over the years,he quietly settled her many scrapes with the law, but wasen't there for her when she was convicted of embezzlement and sent to the California Institution for Women. Now at thirty-two, she is about to be paroled having served twenty two months of a four year sentence. Nord Lafferty wants to be sure she stays straight stays at home and away from the drugs, the booze, the gamblers.
But life is never simple and Reba is out of prison less the twenty four hours when one of her old crowd comes circling around....

I loved this book. Suspenseful and fun.

Grafton is a master story teller. It will be a sad day
when we reach the end of the alphabet.

Classic Kinsey Millstone

Very good, Kinsey Milhone good as usual.

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