Linda K. (Alafair) reviewed on 10/19/2011 + 45 more book reviews

In my not so humble opinion, all prolific authors in the crime/mystery genre like James Patterson, Dean Koontz al., and even Sue Grafton are entitled to at least one clunker. "U is for Undertow" is Grafton's contribution to this less than stellar category. As always, Judy Kaye, the narrator and voice of all/most of the Kinsey Milhone books, is superb. However the story felt to me like the author took a number of yarn pieces meant for other projects and tried to wind them into a cohesive ball...and failed miserably when she tried to knit something. Too many characters in too many subplots that went nowhere using too many words. I suppose you could interpret this positively as a substantive device that demonstrates how the work of a Private Investigator might often end without a comfortable resolution. Well, okay. but maybe better said in a tightly written short story. I found this book in audiobook form difficult to follow and happy when it ended; perhaps turning pages would be an improvement. Sorry, Sue Grafton/Kinsey Milhone fans. I have truly enjoyed the five or six audiobooks I've listened to, but, comparatively, this one falls short.

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