by
Sue Grafton
ISBN: 0-7366-8836-6 Order from: Amazon.com Amazon.com Barnes & Noble.com
A satisfying, methodical investigation of an old murder shows good characterization and a decent mystery.
Reviewed by David on July 02, 2005
Genre: Mystery (Police Procedural, Private investogator)
Synopsis: Kinsey Milhone is engaged a couple of police officers to assist in reviewing an old murder. Two old homocide detectives, plagued by medical problems and close to retirement are pretty much given a free hand by the department to go once more over a never-solved killing of a girl, found in a local quarry.
Younger and mobile, Kinsey is helping the two irascible but ultimately competent and sympathetic cops run down the leads in the old case. Steadily, amid the plethora of blind alleys and useless clues, the three detectives narrow down the probable identity of the victim. But as they get closer to the motive, old emotions flare up again.
Full Review: The puzzle of an unknown victim is both plausible (it's based on an actual case) and poignant. Driven as much by sympathy with the victim's presumed family still in the dark about the fate of the girl, as by desire for justice, the two detectives and Kinsey take the time to go over old leads, however slight. The nature of the case—it's age—remove the time constraints, and the investigation's pace is leisurly, both due to weakness of the eveidence and the limitations of the eldrely investigators. In parallel, are Kinsey's strained relations with her family, helping to flesh out her character but often exasperatingly childish, especially for the woman in her late thirties.
Still, as the tanacious trio follow all leads, the pace of investigation speeds up, and the book's pace works very well. Between the glints of humor in the two codgers' relationship, nicely confusing but systematic investigation, and generally solid character portrayal, this is a solidly enjoyable mystery.
Copyright: 2002
Series Name: Kinsey Milhone Alphabet Mystery
Overall: 6; Plot: 6; Characters: 6; Style: 6; World-building: 5.5; Originality: 6;
Random House (Books on Tape), 2002, Compact Disc Audio Book, 11 CDs
ISBN: 0-7366-8836-6 Order from: Amazon.com Amazon.com Barnes & Noble.com