Helpful Score: 3
I am seriously amazed at how an author can write a series of 23 books, from A to W, using the same main character (Kinsey Millhone) and every story continues to be fresh and new! I'm not sure how she does it, but Sue Grafton has talent, that's for sure. I've read every Kinsey Millhone book and have yet to get bored.
Another great story featuring private investigator Kinsey Millhone where she gets involved with some local homeless folks, as well as a medical research professor, and even an old boyfriend comes to town. Good, old-fashioned sleuthing is always involved (remember, this is before the advent of cell phones and computers), as well as one-on-one action. An interesting and surprising ending doesn't disappoint.
Another great story featuring private investigator Kinsey Millhone where she gets involved with some local homeless folks, as well as a medical research professor, and even an old boyfriend comes to town. Good, old-fashioned sleuthing is always involved (remember, this is before the advent of cell phones and computers), as well as one-on-one action. An interesting and surprising ending doesn't disappoint.
Helpful Score: 2
I thought the book was off to a slow start at first and lots of repetition of what has happened in other books, but then not everybody has read ALL the other books so settled down to enjoy the story, which I did. I enjoy the Kinsey Millhone character and her "Older" friends very much. They are funny, sensible, and down to earth. These are just a good read book because there is always just enough mystery and thrills to go along with it all....
Helpful Score: 1
Although this book doesn't have the "action" some of the other books have, I enjoyed it a lot. I like the way paths cross and mysteries are solved.
Since this series is set before computers had taken over our lives, the PI has to do the leg work and the searching through paper documents in order to find the facts she needs.
I wonder what will happen when the author runs out of alphabet...
Since this series is set before computers had taken over our lives, the PI has to do the leg work and the searching through paper documents in order to find the facts she needs.
I wonder what will happen when the author runs out of alphabet...
POTENTIAL SPOILERS!!
The family drama subplot took up most of the story, with Kinsey's investigation running second. There is a murder to be solved, although Kinsey doesn't know anything about it until the very end. There are flashback scenes from another POV, so the reader knows how the two plots will intersect eventually. In all of the books, there's a lot of extraneous detail - what Kinsey eats, what streets she drives on, what people are wearing, and this time even changing a light bulb! Normally this sort of washes over me while I'm reading - it adds flavor maybe - but I got a little impatient with it this time. I did like the uncovering of the villain and how Kinsey tracked down everything. Though, I have a hard time empathizing with Kinsey because I can't imagine myself acting like her. I did feel sorry for her to find other family members who are kind of trashy, but after the first encounter went so wrong, why put yourself through more? Befriend a group of homeless people and help them raid another homeless encampment? Oh hell no. But I've still enjoyed the books for the most part and now there are only two left to read.
The family drama subplot took up most of the story, with Kinsey's investigation running second. There is a murder to be solved, although Kinsey doesn't know anything about it until the very end. There are flashback scenes from another POV, so the reader knows how the two plots will intersect eventually. In all of the books, there's a lot of extraneous detail - what Kinsey eats, what streets she drives on, what people are wearing, and this time even changing a light bulb! Normally this sort of washes over me while I'm reading - it adds flavor maybe - but I got a little impatient with it this time. I did like the uncovering of the villain and how Kinsey tracked down everything. Though, I have a hard time empathizing with Kinsey because I can't imagine myself acting like her. I did feel sorry for her to find other family members who are kind of trashy, but after the first encounter went so wrong, why put yourself through more? Befriend a group of homeless people and help them raid another homeless encampment? Oh hell no. But I've still enjoyed the books for the most part and now there are only two left to read.
This is another good mystery story with Kinsey Millhone. This one is about an unscrupulous private investigator's death. In the midst of the story, Kinsey finds another distant relative related to her father's side. I keep hoping Kinsey will find more purpose in her life and a special someone. Not yet in this book.
This is such a great series! It continues Kinsey's adventures in an intelligent combination of circumstances. I just love Henry!
I really enjoyed this after such a long wait to get it. I was glad to see some more of her family presented to us - glad they aren't MY family. I hope Grafton has something else planned at the end of the alphabet.
Carolyn S. (iluvamystery) reviewed W Is for Wasted (Kinsey Millhone, Bk 23) on + 64 more book reviews
Classic Kinsey Milhone - great dialogue, plot and characterization.
Great read, as always. Love the entire series.
Excellent - can't wait for X
Good read
Paula G. (Paulathegreat) reviewed W Is for Wasted (Kinsey Millhone, Bk 23) on + 148 more book reviews
I waited for a long time for this book and was terribly disappointed.
If I lived in Santa Barbara and I was writing a book that was driven by a homeless character and interactions between my protagonist and homeless characters, I would bestir myself down to the mission to find out what I could about homelessness and homeless culture.
I don't think Sue Grafton even bothered to Google it.
Which makes the whole plot of her newest book ignorant.
Homeless people live in flux. They also inhabit a very dangerous world. They don't have the luxury of sharing all of their secrets with their friends and mourning their dead.
Grafton's characters in this book are not only one dimensional. They are pathetic. The dialogue is completely unrealistic.
If I lived in Santa Barbara and I was writing a book that was driven by a homeless character and interactions between my protagonist and homeless characters, I would bestir myself down to the mission to find out what I could about homelessness and homeless culture.
I don't think Sue Grafton even bothered to Google it.
Which makes the whole plot of her newest book ignorant.
Homeless people live in flux. They also inhabit a very dangerous world. They don't have the luxury of sharing all of their secrets with their friends and mourning their dead.
Grafton's characters in this book are not only one dimensional. They are pathetic. The dialogue is completely unrealistic.
