Kinsey and Me: Stories

Sue Grafton

Jan 2013 · A Kinsey Millhone Novel · Sold by Penguin

About this ebook

From the #1 New York Times bestselling author of the acclaimed Alphabet series comes a collection of stories that “combines glimpses of her series detective, Kinsey Millhone, with a revealing self-portrait” (Publishers Weekly).

In 1982, Sue Grafton introduced Kinsey Millhone and created an iconic female detective. Here, in a story collection divided into two parts, Sue Grafton provides a glimpse of her own early life in the guise of the character Kit Blue, and enriches our understanding of Kinsey Millhone, one of the spunkiest, smartest, and most entertaining private investigators in all of mystery fiction.

“Terrific...The Kinsey stories and the Kit stories together open a window into Grafton's soul.”—USA Today

Ratings and reviews

The first set of short stories were very familiar, amusing, light and enjoyable. The second set were altogether different, dark, intensely personal, and very revealing. The funny thing is that both sets are in their own way (the second set is actually identified as autobiographical) reflections of the author.

BOTTOM-LINE: Kinsey is okay, Kit works well as a collection. . PLOT OR PREMISE: The book is a collection of two sets of stories -- the first set are Kinsey Millhone series set throughout the Alphabet series in time; the second set are about Kit Blue. . WHAT I LIKED: "The first part, with Kinsey Millhone, includes an introduction about how she created Kinsey (4/5), nine shortstories, and a conclusion about the history of the genre of the hard-boiled PI (3/5). The shortstories are fun to read, but there isn't much ""Kinsey"" in them. Too little time to dwell, mostly focused on ""wham bam, here's a clue, here's a solution"". One I rate at 4/5, five more at 3/5, and another three that aren't very good at all. - Between the Sheets -- great opening where woman shows up to confess to murder she hasn't reported yet, and when she goes back, the body is gone (3/5); - Long Gone -- missing wife, lots of kids, clues are pretty obvious (3/5); - The Parker Shotgun -- cool premise, quick solution, fair with the clues (4/5); - Non Sung Smoke -- Find a one-night stand, have him get killed, throw in some drugs (3/5); - Full Circle -- Cute ending to a simple case of who killed a young woman in a horrific car accident that Kinsey witnessed (3/5); and, - A Little Missionary Work -- Two celebrities ask for Kinsey's help with a fake kidnapping, but Kinsey reverses the con in the end (3/5). . The second part includes an introduction about Grafton's not-so-idyllic early life, and how ""Kit Blue"" is a younger version of herself (3/5). The remaining thirteen stories work quite well as a collection of slices of Kit's life, although individually I rate one as 5/5, five as 4/5, and three as 3/5, with another four below the line: - That's Not An Easy Way To Go -- Kit realizing she's become the mother to her alcoholic mother (4/5); - Lost People -- Kit reflecting on her alcoholic parents, displaced from their own lives (3/5); - Clue -- Slice of life with mother visiting and Kit's relief when she leaves (3/5); - Night Visit, Corridor A -- Kit visiting mother in hospital (4/5); - April 24, 1960 -- Kit dealing with news of her mother's death on Kit's birthday, and being irritated by her husband trying to comfort her (4/5); - The Closet -- Kit cleaning out her mother's closet after she's gone and trying to figure out what it represents, if anything (4/5); - Maple Hill -- Kit walking through an empty house saying goodbye to all of it (5/5); - Jessie -- a housewoman talking about Kit's mother (4/5); and, - A Letter From My Father -- Kit reading a letter and sharing her own views of their life together (3/5)." . WHAT I DIDN'T LIKE: "Three of the Kinsey stories aren't great: - Falling Off The Roof -- A mystery book club with murder on its mind (1/5); - A Poison That Leaves No Trace -- Quick case of a dead sister looking to know if her niece killed her mother (2/5); and, - The Lying Game -- old trope about a liar and a truthteller, you can only ask one question (1/5). . Four of the Kit Blue slices don't stand alone very well: - A Woman Capable of Anything -- Kit Blue watching a sleeping alcoholic mother (1/5); - A Portable Life -- Kit coming to terms with the past being destroyed (1/5); - The Quarrel -- Kit listening to her father explain his new wife's behaviour (2/5); and, - Death Review -- Kit's working in a hospital as a medical secretary, spotting glimpses of her mom in the other patients (2/5)." . DISCLOSURE: I received no compensation, not even a free copy, in exchange for this review. I am not personal friends with the author, nor do I follow her on social media.

I have always loved Sue Grafton's books. But these short stories tells you a lot about how Kinsey is the alter ego to Sue Grafton. The stories are both funny and ultimately sad. A very good read.

About the author

#1 New York Times bestselling author Sue Grafton first introduced Kinsey Millhone in the Alphabet Series in 1982. Soon after, both writer and heroine became icons and international bestsellers. Ms. Grafton was a writer who consistently broke the bonds of genre while never writing the same book twice. Named a Grand Master by the Mystery Writers of America, her awards and honors included the Lifetime Achievement Award from the Private Eye Writers of America, the Ross Macdonald Literary Award, the Cartier Diamond Dagger Award from Britain's Crime Writers' Association, the Lifetime Achievement Award from Malice Domestic, a Lifetime Achievement Award from Bouchercon, three Shamus Awards, and three Anthony Awards—including the first two ever awarded. She passed away in December 2017.