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Showing reviews 1-5 of 250
 "T" Is For Terrific December 4, 2007
Tom S. (New York City)
117 out of 125 found this review helpful
The 20th novel in Sue Grafton's Kinsey Millhone series is one of the best. In her last outing, "S" IS FOR SILENCE, Grafton altered her style a bit, actually entering other characters' points of view to tell parts of the story so that they shared the narrating duties with Kinsey herself. With this new novel, that device is used to chilling effect--between reports from Kinsey, we enter the mind of a woman who is possibly her most twisted adversary to date.
Solana Rojas is a caregiver, a home-help nurse's aide much like the thousands you'll find all over America. But the woman assigned to care for Kinsey's elderly friend is not your usual "angel of mercy." For one thing, she is not the real Solana Rojas--she has stolen that woman's identity. And she has plans. To tell you more of the plot would be--well, criminal.
The best aspect of Grafton's excellent series is her ability to keep up with current social and legal problems, despite the fact that Kinsey's stories are set somewhere in the 1980s. In this novel we have identity theft, the inherent problems of home care, and--perhaps most disturbing--the tendency of society in general to ignore and/or mistreat our most vulnerable citizens. At least this elderly victim has Kinsey Millhone as a champion. And what a champion she is! "T" IS FOR TRESPASS will captivate longtime Grafton fans, and it should make her a lot of new fans as well. Highly recommended.
Continued excellence December 14, 2007
K. L. Cotugno (San Francisco, CA USA)
32 out of 37 found this review helpful
The real genius in Sue Grafton's work is how she is able to continue to set her stories in the 80's and yet have them still be relevant to today. In an interview several years ago, she said she was lagging so that her heroine would not grow old before her time. Kinsey Milhone is her fantasy self, leading the life Grafton imagines she would if she were a PI in the 80's. Although it doesn't seem that long ago, it is 20 years after all. And the electronic gadgets that would make Kinsey's job easier are not available to her yet. This book is her best yet. Darker, and despite the 20 year lag, topical. She is able to juggle several story lines and keep them all fresh and interesting, satisfyingly complete.
 NOT ONE OF HER BEST December 12, 2007
ANN SELF (NEW ENGLAND)
26 out of 30 found this review helpful
Yikes, I'm distressed to write a less than glowing review for this novel. I have all of Ms. Grafton's books on my shelves, and have read them all at least twice, but I couldn't warm up to this one. Grafton has set the bar high with her previous works, so maybe I'm spoiled.
A lot of my favorite elements are still here. I love Rosie's, and I love feeling like I'm sitting right there in the booth taking in all the conversations. I adore Henry, one of the most loveable characters ever created by a writer. I enjoy Henry's cooking and all his quirky "sibs". Okay, so what do I miss? I miss the adventure, the sass and the sizzle. Kinsey has no need for a toothbrush and underpants in her slouch bag, because she never goes anywhere. Where is her new family? Deitz, Cheney? Anyone? The beginning of the story is about as exciting as reading a police blotter, as you follow Kinsey around on mundane PI chores. Okay, we all know that ninety percent of a PI's life is boring, but too much of the book is allocated to process serving, paperwork, eviction procedures, on and on. It gets way too preachy and didactic. Grafton mysteries are usually like a ray of sunshine, but I found this one to be dark and claustraphobic.
The book cranks into gear about half way through, and finally morphs into an interesting, well-researched story, dealing with the plight of the elderly and those that prey on them. Grafton has done a good deed here, highlighting the miseries and dangers that stalk our older citizens, and has crafted an eerie, despicable villain. Also intriguing is her use of an alternative POV. We see Kinsey from the perspective of the villain, and it gives us one of the best descriptions to date (that I can remember) of the actual physical appearance of Kinsey.
Near the end, the good ole Kinsey knock down and drag `em (literally) scene appears, but it still left me wanting more adventure--more plane rides, more change of real estate, more of the spunky Kinsey, like the earlier mysteries. Adventure does not need to be contrived or lowbrow as Grafton has easily proved in her prior novels.
Wicked June 16, 2008
Linda (CT, United States)
13 out of 14 found this review helpful
When Kinsey's crotchety octagenarian neighbor Gus takes a fall, the good hearted detective takes on the responsibility for seeing to his welfare. The nurse who is hired comes with glowing recommendations, but soon, a web of stolen identity, embezzlement, abuse, and murder swirls around her, and Kinsey's met her match. This plot is the best Grafton has produced in the last several years, with Kinsey juggling her personal life and her caseload, which, in addition to Gus's life threatening problems, include insurance fraud and a reclusive ex-con, best friend Henry's tangled romance, and a Mexican tarantula, just to name a few of stumbling blocks that pop up to trip her. Even when all seems resolved, trouble still lurks in the wings to disturb Kinsey's peace of mind. In addition to the engaging main characters, Grafton can be relied upon to produce a lively cast of courageous allies and menacing villains without resorting to types. T is for Trespass is more than a mystery, it's an adventure, a look into the dark recesses of some souls, and into the finer instincts of others.
 And then Kinsey brushed her teeth... January 25, 2008
Steve Alcorn (Orlando, FL USA)
12 out of 13 found this review helpful
I'm at a loss to understand how this book can have so many five star ratings. I am a long time Sue Grafton fan, yet I could barely make it through this incredibly boring and almost plotless book.
An unscrupulous nurse abuses Kinsey's elderly neighbor Gus. That's it. That's the whole plot.
To make up for this lack of action, Grafton has made two huge mistakes. The first is that she has padded the material with many chapters of dull recitation from the viewpoint of the nurse, a sociopathic but not particularly interesting character. The second is that she has padded the material with infinitely detailed descriptions of Kinsey's every action, from brushing her teeth to shopping for rutabagas at the grocery store. Honest, I'm not making this up.
If this sounds like a lot of padding, it is. More than half of the book has absolutely nothing to do with the plot, nor is it related to any character development. But if you want to know -- in infinite detail -- how to pickle cucumbers (and the recipe does sound pretty tasty) then this is the book for you. I'm being generous to give it two stars.
Showing reviews 1-5 of 250
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