Book Review: X by Sue Grafton

Members of the Vise Library were selected to review X.  We received a copy of Sue Grafton's book for an honest review.

About the book:

Of #1 New York Times–bestselling author Sue Grafton, NPR’s Maureen Corrigan said, “Makes me wish there were more than 26 letters.” With only two letters left, Grafton’s many devoted readers will share that sentiment.

X:  The number ten. An unknown quantity. A mistake. A cross. A kiss.

X:  The shortest entry in Webster’s Unabridged. Derived from Greek and Latin and commonly found in science, medicine, and religion. The most graphically dramatic letter. Notoriously tricky to pronounce: think xylophone.

X:  The twenty-fourth letter in the English alphabet.

Sue Grafton’s X: Perhaps her darkest and most chilling novel, it features a remorseless serial killer who leaves no trace of his crimes. Once again breaking the rules and establishing new paths, Grafton wastes little time identifying this sociopath. The test is whether Kinsey can prove her case against him before she becomes his next victim.

Kinsey Millhone is back!  In Sue Grafton's newest book, Kinsey essentially has three mysteries going on all at one time (two of them unintentional).  First, Kinsey takes a case that seems like an easy $200.  Of course that is not the case (ha!).  Kinsey finds out that the wool was pulled over her eyes and is trying to get to the bottom of the lies.  This puts her in the middle of a petty divorce (and an annulment!).  Secondly, Kinsey is contacted about some paperwork from an earlier case involving Pete Wolinsky (one of the focuses of W is for Wasted).  When she goes looking for some tax forms she uncovers something hidden in the bottom of one of the boxes.  She realizes Pete was looking into a case and she sets out to finish some unfinished business.  She has to put aside her judgment of Pete and look through a different set of eyes.  Lastly, Kinsey doesn't feel like something is quite right with her new neighbors.  She feels like they are taking advantage of Henry (her landlord) and his kindness.  Like all of Grafton's novels, Kinsey's snark and intuition are one of a kind.  She always pens such incredible dialogue.  Grafton also does an amazin job on the little details and forces you to pay close attention to them.  Something that seems minor turns out to be something ground-breaking later on.  Lastly, I always think I know the who and the why in her books, but she fools me every time!  Millhone fans will love this novel and will be glad to see some familiar faces (and places!) along the way!

This book comes out August 25 and will be available for check out around that time.  Make sure to keep an eye out for it!

Buy the book:

     Amazon

       Barnes and Noble
      Parnassus Books

About the author:

New York Times-bestselling author Sue Grafton is published in twenty-eight countries and twenty-six languages--including Estonian, Bulgarian, and Indonesian. Books in her alphabet series, begun in 1982, are international bestsellers with readership in the millions. And like Raymond Chandler and Ross Macdonald, Grafton has earned new respect for the mystery form. Readers appreciate her buoyant style, her eye for detail, her deft hand with character, her acute social observances, and her abundant storytelling prowess. She has been named a Grand Master by the Mystery Writers of America (2009) and is a recipient of the Ross Macdonald Literary Award (2004).

Sue Grafton has been married to Steve Humphrey for more than thirty years, and they divide their time between Montecito, California, and Louisville, Kentucky, where she was born and raised. Grafton, who has three children and four grandchildren, loves cats, gardens, and good cuisine.

Connect with the author:

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