When an author sets out to write a series of books based on each letter of the English alphabet, it's a major undertaking. Trying to keep any series fresh and interesting is a challenge, even more so when there's a commitment for 26 books! I'll admit I got bored with the series along about the middle of the alphabet, but the last few installments have been as good as, of not better than the first few. U is for Undertow is the 21st Kinsey Millhone novel. Sue Grafton began the series in 1982 and by the letter "U" we have only progressed to 1988.
Kinsey's latest client, Michael Sutton, has a memory of something that happened in 1967, when he was just a child. He believes it might be relevant in the unresolved disappearance of a young girl that same year. With this new lead Kinsey is able to piece together additional information in the case. Things take a turn when Kinsey finds out Michael has experienced "false memory syndrome" in the past and his current memory doesn't provide the anticipated results. Instead, more questions are raised and, against better judgement, Kinsey pushes on to find out the truth.
I really like the way this story is structured. Interspersed throughout are flashbacks told from the perspective of various characters in the story, allowing the reader insight into how and why the original crime took place. I hope Grafton will be able to keep up this momentum with the final five books in the series.
This is my sixth book for the Cozy Mystery Challenge.
Kinsey's latest client, Michael Sutton, has a memory of something that happened in 1967, when he was just a child. He believes it might be relevant in the unresolved disappearance of a young girl that same year. With this new lead Kinsey is able to piece together additional information in the case. Things take a turn when Kinsey finds out Michael has experienced "false memory syndrome" in the past and his current memory doesn't provide the anticipated results. Instead, more questions are raised and, against better judgement, Kinsey pushes on to find out the truth.
I really like the way this story is structured. Interspersed throughout are flashbacks told from the perspective of various characters in the story, allowing the reader insight into how and why the original crime took place. I hope Grafton will be able to keep up this momentum with the final five books in the series.
This is my sixth book for the Cozy Mystery Challenge.
5 comments:
I've been reading this series too. It is getting a little stale (as all series tend to do) but I think she is mixing it up a bit more like in this one, which was a bit of a departure for her. I think I'll finish it out because I've come so far already but I'm not running out to buy them in hardcover anymore.
It's hard to imagine being able to keep any series fresh for 26 novels. I hope she holds your interest for the rest.
I'm wondering what Z will be...
I was wondering what X and Z are going to be. :D
Interesting concept.
This seems to happen an awful lot with books in a series. I think the author often wavers some where along the line only for the books to improve again.
I'm finding myself at that wavering point with my latest read - the 13th in a series of books by Kathy Reichs.
Anyway, thanks for an interesting post, I hope you enjoy the rest of the series
Susan loves these. I have only read A and B but will eventually get to C and more. I'm very sequential and could never go out of order.
Post a Comment