Tuesday, October 21, 2008

'G' is for Gumshoe, by Sue Grafton

(pb; 1990: seventh book in the Kinsey Millhone mysteries)

From the inside flap:

"Kinsey Millhone celebrates her thirty-third birthday as only she can -- she moves back into her renovated apartment, gets hired to find an elderly lady supposedly living in the Mojave Desert by herself, and makes the top of triggerman Tyrone Patty's hit list. As much as she hates to admit it, Kinsey realizes even she's going to need help fening off a hit man and she hires a bodyguard: Robert Dietz, a Porshe-driving P.I. who takes his job very seriously. With Dietz watching her for the merest sign of her usual recklessness, Kinsey plunges into a case that will lead her to the gruesome truth about a long-buried betrayal. And, in the process, will bring her face-to-face with her own mortality. . ."

Review:

Another flame-through, twist-loaded and frequently-shivery read from Grafton, who spins a reader-familiar tale (with some choice shuffling of elements and structure) and fully introduces a once-peripheral character in the Millhone universe: Robert Dietz, a sensible, sensitive and manly P.I.-turned-bodyguard who's keeping Millhone alive, as well as possibly -- slowly -- winning Millhone's heart. (Dietz briefly was mentioned in an earlier Millhone mystery, I forget which one.)

The shivery part comes from the hitman who's stalking, toying with Millhone; not only is he a borderline-sociopath, he's also intent on turning this cat-and-mouse game into a family affair.

Excellent entry in the Kinsey Millhone series. Check the series out!

Followed by 'H' is for Homicide.

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