P Is for Peril (A Marian Wood Book) (Kinsey Millhone Mysteries (Hardcover)) Reviews

• P is for Possibility

  
  By AKT474TT9CQC5 on 2001-06-10
  I have read all of Sue Grafton's alphabet series and loved all of them. They are quick reads, each giving me a better sense of who Kinsey is and I love the way all mysteries are solved by the end of the book. This one falls short of my expectation for wrapping up the mystery into a nice neat package at the end. I felt like I was missing a chapter...

  All in all, the book was good. The main plot is about Kinsey trying to determine what happened to a doctor who has been missing for nine weeks. She discovers the doctor has quite a few dilemmas in his life - one ex-wife who seems to have never gotten over him, new wife and child who require a lot of his time, a sticky situation at the hospital he manages and friends who make better enemies. In addition, Kinsey is loosing her office space and needs to find another office. She happens upon a great little office, perfect locations, completely remodeled, and reasonably priced - almost too good to be true. Well, it is! This scenario provides the back drop for another plot - two brothers from Texas who are accused of murdering their parents. Grafton does a good job of weaving the two plots effortlessly through the book. I felt like the second plot (with the two brothers) was presented and closed out better than the main plot.

  I always look forward to another Kinsey Millhone saga - this one was worth the wait and I highly recommend it to other fans. My only hope is that Sue Grafton goes back to neatly tying up her mysteries (with the trademark Kinsey 'final report').
  
  

• P is for perception!

  
  By A201SSTKGOJ206 on 2001-06-14
  I have read the earlier reviews posted here and wondered what book some of the reviewers read. Although the ending doesn't spell everything out for you, if you read it carefully, all the loose ends have been tied up by then. The final question about who killed Dow Purcell and why he was killed is answered in the last few pages with a discovery by Kinsey and a few subtle clues from the behavior of two of the characters.

  The subplots prove to be interesting, especially the one involving Kinsey's need for a new office. It is through another of the subplots (Henry working on Rosie's sister's medical bills)that Kinsey gets a better understanding of how the Medicare scam at the nursing home worked. But even that is another red herring as to the reason for Dr. Purcell's death. Was it murder, was it suicide? Did the money missing from his bank account have anything do do with his death? And if it was murder, who did it--his ex-wife, his business partners, his current wife's ex-husband, etc?

  Throughout the book, Kinsey takes some risks and find herself in potentially dangerous situations. The book ends while she waits for the police, and she has once again put herself in peril. The ending at this point keeps us wondering--knowing she is in danger and not knowing until the next installment if she escapes this situation unscathed.

  My perception of the book seems to be different from many of the early reviews especially in regard to the ending. I think it is a well written book with a neatly wrapped ending. If you are not perceptive and cannot read between the lines and see how Sue Grafton neatly wrapped up the story line about the Hevener brothers, or the murder of Dr. Purcell, then you might not appreciate the ending of the book. I think through the deft writing of Ms. Grafton, we are left with Kinsey in peril. You have to believe that the main character will not be killed off or what would be the point of her working on the next in the series? Too bad we have to wait a year for "Q"!
  
  

• Grafton at her best

  
  By A29IYGR7SNPRIV on 2001-06-16
  I confess to having sneaked a peek at what some of the disgruntled readers had to say about this book. And it never fails to amaze me how angry people get when an author requires a reader to use his/her imagination (based on what's been presented) and work out the answers. Books are intended to challenge and pique the mind, not to act as soporifics--with everything presented neatly tied up and gift-wrapped. P is for Peril does precisely that: it offers all the evidence and then leaves the reader to arrive at the only possible conclusion.

  I've been a Kinsey fan since book A; some of the entries in this alphabet series have been weaker than others. But Grafton always writes well, with humor and superior plotting skills. This is a grown-up book from a grown-up author who has yet to rely on formulaic writing, but rather brings something fresh to each new "letter." And P is just great; it's got wonderful characters, lots of humor, and enough red herrings to make a sizeable platter at a buffet.

  Most highly recommended.
  
  

• Not the best of Kinsey's adventures, but fun in parts

  
  By ASS7IGFOTT6UT on 2001-06-08
  I always look forward to opening my new Grafton novel when thye appear in my local bookstore. Over the years, I feel as if I have come to know Kinsey as a friend, and can always expect a good yarn from her. P is for Peril seems to be two novels in one. The side story about the Hevener brothers and Kinsey's involvement in a real estate action, turns out to be far more entertaining than the main story itself. This being the case of Dowan Purcell, a local doctor missing from his community with a shady disappearance being likely. I found myself, wanting the information about the Purcell case to resolve itself, so icould get back to the real story, in my mind (the subplot). I think Grafton missed a golden opportunity to build a great tale around this instead of focusing on the dealings of a reputed shady medical facility. I work in the medical profession and was lucky enough to understand the terminology used throughout. I do think, however that someone new to this, will find themselves drowning in a sea of terms like HCFA or CPT coding respectively. The ending is also a big mistep in my opinion. Too cloudy for my taste and I suspect many other readers as well. All in all, a fun book, but not a caliber Millhone novel.
  
  

• Did Kinsey get lost somewhere?

  
  By A2UKVO7U7BB73W on 2001-08-02
  I am an avid Kinsey Millhone fan, and was anxious to get my hands on this lastest installment to the series. However, I found this one very disappointing. The plot was an overly used one with characters that weren't developed or explained thoroughly enough. Throughout the book, I kept waiting to find out why things that had been emphasized were key to the story, but it just never happened.

  I thought the subplot with the two brothers had much more potential. Developing that storyline would have been far more interesting.

  The old Kinsey just didn't quite come through here. She didn't have that edge that makes her so interesting. I've always enjoyed the way she thinks and operates. This seemed to be just a shadow of her former self.

  I was willing to forgive all of this just because I do adore the series, but I was left cold with the ending. Grafton has always been a master at pulling it together in a way that even if she hadn't thoroughly spelled out the way things were, there wasn't any confusion as to what happened. That was not the case here. I read the last 25 pages twice to see if I missed something, but I have more questions than is comfortable for a mystery novel. There was just too much left unsaid and unexplained which I found extremely frustrating.

  By far, my least favorite.
  
  

• P is for DisaPpointment !
  By A2XK91UUXJ0U0U on 2001-06-13
  My title makes as much sense as her ending! Although I have always enjoyed the Grafton ABC series, this was a huge disappointment! The ending is...........well, not there! And, although I do prefer to "figure it out on my own", I seek that finality of conclusion that is lacking in this book. I truly believe that the publisher/printer has ommitted the final chapter!
  
  
• A return to high quality
  By A2GBJQ9THOYDAJ on 2001-10-08
  I began following the adventures of Kinsey Millhone when _A Is for Alibi_ came out in 1982 and I've stuck with the series ever since. I'm not generally a fan of procedurals, but I make an exception for Grafton. By now, Kinsey is a fully realized personality -- as are her landlord, the octogenarian Henry, Rosie the Hungarian tavernkeeper, her acquaintances on the police force, and all the other repeating characters. This time, she has to unravel another missing persons case, the subject of the investigation being a prominent doctor (on his second wife, but she's been hired by the first wife) who seems to have been involved in a Medicare scam. And just to keep things interesting, there's a secondary plot involving two brothers from whom Kinsey is considering renting new office space -- which leads to a couple of fairly unnerving scenes. The plot develops logically and Grafton is adept at letting you (and Kinsey) stray off on dead-end paths. Nothing important was telegraphed -- not to me, anyway. My only real complaint is probably picky (except that I'm an editor, so it doesn't seem picky to me), and that's the poor job of editing from which the last few books in the series have suffered. For instance, though one of the supporting characters is named Harvey Broadus, when Kinsey finally meets him, he introduces himself as "Harry" Broadus. And the rear entrance to a building is consistently spelled as one word, "backdoor." Very sloppy. But I'll forgive that for a really good story. Along about the middle of the alphabet, though, Grafton seemed to flag. "L," "M," and "N," were pretty mediocre; in one of those, she used the verb "to tuck" about once every three pages, making me want to scream every time I read it. They also showed a lot of laziness in the research. (She obviously had never personally bothered to check out the area around Dallas!) So I was beginning to worry that the series might never be completed. But "O" was a great improvement, and I'm happy to say that "P" is the best one yet.
  
  
• Grafton Noir
  By A1HS9F7J51E9CB on 2001-07-21
  This is a departure for Kinsey Milhone. The mood is dark as the skies and as retro as an early Ross McDonald novel. The main plot is diffuse with unattractive, complex characters taking the center stage. A beloved elderly physician has disappeared. His eccentric but charmless ex-wife wants him found. His present wife, a former stripper, thinks he is dead. Nobody and nothing are quite as they seem. The missing doctor has a drinking problem and some quirky sexual needs. The ex-wife in her unfinished, stark and bare art deco home calls to mind Gloria Swanson in "Sunset Boulevard." The trophy-wife, aptly named Crystal, seems fragile and dependent. She has a strange ménage who consist of an utterly repellent 14-year old out-of-control daughter, her 18-month old son and his ghostly male nanny, and an ever-present friend who happens to be the daughter's school counselor.

  "Peril" is a decidedly ambitious book, and succeeds on many levels. The sometimes lyrical descriptions of weather, architecture and mood show growth and depth in Ms. Grafton's writing. However, she tries to do too much and the story sprawls. A secondary plot, though entertaining, is a diversion and fragments the reader's interest. She interjects a hilarious interlude with a hidden Kinsey trapped under a desk, a reluctant witness to a lovers' tryst. Again, funny and clever as this is, it does not forward the story. I had the feeling Ms. Grafton threw these in to placate her legion of Kinsey fans. Kinsey's regular pals, Henry and Rosie seem out of place in this setting. Think Ms. Grafton should bite the bullet and write a book without Kinsey, not in the alphabet series, and see how it goes

  The ending is subtle but clear if you mentally review what you have read. The clues are all there. I had to smile at the cleverness.
  
  

• P is for puzzling?
  By A1BPFURP19Z7HI on 2001-06-11
  I truly love the character of Kinsey Milhone. I enjoyed P is for Peril but was left disappointed. We never truly learn why the Doctor was killed. Kinsey seems to take almost being murdered by a man she had the hots for in stride. How did the insurance agent get the combination to the safe? Is what she did illegal? Wouldn't Kinsey, having worked for an insurance office, know the right avenues to pursue to follow up on this? Was there a missing chapter at the end? And what about the epilogue I've come to expect?
  
  
• An unfinished work?
  By A3SBJ65PK16T0 on 2001-06-15
  While Sue Grafton's writing style sparkles, as usual, with wit and vivid description, I couldn't help but think that the author should have kept on writing until she actually finished the book. The book contains a plot and a major subplot, and neither one is brought to a satisfactory resolution. Questions remain unanswered, loose ends are not entirely tied up. In fact it occured to me, some time after I read the final page, that heroine Kinsey Millhone had not actually told us the identity of the killer or the motive! Perhaps Grafton is being avant-garde; like many of her other fans, though, I would have appreciated a closing note "Respectfully submitted."
  
  
• P is also for Pair
  By A3NR6YPZDDTR7W on 2002-01-06
  If P is for Peril, it is also for pair - a pair of wives (current and past), a brotherly duo, several pairs of friends, a pair of daughters, a pair of policemen, a pair of business partners, and a pair of plots (as well as a pair of Saucony trainers). The eternally 30ish Kinsey zips along in her VW in a rainy and cold California November, searching for a missing husband as well as a new office space. While attempting to untangle a myriad of complications, Kinsey finds herself personally indulging in peril. Grafton's writing had me smiling once again - I just ADORE Kinsey and her smart mouth and some of her more anti-social ways. And I covet that tidy apartment, her neighbor Henry and the black dress - but I might skip dinner at Rosie's. Grafton delivers a wonderful flash-back Kinsey tale, a convoluted crime, numerous surprisingly despicable characters, and a taste of California that isn't all sunshine and surf. Set in the 80s, this latest story also illustrates just how much computers and cell phones have changed our lives.
  
  
• Grafton in Peril
  By on 2002-08-26
  I have read all of Sue Grafton's Kinsey Milhone books and, in spite of what I am about to say in this review, I will continue to read them through to 'Z' if they go that far (I just will not be buying hardbacks for the foreseeable future). Generally, I have enjoyed Grafton's writing style; her places, scenes and people are so alive, most especially Kinsey who is so well drawn that I find my self thinking of her as real.

  So it was with great anticipation that on June 4 of last year - on my way to the airport and vacation - I was at the bookstore when it opened for business. I was lucky enough to get a signed copy, my first Grafton hardback. The read I had so looked forward to while sitting on the beach was a huge disappointment.

  This book is a dud. It lacks memorable plot, interesting people, or character development; it is poorly written and boring. I barely got through it and kept putting it aside for other reading matter.

  Peril has two main stories, one with many branches, one more straightforward. The latter is more typical of Grafton/Milhone and is the more interesting but plays a much smaller part. The main plot is filled with serendipity, red herrings, and dead ends. Neither were as good as plots from past works such as Lawless and Killer.

  I do not actually read Grafton's books for the plots: I enjoy them as I go along, I expect them to be interesting enough to maintain my curiosity, and five minutes later I have forgotten them. I read mostly for character development, for snappy dialog, for Kinsey's observations on life and everything else. I re-read them periodically just for the enjoyment of experiencing Kinsey's wit and snappy comebacks. I agree with a previous reviewer who stated that Peril is two rewrites and an edit short of being ready for publication. Where was the editor on this book?

  The plots, such as they are, are worsened by the amount of filler in this book. It is just not like the Kinsey I know to spend so much time thinking about furnishings and what people are wearing. I lost count, too, of how many times Kinsey took off her slicker, hung her slicker on a peg, put her umbrella in a corner, put her slicker on, etc., etc. Trips in an out of Horton Ravine - countless numbers of them - are described over and over. All of the people in the book are outstandingly forgettable. Grafton's books always have filler - and it is usually some of the most interesting stuff. Not in Peril. Mostly I miss the humor.

  The filler was made even more annoying by the writing. A good deal of the sentence structure in Peril just does not seem like Grafton, being simplistic, rhythmic, and irritating, lacking her usual wit, sarcasm, and pithy views presented through Kinsey.

  There is a new Kinsey in Peril - whether purposefully or not only time will tell. The new Kinsey is wishy-washy and wimpy. The old Kinsey is adventurous, takes risks, and is generally unafraid. She often puts herself unnecessarily in danger, not calling for help, setting out in the middle of the night to track someone down, going alone when she could ask for help. She is a loner and, as Henry has noted, she usually "acts first, thinks later."

  Kinsey takes the case in Peril against her own better judgement. She is manipulated into danger by others that she would normally be suspicious of on first meeting. She does ask for help but not in the way you might expect. For example, when Henry finds an ad for a new office and advises Kinsey to check it out, the dialog goes like this: Henry - "it won't hurt to call." Kinsey - "you really think so?" Henry - "Of course." Kinsey - What if it's rented?." For crying out loud; the Kinsey I know would not say these things. She might pooh pooh the idea, or just go do it, but she wold not normally ask twice for reassurance; she never asks for reassurance, she rushes headlong into action.

  Kinsey is a character not yet fully explored, I feel, and Peril does not move the exploration forward one bit. Something needs to happen to snap her out of her comfort zone. As in real life, she sometimes surprises, sometimes disappoints. Outlaw seemed to open the door to some personal growth and Peril slammed it shut again, along with the other "doors" of Dietz and what is left of her family. After 19 years and 15 books, she is still telling the same old story. I still love her because she reminds me of me.

  Peril gives me the feeling that Grafton has run out of ideas for the series and that she is unwilling to introduce changes in Kinsey that might liven it. There have been signs of staleness in past books, notably Malice. I had high hopes after Outlaw, one of the best in the series. In that book, Kinsey was forced to confront some mistakes in her past and she makes reparations for them. It was a hopeful sign that has apparently been dropped.

  Change is needed, though, to keep this series interesting and fresh. It must be very difficult to write a continuing series, especially one in which the author has decided to keep the characters in an older time period. The author is trapped, Kinsey is trapped.

  The other day I heard a former Vietnam POW say "Few people are called on to use what they really have." We do not know what Kinsey really has, nor Sue Grafton. Peril is a great disappointment and I have high hopes that 'Q' will shake things up. I have a secret hope that Grafton is up to something with Peril, leading us into to it, that Kinsey really is in peril and will work her way out of it.
  
  

• P is for Phenomenal
  By on 2001-07-18
  Alright, I've seen commentaires posted on the Sue Grafton website, here on Amazon, and in other reviews about the ending, and I have to say that's it is quite interesting to see the reaction. I guess society has been dumbed down by having every single little detail tied up and explained with all but diagrams and pictures. The ending is not hard to figure out.

  And if you can't find the motive for the killer, well, that's maybe because you're overlooking the obvious one, and that no one really knows another's motives. That's what makes a mystery a mystery.

  I don't mean to sound obnoxious, and I'll try not to sound like an overbearing jerk with this review. But honestly, people, it's an ending that you have to infer for yourself. If you know that upfront, then you won't be surprised by the ending.

  This is one of the best books in the series, because it established mood perfectly, character development wonderfully, and balances an array of subplots to go with it. Only an experienced writer can do that.

  And for regulars of the series: this book is VERY DIFFERENT FROM PAST BOOKS! In fact, since "N is for Noose," which also got undeserved criticism, Sue Grafton has turned out three books that are different, fantastic, and intriguing, showing signs that her series is just hitting its stridge, despite popular belief.

  Kinsey Millhone is the best written mystery protagonist of the late twentieth century (moving into the twenty-first) for the reason that with each book she grows and matures. Long-time fans refer to her as a real person. That takes talent.

  Kinsey is just as funny, insightful, and self-deprecating as usual in this book. I don't know why reviewers have missed the dry wit starting from page one. I won't give any plot pretexts away except to say that towards the end, there are (count 'em) four conclusions. That's right: four different plots and subplots conclude and end by the book's last page. There's a lot going on in this novel and it's easy to miss the high points and the clues.

  It's not a hard read compared to, oh let's say, "Morality Play." But it's not Janet Evanovich or Robert B. Parker. These fine authors write mystery lite and are pretty good at it, although in recent books, they are recycling plot lines and twists with new book covers. But Sue Grafton has promised never to repeat a storyline and she hasn't. Kudos for her, because frankly, I won't pick up another Steven Wommack or Lawrence Block, because I know exactly what I'm going to get. With Grafton, I never know.

  This book is not for everyone. If you want a lazy summer read with no demands for thought, then don't read this book. If you want a spelled out conclusion right down to the very last word, then don't read this book. But if you want a mystery that's different, exciting, and utterly complicated, then "P" is just the story you're looking for.

  I am eagerly awaiting for "Q" and can't wait to see what Sue will surprise me with next.
  
  

• Where is Sue Grafton?
  By A6O6AIR6HXI5P on 2001-08-06
  I was incredibly disappointed in this book. The writing style was not what I was used to in previous books. Gone was the light touch. Instead, the dialog seemed like something out of a grade B romance novel. The usually flowing and descriptive prose was flat and awkward. The humor that is so important to the character of Kinsey was nowhere to be felt. The only way I could finish the book was to pretend that I was reading a novel written by someone else with a character similar to Kinsey. Even then it was hard going. This book made me wonder if,in fact, Sue Grafton wasn't too busy to write it herself and just provided the outline of the plot and characters to someone much younger and less gifted to fill in the details. My advise to a new reader of Sue Grafton is to read all the other books of hers and forget this one exists. You'll love her that way.
  
  
• Love this Story and I love this Author!
  By A3P3Q57G7FIWCG on 2001-12-30
  You know I disagree with quite a few reviewers before me about this book. I loved it!

  Apparently, unlike them, I read for content, entertainment and plot. I do not read to find un-dotted i's or un-crossed t's so-to-speak. And I could care less about good or bad editing of a book muchless "unexplained plot threads" I think one reviewer called it. (Geez guys give this talented writer a break!) Who really cares about that kind of stuff? I certainly do not!

  PI's for Peril is well written and 'A Must Read' romantic mystery in my opinion.

  The characters are colorful and engaging and the plot make the pages in this story turn themselves, almost.

  Do yourself a favor 'future readers' but the book and judge this story by talented writer Sue Grafton for yourselves. You will not be disappointed!
  
  

• Now I'm Learning my ABC's
  By A16XRD35BJN4O3 on 2002-02-06
  I am embarrassed to say, " 'P' is for Peril" is the first of the alphabet series I have read by Ms. Grafton. I enjoyed it so much, the day after I finished reading it, I went right out and picked up a copy of "K" is for Killer; and I must say, I enjoyed it equally as well. I hope that by early spring, I know as much about the Kinsey Millhone investigations as Sue Grafton.
  Ms. Grafton has successfully blended all the ingredients together for a first rate novel. The story is fast paced and has a suspenseful plot. Ms. Grafton's character development is outstanding too. Kinsey Millhone does not do triple reverse sommersaults and karate six men twice her size to death. She does not work for free and she is not anal retentive about stretching the truth when it suits her purpose. She is a quick wit and a skilled investigator; an extremely believable character.
  I'm not an easy sell either. I'm a retired lieutenant with the Chicago Police Department. I spent ten of those years in homicide, ten more in narcotics. I know what rings true in police investigations and I know what Private Investigators can and cannot do. Consequently, I was unable to watch "Columbo" and a host of other like shows; nor can I read novels that stink to the high heavens. Ms. Grafton's books are a breath of fresh air and a great find for me.
  
  
• Thanks Sue!
  By on 2001-06-08
  It is great to see Kinsey again and follow her adventures.

  I could not put this book down once I picked it up. Grafton is funnier than ever.

  The one thing that keeps me from giving this a 5-star rating is the ending. Both the main plot and the subplot end suddenly without much explanation. I almost thought I was missing a chapter. I am interested in seeing what other readers and Grafton fans have to say about it.
  
  

• Where's the Epilogue?
  By on 2001-06-09
  I've read every one of Sue Grafton's alphabet series. P is for Peril is up to her standards in every way but one - the ending. Each book in the series ends with an epilogue that wraps up the loose ends - each book but this one. When I finished, I looked for the epilogue to clarify the central question: Who did it and why? I then re-read parts of the story looking for additional clues. The problem is, I can come up with a number of different answers to the central question. Did Ms. Grafton want to keep us guessing? Am I missing something? What's up?
  
  
• P is for Pretty Good
  By A3KCMEJTRQHNAP on 2001-06-12
  Nursing home administrator, Doctor Dowan Purcell went missing nine weeks ago. He left his office on a Friday evening and was never seen or heard from again. The police have followed up on the few leads they had and are now more or less in a holding pattern, about ready to put the case on a back burner. Enter private investigator, Kinsey Millhone. Dow's ex-wife hires her figuring that maybe one dedicated detective with a single minded mission will be able to break the case wide open. Kinsey's off and running, interviewing Dow's new and very young wife, his friends, business associates and employees and everyone of them is pointing fingers and has a theory as to what might have happened and why he's gone. But when by pure chance, Kinsey makes a shocking discovery, nothing's going to stop her until she gets to the truth..... Sue Grafton's back and though this isn't one of her stronger mysteries, Kinsey Millhone junkies should be happy to be on the case with their favorite heroine. The writing is great, the dialogue, superb and the descriptions and detail, unrivaled. But the book has some problems. The main plot line is weak and complicated and at times hard to follow and Ms Grafton leaves a few too many plot lines hanging and questions, unanswered at the unsatisfying end of the story. The characters, though well drawn, are mostly a nasty lot and hard to empathize with or care about. You just don't want to spend time with these people. The real highlight of the book is the subplot involving a new office and mysterious twin landlords and I kept looking forward to getting off Dow's case and back to that part of the story. All in all, not one of the best in the series, but a good entertaining read that Grafton fans won't want to miss.
  
  
• P is Pooped Out
  By AKHHN0G5UUY3J on 2001-06-21
  Kinsey has an office she doesn't like anymore, she has a case she doesn't want, and her intuition is clearly on the fritz! She wanders around & out-of-the-blue through-the-magic of an oh-so-convenient telescope sees what she really doesn't want to see. The body is found, her obnoxious client is clearly to blame. Another investigator tells her tale and she falls for it. She fights off the bad guys. She finds a bullethole with a name on it (only one person could have found & fired that gun, she supposedly deduces?), she sees a hand placed on an arm, and VOILA she calls her ex-lover cop-buddy & sits back for a glass of wine on a deck overlooking the surf with two of possibly five suspects (the others are all upstairs with the baby). She's so tired.

  Well, now I do believe that she's proved herself utterly stupid as well. Jacob probably arrives to find her out cold. That's where the end of this novel left me. But, then, I'm one of those unperceptive readers who can't see a subtle clue waved in my face, especially one with homophobic overtones. Grafton's off my hardcover list--her books can wait for the paperback. Better yet, just check it out from the local library.
  
  

• Nice Going Sue!!
  By on 2001-08-22
  This is a dark story. The characters are dark, the sky is dark, the plot is dark. The whole thing's dark and gray like the color of the cover. We know these people, or think we do. Thank you, Sue, for the wonderful character descriptions. I loved the book. It could have been one of the kooky lighter ones, like "G," but Kinsey stepped out of the California sunshine for this one. It's harsh, sort of like "Fargo," the movie, a combination of people and circumstances intertwining and playing off each other so there can be no good outcome. I understood the ending, but I won't spoil it for you. You could almost say, "The butler did it."
  
  
• Not her best effort, but...
  By A2B1GZIRD6W646 on 2002-06-21
  Sue Grafton has been writing this alphabet series for a while now, and she's gotten good enough at it that when she's not in top form, she's still pretty good, and can get away with a bit. That's what happens here; the book's not that good, but Kinsey Millhone is fun anyway.

  In this installment, Kinsey's hired by a scorned ex-wife to look for her lost husband, who's not only abandoned her but disappeared some time later. The hubby has a new wife (a much younger ex-stripper), a nursing home he supervises that's in trouble, and various partners, co-workers, friends, and family. Kinsey must sort through all of this to figure out what happened to the good doctor, and once she figures that out, more questions abound.

  Meanwhile, Kinsey's also looking for new office space, and there's a handsome stranger offering to rent to her at a reasonable rate. This was the weakest part of the book to me. It seemed to read a bit like a Silhouette romance (not that I've ever read one, but this is how I imagine they would read) and be more than a bit predictable. The author did manage to pull off one surprise for you at the end of this. On the other hand, she left you wondering about something too.

  The whole book does that, a bit, and it's just a bit annoying. Grafton's gotten in the habit of doing this: not completely finishing her story, tying up all the loose ends. I'm sure she would tell us that life's like that, but this is fiction, not life. A good book, but a bit annoying.
  
  

• P IS FOR PERFECT
  By AW1D6P2T7TF4 on 2001-06-05
  A prominent member of the medical community, Dr. Dowan Purcell has been missing for nine weeks. At the time of his disappearance, Dowan was running a nursing care facility. Respected, and well-liked by all those he came into contact with, Dowan had no enemies to speak of, that's why it comes as a big surprise to Kinsey Milone when she is hired by Dowan's first wife to investigate foul play.

  As Kinsey questions Fiona (the good doctor's first wife), she hears a side of the doctor much darker than anyone expected. It seems Dowan threw over his first wife for a younger model (a stripper) to satisfy his perverted sexual appetite.

  Fiona believes Dowan is hiding from his new wife Crystal. Crystal fears he is dead. And one of his daughters has consulted a psychic who can see her father trapped in a dark place...

  Kinsey embarks on a long road with many dead-ends, but determination to find out exactly what happened to Dowan, will enter her into a dark underworld where the truth is hidden, and finding it could cost her her life.

  'P Is For Peril' is a mystery in the grand tradition; complex plot, top notch writing, and page-turning plot twists. With her sense of humor and endless determination, Kinsey Milone proves to be one of the most enjoyable characters in detective fiction.

  'P Is For Peril' shows that Sue Grafton has not tired of coming up with interesting plots, and with ten more letters left in the alphabet, she keeps readers anxiously awaiting each new book.

  Fans of the series will love this latest entry, and those who have not discovered the alphabet mysteries should do so now, because 'P Is For Peril' is about the best in the series.

  A MUST read!

  Nick Gonnella
  
  

• P is for Petered-Out
  By on 2001-06-06
  Sue Grafton is a good writer and Kinsey Milhone is still an interesting character, but the series seems to be losing its momentum. The title is somewhat misleading since there is very little peril or tension for the main characters. The insurance fraud subplot is a stretch: Kinsey is a PI, but she doesn't think to check the investigator's references or story? The ending seems rushed and doesn't really give a sense of why the killer acted as he/she did. It's a book that's a good summer diversion, but not fulfilling enough for Grafton/Kinsey fans.
  
  
• P is for Phenomenal
  By on 2001-06-20
  I'm a huge fan of the Kinsey Millhone series, and P is my favorite since I and J. This book is a little longer than Grafton's norm, and it's really three mysteries rolled into one. The well-liked Dr. Dowan Purcell is missing, and we don't know whether he left town voluntarily, whether he committed suicide, or whether he was murdered. There is also an intriguing development with the two men who are leasing Kinsey her new office space. As always, Kinsey observes the world with her characteristic sense of humor. The characters are so well drawn, they leap off the pages. There is a surprise in almost every other chapter, the pace is breathtaking. Never before in a book has Kinsey been so wrong in her initial perceptions, but she perseveres and in the end, she figures it out--and the reader goes along for the ride. And I did love the subtle ending. Well, well, but of course, I said to myself...It is SWEET. Way to go, Sue. Can't wait for Q.
  
  
• A letdown, but still worth reading
  By A2KOKH3LC4CZRO on 2001-06-24
  I've been there with Kinsey since "A," when it actually was the 1980's. Prior to reading "P," I checked out what people were saying here about it. I was ticked off to see some had revealed plot twists in detailing their frustration.

  But now that I've read the book, I'm glad those people did spill the beans ... it gave me something to look for as I was reading. That knowledge spiced up this subpar Kinsey effort.

  But I gave this three stars because bad Grafton is still better than the wannabes who have crafted "gutsy girl detectives" in her wake. Check out pp. 88-93, when Kinsey's lack of maternal instincts are so beautifully described during the visit to Blanche's house. I loved how Grafton describes the house inhabited by four children: "There was nothing on any surface below see-level, every breakable object removed to a high shelf as though in preparation for a coming flood." Anyone who has ever babyproofed smiled and nodded.

  We get to know Kinsey better each time out. Even if we're left hanging, it's always worth spending time with her.

  But next time, Sue, don't skip the "Respectfully submitted" section. It's like leaving the cherry off a hot fudge sundae.
  
  

• P is for Perhaps...
  By A3QSEQ4LNPWG30 on 2001-06-27
  Perhaps Grafton is tiring of the Alphabet series, Perhaps she has run out of ideas for Kinsey, Perhaps she forgot to finish this novel ( I, too, kept turning the page thinking there was more and wishing for a "Respectfully Submitted" ) Perhaps this is Grafton's new format of letting a confusing subplot overshadow the main plot. I don't know. It's not a horrible novel, it just isn't as grand as her others.

  And by the way, doesn't Kinsey have any damn friends that aren't over 80? I mean for God sakes, give this woman a friend already! Someone to have drinks with, someone to pal around with. Sheesh! Doesn't she get sick of hanging out with Henry, William and Rosie?

  Anyway, perhaps Grafton is throwing her readers for a loop and we are all missing a huge secretive thing that she has included without our knowledge. Perhaps we'll all grow to love this new style of writing. Perhaps not.
  
  

• P is for Not Bad
  By A1MYUO5OIDMNMM on 2001-09-20
  Kinsey Milhone is hired to find missing doctor Dowan Purcell. In fact he's been missing for nine weeks but since there was no evidence of foul play the police have been treating it as a simple "man who took off" case. However Dr. Purcell's ex-wife isn't convinced and his current wife seems indifferent. But as Kinsey keeps digging she runs afoul of the brothers from hell.

  Unlike some other reviewers I didn't think this book differed too much from other Kinsey Milhone novels. They are always pretty light and breezy. They never tax you terribly. I persoanlly thought the sub-plot with the two brothers that Kinsey rents office space from might have been more interesting than the main plot, but that's just me. I have to admit that the book kind of ran out of steam the finish and the ending wasn't as satisfying as some. It was clever though. If you like Grafton you'll like this book.
  
  

• P is for Plenty Good!
  By on 2001-09-22
  I don't understand why everyone is so confused about the ending of the book. Duh, it's as plain as day! I stayed up all night reading, and am eagerly awaiting Q.....
  
  
• Sue Grafton Does It With Again With P
  By on 2001-10-09
  Sue Grafton learned the alphabet well, and she also writes terrific mysteries. With P IS FOR PERIL, Ms. Grafton takes some chances. While the book seems on the surface to be a typical Kinsey Millhone story, Sue Grafton writes this book in peril. She tells a solid story about Kinsey being hired by a doctor's ex-wife, recommended to her by a long-ago client to find a missing person, the prominent doctor who has vanished without a trace. The story also involves a potentially dangerous near-romance for Kinsey, but Ms. Grafton's greatest risk of peril comes with her final plot twist. P IS FOR PERIL is an amazing mystery and that final twist is impressive.
  
  

• Q Is for Quarry
• "O" Is for Outlaw
• S is for Silence (Kinsey Millhone Mysteries)
• R Is For Ricochet (Kinsey Millhone Mysteries)
• N Is for Noose (Kinsey Millhone Mysteries)