O Is for Outlaw Reviews

• A little disappointing....

  
  By ADLCPYFW2B802 on 1999-11-28
  but I love Kinsey so much and have waited so long for this book ! I don't mind that she is in a time warp in the 80's, this is a good thing, she is forced to get out there and track down clues, break into those homes, etc. and we get to watch over her shoulder. What, you want to watch her staring into a computer screen throughout the whole book? I did find that the story did drag a little with all those visits to the bar; I felt her second husband was a much more interesting character than this cop she married when very young, why was she carrying a torch for him when we never heard about him before? Not that I'm a huge fan of Henry and Rosie, but they were certainly given short shrift. This book did have a sort of perfunctory feel to it, not one of the best. however, as a lifelong fan, I welcomed it and certainly look forward to the books to follow! Thank you, Sue Grafton! Don't bring Kinsey into the 90's too soon, her work on foot is so much more interesting than if she had just pounded a few buttons on a keyboard!
  
  

• Another winner in the alphabet of crime

  
  By AU8SXSN70IS92 on 2000-05-05
  I discovered Sue Grafton in 1995. I have read all of her books and recommend that readers do the same to see how Kinsey develops from A to O.

  I have written to her and am on her mailing list for personal appearances and advance notices of new books. Sue is a great example of how to treat her readers. She respects us!

  What I love about her books is that there are a few sentences to tell you about Kinsey in each book. Even though you may have missed the other books, it doesn't take you long to learn about her. I love the idea that she has one black dress, has a neat apartment, nice landlord, etc.

  Her awful junk food choices washed down by a glass of Chardonnay are wonderful! She's the perfect person with one dress and a VW.

  I hope that Sue does not bring her up to date with cell phones, etc too soon. I've learned some great investigative tips from her. It's amazing what people will tell you over the phone when you play dumb or are less than truthful. No real crime here. Just a fact-finding mission.

  O for Outlaw was a good read. I didn't pick up who was the bad guy until late in story. Great ending as always. The little bits of info she puts in lead to a surprise ending. You think, "How did I miss that clue?"

  How can one say seriously, I'm awaiting "P"? What will that stand for?
  
  

• Outstanding...one of her best

  
  By AWQRK5YZZUHER on 1999-12-09
  I, like many here have read every one of Sue's wonderful series. I've enjoyed every one...some more then others. Quite honestly, "O" held me in suspense from the start to the finish...with lots of left turns and plot twists to keep it fast paced and very exciting. Personally I could have used a little more background on Bel and Cordelia but that's a very minor point. I thoroughly enjoyed the illuminating glimpse into Kinsey's first marriage and the side trip to Louisville. As always Sue displays her extraordinary descriptive writing abilities to the hilt in all chapters and that, as much as any other reason is the main reason why I remain a loyal Grafton fan. In my opinion, "O" is a "must read".
  
  

• Peek into Kinsey's past

  
  By A18VICK1AMJS6B on 1999-10-18
  

  Kinsey Millhone is a person I would like to know. She's quirky, intensely loyal and tenancious as a bulldog. Additionally, anyone who is brave enough to cut their hair with cuticle scissors is to be admired. I have every volume and I've enjoyed reading all of her adventures.

  I especially liked this book because we get a glimpse into Kinsey's past and begin to see why she acts/reacts to men and to tight situations the way she does.

  I read this book in two sittings and would recommend it to any other Grafton fans.

  To a new reader, however, I would recommend that the stories be read in order. Grafton builds something new into each one and, as they build, the reader begins to understand Kinsey and her slightly off-centered world.

  P.S. Ms. Grafton -- we need more of Henry....he's just too precious for words -- and because of his age, he might not be around/spry for the rest of the alphabet.
  
  

• Kinsey's past almost catches her!

  
  By A2P3503QUJ2Y33 on 1999-11-24
  The latest Kinsey Milhone volume gives us a LOT more history and interesting insights into a character not as familiar as we had thought. As she is informed of a dramatic incident involving her first husband, Kinsey jumps back into her past and learns much about her old relationships and her former cohorts. As usual, she finds out who did what to whom by the end of the volume, although she keeps us guessing--and as usual, at least most of the bad guys end up dead and some of the characters look better than expected. An excellent read, and leaves us wanting to see what will happen with P.
  
  
• Good Read
  By A2RZP16BLNWARU on 1999-12-17
  I have always liked Kinsey and like her more now that I know a little more about one ex-husband. I like the way Grafton dishes out little snippets at a time about KM's past. The books are easy reads, I love the dialogue, and her descriptions of the mundane side of life. Great reading!
  
  
• Consistent Grafton
  By A1MYUO5OIDMNMM on 2000-02-07
  Like many of the people here I've also read this whole series. I think Kinsey Millhone is my favorite among all of the female PI's that abound today and I find that Ms. Grafton is consistent in her portrayal from book to book. "O" is no exception to that.

  There were many things I liked about this book. The way it begins with Kinsey breaking into someone's house because she won't pay $10 for information is funny. Kinsey's outlook is just a little off-center and I find that amusing. So, I liked the book. However, after saying all of that I was disappointed in the ending. I hate it when the protagonist does something dumb just to advance the plot. I don't want to ruin the ending for anyone who hasn't read it yet, however, if you're being pursued by someone who has a gun and you're pretty sure this person means to harm you would you drive right past not one, but TWO Santa Teresa deputy cars and the LAPD detectives who are backing you up? I don't think so. This was clearly designed to end the book in a certain way at a certain place but it was done in an unbelievable way. With all of Ms. Grafton's expertise this surprised me. Good book anyway. Kinsey Millhone is head and shoulders above her other sisters in crime.
  
  

• O is for obnoxious
  By A1OL6M9QW7QTRA on 2000-09-28
  I've read many of the alphabet series. The books are increasingly predictable and boring. Kinsey is becoming an obnoxious person. Who would break and enter to save a few dollars? I disliked all of her condescending remarks about other characters who are guilty of much less than Kinsey herself. The series needs to have some updating, utilizing modern technology. I was amazed at many of the reviews giving 4 or 5 stars. In the past three months, I've read many mystery books. I've probably read about 40 books by Patricia Cornwall, Jeffery Deaver, J. Jance, Lucian Truscott IV, James Patterson, and others. Now, that I have something to compare with the alphabet series, I realize just how lacking in substance and plot are the Sue Grafton books. I didn't know how many great mystery writers there were, and now there is no going back to something of lesser quality. I've found books that I can't put down and read in one day or stay up in the night until I finish them. I never got that from the alphabet series, and that is why I gave one star.
  
  
• The best alphabet mystery yet!
  By on 1999-12-06
  I have read all the Kinsey Milhone mysteries and I found this book most entertaining. Gaining more personal insights to a character I have followed for so long was very interesting to me. This book had a long list of characters but each attributed to the plot and kept the reader guessing how they all relate. The events flowed in a timely manner and the ending tied up all loose strings. I thoroughly enjoyed this book.
  
  
• Better Than Average Entry in the Series
  By ACFTPKBAVA1F8 on 2001-01-08
  One of Grafton's better Kinsey books (which is saying a lot, because none of them are dogs). Because the victim here is Kinsey's first husband, there's a fairly seamless mix of the mystery du jour and Kinsey backstory in this novel. The ystery itself unfolds nicely and with a minimum of sheer luck. The incidental characters are a nice mix, and Grafton manages the now rather hefty task of touching base with most all of the characters and elements that have been part of the series. And as always, Kinsey learns, suffers, grows, and comes face to face with more hard truths about herself.

  After so many entries in the series, there is still more to know and love about this character, and the formula remains familiar but fresh. This is still one of the sharpest, snappiest gumshoes in the business. If you have enjoyed other novels in the series at all, this one will not disappoint.
  
  

• O is for Oh Yes!
  By A29FWOC05QVUTK on 2001-03-18
  I think this book maybe have the wrong title. Instead of O is for Outlaw it might be best titled O is for Obligation. It Kinsey's obligation to her former husband that drives the plot of this book. Mickey Magruder was a cop who was a bit of a lone wolf. He is the outlaw in the title. Now he is in trouble and Kinsey is driven to help him. It seems she may have left him for all the wrong reasons. His problems lead Kinsey to solve an old murder for which Mickey was the prime suspect.

  This is one of Sue Grafton's best. It fills in the gaps in Kinsey's early professional life. It provides insight into her character. I found I understood Kinsey better after reading this book.

  I love the series but even if I had never read A-P I would have enjoyed this detective novel.
  
  

• "O" should be "NO"
  By on 2000-02-09
  I have been a Kinsey fan for many years even though she seems to be getting more and more immature. This book brings out her worst...not only is she so unpleasant to everyone it is embarrasing, she is given the unbelievable talent of being able to elicit information by being particularly annoying. The story doesn't seem to really "grab" one's attention as the previous books in this series did. It was a struggle to the finish.
  
  
• Pure Kinsey Milhone
  By A2C0J3S2H8Z6O1 on 2000-01-18
  I have been a fan of Sue Grafton's Kinsey Milhone series from its inception. "O is for Outlaw" does not disappoint. I particularly like the fact that we get a greater hint into Kinsey's past in this book.

  What I love about Kinsey is that she always does what she feels is right regardless of the sacrifices.

  "O is for Outlaw" maintains all that is wonderful about Sue Grafton's series. This book is as fresh, interesting and exciting as the first. I recommend it highly for any fan.
  
  

• The heroine "Kinsey" is on such an ego trip !
  By A32O12XQLNTSW2 on 1999-11-20
  I dislike Kinsey immensly.She is so immersed in herself.She hates her relatives for what reason I have never figured out.Struggled really hard to finish this book.At page 46 I was so sick of her self indulgence. Yuk ! Get a life, Kinsey
  
  
• Good Read
  By A1N1YEMTI9DJ86 on 2001-01-06
  I have read all the Kinsey Millhone books, and I enjoyed this one the most. Kinsey is an endearing character, and Ms. Grafton makes her seem so real, and so likeable. It was really nice to have a book dedicated to her younger life before she became the hard-bitten PI that we know and love. In this book we find a softer and much more likeable Kinsey and I'm sure the tender feelings that she finds she carries for this, her first husband, probably surprised her more than anything else while she discovers his life in the intervening years since their marriage. For someone just starting to read the series, this really isn't a bad book to begin with, and it will certainly whet your appetite for the rest. It's a quick and very satisfying read, and I can't wait now until the P book comes out.
  
  
• Hilarious read
  By A1ZQ4KBH7S9PSI on 2000-02-03
  "O is for Outlaw" gives us Kinsey at her wise-cracking best! There were times when I was reading that I had to laugh out loud. The story is quite interesting in the details of Kinsey's past, and I find the attention to some otherwise mundane items (jogging, catching up on work at the office, etc.) comforting. It's because Kinsey's a good private investigator that she gives us these details.

  What is interesting is reading other authors and comparing characters. Patricia Cornwell's Kay Scarpetta is the soul of integrity, and I love reading about her. But Kinsey is the "bad boy/girl" we would all love to be, if we had the guts to do it! Just a great page-turning chuckle!

  The only thing I missed in this book was a hard-boiled egg sandwich. Kinsey got me hooked on those!
  
  

• worst than the same old same old
  By on 1999-12-16
  Grafton seems to be more and more filling up her books with Kinsey's mundane day to day routines of life....ie: brushing her teeth, taking a shower, getting dressed, going for her morning 3 mile jog, eating chunky style peanut butter and pickle sandwiches... Anything to fill those pages, eh? Boring. I ended up skipping over alot. The plot is ho hum zzzz. There is but one action scene. The characters are cold and lifeless. The best part was the very beginning with the dog. That's it.

  I've read all but 2 of the alphabet books and would rate this down in the lower third. Mediocre. In my opinion _G for Gumshoes_ is her best.
  
  

• You just never know where Kinsey is going to take you...
  By AGG9C66TOLJZB on 2001-02-01
  With a Sue Grafton mystery you just never know where you are going to end up and the most innocuous of events can lead down the path of every more complex clues and events. We have as our guide Kinsey Millhone, single, female, age 36 and working as a Private Investigator in St Theresa, 95 miles out of Los Angeles in the year 1986. And what a guide. Although she is quite ordinary doesn't smoke, doesn't drink much, is not hounded by demons - doesn't often carry a gun even, she is engaging, humorous and knows when to get on with business.

  And right now business seems slow. She contacted out of the blue by a man who bids on the contents of defaulted storage lockers - and he has some of her belongings to sell. Kinsey knows they belong to her first ex-husband, Mickey Magruder, but why are they being sold? Although she hasn't seen him for over 15 years she knows he would never default unless there was something amiss.

  Following the trail he has left she finds herself drawn deeper into the past, back to 1971, Vietnam, to the Honky-Tonk, a bar they used to hang out in, and into the reasons why she left Magruder in the first place. While they were both working for the police he had asked her to lie for him, to give him an alibi for the night when a man called Benny Quintero had been beaten up and had died as a result. Magruder, had left the police force to avoid having to answer charges for this - and Kinsey - disgusted at his behaviour in asking her to lie, had left him.

  It seems that this old case has some bearing on current events - for Mickey seems to have paid for it - possibly with his life. Now Kinsey is finding out what happened to her ex-husband - but for a man who did not like to give out his address, an awful lot of people seem to know where he lived, and seem to be turning up to search his apartment. And Kinsey's own life now hangs in the balance.

  This mystery is definitely one of her best. There is are a lot of leads to sort through and a lot of dead-ends - and seeming dead-ends. I felt for Kinsey in this too. She had only been 21-22 when she had married Mickey back in 1971 and the marriage had lasted less than a year. She has to sort through her own feelings for why she left him, but also deal with other people and crimes by people not much older than she was at that time - and I found that interesting, for this affects her thinking at some stages in the book.

  You could easily read this without having read a thing by Sue Grafton before. Each mystery is self contained, and where characters are repeated they are generally given a brief introduction so you know where they fit in with the scheme of things. As there is generally not much personal development and the book is more about the crime than herself you don't have to worry about missing out on a great deal.

  I also loved Kinsey's lack of affinity with animals which has resulted in some wonderful scenes in previous books - and in this book. She is not a dog person, she is not a cat person - but she always seems to end up with some dog or cat to have to explain her behaviour to along the way.

  I find Kinsey incredibly addictive - I can't wait for P to come out in mid 2001!
  
  

• Excellent read
  By on 2001-06-20
  I have read all the alphabet series. I think "O" is the best. Great escape read!
  
  
• I am still not tired of Kinsey
  By A2ODBHT4URXVXQ on 2003-11-03
  It's pretty hard to keep a series going this long without readers saying yeah, yeah, yeah, enough already. Not so with Sue Grafton's Kinsey Millhone. She's got enough quirks, character flaws, secrets, and depth of character to probably keep me interested right up to Z is for Whatever Grafton comes up with.
  In O Is for Outlaw, Kinsey gets re-involved with ex-spouse Mickey Magruder and exposes some details of her past marriage, which will delight regular readers who pant for the newest addition to the series. This one gets tricky, switching back and forth between past and present, as Kinsey stumbles on some memorabilia that provides him with an alibi for an incident that let to Kinsey leaving him in the first place. Then, bingo, Mickey gets shot and is lying in a coma, and Kinsey investigates the shooting, which leads to all sorts of complications.
  I do believe this is my favorite so far.
  
  
• Teach your kids to live by Kinsey's rules?
  By on 2000-01-05
  Lemme see, first two chapters we've got Kinsey putting down a poor roofer as a "hairball" and doing all she can to cheat him. Then she commits two or three felonies, not to aid in catching any criminals, but just so she can cheat the roofer out of an additonal $20. All this money-grubbing after saying, "I'd just finished a big job, and...my bank account was fat."

  I don't think I want my daughters reading this book.

  Never made it to chapter three.
  
  

• "O" IS FOR OUTLAW
  By AGA5RIOJ06PLP on 2000-01-14
  This book, along with all the others, is wonderful. I was in suspense till the very end. This book is one of those books that once you start reading you just can't put down. You don't want to miss anything. Kinsey is witty and clever as ever. You get to know her just a little more in every book. I would recommend this book to anyone who want's a real mystery novel to read! Keep the great stories coming!
  
  
• Boring
  By on 1999-12-16
  At first, I thought that after waiting so long and looking forward to this read, my expectations may have been too high. I have never found a Grafton book difficult to get through until now. It was very boring and uneventful. So much so that I stopped twice and read other books before finally finishing. For Sue Grafton fans who intend on completing the alphabet, you will need to read it but don't rush out for the hardcover!
  
  
• Kinsey Karma
  By A2H0SK4VUPJ7BF on 2001-03-09
  I have read the entire Kinsey Millhone series and have enjoyed them all. Kinsey has a flair for drama that tends to bring her more trouble than she knows what to do with. I speak of Kinsey as if she were real. That speaks highly of Sue Grafton's marvelous writing ability, which has only gotten better in "O" is for Outlaw. The narrative is much more mellow, as if we, as readers, have become friends of Kinsey. "O" is fast, witty and a great read right up to the end. Reading a Sue Grafton book is like reading a letter from a somewhat errant, but nonetheless favorite friend. You miss the character at the end of the book, and look forward to living vicariously through the next installment of their much more interesting life.
  
  
• Great in some areas, tedious & self-indulgent in others...
  By on 2001-09-26
  I had given up at G for Gumshoe as the plots started evaporating & coy Kinsey self-descriptions proliferated. I decided to give O for Outlaw a try & enjoyed most of it very much. Grafton is a good writer - I could see her writing a big 19th century novel in the style of Thackeray or Trollope, but that's part of the problem. The cultural asides & philosophical insights begin to run on for so long that you lose track of the plot, & the plot isn't bad once it picks up. Another jarring note (& this has been addressed in a previous review) is that while Kinsey & her colleagues & friends are supposed to be in their 30s, their observations & insights (mostly about marriage & relationships) are those of people well into their 50s. Plus who cares when these pontifications have no bearing on the plot. Some of the characterizations are priceless, though, especially the landlady sisters & their cat. In the final analysis, it is a worthwhile read, entertaining & enjoyable in spite of the fact that Kinsey is less likable than ever, more smug & coy & nasty-mided than anyone I'd want to spend more than 90 seconds with in person.
  
  
• Kinsey Millhone...You gotta love her
  By A3KCMEJTRQHNAP on 2000-05-03
  Sue Grafton continues her alphabet series with a mystery Kinsey Millhone fans will love. This story takes you back to Kinsey's first marriage and there's nothing a true Millhone groupie loves more than to find out about her past. The case revolves around a 15 year old murder that her then cop husband, Mickey, was charged with, but never convicted of, at trial. The story is fast-paced, full of witty and irreverent dialogue and Kinsey idiosyncrasies. As always, a lot of fun to read and sad to finish, knowing you'll have to wait another year for the next one.
  
  
• Kinsey's back!
  By on 2000-02-24
  The things that were lacking in "N" are back in "O" -- the black dress, the index cards, her housekeeping tips, the descriptions of the sandwiches, and her love of QuarterPounders. I wished there could have been more interaction with Jonah. There was only one reference to Dietz; so who knows, this may be the opening for a new man in the next book. As far as the plot, it took me a little while to figure out the "bad guy". The scenes with the dog at the roofer's house and also the scene with the cat were enjoyable. Thanks, Ms. Grafton, for letting Kinsey deal with her past, but also keeping her sense of humor! I'm looking forward to "P".
  
  
• O is for Outlaw
  By A7E7KLKGM305Q on 2000-01-13
  I love the Grafton books. This was no exception with Kinsey dealing with her ex-husband and taking responsibility for believing the wrong thing for the right reason. I identify with her eating habits, her curiosity and I enjoy her practice of using the cards to sort things out.
  
  
• "O" is for obnoxious
  By A20YJ8Q4ZQU806 on 1999-11-16
  I've read the entire series and was very disappointed in this book. The story was weak and the characters boring. I feel Sue Grafton was really struggling to come up with an idea for this book but have faith that "P is for ___" will get her back on track.
  
  
• An Authentic Period Piece from the 60s and 80s
  By A1K1JW1C5CUSUZ on 1999-11-03
  Much of the charm of many detective series relates to the refreshing references to times past. Walter Moseley's work is a good example. Dashiell Hammett is another example In these cases, the most successful books also teach you something about the people and the time that you did not know before. Sue Grafton has reached into this genre by letting Kinsey's time pass more slowly than our own. As a result, the patina of age is becoming more significant and charming . . . especially in this book. Perhaps the high point here is in expressing sexual and personal mores of earlier times, in ways that resonated for me. I also found that Sue Grafton has gotten better at adding sub-plots, many of which served as good red herrings for what was going on. My biggest disappointment was that it was very easy to figure out who the murderer was, because the plot design meant that few would have the motive and access to execute this exact murder. In fact, I think this book was the easiest one to figure out in the series. My suggestion is that she go back before the second printing and change the murder to make it much more cloudy who the murderer is. I, too, was charmed by some of the new characters and hope that she will write more about her best designed characters in the future whoever they turn out to be in each book. In P is for . . . , I hope she writes a book that will have a totally different plot structure. I think that will be fun for Sue Grafton and for us. If Sue Grafton was less talented, I would not bother to make these suggestions, but she is capable of lifting us to sublime new heights of ecstasy in future books. We should all encourage and applaud her when she moves in that direction. I also hope that the future books will continue to add that beautiful patina of the periods she illuminates.
  
  

• N Is for Noose (Kinsey Millhone Mysteries)
• P Is for Peril (A Marian Wood Book) (Kinsey Millhone Mysteries (Hardcover))
• M Is for Malice (Kinsey Millhone Mysteries)
• Q Is for Quarry
• S is for Silence (Kinsey Millhone Mysteries)