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Kinsey Millhone #15
O is for Outlaw
Through fourteen books, fans have been fed short rations when it comes to Kinsey Millhone's past, a morsel here, a dollop there. We know of Aunt Gin who raised her, the second husband who left her, and the long-lost family up the California coast. But husband number one was only a blip on the screen until now.
Kinsey gets a call on a Monday morning from a guy who scavenges defaulted storage units at auction. Last week he bought a stack of boxes. They had stuff in them—Kinsey stuff. For thirty bucks, he'll sell her the lot. She has never been one for personal possessions, but curiosity wins out and she hands over a twenty. Kinsey may be curious but she loves to bargain! What she finds amid childhood memorabilia is an old undelivered letter.
It will force her to reexamine her beliefs about the breakup of her first marriage, about the honor of Mickey, that first husband, and about an old unsolved murder. It will put her life in the gravest peril. "O Is for Outlaw" is Kinsey Millhone's fifteenth adventure into the dark side of human nature.
Kinsey gets a call on a Monday morning from a guy who scavenges defaulted storage units at auction. Last week he bought a stack of boxes. They had stuff in them—Kinsey stuff. For thirty bucks, he'll sell her the lot. She has never been one for personal possessions, but curiosity wins out and she hands over a twenty. Kinsey may be curious but she loves to bargain! What she finds amid childhood memorabilia is an old undelivered letter.
It will force her to reexamine her beliefs about the breakup of her first marriage, about the honor of Mickey, that first husband, and about an old unsolved murder. It will put her life in the gravest peril. "O Is for Outlaw" is Kinsey Millhone's fifteenth adventure into the dark side of human nature.
354 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published September 1, 1999
About the author
Sue Grafton
215 books6,391 followersSue Grafton was a #1 New York Times bestselling author. She is best known for her “alphabet series” featuring private investigator Kinsey Millhone in the fictional city of Santa Teresa, California. Prior to success with this series, she wrote screenplays for television movies. Her earlier novels include Keziah Dane (1967) and The Lolly-Madonna War (1969), both out of print. In the book Kinsey and Me she gave us stories that revealed Kinsey's origins and Sue's past.
Grafton never wanted her novels to be turned into movies or TV shows. According to her family she would never allow a ghost writer to write in her name. Because of these things, and out of respect for Sue’s wishes, the family announced the alphabet now ends at “Y”
Grafton was named a Grand Master by the Mystery Writers of America and received the Lifetime Achievement Award from the Private Eye Writers of America, the Ross Macdonald Literary Award, three Shamus Awards, and many other honors and awards.
Grafton had three children from previous marriages and several grandchildren, including a granddaughter named Kinsey. She and her husband lived in Montecito, California, and Louisville, Kentucky.
Grafton never wanted her novels to be turned into movies or TV shows. According to her family she would never allow a ghost writer to write in her name. Because of these things, and out of respect for Sue’s wishes, the family announced the alphabet now ends at “Y”
Grafton was named a Grand Master by the Mystery Writers of America and received the Lifetime Achievement Award from the Private Eye Writers of America, the Ross Macdonald Literary Award, three Shamus Awards, and many other honors and awards.
Grafton had three children from previous marriages and several grandchildren, including a granddaughter named Kinsey. She and her husband lived in Montecito, California, and Louisville, Kentucky.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 1,044 reviews
March 23, 2023
Kinsey Millhone mystery No. 15: The discovery of some of Kinsey's belongings from the past stir her curiosity, and she finds an undelivered letter which leads to her revaluation of her past, her first husband and a cold case! Not as exciting as it sounds, 4 out of 12, Two Star read.
2006 read
2006 read
April 13, 2019
O is for outpatient therapy - which I am considering seriously because I keep reading these books. I need my head examined.
Okay, so in this shit-storm, Kinsey decides to find out who shot her first husband, and yes, she is a suspect. We learn all about her first marriage and how horribly wounded she was about him cheating on her. We already know she is a major hypocrite... as she goes ahead and calls the married guy she had an affair with to help her with the case.... but she is trying really hard to rewrite history so that she can be a righteous martyr about having been cheated on - by both husbands. Now, she is saying that she slept with the married guy while he was separated from his wife.
Um no.
I have read these books in a row. Maybe the author could count on her readers having a bad memory since they were published years apart, but I have perfect recall of the fact that they weren't separated during the affair. Unless you mean separated in the way that he was at Kinsey's house, fucking her, while his wife was at home - his home - sleeping. Sure, they were "separate" in physical distance that night until he did the walk of shame home and probably hopped straight into the shower before joining his wife in bed.
But, I don't think that counts as "separated", Kinsey.
The thing is, Kinsey brings it up in every book instead of just letting it go. I mean, nobody is buying the old "we were on a break" bullshit line, so stop trying to sell it! If she just stopped mentioning it, everyone would forget about the whole thing. It was over 10 books ago! Sheesh!
It's not going to. Stop it.
Okay, on to the next complaint.
So, Kinsey talks about Hellman's mayonnaise being her favorite, and it annoyed me. It's not like every little thing she does annoys me, but every other little thing she does annoys me. And, this bugged me about the author. If you can't write authentically about a place, then don't. They don't have Hellman's mayonnaise in Southern California. It's called Best Foods there. Also, she keeps using the word "snitch" as a slang word for "steal". That's also not a thing. Snitching is what you do if you want stitches. Swiping is what you do if you steal. Get the fucking local dialogue correct! If you aren't sure, set your book in a place you know. I wouldn't even try to set something in So Cal now because I've been here in Houston too long. Stay in your wheelhouse. Like Stephan King. He sets everything in Maine, so we can all believe that the locale is authentic. We can also know that we need to stay the hell away from Maine.
That's right. Keep walking, Leo. Walk like the wind!
This story went on and on until I almost grabbed my authentic "Welcome to Texas" gun to shoot someone. Seriously annoying.
And then, the ending? Stupid? Yes. There is a decapitation and it's "skarknado" worthy- that's how stupid. And, yet still kind of depressing. Maybe it's the way it ended, or maybe it's because I know I'm going to start the next book.
I need to call that shrink now...
Okay, so in this shit-storm, Kinsey decides to find out who shot her first husband, and yes, she is a suspect. We learn all about her first marriage and how horribly wounded she was about him cheating on her. We already know she is a major hypocrite... as she goes ahead and calls the married guy she had an affair with to help her with the case.... but she is trying really hard to rewrite history so that she can be a righteous martyr about having been cheated on - by both husbands. Now, she is saying that she slept with the married guy while he was separated from his wife.
Um no.
I have read these books in a row. Maybe the author could count on her readers having a bad memory since they were published years apart, but I have perfect recall of the fact that they weren't separated during the affair. Unless you mean separated in the way that he was at Kinsey's house, fucking her, while his wife was at home - his home - sleeping. Sure, they were "separate" in physical distance that night until he did the walk of shame home and probably hopped straight into the shower before joining his wife in bed.
But, I don't think that counts as "separated", Kinsey.
The thing is, Kinsey brings it up in every book instead of just letting it go. I mean, nobody is buying the old "we were on a break" bullshit line, so stop trying to sell it! If she just stopped mentioning it, everyone would forget about the whole thing. It was over 10 books ago! Sheesh!
It's not going to. Stop it.
Okay, on to the next complaint.
So, Kinsey talks about Hellman's mayonnaise being her favorite, and it annoyed me. It's not like every little thing she does annoys me, but every other little thing she does annoys me. And, this bugged me about the author. If you can't write authentically about a place, then don't. They don't have Hellman's mayonnaise in Southern California. It's called Best Foods there. Also, she keeps using the word "snitch" as a slang word for "steal". That's also not a thing. Snitching is what you do if you want stitches. Swiping is what you do if you steal. Get the fucking local dialogue correct! If you aren't sure, set your book in a place you know. I wouldn't even try to set something in So Cal now because I've been here in Houston too long. Stay in your wheelhouse. Like Stephan King. He sets everything in Maine, so we can all believe that the locale is authentic. We can also know that we need to stay the hell away from Maine.
That's right. Keep walking, Leo. Walk like the wind!
This story went on and on until I almost grabbed my authentic "Welcome to Texas" gun to shoot someone. Seriously annoying.
And then, the ending? Stupid? Yes. There is a decapitation and it's "skarknado" worthy- that's how stupid. And, yet still kind of depressing. Maybe it's the way it ended, or maybe it's because I know I'm going to start the next book.
I need to call that shrink now...
August 4, 2017
Book Review
4 out of 5 stars for O is for Outlaw, the 15th book in the "Kinsey Millhone" mystery series, written in 1999 by Sue Grafton. What an amazing treat for longtime fans of this series with the "O" alphabet book. We've known Kinsey for a long time, but very little about her life before the books began. We met the ex-husband(s), heard a snippet here and there, but we never actually got a lot of details about this wonderful heroine. Well now we do... and more than we'd hoped. When she buys a box of belongings, she finds a letter that she should have received years ago, completely changing (possibly) her relationship with her first ex-husband. Well... how often do you get a chance to explore the past again. Kinsey's core is certainly shocked, but she is a trooper and does what she needs to figure out exactly what happened and what she needs to do now. A rare and introspective look at her past is what she needs, and as a reader, I'm glad to have the opportunity to learn more.
About Me
For those new to me or my reviews... here's the scoop: I read A LOT. I write A LOT. And now I blog A LOT. First the book review goes on Goodreads, and then I send it on over to my WordPress blog at https://thisismytruthnow.com, where you'll also find TV & Film reviews, the revealing and introspective 365 Daily Challenge and lots of blogging about places I've visited all over the world. And you can find all my social media profiles to get the details on the who/what/when/where and my pictures. Leave a comment and let me know what you think. Vote in the poll and ratings. Thanks for stopping by.
4 out of 5 stars for O is for Outlaw, the 15th book in the "Kinsey Millhone" mystery series, written in 1999 by Sue Grafton. What an amazing treat for longtime fans of this series with the "O" alphabet book. We've known Kinsey for a long time, but very little about her life before the books began. We met the ex-husband(s), heard a snippet here and there, but we never actually got a lot of details about this wonderful heroine. Well now we do... and more than we'd hoped. When she buys a box of belongings, she finds a letter that she should have received years ago, completely changing (possibly) her relationship with her first ex-husband. Well... how often do you get a chance to explore the past again. Kinsey's core is certainly shocked, but she is a trooper and does what she needs to figure out exactly what happened and what she needs to do now. A rare and introspective look at her past is what she needs, and as a reader, I'm glad to have the opportunity to learn more.
About Me
For those new to me or my reviews... here's the scoop: I read A LOT. I write A LOT. And now I blog A LOT. First the book review goes on Goodreads, and then I send it on over to my WordPress blog at https://thisismytruthnow.com, where you'll also find TV & Film reviews, the revealing and introspective 365 Daily Challenge and lots of blogging about places I've visited all over the world. And you can find all my social media profiles to get the details on the who/what/when/where and my pictures. Leave a comment and let me know what you think. Vote in the poll and ratings. Thanks for stopping by.
May 23, 2020
We have been aware for 14 books now that Kinsey had a short lived first marriage and at last we find out why. Husband number one suddenly pops up in a very unusual way in O is for Outlaw and for a while things get very interesting indeed.
But then Grafton's obsession with detail kicked in and I had to start skimming. Honestly it is too much when Kinsey is going to visit someone and first we get a detailed description of the route, then another paragraph about the outside of the house, then another of the room where Kinsey is waiting, then another of what the person she is visiting is wearing and then, believe it or not, one describing what Kinsey is wearing! That's five long paragraphs which do nothing to further events.
So I skim bits (lots), but obviously these books have something going for them because that's fifteen of them and I am still going. And I will keep going to the end:)
But then Grafton's obsession with detail kicked in and I had to start skimming. Honestly it is too much when Kinsey is going to visit someone and first we get a detailed description of the route, then another paragraph about the outside of the house, then another of the room where Kinsey is waiting, then another of what the person she is visiting is wearing and then, believe it or not, one describing what Kinsey is wearing! That's five long paragraphs which do nothing to further events.
So I skim bits (lots), but obviously these books have something going for them because that's fifteen of them and I am still going. And I will keep going to the end:)
March 16, 2021
This is a mystery series that follows PI Kinsey. This is the 15th book in the Kinsey Millhone series. I found this book a little boring, and it is not my favorite of the series. It is worth the read. It visits Kinsey's past as she looks into what happened to her ex husband. If you are reading this series you should read this one. (*)
March 14, 2023
O is for Outlaw is the 15th book in the Kinsey Millhone alphabet series by Sue Grafton. In the books leading up to this one, readers have been given bits of Kinsey’s history piecemeal. However in this book, O, we are introduced to Kinsey’s first husband who has been shot with a gun that used to be Kinsey's. In this novel, she is forced to re-examine certain aspects of her past that long lay dormant and unresolved. Here, Kinsey takes up the investigation that landed her ex-husband in a Los Angeles ICU. The murder he was investigating went as far back as Vietnam with several of the soldiers having come from the same High School in Kentucky. She draws attention to the murder and the coverups, when she visits one of the suspects and rubs that knowledge in the face of the suspect to elicit a specific reaction, but when that reaction becomes murderous, the killer lies revealed. The ending is cinematic, tense, and a little horrific.
March 19, 2011
Finished the book on audio. I don't like the new reader. She makes Kinsey sound older. She sounds like Kinsey's name should be Judy. I know that IS the reader's real name. But her voice ages her and puts her in the era when a quirky funky name like Kinsey just did not happen.
Henry sounds like a much older and more frail sounding man. Not someone that Kinsey found as an much older bur still very attractive man. Rosie sounds like a curly haired busy body flake, not the tall dark and brooding madam that she sounded in earlier stories.
It doesn't sound believable when Kinsey talks about her 3 mile run. She sounds more of a scardy cat. The 2 stories I have heard with new reader Kinsey is doing more of holding her chest as she tries to catch her breath (etc) just because she TALKED ON THE PHONE to someone she didn't like??? Not the old Kinsey. The old Kinsey was a badass. The new Kinsey is just well old.
Henry sounds like a much older and more frail sounding man. Not someone that Kinsey found as an much older bur still very attractive man. Rosie sounds like a curly haired busy body flake, not the tall dark and brooding madam that she sounded in earlier stories.
It doesn't sound believable when Kinsey talks about her 3 mile run. She sounds more of a scardy cat. The 2 stories I have heard with new reader Kinsey is doing more of holding her chest as she tries to catch her breath (etc) just because she TALKED ON THE PHONE to someone she didn't like??? Not the old Kinsey. The old Kinsey was a badass. The new Kinsey is just well old.
November 18, 2019
This book was a great look into Kinsey's past. We have heard offhand via the books that Kinsey was married twice. Her first marriage was to an ex-cop Mickey Macgruder and we know that Kinsey and he parted on bad terms. This book gives us even more information than what we were given before. Mickey was accused of murder and Kinsey bounced. She never talked to Mickey again after the divorce, but you start to see some glimmers in the man which probably is what led her to getting hooked up with her long-time lover Robert Dietz. This book does such a great job of developing Kinsey. She's like a pit-bull this entire book. Once she realizes that someone hurt Mickey and is setting her up to take the fall for it, she doesn't let go and her investigation leads her all the way back to the Vietnam War.
"O is for Outlaw" has Kinsey at a bit of loose ends. When a storage vultuer (no idea what else to call the guy) calls Kinsey and tells her that a storage locker he bought has her stuff in it, he offers her cash for some of the belongings. Through that Kinsey realizes that her ex-husband Mickey has kept a ton of her things in this locker, but has stopped paying on it. When Kinsey gets her belongings back (l loved how she does that) she finds a letter sent to her which implies that Mickey was having an affair and was with his mistress at the time when Mickey was accused of killing some man. With that Kinsey starts trying to track down Mickey and get to the truth, which has her in the police's cross-hairs since someone out there is trying to make it seem as if Kinsey is part of whomever gunned down her ex.
Kinsey was great in this one. I think Grafton did a great job of showing that Kinsey was wrong about Mickey, and that her jealous over realizing the guy was cheating on her while married was actually understandable. You see her still feeling territorial over him, but also realizing that a lot of tricks she now employs she learned from him. At one point I did wonder was this book going to lead to Kinsey getting arrested, cause she seems to be dancing on the local police's nerves through this whole thing.
Other characters are fascinating to read about as well. Though we don't get any one on ones between Mickey and Kinsey, you get very good insight into him and what made him tick. You realize though the guy wasn't the greatest husband, he was actually a very good cop.
Other people that Kinsey knew back in the day pop up in this one and that also helps you get a better sense of Kinsey too. She's kind of a prude is what someone says about her and I had to laugh at Kinsey's sense of outrage about that.
The writing actually moves at a fairly big clip. I wondered how Mickey's shooting could tie back to what happened years earlier and then when you find out what Mickey was up (investigation wise) I got even more hooked. It's a really fascinating story and there are a lot of moving parts in this one. The flow works from beginning to end and I really did feel a sense of sadness on how things ended in this one. Kinsey gets to the truth, but doesn't get to do a verbal amends.
"O is for Outlaw" has Kinsey at a bit of loose ends. When a storage vultuer (no idea what else to call the guy) calls Kinsey and tells her that a storage locker he bought has her stuff in it, he offers her cash for some of the belongings. Through that Kinsey realizes that her ex-husband Mickey has kept a ton of her things in this locker, but has stopped paying on it. When Kinsey gets her belongings back (l loved how she does that) she finds a letter sent to her which implies that Mickey was having an affair and was with his mistress at the time when Mickey was accused of killing some man. With that Kinsey starts trying to track down Mickey and get to the truth, which has her in the police's cross-hairs since someone out there is trying to make it seem as if Kinsey is part of whomever gunned down her ex.
Kinsey was great in this one. I think Grafton did a great job of showing that Kinsey was wrong about Mickey, and that her jealous over realizing the guy was cheating on her while married was actually understandable. You see her still feeling territorial over him, but also realizing that a lot of tricks she now employs she learned from him. At one point I did wonder was this book going to lead to Kinsey getting arrested, cause she seems to be dancing on the local police's nerves through this whole thing.
Other characters are fascinating to read about as well. Though we don't get any one on ones between Mickey and Kinsey, you get very good insight into him and what made him tick. You realize though the guy wasn't the greatest husband, he was actually a very good cop.
Other people that Kinsey knew back in the day pop up in this one and that also helps you get a better sense of Kinsey too. She's kind of a prude is what someone says about her and I had to laugh at Kinsey's sense of outrage about that.
The writing actually moves at a fairly big clip. I wondered how Mickey's shooting could tie back to what happened years earlier and then when you find out what Mickey was up (investigation wise) I got even more hooked. It's a really fascinating story and there are a lot of moving parts in this one. The flow works from beginning to end and I really did feel a sense of sadness on how things ended in this one. Kinsey gets to the truth, but doesn't get to do a verbal amends.
November 28, 2008
I realized as I was reading this book that it was more out of a commitment to finish the alphabet with Sue Grafton than out of a love for the character. I feel like the series has been up and down in terms of my interest. The books O, P and Q are where my interest really flagged off. If you are going to start the series - do not read O,P or Q first. Cuz you won't pick up another one.
In this book Kinsey delves into her past and more is revealed about her than in any other book. Normally that has me chomping at the bit - but in this series it just felt like too little too late. We are supposed to believe that this stuff is really meaningful to Kinsey when it hasn't been mentioned for 15 books?!?! It's like suddenly finding out Harry Potter actually lived with another family for awhile before the Dursleys and that time in his life was really important - but for some reason it was just never really mentioned. I just don't buy it.
In this book Kinsey delves into her past and more is revealed about her than in any other book. Normally that has me chomping at the bit - but in this series it just felt like too little too late. We are supposed to believe that this stuff is really meaningful to Kinsey when it hasn't been mentioned for 15 books?!?! It's like suddenly finding out Harry Potter actually lived with another family for awhile before the Dursleys and that time in his life was really important - but for some reason it was just never really mentioned. I just don't buy it.
May 30, 2023
Another solid entry in the series. Kinsey was actually useful and in charge for once.
October 13, 2018
O Is for Outlaw is book fifteen of the Kinsey Millhone series by Sue Grafton. Kinsey Millhone was at her desk when she received a call from a man who said he found personnel stuff of Kinsey and would hand them over at a price. Kinsey Millhone started to wonder what the information contains and paid the money. However, Kinsey Millhone did not realise the hornet's nest that the information will have on her and the people around her. The readers of O Is for Outlaw would follow Kinsey Millhome investigation to see what happens.
O Is for Outlaw is the first book I have read of Sue Grafton, and I was disappointed with this book. The plot of O Is for Outlaw did not engage me. However, I did finish reading the book. I did not enjoy the characters of O Is For Outlaw which did not help me to get engaged with this book. I like the idea of the plot O Is for Outlaw. However, the execution of the plot not done in a way that ensures that I would enjoy this book.
The readers of O Is for Outlaw will learn about people who scavenges defaulted storage units at auction. Also, the readers of O Is for Outlaw will learn about being a Private Investigator.
Just because I did not enjoy reading O Is for Outlaw I will still recommend this book.
O Is for Outlaw is the first book I have read of Sue Grafton, and I was disappointed with this book. The plot of O Is for Outlaw did not engage me. However, I did finish reading the book. I did not enjoy the characters of O Is For Outlaw which did not help me to get engaged with this book. I like the idea of the plot O Is for Outlaw. However, the execution of the plot not done in a way that ensures that I would enjoy this book.
The readers of O Is for Outlaw will learn about people who scavenges defaulted storage units at auction. Also, the readers of O Is for Outlaw will learn about being a Private Investigator.
Just because I did not enjoy reading O Is for Outlaw I will still recommend this book.
April 29, 2023
5 Stars. I enjoyed this one, especially how Sue Grafton kept me on edge. What was actually happening? How do these tangents tie together? Yes, there's a satisfactory conclusion in the last chapter, but in previous novels we often dwell inside private investigator Kinsey Millhone's mind as she progresses through a case. Not as much this round. The criminal components of the mystery are well packaged, and I feel certain Kinsey had much of it unwrapped long before I did! It revolves around her first husband, Mickey Magruder. Her first ex. She was a 21-year-old police officer who naively fell in love with an older detective. Troubled, Mickey also had a rep when it came to chasing skirts. After a year Kinsey left him. But years later, when she recovers old personal documents, she finds an unopened letter that may have absolved Mickey. Unfortunately she can't talk to him; he's in a coma after being shot a few days earlier. Kinsey begins to realize that he might have been a much better husband than she thought. We're off to L.A. and Louisville, Kentucky, with memories of Viet Nam, to find out why he stopped that bullet. By the end, I couldn't put it down. (April 2023)
October 5, 2019
PI Kinsey Millhone is surprised to get a phone call from a guy claiming he found some of her stuff in an abandoned storage locker. Most of it is old school papers she left behind when she moved out on Mickey, her first ex-husband. But among those things is some mail – it’s mostly junk, but she finds a letter to her in the stack. Reading the letter shocks Kinsey. It sheds new light on her marriage to Mickey and the events that led to her leaving him fourteen years before. As Kinsey begins to hunt for Mickey to learn exactly what happened, she also begins to look into the murder that lead to her leaving Mickey. Will she learn the truth about what happened all those years ago?
I wasn’t burning with desire to learn about Kinsey’s first marriage, but that changes pretty quickly when I started this book. We are given the information we need from that time to understand what is happening in an interesting way that doesn’t slow things down. The past and present are meeting, and both drive the story forward. I was hooked until we reached the climax, which expertly wrapped everything up. The characters spring from the page fully formed the instant we meet them, which is nothing new for this series. We spend the most time with Kinsey, however, and she is a strong lead. I enjoyed seeing how these events impacted her. Fans of the series will enjoy seeing the background, and if you are new to the series, this book will show you why it has been so popular for so many years.
Read my full review at Carstairs Considers.
I wasn’t burning with desire to learn about Kinsey’s first marriage, but that changes pretty quickly when I started this book. We are given the information we need from that time to understand what is happening in an interesting way that doesn’t slow things down. The past and present are meeting, and both drive the story forward. I was hooked until we reached the climax, which expertly wrapped everything up. The characters spring from the page fully formed the instant we meet them, which is nothing new for this series. We spend the most time with Kinsey, however, and she is a strong lead. I enjoyed seeing how these events impacted her. Fans of the series will enjoy seeing the background, and if you are new to the series, this book will show you why it has been so popular for so many years.
Read my full review at Carstairs Considers.
December 3, 2015
I have enjoyed each of the installments in the alphabet series. This one is particularly interesting because we learn more about Kinsey's personal life, particularly about her first marriage. I have always liked her as a protagonist: she's tough and down-to-earth. She can hold her own with the police, with rich folks, with grungy lowlifes. I wish I knew some of the things she knows -- picking locks is a cool skill :) She does put herself into some dangerous situations. It was fun for me, in this story, when she makes a trip to Louisville. I lived there for 2 years right out of college and have never been back, but all of the street names are familiar. It brought back some memories of a very nice city. On to book "P".
October 11, 2024
Finally a dedicated novel for Kinsey's personal past, we get to learn about her first marriage and of course her first husband...
We got to know Kinsey through the series as a person with insatiable curiosity that keeps her investigating like a do with a bone, but she also had equal wits and cunning to protect her (most but not all the time) from stupid mistakes. This is not the case here this time, is it because the hunt this time is of personal nature that she is letting her guard down? I'd like to believe this is the intention behind having her do such careless mistakes that are below her level of thought.
MiM
We got to know Kinsey through the series as a person with insatiable curiosity that keeps her investigating like a do with a bone, but she also had equal wits and cunning to protect her (most but not all the time) from stupid mistakes. This is not the case here this time, is it because the hunt this time is of personal nature that she is letting her guard down? I'd like to believe this is the intention behind having her do such careless mistakes that are below her level of thought.
MiM
August 12, 2015
A "storage space scavenger" calls Kinsey Millhone saying that he has items that once belonged to her. A rented storage space has fallen into arrears, and he has bought the contents. The storage space had been rented by Mickey Magruder, Kinsey's first ex-husband.
Kinsey buys a box of items that were originally hers. In it, she finds a letter addressed to her that reached Mickey after she had left. The letter is from a woman named Dixie Hightower, a barmaid. From it, Kinsey learns that Mickey had had an affair with Dixie, but that Mickey could not have caused the beating death of a man named Benny Quintero. Kinsey had left Mickey because she believed that he was guilty.
Mickey had resigned from the Santa Teresa Police Department under the cloud of the Quintero scandal. He had not allowed Dixie to alibi him, for fear of hurting Kinsey.
Kinsey searches for Mickey, to come to terms with him and with what she has learned. However, she learns that Mickey has recently been shot and is in a coma--and that the police suspect her as the shooter.
Determined to seek justice for Mickey, and to clear her name, Kinsey investigates what really happened to her ex-husband. She follows a trail that leads to Dixie Hightower (who is now rich and snooty), to Louisville Kentucky, through old infidelities, and then reaches back to pretension and murderous rage during the Vietnam War.
The plot is driven largely by the issues of romantic fidelity or the lack thereof, and by romantic jealousy. These are subjects on which the narrator and protagonist, Kinsey Millhone, has strong and conservative opinions.
In my opinion, most of the writing is quite good: perceptive and sometimes amusing. There is keen observation of the southern California social scene, and of the effect of time on people and relationships. There is interesting commentary on quite a few subjects.
On the other hand, there are patches of silly dialog--and a shrewd, remorseless killer who patiently explains his crimes to someone he intends to kill. The machinations of criminals hoping to dupe Kinsey into overlooking their crimes seem too clever by half. Some of Kinsey's adventures and methods of obtaining information are unconvincing. The novel's three central crimes are neither very interesting nor very believable. However, the good points of O is for Outlaw far outweigh the bad points--and in any case, the novel is fun because Kinsey Millhone is always fun.
Kinsey buys a box of items that were originally hers. In it, she finds a letter addressed to her that reached Mickey after she had left. The letter is from a woman named Dixie Hightower, a barmaid. From it, Kinsey learns that Mickey had had an affair with Dixie, but that Mickey could not have caused the beating death of a man named Benny Quintero. Kinsey had left Mickey because she believed that he was guilty.
Mickey had resigned from the Santa Teresa Police Department under the cloud of the Quintero scandal. He had not allowed Dixie to alibi him, for fear of hurting Kinsey.
Kinsey searches for Mickey, to come to terms with him and with what she has learned. However, she learns that Mickey has recently been shot and is in a coma--and that the police suspect her as the shooter.
Determined to seek justice for Mickey, and to clear her name, Kinsey investigates what really happened to her ex-husband. She follows a trail that leads to Dixie Hightower (who is now rich and snooty), to Louisville Kentucky, through old infidelities, and then reaches back to pretension and murderous rage during the Vietnam War.
The plot is driven largely by the issues of romantic fidelity or the lack thereof, and by romantic jealousy. These are subjects on which the narrator and protagonist, Kinsey Millhone, has strong and conservative opinions.
In my opinion, most of the writing is quite good: perceptive and sometimes amusing. There is keen observation of the southern California social scene, and of the effect of time on people and relationships. There is interesting commentary on quite a few subjects.
On the other hand, there are patches of silly dialog--and a shrewd, remorseless killer who patiently explains his crimes to someone he intends to kill. The machinations of criminals hoping to dupe Kinsey into overlooking their crimes seem too clever by half. Some of Kinsey's adventures and methods of obtaining information are unconvincing. The novel's three central crimes are neither very interesting nor very believable. However, the good points of O is for Outlaw far outweigh the bad points--and in any case, the novel is fun because Kinsey Millhone is always fun.
May 31, 2021
Audiobook performed by Judy Keye.
Book # 15 in the popular Alphabet series starring private investigator (and former cop) Kinsey Millhone. It starts when a man who buys abandoned storage lockers calls to tell Kinsey he’s found a carton stuffed with personal memorabilia with her name on it. Turns out the storage locker belonged to her first ex-husband, Mickey.
Of course, it’s not so simple as that. Mickey’s been shot and Kinsey looks like a possible suspect. But who would go to the trouble to frame her? And what was Mickey up to that would get him shot?
I love that the series is set in a time before computers and cell phones, when investigators (whether police or private detectives) needed to be both inventive and persistent in tracking down all the leads and possibilities. The plot is suitably intricate but Grafton reveals little bits and pieces of the puzzle, letting the reader try to figure out the solution right along with Kinsey. I confess that I was unsuccessful until I was practically hit over the head with the information.
The ending was satisfying and somewhat touching. That last poignant paragraph was a nice surprise.
Judy Keye does a marvelous job of performing the audiobook. I loved the various voices she used for some of the more colorful characters: neighbor and landlord, Henry; Cordia; Duffy; Porter Yount.
Note: I read about four or five of these books early on and then stopped. A couple of years ago I re-read the first in the series and really enjoyed it. Now, after reading this one, I’m making a promise to myself to go back and read them all.
Book # 15 in the popular Alphabet series starring private investigator (and former cop) Kinsey Millhone. It starts when a man who buys abandoned storage lockers calls to tell Kinsey he’s found a carton stuffed with personal memorabilia with her name on it. Turns out the storage locker belonged to her first ex-husband, Mickey.
Of course, it’s not so simple as that. Mickey’s been shot and Kinsey looks like a possible suspect. But who would go to the trouble to frame her? And what was Mickey up to that would get him shot?
I love that the series is set in a time before computers and cell phones, when investigators (whether police or private detectives) needed to be both inventive and persistent in tracking down all the leads and possibilities. The plot is suitably intricate but Grafton reveals little bits and pieces of the puzzle, letting the reader try to figure out the solution right along with Kinsey. I confess that I was unsuccessful until I was practically hit over the head with the information.
The ending was satisfying and somewhat touching. That last poignant paragraph was a nice surprise.
Judy Keye does a marvelous job of performing the audiobook. I loved the various voices she used for some of the more colorful characters: neighbor and landlord, Henry; Cordia; Duffy; Porter Yount.
Note: I read about four or five of these books early on and then stopped. A couple of years ago I re-read the first in the series and really enjoyed it. Now, after reading this one, I’m making a promise to myself to go back and read them all.
April 5, 2010
After reading 15 books in this series I can't help but marvel at what a great job Kinsey does at keeping the peace in California, since she's clearly the only person who is capable of solving a crime or putting away criminals.
I'm more than happy to let Kinsey step in for the police when it can be justified, as it makes for an interesting story. I hate it, however, when Sue Grafton has the police involved in a story only to have them bungle everything ridiculously. It's one thing to have them unable to solve a crime, but to have them behave like keystone cops is just trying my patience.
Also - I was saddened when I learned that Mary Peiffer doesn't narrate the rest of the books in the series, but the new narrator, Judy Kaye, did an ok job. (well, except for a couple of characters that she made sound like muppets, and she makes Henry sound a little like Grandma Walton)
I'm more than happy to let Kinsey step in for the police when it can be justified, as it makes for an interesting story. I hate it, however, when Sue Grafton has the police involved in a story only to have them bungle everything ridiculously. It's one thing to have them unable to solve a crime, but to have them behave like keystone cops is just trying my patience.
Also - I was saddened when I learned that Mary Peiffer doesn't narrate the rest of the books in the series, but the new narrator, Judy Kaye, did an ok job. (well, except for a couple of characters that she made sound like muppets, and she makes Henry sound a little like Grandma Walton)
March 1, 2018
This is my favourite so far of the Alphabet series. I have read about twenty so far but not in order. I started with "Y" and read the others as they became available at the library. I have been amazed and enchanted at how different each storyline has been. The books have been a solid 8 or 9 out 10 which usually translated into 4 stars on Goodreads - this one rated five stars.
At first I didn't care for this story involving her first ex and wondered if the author had a long term plan/outline for each of the novels so that this one would involve Magruder. After the first few pages the plot became intriguing and didn't falter. It kept me turning pages wondering where things would and up, unlike some of the other stories that (to me) got bogged down in parts with too lengthy involvements with Henry or Rosie subplots.
This story plus the outcome of a couple of her books in the series gave me an idea how she was going to end with Kinsey retiring in "Z"
At first I didn't care for this story involving her first ex and wondered if the author had a long term plan/outline for each of the novels so that this one would involve Magruder. After the first few pages the plot became intriguing and didn't falter. It kept me turning pages wondering where things would and up, unlike some of the other stories that (to me) got bogged down in parts with too lengthy involvements with Henry or Rosie subplots.
This story plus the outcome of a couple of her books in the series gave me an idea how she was going to end with Kinsey retiring in "Z"
February 12, 2019
Another good entry in the series. This is my favorite kind of story - combining past events with things going on in the present. I enjoyed this because we got to dig into Kinsey's past some more and see a more sentimental side of her. The mystery kept me guessing too.
March 5, 2018
Kinsey gets a call from a guy who came across some memorabilia from her youth after he purchased the contents of a storage unit at auction. Kinsey buys the stuff from the guy and starts going through it. She finds a old letter that she had never read. A letter than makes her take a second look at some things from her first marriage.
The 15th book in the Kinsey Millhone series. This one was a more personal story for Kinsey. She's not working on any case. She's looking into her own past, and connecting with people she hasn't seen in years. After trying to contact her ex-husband, she finds out he was recently shot. Kinsey is looking into an old murder, and looking for who shot her ex.
A quick read, with a different angle than the other books in this series. We don't always get much about Kinsey's past, so this one was interesting for that aspect.
I listened to an audio version of this book.
The 15th book in the Kinsey Millhone series. This one was a more personal story for Kinsey. She's not working on any case. She's looking into her own past, and connecting with people she hasn't seen in years. After trying to contact her ex-husband, she finds out he was recently shot. Kinsey is looking into an old murder, and looking for who shot her ex.
A quick read, with a different angle than the other books in this series. We don't always get much about Kinsey's past, so this one was interesting for that aspect.
I listened to an audio version of this book.
July 6, 2021
Gotta admit, first Kinsey Millhone book I didn't like, much. Because...
I had major difficulties following the plot as Kinsey tries to determine just how and why some of her older, personal papers ended up in an auctioned-off storage unit; why her first husband (she was married twice), was shot and ended up near-death in a hospital; and lastly who were all these people and why did Kinsey fly out to Kentucky? (I never did figure that one out.)
So why three stars, which is a fair and decent rating? Because I like the writing; I enjoy reading about Kinsey. She's human, caught between doing what's right and doing sort of shady things because she likes doing what's right. A conundrum for me, the reader, and the character. The parts I like best? Kinsey being Kinsey, using lockpicks to get into and search an apartment; endearing herself to a couple of elderly, quirky women in order to get into said apartment; her relationship with Henry, her landlord; her spunky attitude toward men in general, those she finds attractive and those she don't.
(And yes I used bad grammar to make a point.)
What confused me was who-was-who and what were all these men, names and names? I could never get a sense of who was 'bad' or a 'suspect' or connection to a 'possible suspect' in her first husband's shooting. Plus, she's cautious as she snoops around a dingy, maybe criminally-connected bar/restaurant, but not so much with a younger man she goes home with. (And who happens to live in a shed at the back of a nursery and garden place. I mean who was he? He sort of randomly appears and I just didn't get it. No romantic elements here; she's after information.)
Then there's Henry, her landlord, who gives her that age-old, sage-like advice to just stay out of things! Does she listen? Nope. (Henry reminds me of Nancy Drew's father who's always telling Nancy don't do this, be careful, don't do that. But does Nancy listen? Never.)
So three stars off for total confusingness-of-plot, and I've read some pretty complex books in my time with overloads of characters, heavy sub-plotting and intricate weaves and webs of clues and red herrings. I just couldn't make my way through this one - well, not very well.
I shall move on to the next letter in this series, but take a break for a while. This is one of those rare series where I continue reading due to CHARACTER over story. (Martha Grimes' Richard Jury series is another; I just love all the characters in those books.)
So while I love Kinsey Millhone, this story did nothing for me.
Three stars.
I had major difficulties following the plot as Kinsey tries to determine just how and why some of her older, personal papers ended up in an auctioned-off storage unit; why her first husband (she was married twice), was shot and ended up near-death in a hospital; and lastly who were all these people and why did Kinsey fly out to Kentucky? (I never did figure that one out.)
So why three stars, which is a fair and decent rating? Because I like the writing; I enjoy reading about Kinsey. She's human, caught between doing what's right and doing sort of shady things because she likes doing what's right. A conundrum for me, the reader, and the character. The parts I like best? Kinsey being Kinsey, using lockpicks to get into and search an apartment; endearing herself to a couple of elderly, quirky women in order to get into said apartment; her relationship with Henry, her landlord; her spunky attitude toward men in general, those she finds attractive and those she don't.
(And yes I used bad grammar to make a point.)
What confused me was who-was-who and what were all these men, names and names? I could never get a sense of who was 'bad' or a 'suspect' or connection to a 'possible suspect' in her first husband's shooting. Plus, she's cautious as she snoops around a dingy, maybe criminally-connected bar/restaurant, but not so much with a younger man she goes home with. (And who happens to live in a shed at the back of a nursery and garden place. I mean who was he? He sort of randomly appears and I just didn't get it. No romantic elements here; she's after information.)
Then there's Henry, her landlord, who gives her that age-old, sage-like advice to just stay out of things! Does she listen? Nope. (Henry reminds me of Nancy Drew's father who's always telling Nancy don't do this, be careful, don't do that. But does Nancy listen? Never.)
So three stars off for total confusingness-of-plot, and I've read some pretty complex books in my time with overloads of characters, heavy sub-plotting and intricate weaves and webs of clues and red herrings. I just couldn't make my way through this one - well, not very well.
I shall move on to the next letter in this series, but take a break for a while. This is one of those rare series where I continue reading due to CHARACTER over story. (Martha Grimes' Richard Jury series is another; I just love all the characters in those books.)
So while I love Kinsey Millhone, this story did nothing for me.
Three stars.
January 22, 2012
This far into the series, the best thing about a Kinsey Milhone book is what it adds to a reader's understanding of (and liking for) the main character. Author Sue Grafton knows this, and she seems to be pacing herself through the remainder of the alphabet with developments in Kinsey's love life, revelations about her past, and coming to terms with abandonment issues in the face of new relationships with family members she's only known about for a short time.
In N is for Noose, Grafton sweeps Kinsey away from her familiar stomping grounds and the focus is on story and perhaps a bit of personal growth; there's not much for those of us eager to learn more about Kinsey's past. She makes up for it (and then some) in O is for Outlaw. Not only do we finally learn something about Kinsey's seldom-discussed first husband, but Micky MacGruder is the central figure in what is so far one of the best-executed novels in the series. A creative, intriguing set-up leads to a fascinating story, which leads to Kinsey's learning more about her past than one might have hoped for in a single installment.
It starts with a phone call from a guy who has come into possession of a box containing some of Kinsey's old belongings. It leads to a chance at redemption for the man she married at such a young age and divorced after such a short time. Grafton creates a really, really good plot here, putting Kinsey in a place where she willingly dredges up her past and makes herself emotionally vulnerable, something that the tough, independent Kinsey might normally shun.
Readers who for some reason have stalled-out at some point in the alphabet before O are encouraged to power through those doldrums (my own were with J, K, and L) and get to O, because it is a standout in this excellent series, an entertaining and rewarding combination of intriguing storytelling and fascinating character development. This is my new favorite Kinsey.
In N is for Noose, Grafton sweeps Kinsey away from her familiar stomping grounds and the focus is on story and perhaps a bit of personal growth; there's not much for those of us eager to learn more about Kinsey's past. She makes up for it (and then some) in O is for Outlaw. Not only do we finally learn something about Kinsey's seldom-discussed first husband, but Micky MacGruder is the central figure in what is so far one of the best-executed novels in the series. A creative, intriguing set-up leads to a fascinating story, which leads to Kinsey's learning more about her past than one might have hoped for in a single installment.
It starts with a phone call from a guy who has come into possession of a box containing some of Kinsey's old belongings. It leads to a chance at redemption for the man she married at such a young age and divorced after such a short time. Grafton creates a really, really good plot here, putting Kinsey in a place where she willingly dredges up her past and makes herself emotionally vulnerable, something that the tough, independent Kinsey might normally shun.
Readers who for some reason have stalled-out at some point in the alphabet before O are encouraged to power through those doldrums (my own were with J, K, and L) and get to O, because it is a standout in this excellent series, an entertaining and rewarding combination of intriguing storytelling and fascinating character development. This is my new favorite Kinsey.
March 9, 2008
'O', the things one does while waiting for a car inspection... I would have rather talked to the fat man sitting next to me. Alas, he was on his cell phone for hours, (must have a sweet battery,) so I was left choosing between year old copies of 'Better Homes and Gardens' and this P.O.S. I regret my choice. Did I have to know that when the protagonist backed from a parking space, she first turned the key then put the car in reverse? Really? Every fucking time? How 'bout just once she forgets to start the car, puts it in reverse, feels like an idiot, then silently berates herself? At least make the bad writing and bad storytelling work for a joke. This book could be solely responsible for many housewives' delusions of writing potential.
Upon paying my bill I found I had been eligible for a free loaner car. Argh! I almost went looking for the shmuck who checked me in. I had visions of beating him about the head and shoulders with 'O Is for Outlaw'. Still, most of my rage remains directed at the writer, editor, and publisher responsible for this "book"
PS: I love Agatha Christie. This review in no way refers to the mystery genre.
Upon paying my bill I found I had been eligible for a free loaner car. Argh! I almost went looking for the shmuck who checked me in. I had visions of beating him about the head and shoulders with 'O Is for Outlaw'. Still, most of my rage remains directed at the writer, editor, and publisher responsible for this "book"
PS: I love Agatha Christie. This review in no way refers to the mystery genre.
May 26, 2022
Author Sue Grafton returns to Louisville in this 15th entry in the long-running Kinsey Millhone series. Readers learn about Kinsey's first husband, Mickey Macgruder, about whom she's revealed just small bits. Tthe discovery of an undelivered letter propel Kinsey to look into Mickey's past -- and her own -- and to try to track him down.
I'm thrilled to see my hometown depicted in a novel (a rare occurence, as we aren't L.A. or New York or even Martha's Vineyard), but Kinsey's even more curmudgeonly than usual here. You'd think a woman as flawed as Kinsey would be a bit more forgiving of others. Still, Grafton weaves a suspenseful plot, and Kinsey's as driven and clever as ever. The worst Grafton -- which this definitely is not -- beats most authors' best.
I'm thrilled to see my hometown depicted in a novel (a rare occurence, as we aren't L.A. or New York or even Martha's Vineyard), but Kinsey's even more curmudgeonly than usual here. You'd think a woman as flawed as Kinsey would be a bit more forgiving of others. Still, Grafton weaves a suspenseful plot, and Kinsey's as driven and clever as ever. The worst Grafton -- which this definitely is not -- beats most authors' best.
April 10, 2022
Kinsey's past comes back to haunt her in O is for Outlaw. I have to say it is about time, we know next to nothing about Kinsey's past so this was a delight to read. This book focuses on her brief first marriage to Mickey a former police officer. Mickey has been shot and Kinsey takes it upon herself to solve the crime.
The ending of this book was really touching and it has made me see Kinsey in a different light.
This book had a new narrator and it took me a long while to get use to her. I would not let that turn you off listening to it I tend to be a little picky about narrators.
The ending of this book was really touching and it has made me see Kinsey in a different light.
This book had a new narrator and it took me a long while to get use to her. I would not let that turn you off listening to it I tend to be a little picky about narrators.
August 14, 2021
While Kinsey is clever, this book is depressing. The central figure, Mickey, has no role other than to lie in bed like a soap opera victim while their contract is renegotiated.
Another read finds a different layer of the Kinsey/Henry relationship. She hides the seedier side of her work and he balks and then backs down.
Another read finds a different layer of the Kinsey/Henry relationship. She hides the seedier side of her work and he balks and then backs down.
November 5, 2018
I absolutely love Sue Grafton's character Kinsey Millhone. Kinsey is a wise-cracking character you love, no matter the dilemma. As a private detective, she's always finding herself taking on a case that ends up being more than she bargained for when she agreed to take the case. O is for Outlaw is no different, except for one thing. We get to learn more about her past. We learn more about her first husband, which in most of her previous novels is a quick sentence or two. Not enough to know who he really was other than his name ans that he was a cop. But now Kinsey gets a phone call that will force her to reexamine her beliefs about their breakup and if he really wasn't a bad cop who killed a man. As she digs deeper, she finds herself not only questioning everything she thought she knew about the man, the answers she's seeking will out her in the gravest of danger.
I loved the plot and the characters were very engaging. I really love how Grafton has brought this story to life. I always enjoy the talks between Kinsey and Henry.
I loved the plot and the characters were very engaging. I really love how Grafton has brought this story to life. I always enjoy the talks between Kinsey and Henry.
December 16, 2017
Grafton always delivers when I need an easy escape read.
October 14, 2019
4.5 Stars
rounded up to 5 Stars.
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