When Laurence Fife was murdered, few cared. A slick divorce attorney with a reputation of ruthlessness, Fife was also rumoured to be a slippery ladies' man. Plenty of people in the picturesque Southern California town of Santa Teresa had reason to want him dead. Including, thought the cops, his young and beautiful wife, Nikki. With motive, access and opportunity, Nikki was thier number one suspect. The Jury thought so too.

Eight years later and out on parole, Nikki Fife hires Kinsey Millhone to find out who really killed her husband. But the trail has gone cold and there is a chilling twist even Kinsey doesn't expect.

This is going off to another bookcrosser as part of the Not So Secret Summer Solstice Surprise organised by the UK Bookcrossing Yahoo Group :o)

Enjoy!

I received this book today as part of the bcuk Not So Secret Summer Solstice Surprise. It's a book that I've been wanting for a while so I'm over the moon with it. Thank you to Acanthium32 for sending it. I've got a few ring books here just now but as soon as I've read those I'll be reading this one.

Thanks also for the choccie and sunflower goodies. :o)

I thought I'd read and journalled this book ages ago, but I discovered recently that I hadn't. I was looking for a book that would be easy to read and a good distraction from my own life, this one jumped out at me. I really enjoyed it. I've read a few others from this series, I decided not to try and read them in order as it would take forever to get them all, so it was interesting to read the first one and understand a bit more of Kinsey. The book felt different to some of the later ones in the series but I guess that is because of Sue Grafton getting to grips with Kinsey, and because of Kinsey getting older and changing.

It was a good book, I kind of guessed who the murderer was but I was never sure of it until the end. I will definitely keep on reading to the end of the alphabet series.

Thanks again to acanthium32 for this gift. :o) I'll probably offer it as a RABCK soon so that it can carry on its journey.


* * * * * * *

I've offered this as a book ring to bookcrossers. Takers so far are:

rainbow3 (UK. UK Only)
turbobarge (UK. can post anywhere)
princess1984 (Canada. Ship Canada/USA only)
booklady331 (USA)
dogsapples (UK. can post anywhere)
candy-is-dandy (UK. UK only)
valer1e (UK)
kitkat8 (UK. can post anywhere)
darkpunkangel (Canada. can post anywhere)
tammysavala (USA)
mallary (France. anywhere)

... and back to me sunflowergirl (UK)

RELEASE NOTES:

I posted this off today to the first person in the book ring, so it should be there soon.

Hmm, realistic sounding, everyday investigatory work with some sharp moments of tight terror though I confess in the first instance to feeling detached from Sue Grafton’s private investigator, Kinsey Millhone. I never-the-less nipped straight onto the next in this alphabetically titled series, B is for Burglar, having been gifted this then promised it to another bookcrosser. Not sure I would have rushed out looking for it though. It’s taken me a while to warm up to this author, though come to think of it I needed to read two of Val McDermid’s books before I grew fond of her heroine Kate Brannigan.

I had held back from reading others in the Kinsay Millhone series till I had at least read this first one. Because the series promised an alphabets worth of titles I felt it may mean a few key characters and subplots would be introduced in the first novel and thereafter, continuing development of these relationships would ensue. However, judging from these first two books (see below) I felt that the intention was for each book to stand alone and any overarching themes may be negligible.

Before writing these notes I finished B is for Burglar too, that’s offered me a better feel for the Kinsay Millhone series. The key hinges on the classic mystery elements then there is a balance between the frequently tedious work of cautiously collating a variety of disparate facts and keeping in reign a puppy dog like eagerness to scamper off into dicey situations when haste drives thinking. Very entertaining, undemanding with some wee reflective thoughts tossed in and I will look out for more. The enthusiasm for the series other readers have now becomes clear.

It seems I’ve been gobbling up crime thrillers at a frantic rate of knots recently and encountered lots of authors that are new to me as I have only taken this keen an interest in crime fiction over the last few years. Current top favourites are Michael Connelly, Janet Evanovich, Robert Goddard, Sparkle Hayter, Tony Hillerman, Donna Leon, Naigo Marsh, Val McDermid, Robert Parker, Anne Perry, Sarah Strohmeyer and though I have only read one Charles Todd am terribly keen to lay hands on more of his series featuring Police Inspector Ian Rutledge. Jacqueline Winspear’s Maisie Dobbs series had a terrific start and I am eager to read books two and three soon.

RELEASE NOTES:

into the hands of the Post Office staff who are going to deliver this to turbobarge who is next on this book ring. Happy reading!

Came in the post while I was away this week. Will read as soon as I finish my current book.
Thanks for the lovely postcard. rainbow3!

I wasn't sure what to expect from this- I was curious as I had seen lots of threads on the message boards about the alphabet series and thought this was a good place to start!
I was pleasantly surprised- I don't usually go in for murder mysteries, but this was very readable. It was fast-paced and engaging. I warmed to Kinsey quickly and the story was fairly believable. I had guessed who it was long before the end, but that didn't really spoil my reading!

PMing Princess 1984 for her address.

Princess1984 has asked to be skipped, so I am awaiting an address from booklady331.
Mailed to booklady331 today (18th April)

5.4.06 Returned today from a conference and the book arrived. I will read it next. I just have about 30 pages left in my current book.

RELEASE NOTES:

Arrived back in the Uk today, thank you booklady331. Looking forward to this as haven't tried any yet and I love murder mysterys. Unfortunately it's fourth on the list to read but will try and get to it soon.

Managed to read this on holiday last week and was delighted to find that I really enjoyed it. I am so looking forward to reading more about this feisty little female private eye. I am in a ring for B is for burgalr which is on its way to me - can't wait now.

Thank you sunflowergirl for arranging the ring. It will be off to candy-is-dandy as soon as I have her address.

Mailing to Candy-is-dandy tomorrow (18th July)

Received from dogsapples on its continued journey. Am looking forward to starting the series at 'A'.

Well, I've read the first one of the series and enjoyed it. It didn't seem like a first book to me as it didn't dwell on setting the scene and spending ages filling in Kinsey's background. Instead info from her past was thread into the story quite naturally. I found her likeable and realistic, a more serious Stephanie Plum and look forward to reading more of these books (B is patiently waiting).

I seem to have got into several of these crime series at the mo - Janet Evanovich, Kathy Riech etc but they are all sufficiently different to ensure I can keep the heroines separate in my mind.

Off to valer1e next - I have her address.

RELEASE NOTES:

Off to valer1e on the next stage of its journey.

Received safely today, thank you.

Good job I've got a bit of time off work next week. Will try and catch up with all my rings and rays.

Not got around to reading this yet, but I had a copy in the NSSS parcel from my partner so I can pass this straight on.

PMing kitkat8 today for address.

Sorry for the late journalling of this, the book arrived this week but my modem has 'issues' so this is the first chance I have had to journal. I am looking forward to reading this.

I enjoyed reading this, which is one reason I have read it so quickly. I would be interested in reading others in the series as Kinsey comes across as an interesting character. Thank you Sunflowergirl for ringing this. I've PM'd darkpunkangel for their address and the book will be off on its travels again soon.

Going off in the post to darkpunkangel today.

Thanks, arrived today. I've been wanting to read this for a long time so I'll start today! Thanks for the postcard kitkat8

What a superbe read, it was really well written and I like the main character, Kinsey Millhone. I liked the plot too and I look forward to the next installment.

I'm going to PM the next person and get this sent on its way soon!

It's now on its way to tammysavala!

It appears that this book is missing, it hasn't been journalled since it was posted to tammysavala. Hopefully it will turn up again one of these days. Thanks to everyone who has read the book on this ring, I'm glad you all enjoyed it.