X by Sue Grafton
Sue Grafton’s alphabet mysteries hold a special place in my heart as I started reading them during my sophomore year of high school at the suggestion of my English teacher. I eagerly await each new letter and must confess that X did not disappoint. For a series of books first started in 1982, Grafton has done an impressive job writing a smart and well thought out mystery time and time again, especially when you consider that lesser authors would have veered off into the sloppy, lazy or ridiculous long before book 24. This is frequently the plight of long running mystery series in my opinion.
While I enjoy the wit and personality of the protagonist Kinsey Millhone I do feel like she could deepen her and perhaps give her a little more of a social life to round out her character some but that’s a personal opinion and I suspect that Mrs. Grafton would like to keep the focus on the mystery she’s put so much thought into crafting. Maybe I’m just a romantic at heart and hope she finds love…or a pet dragon. Either would be awesome actually. Although I will say that in X I felt that the story got just a little bit too complex and the numerous plot lines she was weaving may not have come together as seamlessly as she’d hoped. However Grafton took some risks and stepped out a bit from her normal format so I do appreciate that. All and all I found it to be an excellent book and long time readers of the series won’t be disappointed. It would actually be a great jumping in point for new readers as well since you really don’t have to go in order to keep up with this series.
Happy Reading,
Crys
New titles:
Crossing by Michael Connelly
Bazaar of Bad Dreams by Stephen King
Murder on St. Nicholas Avenue by Victoria Thompson
Guilty by David Baldacci
All Dressed in White by Mary Higgins Clark
Tricky 22 by Janet Evanovich
Year of Yes by Shonda Rhimes
Avenue of Mysteries by John Irving
