Kinsey and Me

Stories

By: Sue Grafton

Narrated by: Judy Kaye

Length: 7 hrs and 39 mins

Publisher's summary

In 1982, Sue Grafton introduced us to Kinsey Millhone. Thirty years later, Kinsey is an established international icon and Sue is a number-one best-selling author. To mark this anniversary year, Sue has given us stories that reveal Kinsey's origins and Sue's past.

Kinsey and Me has two parts: The nine Kinsey stories (1986-93), each a gem of detection, and the "And Me" stories, written in the decade after Grafton's mother died. Together, they show just how much of Kinsey is a distillation of her creator's past, even as they reveal a child who, free of parental interventions, read everything and roamed everywhere. But the dark side of such freedom was that very parental distance.

The same feisty voice and witty apercus readers fell in love with in A Is for Alibi permeate the Kinsey stories. Those in the "And Me" section trace a remarkable voyage, from anger to understanding, from pain to forgiveness. They take us into a troubled family, dysfunctional as most families are, each in their own way, but Grafton's telling is sensitive, delicate, and ultimately, loving. Enriching the way we see Kinsey and know Sue, these stories are deeply affecting.

©2013 Sue Grafton (P)2013 Penguin Audio

Critic reviews

"I've come to believe that Grafton is not only the most talented woman writing crime fiction today but also that, regardless of gender, her Millhone books are among the five or six best series any American has ever written." (Patrick Anderson, The Washington Post)

another winner

What made the experience of listening to Kinsey and Me the most enjoyable?

Judy Kaye is the heart and soul of Kinsey

Who was your favorite character and why?

Kinsey. Real

Have you listened to any of Judy Kaye’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

JUDY KAYE IS MY FAVORITE

Who was the most memorable character of Kinsey and Me and why?

Kinsey is someone I know....

Any additional comments?

keep 'em commin'

Wonderful - a few detective shorts and an insight into Sue Grafton’s childhood

I miss Kinsey so it was really nice to find this. I miss Judy Kaye as well.

Some fun shorts - detective - and then some short stories of “Kit” which gives a well thought out description and therefor understanding of what shaped Grafton’s life.

Love all things Sue Grafton!

I devour every word she writes and I was hoping for a bit more of her thought process behind the stories she did choose but it was great to hear the other book ideas & her other writings.

Kinsey's short stories were great!

Judy's narration was great on both sets of short stories. Sue and Kinsey in step.

GOOD BUT NOT WHAT I EXPECTED

I AM A BIG FAN OF KINSEY AND ALSO SUE GRAFTON, BUT THIS WAS SOMEWHAT OF A DISAPPOINTMENT. I'M GLAD I LISTENED TO THIS BOOK BECAUSE I ALSO AM A BIG FAN OF JUDY KAYE. SHE DOES A WONDERFUL JOB AS THE VOICE OF KINSEY AND ALL THE CHARACTERS IN THE ABC BOOKS. I AM ANXIOUSLY AWAITING THE NEXT BOOK IN THE SERIES....W IS FOR ?

Not so good as Her Mystery Novels

What did you like best about Kinsey and Me? What did you like least?

I love Sue Grafton's books. This new book is OK but not quite up to the level of her mysteries. Sue gave an accounting of her childhood and how it affected her emotional and social development as well as that of her main character Kinsey Milhone. It does account for many aspeccts of Kinsey's life as basically a self sufficient survivor and I suspect this accounts for her profession of private investigator and as such she is reliable, dependable and does what she must to take care of herself and resolve whatever case she's taken on!

What was one of the most memorable moments of Kinsey and Me?

How Sue's mother's and father's adjustment to life and the problems it presented to them affected how their daughters and how they later dealt with their own lives.

What does Judy Kaye bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

Judy Kaye IS Kinsey Milhone!!

A Parting Gift from Sue

She took us through Kinsey escapades, and must have known her time was limited when she compiled this farewell. I am grateful she did!

I found this book when I went looking for book “Z”. I was saddened to learn my friend Kinsey was permanently retired, and felt a sense of great loss.

Thank you Sue, for allowing readers to escape with Kinsey, and sharing your history which brought depth and insight.

Sadly, good things cannot continue forever.

RIP

One of the stories has been cut off

Any additional comments?

Overall I was pleasantly surprized by this book. I always wondered what Kinsey did between her longer tales, and now it feels like we have been given a glimpse into those corners of her life.Normally I can guess who the wrong-doer is in most mystery fiction and so was pleased that there were a few twists that I was surprized by.

On the "Me" side of the book, I'll admit I wasn't as interested and stopped listening. I will probably go back to these stories in the future, but I found the dramatic change in tone a bit jarring after the Kinsey stories.

ONE BIG COMPLAINT: the story called "Full Circle" isn't complete. The audio cuts off and moves on to the next chapter/story. I double checked it against a print copy of the book and sure enough there is more to the story. I have tried to delete and download several times with no change. Hopefully this will be corrected for future listeners.

This is what made Kinsey!

Would you listen to Kinsey and Me again? Why?

Yes I would listen to Kinsey and Me again. It was a great insight into how Kinsey came to be. Enjoy the short stories - an then another!

What about Judy Kaye’s performance did you like?

Judy Kaye brings Kinsey out!!

Grateful

Having just finished the last of the ABC mystery series, and knowing Sue is gone now, I was pleased to read, "Kinsey and Me" and get some background on Sue Grafton. She is my favorite author of this genre of writing, so I was delighted to learn more about her. As much as I wish there would be a "Z" book to wrap it all up, I very much admire Sue's family's desire to honor Sue request not to use a ghost writer.
I sure will miss Sue and Kinsey.