A is for Alibi

A Kinsey Millhone Mystery

By: Sue Grafton

Narrated by: Mary Peiffer

Length: 7 hrs and 39 mins

Publisher's summary

When Laurence Fife was murdered, few mourned his passing. Plenty of people had reason to want him dead. But the police thought his wife Nikki , with motive, access and opportunity, was the #1 suspect. The jury thought so too.

Eight years later and out on parole, Nikki hires Kinsey Millhone, a gutsy P.I., to find the real killer. The trail is cold, but Kinsey finds a lead that brings her face-to-face with the murderer!

This is the first in the popular series featuring California investigator Kinsey Millhone. She's 32, twice divorced, no kids, an ex-cop who likes her work...and who works strictly alone!

Don't miss the other titles in the Kinsey Millhone Alphabet Mystery Series.

©1982 Sue Grafton (P)1993 Books on Tape

Critic reviews

"Grafton has created a woman we feel we know, a tough cookie with a soft center, a gregarious loner....Smart, well-paced and very funny." (Newsweek)

disappointment

reader bad, ending
weak, a lot of wasted read material that really didn't matter to story

Good mystery

Not a fan of the narrator. Many words pronounced incorrectly. A bit too monotone. It was distracting.

Decent story, great protagonist, banal narration

The reader strives a little too hard, taking the listener out of the narrative flow.

narrator voice is very difficult to listen to

the story might be good buy I couldn't get further than chapter 2 because I wanted to tear my ears off. It was recommended by a friend but totally doesn't work for me.

The story works.

I really think the storyline and characters were very interesting. There was enough unusual that it really kept my attention. In spite of the fact that I found the narrator to have an odd voice with inappropriate inflections – she was flat at times she should not have been and she was lilting when that was also the wrong call. It was as if she didn’t know the story; she was just reading the sentences. Nonetheless, I would look forward to looking at more from this author, keeping it to a book If this is the only narrator.

oldie but goodie.

I first read this back in the 90's. Better listening to it now while I work.

THE FIRST IN A SERIES OF ENJOYABLE MYSTERIES

Where does A is for Alibi rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

IT'S IN THE TOP 15% OF ALL AUDIOBOOKS.

Did the plot keep you on the edge of your seat? How?

YES. IT WAS INTERESTING TO WATCH THE WAY KINSEY MILLHONE FOUND CLUES, DEVELOPED THEM THEN FIGURED OUT THE WHOLE STORY.

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

NO. I THINK SHE DID A GOOD JOB.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

Yes. I wanted to but couldn't do it. But I sure listened to it almost non-stop.

Good Listen

Good enjoyable listen from start to finish, nothing really outstanding but a good book! I will listen to more.

new to me but old to most

my very first exposure to Sue Grafton and it was incredible! I'm glad that I got a chance to learn of a new author who many have followed for decades. Looking forward to reading more of her work.

Basic hardboiled detective novel

Didn't love it didn't hate it. My mind wandered often. Not too much depth in characters. Good for driving or doing chores if you don't have a lead on a better book. I may well get another in this series being that I was particularly distracted by life around me when I was listening to this one. I think I've heard that Grafton matures as a writer as the series progesses.
the narrator puts on what I assume is a tough voice, but she does a good job and is clear with good cadence.