O is for Outlaw

A Kinsey Millhone Mystery

By: Sue Grafton

Narrated by: Judy Kaye

Length: 10 hrs and 36 mins

Publisher's summary

The call comes on a Monday morning from a guy who scavenges defaulted storage units at auction. The weekend before, he'd bought a stack of cardboard boxes. In one, there was a collection of childhood memorabilia with Kinsey's name all over it.

Though she's never been one for personal possessions, curiosity is a powerful force. What she finds among the items is an old undelivered letter to her that will force her to reexamine her beliefs about the breakup of her first marriage...about the honor of her first husband...and about an old unsolved murder. It will put her life in the gravest peril.

Through 14 books, listeners have been fed short rations when it comes to Kinsey Millhone's past: a morsel here, a dollop there. You know about the aunt who raised her, the second husband who left her, the long-lost family up the California coast. But husband number one has remained a blip on the screen. Until now. "O" Is for Outlaw is a revealing excursion into Kinsey's past.

©199 9 (P)1999 Random House, Inc.

Critic reviews

• Romantic Times Award Winner - Best PI Novel, 1999

"Grafton works with a cinematic eye, possessing a keen visual sense of detail, color, and style. The pace is fast, the crime difficult to solve." (People)

Enjoying the Alphabet novels

If you could sum up O is for Outlaw in three words, what would they be?

One Good Read.

What other book might you compare O is for Outlaw to and why?

Sue Grafton's V is for Vengence. Kinsey Millhone is one tough detective in the world without cell phones.

Which scene was your favorite?

The exciting ending.

If you were to make a film of this book, what would be the tag line be?

She's tougher than she looks.

Any additional comments?

Judy Kaye makes these books so enjoyable. I have to remind myself there is really only ONE narrator!

Love Judy Kaye narration

I am baffled by negative feedback on Judy Kayes narration. She was born to read for Kinsey. Her voices are endless. Mary Pfeiffer sounds like a robot and I literally thought she was at first when i heard those narrarated by her. But i listen to grafton on tape, even though i read all the novels, because i love hearing judy kaye read it. She is kinsey! I would be devastated if she stopped narrarating the series.

O is for Outstanding

This is one of my favorite books in the Alphabet series. I truly enjoy listening to Judy kaye as Kinsey.

I like the other narrator better.

I didn't like the voice of Henry. He sounded like an old woman. He's a vital older man; his voice should be deeper.

Typical Grafton Novel, TERRIBLE narration

What did you love best about O is for Outlaw?

Like other reviewers have noted, this was a truly awful narration particularly in comparison to the performances of A-N. It's probably not fair to Judy Kaye because she's different - she's not Mary Peiffer, and I've certainly grown accustomed to hearing Mary - but not only is Kaye different, the affectations for our known characters are so at odds with the way they are depicted in other books, and the different sound that she tried to give other characters is terribly inconsistent, leading to confusion in a lot of areas about who is actually speaking. The music in the epilogue was way over the top. I found myself just listening to get through so I can move on to the next one. I truly disliked the performance, and if it weren't for my quest to revisit these novels of my younger days, I would have quit listening less than a chapter in. These complaints aren't new (so many others note the same issues) and I debated just buying the paperback and fitting in actually reading a book (thereby skipping this audio performance) - and truth be told, I wish I had done that. The cost of this audiobook vs. the cost of shipping and a physical book would have been much preferred to listening to this. Now I am off to start P so that I can try to wipe this awfulness from my mind.

What was one of the most memorable moments of O is for Outlaw?

I hope not to remember anything from this performance. Ugh.

How could the performance have been better?

More consistency in the characterizations she created for each person. Making the characters sound less aged.

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

No no no.

Any additional comments?

I am happy to see that Peiffer is back to narrating and I think narrates until Sue's last novel. Thank goodness.

Love The Series and This Narrator

I just love the early Sue Grafton's and this narrator. Judy Kaye is Kinsey and I hear her voice as I read the newer books.

Alphabet series!

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

Yes they are all great! O is just one. The 15th in the alphabet series!

What other book might you compare O is for Outlaw to and why?

The entire series is wonderful

Which scene was your favorite?

Can't pick Just one

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

Just love the Kinsey character!

Any additional comments?

Start from the beginning and read them all! They are separate stories but all about Kinsey's life. They are great!

Great Story

I always enjoy Grqfton books. They’re entertaining without being too complicated. It took me a little while to get over the fact that the narrator sounds like Ellen Degeneres…but nonetheless, she was very good.

Blast from the past!

I loved every minute. I read this 20+ years ago and thoroughly enjoyed listening to this recording.

Another hit from Sue Grafton

This story, as all the Sue Grafton tales, has the perfect combination of intrigue and back story.