P is for Peril

A Kinsey Millhone Mystery

By: Sue Grafton

Narrated by: Judy Kaye

Length: 11 hrs and 36 mins

Publisher's summary

Dr. Dowan Purcell had been missing for nine weeks when Kinsey got a call asking her to take on the case. A specialist in geriatric medicine, Purcell was a prominent member of the Santa Theresa medical community, and the police had done a thorough job. Purcell had no known enemies and seemed content with his life. At the time of his disappearance, he was running a nursing care facility where both the staff and the patients loved him. He adored his second wife, Crystal, and doted on their two-year-old son.

It wasn't Crystal who called Kinsey. It was Purcell's ex-wife, Fiona. Everything about their meeting made Kinsey uneasy. Fiona's manner was high-handed and her expectations unrealistic. Kinsey's instincts told her to refuse the job, yet she ended up saying, "I'll do what I can, but I make no promises." It was a decision she'd live to regret.

Pursuing the mysterious disappearance of Purcell, Kinsey crashes into a wall of speculation. It seems everyone has a theory. The cops think he went on a bender and is too ashamed to come home. Fiona is sure he ran off to get away from Crystal, and Crystal is just as sure he's dead. The staff at the nursing home is convinced he's been kidnapped, and one of his daughters, having consulted a psychic, is certain that he's trapped in a dark place, though she doesn't know where. Kinsey is awash in explanations and sorely lacking in facts. Then pure chance leads her in another direction, and she soon finds herself in a dangerous shadow land, where duplicity and double-dealing are the reality and, with the truth glinting elusively out of reach, she must stake her life on a thin thread of intuition.

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

©2001 by Sue Grafton (P)2001 Random House, Inc.

Critic reviews

"Unlike many detective series, Grafton's seems only to get better each time out." (Entertainment Weekly)

Much better quality.

I am glad to see the quality of this recording was a great improvement over O is for outlaw. I only noticed one major slicing issue, but hey I get that from my Jim Dale recordings every now and then too.

I would like to point out to those that continue to state that it is abhorable that Kinsey has no cell phone or computer. Remember, this the early to mid 1980s. Mobile phones (no such thing as a cell) are huge and bulky and few people have them. In addition, they are expensive. Something our frugal Ms. Milhone would never consider. Ditto for computers. I don't see her spending $2000 - $5000 for a personal computer, when her Smith Corona does just fine.

Not her best book

This one seems out of sorts for Sue Grafton. It just seemed to rattle on and on. I did not particularly care for this book. I enjoyed all the previous books. Let’s see how the next book goes.

Quarter Pounders with cheese in the 80’s

There is a definite 80’s tinge to this one and not in a good way.

But the biggest problem is the lack of conflict between characters except for the brothers. Kinsey just kind of lives her fairly idyllic life with her good friends who always back her up and nurture her. They often supply her with her favorite white bread-meat- mayonnaise sandwiches. What stands out to me most is her vivid descriptions of eating these sandwiches which are always delicious. They are for me a big gross out. But back in the 80’s food was usually considered either tasty or good for you with no other thoughts about it.

The plot moves along but nothing very memorable occurs. I kept losing track of what was going on because it didn’t hold my attention. Kinseys elderly friend takes action on her behalf while she sits idle. When she’s captured by bad guys they fight while she watches. In other words, she’s passive.

What recognize the zeitgeist of the 80’s in her treatment of troubled teens and gay people

I found her descriptions of “bad” teenagers troubling— she has zero empathy for them. They’re just kids and no one really cares about them but Kinsey isn’t able to have any compassion. They’re just bad kids who need punishment.

She weaves a pretty credible plot to explain the murder as being part of a financial scheme but then at the last minute it there is a discovery that in fact someone close to the victim did it. I won’t say who it is but back in the eighties gay people and sex workers were often considered sub human and this book follows that pattern.

With this narrator Kinsey seemed to have aged 30 years. She changes the voices of the characters but in a very stereotypical way. Kinsey is supposedly in love with an 80 year old man but that’s hard to fathom when his voice sounds so aged and broken down—a little old man voice.

She’s written many other better books

Ending?

I didn't like how this book ended. She didn't wrap it up clearly and neatly. The main investigation is left just hanging open.

Pretty good

Narrator was good. It was a typical good mystery by Sue Grafton. Kept my interest most all of the time.

Ok but...

Liked it but the way she ended it was like having the lights go out just as a movie is ending. Didn't care for that.

a very good book

I love Sue grafton's stories and I sure do like the one who reads it. she is so good in changing voices and making you feel like you are right there with her.

a very good book

Loving this series

I'm loving these books, the main character, Kinsey Millhone, with 2 L's, is very entertaining. But, I love Judy Kaye. Sometimes I can't tell it's her doing multiple voices. I tried the other reader, just not the same.

Great!

Judy Kaye is a perfect Kinsey! The story was very entertaining. I love all Sue Grafton's writings.

Full of twists

This narrator is less robotic than the other one. She does a nice job. This was a good story.