Q is for Quarry

A Kinsey Millhone Mystery

By: Sue Grafton

Narrated by: Judy Kaye

Length: 12 hrs and 38 mins

Publisher's summary

She was a "Jane Doe," an unidentified white female whose decomposed body was discovered near a quarry off California's Highway 1. The case fell to the Santa Teresa County Sheriff's Department, but the detectives had little to go on. The woman was young, her hands were bound with a length of wire, there were multiple stab wounds, and her throat had been slashed. After months of investigation, the case remained unsolved.

That was 18 years ago. Now, the two men who found the body, both nearing the end of long careers in law enforcement, want one last shot at the case. Old and ill, they need someone to do the legwork for them, and they turn to Kinsey Millhone. They will, they tell her, find closure if they can just identify the victim. Kinsey is intrigued by the challenge and agrees to work with them.

But revisiting the past can be a dangerous business, and what begins with the pursuit of Jane Doe's real identity ends in a high-risk hunt for her killer.

©2002 Sue Grafton (P)2002 Random House Inc., Random House Audio, a Division of Random House Inc.

Critic reviews

"An intriguing plot, fully drawn characters, and wry humor prove why Grafton's series is one of the best." (Library Journal)

Wow

As always with this series the book was incredible. To find out at the end it's based on a real Jane Doe and all that's been done to try to identify her is chilling and amazing all at once.

Quarry ~ Based on a True Story

This is a new development in Sue Grafton's Kinsey Millhone series: a Kinsey mystery based on a real life crime. Grafton recounts the details in an afternote. Wait for it following Kinsey's formulaic "Respectfully Submitted" sign-off. The Afternote is worth a listen. So is Quarry itself.

Grafton's mysteries are usually simple, diverting pleasures ~ especially with Judy Kaye narrating. Grafton delivers here, too, but there is also an interesting "deeper" theme. As she has done haltingly in earlier novels, Grafton touches on and explores the nature of family throughout this tale. For her, as for Kinsey, family is a broad notion, encompassing traditional families (functional and not) as well as the familial relationships that develop between friends and colleagues.

Kinsey is buffeted (gently) by this recurring theme, throughout Quarry. Keep an ear out for developments in her relationships with her estranged Aunts and Cousins, with Henry (and his new friends), with Stacy and Dolan (and even the 90+ year old Dentist she visits), and with her memories of her own parents (which are explored more deeply than in the past). It is all a nice counterpoint to the more formal plot which, in turn, has its own familial components.

Of course, as the comedian Dennis Miller observes: That's just my opinion. I could be wrong. About the family theme, that is. No worries about the novel itself ~ nothing wrong there ~ it's an easy, pleasant diversion.

There will never be another writer as good as SG!

When I get sick of all the other books in my library and frustrated trying to find something decent to listen to I always return to my Sue Grafton books and start listening to them again! These books are so well written and so engaging I can literally listen again and again without getting bored!
I miss SG so much! She is my absolute FAVORITE author of all time!! RIP Sue 🙏

I like it

Would you consider the audio edition of Q is for Quarry to be better than the print version?

no I happen to like the listening more than reading

What was one of the most memorable moments of Q is for Quarry?

yes

Which character ??? as performed by Judy Kaye ??? was your favorite?

Kinsey

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

no

Any additional comments?

I'm enjoying all the kinsey books.

Love this one!

Each story builds on the last. Kinsey Millhone is so much fun to listen to!

Surprised by the end

I always like her books & the narrator does well with all the voices. Nice if you can listen to them in order but also ok if you can't.

Judy Kaye IS Kinsey Millhone

What did you love best about Q is for Quarry?

All of Sue Grafton's books pull you in from the beginning. You feel everything Kinsey does. I love this series!

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

I have listened to all of her narrations of Kinsey and she is the best one. She IS Kinsey Millhone.

Any additional comments?

She needs to be the ONLY narrator for the alphabet series.

Compelling story based on real victim

Very good story that gains depth once you hear author's epilogue. Would like to see Kinsey evolve a bit after all my years of following her.

Not a fan of the narrator!

Overall the story is good but don’t like the narrator. I want to finish the series but so disappointed with the narration.

I love Sue Grafton…

I love these books, I have all of them. The narrator has a great way I’d making Kinsey sound like a tough chick. My only complaint is that she uses a very similar voice for all the other characters, a bit of a hillbilly/hick twang. Also: I can’t picture Henry sounding like a frail old lady after hearing his physical description!!!