U Is for Undertow

A Kinsey Millhone Novel

By: Sue Grafton

Narrated by: Judy Kaye

Length: 14 hrs and 3 mins

Publisher's summary

Calling T is for Trespass "taut, terrifying, transfixing and terrific", USA Today went on to ask, "What does it take to write 20 novels about the same character and manage to create a fresh, genre-bending novel every time?"

It's a question worth pondering. Through 20 excursions into the dark side of the human soul, Sue Grafton has never written the same book twice. And so it is with this, her 21st. Once again, she breaks genre formulas, giving us a twisting, complex, surprise-filled, and totally satisfying thriller.

It's April 1988, a month before Kinsey Millhone's 38th birthday, and she's alone in her office doing paperwork when a young man arrives unannounced. He has a preppy air about him and looks as if he'd be carded if he tried to buy booze, but Michael Sutton is 27, an unemployed college dropout. Twenty-one years earlier, a four-year-old girl disappeared. A recent reference to her kidnapping has triggered a flood of memories. Sutton now believes he stumbled on her lonely burial when he was six years old. He wants Kinsey's help in locating the child's remains and finding the men who killed her. It's a long shot, but he's willing to pay cash up front, and Kinsey agrees to give him one day.

As her investigation unfolds, she discovers Michael Sutton has an uneasy relationship with the truth. In essence, he's the boy who cried wolf. Is his current story true, or simply one more in a long line of fabrications?

Grafton moves the narrative between the 80s and the 60s, changing points of view, building multiple subplots, and creating memorable characters. Gradually, we see how they all connect. But at the beating center of the novel is Kinsey Millhone, sharp-tongued, observant, a loner - "a heroine", said The New York Times Book Review, "with foibles you can laugh at and faults you can forgive."

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

©2009 Sue Grafton (P)2009 Random House

Critic reviews

"As this master of suspense continues to demonstrate in superb mystery after mystery, there are more ugly twists in the human heart than there are letters in the alphabet." ( Entertainment Weekly)
"It's as if Grafton purposely begins with a standard situation-and then gleefully sets about breaking every cardinal rule of the mystery novel." ( Los Angeles Times Book Review)

Not twisty enough

I usually enjoy the excitement of figuring out her twists just words before she reveals them. However, in this one, there just wasn't enough. The tale was too linear. But, I'm still a fan through and through.

Awesome

This is another great book from Sue Grafton. My husband and I never tire of her books.

Another Winner!

I've enjoyed all of the Kinsey Millhone tales. This was no exception. Good story that kept me interested throughout. Judy Kaye does an awesome job with the narration.

Another good story by Sue Grafton

I always enjoy the characters in these stories, especially those that are "regulars." Grafton's writing is filled with character details that makes them so real and the story lines are great. Am looking forward to the "V" book!

M0VED ME ON DOWN THE ROAD

My daughter and her growing family live in Kentucy (I live in Alabama). I try to visit them at the very least every 3 weeks and stay a long weekend. Listening to audio books makes my trip seem much shorter and this book was one of the best ones i have listened to in a long while. It actually lasted me several trips. Once or twice i even caught myself slowing down before my exit when it was in an "interesting" spot. Looking forward to the next one. bnana

BOOK WAS FAR TOO LONG

What did you love best about U Is for Undertow?

I loved Judy Kaye's voice and her ability to make each character have their own distinctive voice.

Would you be willing to try another book from Sue Grafton? Why or why not?

I have read almost all the A-Z books by Sue Grafton and will consider buying another book, I see that Judy Kaye is narrator for X which will be my next Grafton book.

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

If I had read the printed word from Sue Grafton U is for Undertow, I would have missed Judy Kaye's performance..

Any additional comments?

Grafton has surpassed herself this time by adding far too many details of the scene, or a reason for wanting to do something. I listed for what seemed to be ten minutes to have her tell me that the character wanted a drink. It ruined the book for me.

entertaining

I was never not interested in this story

A captivating read

What did you love best about U Is for Undertow?

Sue Grafton is very good at drawing you in to the lives of her characters with no exception here.

Who was your favorite character and why?

Kinsey is always my favorite character as I relate the most with her.

U is for Undertow

This book is not among the best in this series. While enjoyable, there was little suspense since the villains were revealed fairly early in the story. The narrator was excellent

A good read

I always enjoy a Sue Grafton novel and hearing Kinsey’s latest adventure. I also like Judy Kaye’s reading!