W Is for Wasted

A Kinsey Millhone Mystery

By: Sue Grafton

Narrated by: Judy Kaye

Length: 17 hrs and 13 mins

Publisher's summary

Of the #1 New York Times best-selling Kinsey Millhone series, NPR said, "Makes me wish there were more than 26 letters."

Two dead bodies changed the course of my life that fall. One of them I knew and the other I'd never laid eyes on until I saw him in the morgue.

The first was a local PI of suspect reputation. He'd been gunned down near the beach at Santa Teresa. It looked like a robbery gone bad. The other was on the beach six weeks later. He'd been sleeping rough. Probably homeless. No identification. A slip of paper with Millhone's name and number was in his pants pocket. The coroner asked her to come to the morgue to see if she could ID him.

Two seemingly unrelated deaths, one a murder, the other apparently of natural causes.

But as Kinsey digs deeper into the mystery of the John Doe, some very strange linkages begin to emerge. And before long at least one aspect is solved as Kinsey literally finds the key to his identity. "And just like that," she says, "the lid to Pandora's box flew open. It would take me another day before I understood how many imps had been freed, but for the moment, I was inordinately pleased with myself."

In this multilayered tale, the surfaces seem clear, but the underpinnings are full of betrayals, misunderstandings, and outright murderous fraud. And Kinsey, through no fault of her own, is thoroughly compromised.

W is for…wanderer…worthless…wronged….

W is for wasted.

©2013 Sue Grafton (P)2013 Random House Audio

Respectfully Submitted

For a couple of years, I was assigned to litigate cases in Santa Barbara. It's a deceptively large city (90,412 in 2013) masquerading as a town small enough to walk everywhere. The Spanish Colonial Revival Courthouse is beautiful and lovingly maintained even as the latest technology is incorporated into the courtrooms. Each time I made an appearance, I took a few minutes to spot places Sue Grafton must have used to create Kinsey Millhone's world. Santa Barbara historically maintains so many places, it's not hard even though the series is set a quarter of a century ago.

"W is for Wasted" (2013) is set in 1989, before cell phones and when the few people who knew what the Internet was were dialing in on 300 baud modems. Santa Barbara, then and now, has a persistent homeless population. When Kinsey's name and phone number are found in the pocket of a dead man who's part of the homeless community, she's drawn into an investigation that leads her to her own family in Bakersfield. It's a branch so distant it's almost a twig.

Grafton's plots have become much more intricate since "A is for Alibi" (1982), but the resolution to the mysteries Kinsey solves end up telegraphed pretty well in advance. What I like about Grafton's books is that she intertwines two or more seemingly unrelated stories that tie together in the end. Trying to figure out how the stories merge is a kick. Grafton's cast of supporting characters is fun. Kinsey's landlord, Henry and his brother William have supporting roles in this book. They are, as always, amusing foils for each other and Kinsey. One of my favorite characters makes an appearance mid-book, and I didn't see that coming.

However, I was disappointed in how Grafton handled Bakersfield and Kern County. Grafton got the geography right, and the mutability of the community and its tendency to tear down homes, and rebuild. It's roots are in the oil fields that dot the horizon, and many people there are descendants of "Okies" who migrated during the Dust Bowl of the depression. It can be a roustabout tough place. Where Grafton missed is the music. Bakersfield natives are proud of Buck Owens and the Buckaroos, Merle Haggard, and the other musicians that created the "Bakersfield Sound" of the 1950s. There's still a tremendous amount of support for local musicians so it wouldn't be surprising to find other talented local musicians playing in bars.

As to the Audible - well, the voice actor's tone and pronunciation were fine, but the production quality was really off. I ended up listening to almost the entire book at 1.25 times speed. That's a first for me in over 200 Audible titles I've listened to.

The title of the review is from the last line of every Millhone book.

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Never a Waste to Commiserate with Kinsey

I probably wouldn't keep reading these books but for the fact I've been reading them for decades. And, I'm curious how the series will end. In W is for Wasted, Kinsey is much more emotional than in Grafton's other novels. Her relationship phobias are a bit more pronounced and you get the sense that she is becoming more lonely. The mystery part of the story was Ok, maybe a little predictable, but always entertaining. And, Judy Kaye's narration as always, was stellar. I would have given it a 3.5 if I could.

Disappointing Narration

What made the experience of listening to W Is for Wasted the most enjoyable?

Nothing. This is the first Sue Grafton book I have purchased in audio format and I was very disappointed in the narrator. I have read every book from A to W and feel that I was cheated out of what could have been a more enjoyable performance. I understand that Kinsey should be early to mid-thirties in age; however, the narrator sounds more like mid-fifties and it made the entire storyline very difficult for me to believe. I will not purchase another audio book in this series (thank goodness it's almost done) and am sorry I did this one because now when I read the remaining books I will hear that unbelievable voice as Kinsey and it was HUGE disappointment to me.

What was one of the most memorable moments of W Is for Wasted?

I didn't enjoy this book as much as I have all the others because being my first audio book in this series, I was very disappointed in the narrator.

Who would you have cast as narrator instead of Judy Kaye?

Someone...ANYONE.... who sounded as young as Kinsey is supposed to be. Judy Kaye sounds like she's in her mid-50's and not mid-30's which is what I believe should be Kinsey's age.

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

I can't think about that now because I was so disappointed in the narrator.

Any additional comments?

I will not be purchasing any more Sue Grafton audio books with Judy Kaye as the narrator, and will be sure to check for her name in my other purchases as well.

Ready, Set, Listen!!!

I enjoyed this book. The narrator was spot on with her performance. Keeping my tablet charged was my only issue.

A Good Light Read

If you could sum up W Is for Wasted in three words, what would they be?

Grafton wins again.

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

Yes, it kept me wondering what was going to happen next. Three plots finally came together at the end.

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

Kinsey Millhone.

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

Can you guess Who Done It?

Any additional comments?

Very entertaining.

Another great Sue Grafton book

These books are still my favorite and Judy Kaye does a great job of bringing Kinsey to life - with her witty sarcasm, and her wonderfully perfect imperfections.

The best of the alphabets yet!

I love Sue Grafton's series and W is her best yet, with the most coherent story and enough new details about Kinsey herself to make it especially interesting. Judy Kaye makes it feel like you're watching a movie -- vivid, immediate, visual despite the format.

Did Grafton find this in storage????

Is there anything you would change about this book?

Before I say what I would change, I have to say, I have read all of Sue Grafton's Kinsey Millhone books. I loved them all and if she writes more, I will read those too.

Modernize it! I was always under the impression the Kinsey Millhone novels were written in present time. However, Kinsey was using phone booths, tape recorders, and typewriters. Research was done at the library during the days of card catalogs. If Kinsey needed to make a phone call while on the road, she pulled over and used a pay phone! It was strange that computers, cell phones and modern technology were never mentioned. I felt like I was reading a novel from the seventies rather than a just published novel.

Would you recommend W Is for Wasted to your friends? Why or why not?

If my friends were fans of Sue Grafton and her Kinsey Millhone novels, yes. I have read them all, and will continue to read them if she writes more. But, with that being said, I truly hope Kinsey learns some new things. All I could think when Kinsey was going to the library or the county clerks office, was wow, the internet would have been so much easier and faster!

How could the performance have been better?

Judy Kaye's voice sounded too old.

Could you see W Is for Wasted being made into a movie or a TV series? Who should the stars be?

Absolutely. I can see Claire Danes as Kinsey.

Any additional comments?

Even though W is for Wasted was rather dated, I enjoyed it. Sue Grafted writes great mysteries. I love hearing about Henry's yard and Kinsey's weakness for his baking.

Best Yet

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

I would highly recommend "W is for Wasted" to anyone looking for a great book. Better yet start with "A is for Alibi" and read the whole series.

Any additional comments?

This is Grafton's best yet. Kinsey, like the rest of us, has mellowed with age. I only wish that "X is for ..." was ready to read!

This Book is Anything But a Waste of Time

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

Oh yes, I love Sue Grafton and Kinsey's books. If you love a good mystery set in the present (almost), this is a great series. W is one of her best books of late. Grafton does an excelent job of weaving 3 stories together into one. At first you haven't a clue as to how these story lines tie into each other, but you find yourself hooked to read more. As you do, you begin to think you may know how the tie in will be, but not so sure. It is not until the end of the book do you have the whole story and are satisfied with the ending. There are not many writers out there who can hook you into such a complexed story.

Who was your favorite character and why?

It is always Kinsey. I just love the way she thinks.

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

Judy brings all the characters alive and for a reader she makes you feel less guilty for listening to Grafton's books rather than reading them.

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

How Grafton brought you a new understanding of the Homeless people. Even Kinsey's mind and bias were changed.