• W Is for Wasted

  • A Kinsey Millhone Mystery
  • By: Sue Grafton
  • Narrated by: Judy Kaye
  • Length: 17 hrs and 13 mins
  • 4.3 out of 5 stars (3,429 ratings)

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W Is for Wasted  By  cover art

W Is for Wasted

By: Sue Grafton
Narrated by: Judy Kaye
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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

Featured Article: Best Mystery Series—Listens That'll Take You Right to the Crime Scene


While a standalone mystery is great when you're in the mood for a one-and-done, sometimes you want to feed your craving with an entire mystery series—knowing there's a world and characters you can keep coming back to for the satisfaction of solving crimes. With audiobooks, you get the added bonus of sinking deeper into the setting, clues, and suspects as the story is performed for you, so you'll feel like you're alongside detectives, ready to bust a case.

What listeners say about W Is for Wasted

Average customer ratings
Overall
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
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Story
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
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  • 2 Stars
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  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    3 out of 5 stars

Not My Favorite Sue Grafton

What did you like best about W Is for Wasted? What did you like least?

I liked spending time with Kinsey, as always. However, I found her family to be unlikeable and unpleasant. I wasn't crazy about the homeless characters either.

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

I read all her books at least twice.

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

Kinsey of course but she does a great job with all the characters. Tony winner Judy Kaye rocks!

If this book were a movie would you go see it?

Maybe, depending on who was cast.

Any additional comments?

I liked seeing Robert Dietz again. Also, I didn't really like the second storyline but I appreciated how it fit into Kinsey's story.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

very good book.Kept your interest.

Good story line. Good narrator,
Different suspense novel. Is it murder? is it not. !
You have to decide where it is going . Several stories at the same time.


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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars

W is for Wasted

Love of Sue's books, the narrator is always the same in the audio books and that is how I think Kinsey voice sounds.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

The twists and turns.

I loved this book as I have all of Sue Grafton’s. I am sorry the series has come to a close.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

W is for WOW

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

Judy Kaye is amazing. She brings out the characters and the storyline.

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

The one thing about the plot was how everything was connected. It never seems to be, yet it all circled back to the dead homeless guy.

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

Kinsey is my favorite character. I love how Judy Kaye brings to life Kinsey's dry wit and insights about the people around her.

Any additional comments?

This book has sold me on revisiting Kinsey and the books I haven't read between K and U. Sue Grafton has gotten me interested again.

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1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Great mystery with social consciousness thrown in

I love the way Sue writes two separate stories, weaves them together and still leaves you wondering.
You'll keep reading to find the answers.

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  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
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    1 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Hated the reader!

What did you like best about W Is for Wasted? What did you like least?

Liked the storyline but disliked the narrator.

How did the narrator detract from the book?

Sounded too old for the main character. Took away from the storyline.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

very good

loved it predictable ending -- -
will listen to more audio books by this author

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  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    3 out of 5 stars

Don't take so long to get to the story

What did you like best about W Is for Wasted? What did you like least?

The story would have been better if she didn't itemize everything around her. Probably could have shorten the book by 10-12 chapters.

Was W Is for Wasted worth the listening time?

eventually

Any additional comments?

I would have given up if this hadn't been for the book club. Could have skpped the first 8-9 chapters and still been okay.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Sue Grafton at her finest.

I am a true fan of Kinsey Millhone and enjoyed this story completely. With only three letters of the alphabet left I'm going to be lost when they're done. Now on to X.

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