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

What a great story line

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

The way the author switched back & forth between the two characters' deaths. If it hadn't been done this way I'm not sure I would've enjoyed it.

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

When the boggarts got their revenge. I totally forgot abou twhat happened until they retaliated.

What about Judy Kaye’s performance did you like?

The sarcasm & well thought about characters in her voice, but I didn't think from her voice she was the age the main character was supposed to be. She sounded a lot older.

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

The end. I always like a good ending so I don't feel like I wasted my time listening;-)

Kinsey is as good as ever

I love this series and appreciate the consistency of writing and plotting over all. Performance was not the best for my taste due to the amateurish, girly girly voicing for the Anna cousin character. It was jarring and did not belong. Sometimes when these Audible books try to "act out" the dialog they blow it. Would have been better left as a straighforward naration and straightforward reading.

Worth a listen

Where does W Is for Wasted rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

Good story plot and interesting characters. Ranks as very enjoyable

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

It was good and more complex than her prior one or two

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

No

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

Love that gal

Any additional comments?

I was disappointed in her lasttwo, but she's got it in this one

What is X going to be????

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

Yes. This book along with all the rest of her alphabet.

What other book might you compare W Is for Wasted to and why?

All of her other ones.

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

Her inflections puts the listener right there in the action.

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

Yes but I showed constraint and made it last a week.

OK BUT NOT HER BEST

Meh. Started slow & I didn't love the preachy last sermon on the homeless. Narrator did an adequate job on the voices.

Never disappoints

I've listen or read all books in this series and I've never been disappointed. The stories and characters are wonderful and Nancy Kaye does a great job narrating

well done!

I love the detail included in every chapter. it helps me visualize so much better. the plots are always twisting and interesting. The characters are wonderfully brought to life and their interaction well written. Thank uou!

great

I love all her books. Can hardly wait to hear the next book. Sorry there isn't a Z.

Judy Kaye is really terrific

she brought all the characters to life, and is terrific at delivering wry humor.. made me laugh out loud throughout.

Suspenseful

Her books have all kinds of twists and turns in them but they all come together in the end so the story is complete. I'm one that needs an ending I don't have to guess about, so this is great!