V Is for Vengeance

A Kinsey Millhone Mystery

By: Sue Grafton

Narrated by: Judy Kaye

Length: 15 hrs and 11 mins

Publisher's Summary

A spiderweb of dangerous relationships is at the heart of this daring novel from the number-one New York Times best-selling author. 

Kinsey on Kinsey: "I know there are people who believe you should forgive and forget. For the record, I'd like to say I'm a big fan of forgiveness as long as I'm given the opportunity to get even first." 

A woman with a murky past who kills herself - or was it murder? A dying old man cared for by the son he pummeled mercilessly. A lovely woman whose life is about to splinter into a thousand fragments. A professional shoplifting ring racking up millions in stolen goods. A brutal and unscrupulous gangster. A wandering husband, rich and powerful. A spoiled kid awash in gambling debt thinking he can beat the system. A lonely widower mourning the death of his lover, desperate for answers that may be worse than the pain of his loss. An elegant but ruthless businessman whose dealings are definitely outside the law: the spider at the center of the web. 

And Kinsey Millhone, whose thirty-eighth-birthday gift is a punch in the face that leaves her with two black eyes and a busted nose. 

V: Victim. Violence. Vengeance. 

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

©2011 Sue Grafton (P)2011 Random House Audio

Critic Reviews

"Sure to satisfy." (USA Today)

“The author has hit a high mark with her latest offering, a complex tale of love, betrayal, ambition, and, of course, murder…The only bad thing: There are just four letters left in the alphabet.” (The Associated Press)

“One of Kinsey Millhone’s best outings...must reading for Grafton fans.” (The Globe and Mail (Canada)) 

A credit well spent...

I listen to audio books to be entertained while I go about doing mundane chores like ironing and vacuuming. I get transported by fiction and the time goes by quickly. The better the book the easier my chores. I have the whole alphabet in this series and I have enjoyed all of them. This was just as entertaining as the first one and all the ones in between. I especially liked the ending.

Worth The Wait!

I believe Sue Grafton just gets better with time. Kinsey Millhone is an interesting character that never fails to hold my attention. A well conceived protagonist can feel like a long time friend and that's what Kinsey is to me. Judy Kaye also does a great job presenting the story. A very enjoyable and interest-holding read!

Totally amazing...

Every other major novelist with a single protagonist seems to sort of peter out after 10 or 12 books, apparently losing their edge, running out of plot lines, or having said everything they had to say. But not Sue Grafton. Every book is great -- some I like a little bit better than others, for personal reasons, but every book is compelling and hard to put down. I'm crushed to recall there are only four to go -- but the good news is, I've aged even if Kinsey hasn't. I've already reread several of them, and they're just like new. (Pretty soon I'll need only one book.)

One thing about this particular tale made me giggle: Friends in the Santa Barbara/Montecito area note that Sue Grafton herself is quite a fixture in local high society. Very active and well respected. So as she was describing some of the wealthy female denizens of the "Santa Theresa" xray women, the ladies-who-lunch bunch, she was most probably describing a good many of the women in her own social circle. Made me laugh, wondering if they'd recognize themselves....

Whatever. It's a great book, wonderful fun and now probably a long wait until "W" appears.

Fantastic !

I really enjoyed this book. Must be the best in the last 10 letters. Judy Kaye is easily the best narrater of this series. I hope Sue Grafton finds a way to keep giving us Kinsey Millhone mysteries after the alphabet comes to an end. Only four more letters to go. But no matter what the furture brings, I've had a great time reading these books.

Extremely satisfying - well-crafted plot

Kinsey Milhone always delivers, and Judy Kaye is a great narrator. However, this book has a more interesting, complex plot than usual, and the characters are deeper than in some other Grafton novels. This one's also fun because you get a chance to see Milhone through a gangster's eyes.

I know I'm in the minority, more like a 2.5

Well this book was okay. And of course Kinsey is her usual goofy, gawky busybody self, and that is what this series is all about. So actually this book does what one expects. You get an easy read, a silly story line meant to entertain and this book does that job just a-okay. Kinda like eating a grilled cheese sandwich with the yellow cheese while drinking a Shirley Temple.

Back to the quality style of storytelling

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

Very entertaining. Story well layed out to hold my interest.

What was one of the most memorable moments of V Is for Vengeance?

Really loved how the multiple plot lines came together flawlessly in the end.

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

Actually enjoyed all of them, good job.

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

Wanted to but took two days.

Another Great Book!

I look forward to the new books in this series, Sue Grafton is a great story teller. This is a book that draws you in and keeps you thinking. I love trying to figure out how the different people fit together. Definitely worth the credit and time!

Boring

I have loved all of the past Kinsey Milhone mysteries, but I don't know what the deal is with this one. I've listened to it for well over an hour and I feel like the actual plot hasn't even started yet, but I'm on the fifth storyline already. And the storylines are dragged out and filled with boring, unnecessary details, and are seemingly unrelated. I suppose the whole point of the book is eventually she will bring them all together, but I don't have the time to listen to this any longer and be bored and hope it starts getting good so I'm giving up on it. This is one I wish I could get my money back on.

Double Delivery

Sue Grafton's wit and talent plus Judy Kaye's delivery and sas makes for a perfect Kinsey! Love-love-love em!