Y is for Yesterday

By: Sue Grafton

Narrated by: Judy Kaye

Length: 17 hrs and 12 mins

Publisher's Summary

The final installment in Sue Grafton's Alphabet Series - Winner of the Anthony/Bill Crider Award for Best Novel in a Series  

Private investigator Kinsey Millhone confronts her darkest and most disturbing case in this number-one New York Times best seller from Sue Grafton.

In 1979, four teenage boys from an elite private school sexually assault a 14-year-old classmate - and film the attack. Not long after, the tape goes missing and the suspected thief, a fellow classmate, is murdered. In the investigation that follows, one boy turns state’s evidence and two of his peers are convicted. But the ringleader escapes without a trace.       

Now, it’s 1989 and one of the perpetrators, Fritz McCabe, has been released from prison. Moody, unrepentant, and angry, he is a virtual prisoner of his ever-watchful parents - until a copy of the missing tape arrives with a ransom demand. That’s when the McCabes call Kinsey Millhone for help. As she is drawn into their family drama, she keeps a watchful eye on Fritz. But he’s not the only one being haunted by the past. A vicious sociopath with a grudge against Millhone may be leaving traces of himself for her to find....

©2017 Sue Grafton (P)2017 Random House Audio

Critic Reviews

“I’m going to miss Kinsey Millhone. Ever since the first of Sue Grafton’s Alphabet mysteries, A Is For Alibi, came out in 1982, Kinsey has been a good friend and the very model of an independent woman, a gutsy Californian P.I. rocking a traditional man’s job...it’s Kinsey herself who keeps this series so warm and welcoming. She’s smart, she’s resourceful, and she’s tough enough to be sensitive on the right occasions.” (New York Times Book Review)

"The consistent quality and skillful innovations in this alphabet series justify all the praise these books have received over the past 35 years.” (Wall Street Journal)

“This will leave readers both relishing another masterful entry and ruing the near-end of this series. Prime Grafton.” (Booklist, starred review)   

Excellent!

In my opinion, this was one of the best books (both story and narration) in the Kinsey Millhone series. Kudos to Sue Grafton, who has kept the plots, characters and stories alive and fun for many years now.

This book alternates in time between 1979 and 1989. And in something a bit unusual, we hear a good bit of the back story that way--much of the interaction among the main characters that Kinsey will be focusing on a decade later, as the original events unfold in the 1979 segments. The reader/listener gets to hear a lot of what provides motivation and clues as the first story told in a separate way, before Kinsey is pulled in when Fritz McCabe is released from the youth facility he was sentenced to as a result of a crime that occurs in 1979.

I found the movement back and forth to be very clever, fast moving, intriguing with character development and building to the end. I know that I periodically considered just about every character as the murderer, before the final scenes that revealed it all.

In addition to this alternation of time around the main story that focuses on a group of then-teens, there is also a side story concerning some unfinished business with someone evil who has had Kinsey in his sights for a while.

I listened to this almost compulsively. It was so good, I hated to stop for anything. Really recommend it to Kinsey fans!

good but not the series best.

I still enjoyed this book as I like Kinsey. I want to see her life go beyond her limitations. But I have to say that the teen characters in this book spoke like no teens I have ever known. it may seem like not a big deal, but it caused a break in my immersion in the story. I found myself thinking, "wait. what did they say? " otherwise the story overall is good and intriguing. I am glad the ned storyline concluded! He was believable, but scary because he could be real! I still look forward with anticipation and sadness toward the next book. What will fans do without Ms. Milhone? I hope that Sue Grafton has another likeable character waiting for their story to be told... Or maybe Kinsey will find numbers?

please make it stop.

I have read all of Sue Grafton's books and I've enjoyed them. This one was absolutely terrible. It was every chapter repeating the same things over and over and over. Kinsey was far more sanctimonious in this book than I remember her being in the past. I can't believe I actually made it to the end. Couldn't have come soon enough.

Sue, we will miss you.

It was bittersweet listening to this final book knowing it was final. But...I had glimpses of the Kinzey to follow, how she would go on with her life. Thoughts and prayers for her family and, Thank you Sue Grafton for introducing us to her and to Judy Kaye for bringing her to life for us.

Long Listgen For Little Reward. Time for Z

Well, this was a much longer book than the first 24 perhaps because there was so much to describe and explain. The group of spoiled rich kids hiding a secret that eventually was solved by Kinsey did not grab me. i found that all of the players were obnoxious liars and anyone could have done the deed. I was totally surprised by the conclusion but not be the result. As for Ned, well he was a nasty piece of work but some of Kinsey's antics implied that she wasn't paying attention. She should have been smarter than the book made her out to be. She's had a good run. 1982 was many years ago and yet she still survives at age 39 eating her cheerios and peanut butter and pickle sandwiches. The books are endearing but I'm guessing I'll be ready to give her up when Z is for (fill in blank) is published. I listened to audible and that made it better. The narrator, Judy Kaye, allowed the reader to listen while also able to knit or crochet.

Not her best

Understanding that it would be difficult to write so many stories with the same main characters, this book was filled with unessential information to the point that it was distracting. Judy Kay did a fine job as usual.

Ramble

Seemed like a good story line in the beginning but this just rambled along until the conclusion reveals what was pretty obvious ... no spoiler alert just seemed to take a long time to get there.

I found the narrator's voice too 'angry'

Would you say that listening to this book was time well-spent? Why or why not?

It was difficult to listen to, but I was interested in the content. See comments that follow.

What was one of the most memorable moments of Y is for Yesterday?

Kinsey found the wire to follow, finding where Ned had been hiding under her office. Glad he's gone now.

How could the performance have been better?

A much more friendly voice except where anger was appropriate.

Did Y is for Yesterday inspire you to do anything?

This inspired me to further investigate the website and determine whether I could get a sample rather than just purchase the book. Alas, I found it. I will hereby always get a sample before purchase. Thanks Audible!

Any additional comments?

I have been a long-time fan of this series. I have autographed copies of several of Sue's books and many have been read more than once. I love Kinsey, but not in this book. If this was the first book I had 'read' by Sue Grafton I probably would not have read more - it gave Kinsey a harshness I don't find in the written word. It was difficult to listen to, for me, because it seemed everything was an angry discourse.

Terrible

Worse book of the series. Thought she tried to be funny in many areas but wasnt. Dragged out. No real story

One of Sue Grafton's best!

This audiobook has two separate storylines that work well together. The main topic had me guessing up to the end about "who done it". The second storyline was a good compliment that kept the narrative interesting. It filled in spaces and kept the story moving where other authors may have been tempted to use unnecessary details and get off track.

This book is well written and easy to follow with Ms. Grafton's usual writing style. I always enjoy her use of "everyday" words to describe characters and scenes. She has a natural way of creating a mental image for her reader/listener without becoming flowery or over-the-top.

And Judy Kaye...she IS Kinsey. I began reading Sue Grafton's "A is for Alibi" series long before I became a fan of audiobooks. The first time I heard Judy Kaye reading for this series, I knew she was the voice I had created for Kinsey. She is a superb narrator who has a fantastic talent for shifting seamlessly between characters without losing her audience.

Y is for Yesterday is quite long, but I never found myself getting bored with the story or wishing it would hurry up and get to the end. It was the perfect length to tell this story, and there is nothing I would take out. Great book from beginning to end. Well done!

exciting twist and turn

as expected a great story from sue Grafton with great characters and comic moment's as ever

A lot of words that say nothing

Not really sure what this book was about. I found my mind wondering off. Nothing gripping about it.

Good contribution to the series

Good, once you get used to the method of using flashbacks. Very enjoyable and suspenseful towards the end.

Jaded

I first read this series a while ago, in paperback, I loved the friendship between Kinsey and her landlord, and generally I enjoyed most of the characters. The last two I have read seem so jaded, the friendship with her landlord seems to have faded, I am losing faith in Kinsey, she seems to do a lot of guessing!
There were so many characters in this book, some I think are from previous in the series, and occasionally the author refers to something that DID happen in a previous book, but gives a FULL explanation of the whys and wherefores.
I found there was such a surplus of detail, the colour and design of every curtain in the book, the floor coverings etc etc .... adding absolutely nothing to the book. The whole thing was far too wordy.
I also have issue with Judy Kaye's reading, she laboured over the narrative and slowly enunciated her words. I won't be holding my breath for 'Z'.

Nearly at the End of the Alphabet!

As ever, Sue Grafton delivers a gripping story with excellent character development.

I love Kinsey Milhone.

Where will she go after Z for....... is delivered?