R is for Ricochet

A Kinsey Millhone Mystery

By: Sue Grafton

Narrated by: Judy Kaye

Reba Lafferty was a daughter of privilege, the only child of an adoring father. Over the years, he quietly settled her many scrapes with the law, but he wasn't there for her when she was convicted of embezzlement and sent to the California Institute for Women. Now, at 32, she is about to be paroled, having served 22 months of a four-year sentence. Nord Lafferty wants to be sure she strays straight, stays at home and away from the drugs, the booze, the gamblers.

It seems a straightforward assignment for Kinsey: baby-sit Reba until she settles in, make sure she follows all the rules of her parole. Maybe all of a week's work. Nothing untoward, the woman seems remorseful and friendly. And the money is good. But life is never that simple, and Reba is out of prison less than 24 hours when one of her old crowd comes circling around.

Readers have come to expect the unexpected from Sue Grafton, and R is for Ricochet is no exception. In it, a complex and clever money-laundering scheme is just a cover for a novel that is all about love: love gone wrong, love betrayed, love denied. And love avenged. For Reba Lafferty, its moral is clear: Sometimes what you hand out in life comes back to bite you in the ass. Sometimes the good guys win, even when they lose.

Don't miss the other titles in the Kinsey Millhone Alphabet Mystery Series.©2004 Sue Grafton (P)2004 Random House, Inc. Random House Audio, a division of Random House, Inc.

Critic reviews

"Sexy adventure....Grafton as usual creates believable and enduring characters and a strong sense of place in her town of Santa Teresa circa 1987." (Publishers Weekly)

Fun to listen on a trip. Nothing earthshattering.

What made the experience of listening to R is for Ricochet the most enjoyable?

It was entertaining while driving.

What other book might you compare R is for Ricochet to and why?

V is for vengeance.

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

Very similar.

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

It was to Austin and back.

Any additional comments?

This is the kind of book that is interesting and entertaining when you are on a drive. No deep inner meaning or guide to the meaning of life, but a good distraction while driving. It's a good story and keeps your attention while the miles pass. I had 30 minutes left when I got home and made time to finish the book that day.

A fun book.

Judy Kaye does a great job of reading this story. Her voice, and inflections, as with the other Sue Grafton books make them a joy to listen to. This book follows in the tradition of Grafton?s other ?alphabet books?, they are fun, entertaining and a good balance of adventure and a continuing soap opera of Kinsey?s life. I enjoy listening to these as I drive to eat up the miles. This book is a bit more sexual than I remember the others and there are a few moments that if you have little kids in the car, that might not be appropriate. Overall a good choice to purchase.