W Is for Wasted

A Kinsey Millhone Mystery

By: Sue Grafton

Narrated by: Judy Kaye

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

Best Yet

If you could sum up W Is for Wasted in three words, what would they be?

Best of Series

Who was your favorite character and why?

Kinsey

What about Judy Kaye’s performance did you like?

Fine

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

When explanation of homelessness is given such humanity

Any additional comments?

This is Grafton's best work. The other books in this series were easily read in one night, but not W. So much more depth to the characters, and much more introspection for Kinsey.

grafton does it again....

kinsey millhone's character is always entertaining and never disappoints.....what happens when z is written i wonder?

Love, love, love Kinsey!

This book has once again reminded me why I adore this series! Kinsey is someone I want to know and a friend I want to have. The details are perfection, and the narrator is perfect. Thanks you Sue Grafton for bringing Kinsey into my life once again.

Disappointing

It seems that the author decided, that the book needed length to include too many details and add some clichés.

W Is For Wonderful!

Love this series and adding Ed into the story was charming!! The stories and reader never cease to be wonderful.

One of the best

Sue Grafton started this series back in 1982, yet I think her later books are better than the earlier ones. This story cleverly combines two storylines in a very plausible manner without being too confusing! Any Kinsey Milhone fan will certainly be delighted.

I Guess "W" Was a Wasted Book!

What did you love best about W Is for Wasted?

I love Judy Kaye! I could listen to her all day long, oh, I HAVE listened to her all day long!!!

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

Most definitely. If she quits writing after "Z", I would hate to think I listen to or read the other 23. She just kind of droned on too much on this book and skipped around a bit much.

Which scene was your favorite?

The scene at the end. I won't give anything away, like some people do in these reviews. They have ruined more books for me!!

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

I laughed...Judy Kaye's sarcasm is the best there is!!

Any additional comments?

She just kind of droned on too much on this book and skipped around a bit much and she didn't tie up all the loose ends. And, it skipped around too much....she would be on one subject and then, she'd start on another character out of the blue. I guess what I'm trying to say is, her Segway from one subject or group of character to another was a bit erratic. I kept thinking, "Did anyone proof read this book before they published it?"

Good story but didn't like the narrator

Would you recommend this book to a friend? Why or why not?

No, it was okay but not Sue Grafton's best and I have read every one

How did the narrator detract from the book?

alot, Kinsey was much more sarcastic and negative with this narrator than I pictured having read all the other books

Great book

If you could sum up W Is for Wasted in three words, what would they be?

interesting but long

Which scene was your favorite?

The epilogue was one of the best parts of the book.

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

Oh yes, Judy Kaye is Kinsey.

Any additional comments?

Some people have complained about how the third person narrative is tedious but it does help with the story. It tended to drag in some parts but this was one of the better books in the series.

Fabulous!

Sue Grafton's characters and story line are fantastic. she never fails to entertain. must read