"M" is for Malice: A Kinsey Millhone Novel (Kinsey Millhone Alphabet Mysteries, 13) Mass Market Paperback – October 4, 2011

"M is for Malice" is a very good modern American mystery story authored by Sue Grafton. The protagonist is Kinsey Millhone a 35 year old female, former police officer, private detective residing in the fictional town of Sante Teresa, California. The stories are a series titled in alphabetical order. Each novel is a standalone story. However there is an ongoing development of characters including the protagonist that makes reading the stories in order additionally entertaining. I have read every story in order Up through "M". This may be my favorite thus far. Some authors mature as they write subsequent novels. Sue Grafton was a mature author when she wrote "A". So the style is largely consistent.These stories are of medium length. They generally fall into the category of what I think of as light entertainment, and mostly as an easy reading experience. I once heard a gentleman on You Tube call the series literary comfort food. I felt that was an apt description. I do find that Sue Grafton is very descriptive in regard to scenery and very artistic in regard to metaphor. In ordered to get as much as possible out of reading these novels, I often reread sections to capture these details. I have had readers tell me that they are not as enthralled by descriptive description of scenery as I am. This could affect one's own perception of these novels.In regard to "M", I felt this was a very clever story. I am a retired police detective of violent felonies. Sue Grafton often surprises me with the solution to a mystery. Many authors do. I did happen to guess partially correctly about this story. That may be because I have read all of the prior stories and understand the author somewhat. That has happened to me with Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, whose stories I also read in order. However in both cases, that really in no way affects my enjoyment of the stories.What I really like about these stories is slowly getting to know Kinsey Millhone and her associates. I also really like her depiction of scenery. In a possibly irrelevant sense, what I don't like in general about the character, NOT THE WRITING, is Kinsey Millhone's willingness to tell lies and even break laws herself. As I said that may not matter to a reader. I did not tolerate that as a police officer. But this is fiction and fun...In summary I really liked this particular novel and Sue Grafton in general. This is a standalone story, but the prior stories do add color and background. I almost always take a break between books by the same author. In a month or two I hope to read "N". Thank You for taking the time to read this review.

The last few novels in this series seemed to take a detour, and Kinsey was a little detached. In this one she applies her dogged tenacity to bring truth to light, to right old wrongs, and to speak for the underdog. She grows to genuinely care for someone simply out of compassion; her committment to this case is beyond her usual sense of justice. I have come to think that Kinsey is a metaphor for the author's own life: When we first met her she was fiesty and proudly independent. With time she came to trust a handful of people, on her terms, of course, and then came the devastating news that she had family! Eeks! But good for Kinsey: However resistant she may appear to be when it comes to change, she is at least willing to consider a different point of view. She is willing to grow, albeit begrudingly, and her story is delightful.

While pre-season the series of Kinsey books, I rediscovered M Is For Malice... it might be the best book in the series, the story is interesting with some of the best characters Grafton has ever introduced...

This is a very aptly named book for at the heart of the mystery and the entire book is the issue of malice.When a wealthy man dies it turns out that the Will disinheriting his black sheep son is nowhere to be found, giving him a share of the inheritance. But nobody has seen him since he was a teen and nobody knows where he is living, or even if he is still alive. Kinsey's cousin is the lawyer dealing with the estate, so she hires Kinsey to find out.This is one of those mystery books where everybody "knows" what the situation is, who the good guys are and who the villain is - until the investigation starts.Not just an interesting and well-constructed mystery, this book is a study in how the "facts" people take for granted and build their lifeview upon can be distorted, misinterpreted or outright wrong, and how easily it happens.I am a fan of the Kinsey Milhone series overall, which are all well worth reading. But I think this particular book in the series is one of the standouts. You do not have to read previous books in the series to understand what is going on - Sue Grafton is a master at inserting just enough background information to let new readers know where they stand - so you can read this book as a standalone.But the series as a whole is well worth reading from the start and I recommend that you do so. Just keep in mind that this series is set in the 1980s, a time when personal computers and the internet were not established - the computers at this time were primarily used by government departments and big business.

Kinsey always go through great lengths to get to the truth. She is passionate about her work and has good work ethic.

Grafton fans will enjoy spending time with Kinsey. Her own problems are as important as the murder mystery. Easy to read. Always an interesting journey.

Love how there’s always twists and turns and usually a surprise. I get anxious when Kinsey gets herself into dangerous territory!

In general, I enjoy Grafton’s alphabet series (after all, I’ve gotten to “M”), but this is not one of my favorites. It has all the usual Millhone-mysteries elements: a carefully crafted plot that introduces an interesting array of believable characters, all narrated with Kinsey’s unrelenting descriptions of every person, room, house, yard, road, and town she encounters. My disappointment with this member of the series is that very little happens until three quarters of the way through when the, by then predictable, crime takes place. The final chapters, as the list of suspects is systematically narrowed and a modest surprise at the end is revealed, were a good read, and I was glad I didn’t give in to my temptation to give up on the book half way through. If you’re going to give this series of mysteries a try, don’t start with this one.

Surprising ending

The Kinsey Millhone Alphabet series by Sue Grafton is interesting and a good read throughout.M for Malice where I have got too in the Series, continues the trend. Each story is different, but is connected through the involvement of Kinsey the detective. All are worth a read.

I really enjoy these books. Good read to wind down on. Well thought out and followed on. Will probably read them all. Thanks Sue. Good reads.

I really enjoy Kinsey books. They are so easy going but also intriguing and this one held my interest to the end. Kinsey is so likeable, funny and down to earth you feel you would like to meet her.

Good writer good read!