Rating: 
Summary: Twisting plot, weak new characters
Review: Although I have thoroughly enjoyed most of the Millhone mysteries, L-N have definately not been Grafton's best! She is making Kinsey weaker emotionally and her shocking and un-plausable ends have completely turned the evidence in the other direction. I cannot say much about the end of "n", without giving it away, but it is peculiarly fashioned and does not rank among my favourite of her novels. The new characters in this book have palled in personality compared to her earlier works and the usual descriptive appearance of them has lessened so that you are left to fashion your own ideas. "N" does have the smart talk that Millhone is famous for and also bears the action that we enjoy. In comparason to her earlier works and to the other formidiable mystery authors' latest works, there is no competition. Hopefully, in "O", Ms. Grafton will come around.
Rating:
Summary: Not Up to Grafton's Usual Standards
Review: Having read the whole alphabet mystery by Grafton, I would have to say that she is slipping a little bit. Although I have enjoyed them all, a few of them took me a little time to get through. This one took me quite a while to get through. It was slow to build and didn't keep the reader in suspense or wondering who-dunnit. I hope that Grafton doesn't turn around and put out "O" just to keep up with her standard of putting one out every year. I think she needs to take a little time and build a more intricate and suspenseful plot. I do like the way she incorporates people from Kinsey's past in and out of the storylines. I also like the way she ever so slowly incorporated Kinsey's family in Lompoc into a couple of books and then we didn't hear anything about them for a couple of books. I hope Grafton doesn't make the mistake of having Kinsey's family descend en masse like a title wave into Kinsey's life just to bring some fresh blood into the picture. Th! at would be a mistake. Incorporating them slowly into the alphabet books is a much better idea. We'll just have to wait and see what "O" brings.
Rating: 
Summary: Great Book!
Review: This was my first alphabet book, and I loved it! Now I am going back to read the others. Kinsey is a very believable character, and I couldn't put the book down.
Rating: 
Summary: N is for Not As Good as Usual
Review: As a die-hard Sue Grafton fan, I look forward to each new alphabetical adventure. Grafton books are among the very few "beach books" that I buy in hardcover because I simply cannot wait a year for the paperback edition. Unfortunately, "N is for Noose" is not up to Ms. Grafton's usual skills. The plot is convoluted. The characters, while generally interesting, sometimes are introduced in such a cursory fashion that I had to list them inside my back cover just to keep track of who was who. It was obvious from the very beginning "who done it" and the explanation of why it was done was not worth the wait. So why two stars rather than none? The book rates two stars because Ms Grafton's prose is easy-reading and natural. Even with a weak plot, the book is a pleasant read. Maybe a better story-line will be forthcoming in "O is for ..."
Rating:
Summary: Not up to the usual Sue Grafton standard.
Review: When I read or listened to A through M, I could barely put the books down at night or shut off the cassette player. I was able to get to bed early while reading N is for Noose. The usual cast of characters were missing and the story moved along slowly (until the very end). I would love to hear Judy Kaye read the unabridged version of Sue Grafton's audio books. She is very animated and adds life to the books.
Rating:
Summary: So-so
Review: I'm a big fan of Grafton's but I didn't think "N is for Noose" was all that great. Actually, I found it kind of boring and didn't race through it as I usually do. I didn't care about the characters and missed the old ones. The ending was too far fetched. But most of all, I missed Kinsey's sarcastic wit! I imagine it must be hard to come up with fresh ideas after so many novels so I wish Grafton good luck!
Rating: 
Summary: Kinsey's character is developing in the 2nd half of alphabet
Review: Character developement seems to be the spearhead of this novel. It allows the devote readers to become more in tune with Kinsey's soul. It shows her as both a victim and a instigator. There is cause and effect shown throughout this book and it is Kinsey's actions when faced with adversity that interest me. This book allows a better knowledge of our heroine and thus prepares us for the latter half her outstanding career.
Rating:
Summary: Grafton keeps getting better and better
Review: I don't understand how an author can still manage to conceive a story after thirteen novels, but Grafton has done it again. If anything, her writing style improves with age. Grafton has penned one of the most memorable/quotable lines I've ever read when describing the Sierra-Nevada mountain range as "breathtaking by those who are easily winded." I enjoyed N is for Noose as much if not more than A through M, and am eagerly anticipating O through Z.
Rating:
Summary: This book was entertaining and great summer reading.
Review: As a Sue Grafton fan I read all her books with relish. "N ... " did not disappoint me. The plot held my attention, although I did know who the "bad guy" was long before the end. That is not always the case with Sue Grafton's mysteries.
Rating:
Summary: A nice addition to the alphabet series.
Review: I was, as always, glad to see the next Kinsey novel. I enjoyed this one; it was fairly light and a quick read. Grafton takes a different route with this one. Kinsey is outside of her comfort zone (Santa Teresa) and the book seems to be an attempt to look deeper into Kinsey. I definately wanted to to find out who killed Tom; he seemed like such an interesting character (although we never know him while he's alive). The real killer was someone I had suspected but we hadn't really seen much of him/her. I was a bit unsatisfied with the end because I still don't really know the motive, the killer's mindset, or method. Tom's "murder" wasn't your traditional killing. Still hanging in there though; will definately read "O" through "Z".
| 
