Rating:  Summary: P is for Poor Review: ** Contains spoilers ** Like many other reviewers, I see a number of faults in the book. There are a number of unexplained actions and unresolved plot threads. The person who kills Purcell has probably the least reason of any character to do so. The motivations and actions of Paulie and Leila are unexplained. Did Leila take Purcell's money? If so, what happened to it? Why would Richard's killer throw down his gun, leaving witness Kinsey to report him? Why would the police not conduct the same easy-and-obvious search at Purcell's wife's home, as they did at his ex-wife's home? Is the reader expected to believe that a passing and casual lesbian relationship would provide motivation to kill your sugar daddy husband? Would Kinsey really take as indisputable truth the speculative newspaper innuendo about the brothers' past? (Surely she knows that what's reported in the papers and what really happened are often quite different.)
Finally, why would Kinsey, having found proof of who committed the murder, walk up to the murderer's home and ask to use the phone to call the cops? There were no other phones in town?
There are a few other bloopers too: an insurance company which lost a suit compelling it to pay a death policy could not file another suit to relitigate the same issues; nor would it be proper to ask the applicant's marital status on a commercial lease application in California.
Further, of the five Spanish words Grafton uses in the book, she manages to get them ALL wrong. The road called "Via Bueno" would be "Via Buena" (no 'í' on street signs), and would mean "Good Road" instead of "Road Good" as Grafton writes. Kinsey reports "I took Spanish in adult education, but I've forgotten everything except 'ola' [hola] and 'buenos dios.'" The phrase is "buenos días," not "buenos dios." Grafton's trying to write the common phrase meaning "good morning," but the phrase she comes out with means something like "good god." Sheesh.
Grafton has not taken a plunge as deep as Tom Clancy has with his most recent book. However, sloppy proofreading and poor fact-checking, along with illogical plot development well below her usual standards, suggest that Grafton is intentionally producing a poor product. This is not "requiring readers to use their imaginations"; it is assuming that readers will accept any type of unfinished ramblings as a book worth reading.
Rating:  Summary: Terrible ending Review: I just finished P is for Peril. It was entertaining (but I found myself skipping over unecessary details). I felt much more could have been made of the sub plot (the brothers). It really didn't add much to the story. My biggest complaint is the ending, if one can call it that. Yes, we know (spoiler) ....but are never told why. All the complicated goings on at the nursing home, characters that seemed guilty, just dissolved. I was left extremely dissappointed!
Rating:  Summary: P Is for Peril by Sue Grafton is an enjoyable read! Review: P Is for Peril by talented writer Sue Grafton is an enjoyable read-- The former Mrs. Purcell hires a Private Investigator to find her missing 'EX' a respected doctor who runs a nursing home.
Rating:  Summary: Great Entertainment! Review: I've read every one in this series of mysteries over the years. I always look forward to getting the latest novel. (...) Over the last number of novels Grafton has taken her novels more to the realmof suspense than mystery. Earlier novels invited us to follow along. All the clues were there, we just needed to be observant. Now the novels don't really allow that. It's always fun to read and I've come to almost think Kinsey Millhone is real. The stories aren't as good as they once were. But the writing and character developements is still as good if not better than previous novels. As long Sue keeps on writing, I'll keep on buying
Rating:  Summary: Not typical Grafton Review: I enjoyed the basic story, but there were really two stories in the book, and I didn't think they had anything really to do with one another.I also didn't like the way she ended the book, I felt like I was left hanging with this one. She didn't end it completely like the rest of the books in the series. I am anxious to see what she does for Q.
Rating:  Summary: Get Kinsey into the 21st Century! Review: As a loyal Grafton fan, I found her latest work somewhat void of the dry humor and difficult, at times, to follow the chararcters (which led to re-reading). One also, usually learns something about a new topic surrounding the plot which was missing in 'P'. Other than the sub-plot involving the brothers and Henry's uncharacteristic willingness to bop one, I did not have the feel of being in an 'old shoe' which usually is a Grafton trademark. Will I complete the mystery 'alphabet'? No question that I will but hopefully Kinsey will get a cell phone (and detest the bills) and, who knows, maybe even bop Henry!
Rating:  Summary: Get Kinsey into the 21st Century! Review: As a devoted Grafton fan, I was somewhat disappointed by "P". In addition to the dry humor one expects (which was missing), one usually learns something about a new topic (which was missing). The characters seem to bounce back and forth which necessitated re-reading, to find out who was who. Other than the sub-plot involving the brothers and Henry uncharacteristically willing to bop one, this was not one of Sue's best. Will I read the rest of the 'alphabet'? No question, as I have faith in Sue and have had too much past enjoyment. Maybe she'll eventually get a cell phone and, who knows, bop Henry!
Rating:  Summary: P Is for Peril Review: Though not Grafton's usual style, I can only hope that Q comes quickly and wraps up P. P needs an ending, it was great until the last chapter.
Rating:  Summary: P - Is for pondering Review: I liked the book until the end. I was left with too many unanswered questions and I felt cheated. I spent time and energy reading this book that left me asking questions. You had twist coming at you from a lot of areas, which is fine, but very few are ever worked through. This bugged me and left me frustrated. This is the first of the series that I read, and I am wondering do they all end this unfulfilling? If so, I think Q should be Quit, please.
Rating:  Summary: Not Impressed Review: Ummm...I'm an avid Grafton fan and have dutifully read all of this series. I was not impressed this time--sorry to say. There were too many characters and too many plots. The most interesting was the sub-plot involving the 2 brothers. I think that would have made a most interesting book. I was surprised/disappointed at the ending. I'm still wondering whodunit.
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