Kinsey and Me: Stories

The first set of short stories were very familiar, amusing, light and enjoyable. The second set were altogether different, dark, intensely personal, and very revealing. The funny thing is that both sets are in their own way (the second set is actually identified as autobiographical) reflections of the author.

I have always loved Sue Grafton's books. But these short stories tells you a lot about how Kinsey is the alter ego to Sue Grafton. The stories are both funny and ultimately sad. A very good read.

BOTTOM-LINE: Kinsey is okay, Kit works well as a collection. . PLOT OR PREMISE: The book is a collection of two sets of stories -- the first set are Kinsey Millhone series set throughout the Alphabet series in time; the second set are about Kit Blue. . WHAT I LIKED: "The first part, with Kinsey Millhone, includes an introduction about how she created Kinsey (4/5), nine shortstories, and a conclusion about the history of the genre of the hard-boiled PI (3/5). The shortstories are fun to read, but there isn't much ""Kinsey"" in them. Too little time to dwell, mostly focused on ""wham bam, here's a clue, here's a solution"". One I rate at 4/5, five more at 3/5, and another three that aren't very good at all. - Between the Sheets -- great opening where woman shows up to confess to murder she hasn't reported yet, and when she goes back, the body is gone (3/5); - Long Gone -- missing wife, lots of kids, clues are pretty obvious (3/5); - The Parker Shotgun -- cool premise, quick solution, fair with the clues (4/5); - Non Sung Smoke -- Find a one-night stand, have him get killed, throw in some drugs (3/5); - Full Circle -- Cute ending to a simple case of who killed a young woman in a horrific car accident that Kinsey witnessed (3/5); and, - A Little Missionary Work -- Two celebrities ask for Kinsey's help with a fake kidnapping, but Kinsey reverses the con in the end (3/5). . The second part includes an introduction about Grafton's not-so-idyllic early life, and how ""Kit Blue"" is a younger version of herself (3/5). The remaining thirteen stories work quite well as a collection of slices of Kit's life, although individually I rate one as 5/5, five as 4/5, and three as 3/5, with another four below the line: - That's Not An Easy Way To Go -- Kit realizing she's become the mother to her alcoholic mother (4/5); - Lost People -- Kit reflecting on her alcoholic parents, displaced from their own lives (3/5); - Clue -- Slice of life with mother visiting and Kit's relief when she leaves (3/5); - Night Visit, Corridor A -- Kit visiting mother in hospital (4/5); - April 24, 1960 -- Kit dealing with news of her mother's death on Kit's birthday, and being irritated by her husband trying to comfort her (4/5); - The Closet -- Kit cleaning out her mother's closet after she's gone and trying to figure out what it represents, if anything (4/5); - Maple Hill -- Kit walking through an empty house saying goodbye to all of it (5/5); - Jessie -- a housewoman talking about Kit's mother (4/5); and, - A Letter From My Father -- Kit reading a letter and sharing her own views of their life together (3/5)." . WHAT I DIDN'T LIKE: "Three of the Kinsey stories aren't great: - Falling Off The Roof -- A mystery book club with murder on its mind (1/5); - A Poison That Leaves No Trace -- Quick case of a dead sister looking to know if her niece killed her mother (2/5); and, - The Lying Game -- old trope about a liar and a truthteller, you can only ask one question (1/5). . Four of the Kit Blue slices don't stand alone very well: - A Woman Capable of Anything -- Kit Blue watching a sleeping alcoholic mother (1/5); - A Portable Life -- Kit coming to terms with the past being destroyed (1/5); - The Quarrel -- Kit listening to her father explain his new wife's behaviour (2/5); and, - Death Review -- Kit's working in a hospital as a medical secretary, spotting glimpses of her mom in the other patients (2/5)." . DISCLOSURE: I received no compensation, not even a free copy, in exchange for this review. I am not personal friends with the author, nor do I follow her on social media.