“'H' is for Homicide," by Sue Grafton

FM's rating:

1.      Premise 9

2.      Prose 9

3.      Plot 9

4.      Characters 9

5.      Overall 9

Comments (optional - but try to keep it under 3000 words!)

Sue Grafton OWNS this genre.  With each new installment in this “alphabet series” she managed to inject a completely new surprise element; this time, the “undercover cop” element with all its dangers and tension.  Kinsey Millhone is adamantly against doing it, but gets tricked/coerced/swept into the role in a very clever series of plot twists.  This is smart writing, liberally sprinkled with wry humor as well as profound passages and convincing descriptions of human foibles.  No 10’s in the ratings?  I’m not sure I can explain that.  These books come just short of blowing me away; due more to my preferences, I’m sure, than any shortcomings of the author.  If someone else were to give this book straight 10’s I wouldn’t argue against it.  Very good stuff.

Here’s the September line-up! 

“The End of the Wasp Season,” by Denise Mina [9/5]
“The Haunted Mesa,” by Louis L’Amour [9/12]
“Brightly Burning,” by Mercedes Lackey [9/19]
“Tears of the Giraffe,” by Alexander McCall Smith [9/26]

(As always, if there are any books you’d like to recommend for the next month, please do so!)