"E" is for Evidence: A Kinsey Millhone Mystery

(No Spoilers) "E" is for Evidence is the 5th novel in Grafton's Alphabet Mysteries / Kinsey Millhone series. Thus far each book's plot has started with Kinsey being hired for a job. However in "E" the private investigator must unravel a case for herself: someone is framing her for insurance fraud. "E" is a bit different than the previous books. It's more character-driven, bringing in the past entanglements of Kinsey's ex husband (mentioned briefly in Book 3: "C" is for Corpse</a>), and an old high school friend--who might have something to do with the arson Kinsey was investigating. As with all of Grafton's plots, this one is beautifully designed with strong side characters and plenty of red herrings to keep the reader guessing. What I love most is the attention to detail in character motivation. Grafton also excels at narrative description, placing the reader fully into a given scene. "E" is a fun cozy where we learn more about Kinsey, something kept minimum in previous books that I was happy to see addressed. The slow unfolding of her history over the course of the series has been a pleasure to read. As a standalone, "E" delivers with its quick pacing and well-crafted plot. It was a bit on the short side, and I wished for more immediate content rather than long descriptions (though expertly done) of settings we visit only once. A bit more Kinsey is always preferred. If you're looking for a light mystery with a realistic P.I heroine, the Alphabet Series is for you. Those who have read "A to D" will appreciate the character focus of "E" and those who pick it up as a standalone will not be disappointed! Content Warning: PG (mild language, some adult themes) Rating: 3.5 Stars

Love Kinsey and all the mess she gets into but I have one major issue. Why does the story just drop off at the end without telling you what happened? I thought it might continue in the next book in A and B but now I'm really mad! Was trying to read them in order but since I know I'm not going to ever find out how a case ends' I'm done at E. Which is sad cuz these are actually really good til the nonending.

Fun, quick read. I look forward to F.