A good holiday book
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Sue Grafton's 'Alphabet' series of books are great holiday reading. There's nothing particularly deep or original about them, but they provide a cracking good read with a fast-paced plot and plenty of twists and turns to keep you turning the pages.
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Nicely woven story but poor ending
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I love Grafton's books, and think this one was nicely constructed, weaving the flashbacks in with the current narrative to fill out the story. Her investigation is gripping, and as the story comes to the close, her narrow escape was harrowing.
But why? Why was Violet murdered by the culprit? Did the babysitter get her man? Did the sanctimonious housewife get her comeuppance?
A very unsatisfactory ending, abrupt and unfulfilling.
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Good thriller, and no need to read all the previous books
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With a long-running series like this one, it can be difficult for a newcomer to know whether you'll enjoy the most recent addition. If all the back story, regular characters and previous adventures play a prominent part in the new adventure then a first-time reader can feel a bit lost.
That's not the case with S is for Silence.
It's a great place to start if you haven't read any of the other books.
I have read all of Sue Grafton's alphabet series, and generally enjoy the adventures of private eye Kinsey Millhone. They tend to be medium-to-lightweight thrillers; almost like traditional whodunnits with a little spice of modern life. They aren't the sort which are packed full of sadistic psycho-murderers at every turn and a bodycount reaching into the dozens.
Instead, Kinsey normally has one or two crimes to resolve and while there is always a hint of personal danger (it would be dull if not!), the entertainment comes from following the clues and from the pleasant buzz of familiarity when Kinsey visits her regular haunts and meets familiar people.
Sue Grafton has changed her writing style for this book, and has veered away from the repetition of those familiar faces. So if you stopped reading the series because 'they all seemed the same' then this is a good one to pick up. The story revolves around the plot and the personalities involved in the crime -- it's much more of a whodunnit and a lot less of a soap-opera about Kinsey's personal life.
Overall, it has reinvigorated the series and leaves me much more likely to pick up T is for ??Trouble?? when it comes out.
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Another great Kinsey book
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I have read all of the series of Sue Grafton books in the alphabet series and enjoyed most of them. This book did have some weaknesses for me , the constant flashbacks were annoying although they did fill in needed background. However I thought the ending was odd there didnt seem a motive for the murderer at least not one that was explained very well. I agree with other reviewers that i missed certain aspects of other books in the series, such as Henry, Dietz and her unique way of entering buildings. Overall a good read and not too much of a disappointment.
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Another great read!
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I am always a little down after completing a book in the alpha series, simply because I have to wait another year or two for the next one in the series! I don't know what I will do when "Z" is published!
Another triumph. Kinsey is a great character who I like more and more with each reading. How refreshing that she is "normal", doesn't have a drink problem or personality disorder, doesn't have an odious niece and calls her boyfriend by his first name.
I found the writing style in "S" slightly different from previous books in the alpha series. The plot and narrative seemed to be more "grown up" and the structure different. For example, I loved the way Grafton used the characters to tell the story and to give the reader an insight into how each character could have been involved in the disappearance of Violet.
The only down side....Henry (Kinsey's landlord) didn't feature much (only once) and what happened to Kinsey's "suits all occasions" black dress which she seems to mention in every book? Also I still miss Dietz. Please bring him back Sue.
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