"L" Is for Lawless: A Kinsey Millhone Novel, Book 12
Written by Sue Grafton
Narrated by Mary Peiffer
3.5/5
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About this audiobook
When Kinsey Millhone agrees to do a favor for Henry Pitts, her lovable octogenarian landlord, she literally gets taken for the ride of her life. The family of a recently deceased WWII veteran wants her to find out why the military has no record of his service. All Kinsey has to do, she thinks, is cut through some government red tape. But when the dead man’s house is ransacked and his old army buddy is beaten up, she quickly realizes he was not all he seemed. Before long Kinsey is trailing crooks halfway across the country, impersonating a hotel maid, tangling with a baseball bat-wielding grandmother, and running from one very dangerous character. With her money almost gone and her nerves frayed, Kinsey’s got to solve a decades-old crime and make it back home in time for Henry’s wedding . . . if she can make it back at all. . . .
Sue Grafton
Sue Grafton was one of the most popular female writers, both in the UK and in the US. Born in Kentucky in 1940, she began her career as a TV scriptwriter before Kinsey Millhone and the 'alphabet' series took off. Two of the novels B is for Burglar and C is for Corpse won the first Anthony Awards for Best Novel. Sue lived and wrote in Montecito, California and Louisville, Kentucky.
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Reviews for "L" Is for Lawless
587 ratings21 reviews
- Rating: 3 out of 5 stars3/5Kinsey continues to get herself into the damnedest dilemmas. In this one she follows an impulse and a suspect (in a case she isn't being paid for) and ends up more or less stranded in the company of some pretty unsavory ex-cons who are searching for the remains of a 40-year-old heist. Fun, if farfetched. Extra points for a daft little old lady with a baseball bat.
- Rating: 3 out of 5 stars3/5A better title for this book should be Kinsey and her misadventures with the Clampetts. Even though this book is one big Murphy’s Law event for Kinsey, I still liked it. When main characters can’t seem to catch a break in a book until the very end, I usually get very annoyed but not so with L is for Lawless. I give the credit to Sue Grafton for giving this book a more light-hearted feel to some of the other books and Grafton didn’t allow Kinsey never to catch a break even in the end.
This book’s story is a jigsaw puzzle which each piece slowly bringing the story full circle. It didn’t feel like one of Kinsey’s normal cases because she had no adversary to chase. The story is wrapped totally around Kinsey’s sense of curiosity and desire to know the truth. The Rawsons are not the best supporting characters but Grafton made it all work and kept me engaged in the answers just as much as Kinsey.
If there was one thing I didn’t like about the book it was the split personality Kinsey has to family dynamics. She seemed to enjoy being stuck with the Rawsons and observing their antics while totally being determined not to interact with her own family. Not sure why she was this way, but I just couldn’t understand it - Rating: 3 out of 5 stars3/5BOTTOM-LINE:Okay story, not much of a case or mystery..PLOT OR PREMISE:Henry asks Kinsey to help some neighbours file a benefits claim for a deceased vet…seems simple enough..WHAT I LIKED:Kinsey tries to help out, and gets sucked into the mystery…was the vet really a vet? Who keeps breaking into his old apartment? Why was he so paranoid in life? Why is she helping people she doesn't really like? It's fun watching her incrementally get sucked in more and more, so natural. And then she's off toDallas, following a man and woman who robbed the apartment..WHAT I DIDN'T LIKE:The story reads more like a treasure hunt than a mystery or a case. It's not terrible, but it's not really a mystery, and most of the main characters lie every time they open their mouth, with none of the stories being particularly interesting..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.
- Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Reading again starting Jan 19/19. As always, a great read. Never a dull moment. Her books could be read in one seating if one had the time. I never tire of Kinsey Millhone, the main character in Sue Grafton's books. She is an independent young woman, self-employed, doing what she loves to do and is good at it. As a private investigator, she is a minority in her field. If you enjoy suspense, this is book and series for you
- Rating: 2 out of 5 stars2/5Perhaps, Grafton was running out if ideas here, but this is a disappointment. Kinsey Milhone suddenly becomes dull witted and does stupid things with unbelievable motivations. The story is silly. Not one of Grafton's bet by any means.
- Rating: 2 out of 5 stars2/5I like Kinsey a lot. I'm more than a little in love with Henry. I am getting tired of watching Kinsey flail about hopelessly until someone tells her what the mystery is about, followed by foolish shenanigans. The earlier installments had much better mysteries.
- Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5This might be the best Grafton I have read so far. In this case, Kinsey is asked by her landlord, Henry, to help a family of a recently deceased veteran get through the red tape and find what unit he served in during WW II so they can receive his survivor benefits. Things become suspicious when the veteran's home is ransacked and his old army buddy is beaten up.Soon Kinsey is traveling across the country following a strange woman who seems to be pursued by a very violent man. As she dodges hotel security and the suspicious woman who is supposed to have a suitcase of money, she becomes involved in increasingly dangerous case where her purser even sets fire to the hotel so he can smoke her and the others out.
- Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5This story seemed a little more intense. Love all the stories, but this might be my favorite thus far. Look forward to seeing how the slight cliffhanger ends up.
- Rating: 3 out of 5 stars3/5Good pot-boiler mystery.
- Rating: 3 out of 5 stars3/5"L Is for Lawless" is the first book in the series that I've read in over four years, and I was a little surprised at my reaction to it. I had forgotten how "tame" this series is in comparison to the harder-core mysteries that are so popular today. Despite and "F-bomb" thrown in every so often, this one reminds me of some kind of cross between a "Cozy" and the grittier mysteries. I enjoyed the plot - although I think it did go on a bit longer than it should have - but never did find myself able to believe that Kinsey was in nearly the danger that she and the author tried to put her in. "L Is for Lawless" is a good, solid mystery (and I intend to read the rest of the series) but it seems so much tamer than I remember the "Alphabet Books' being.
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- Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5One of the top books in the series in my opinion. Consistent action throughout with an interesting spin towards the end. As for the wrap-up... what has a gate key and is a good place to hide thousands of dollars and jewels scored in a bank heist years ago where people aren't bound to stumble on it out of the blue? Not too hard to put things together there. At all. But it was interesting to see Millhone thrown into a family dynamic when she's so on the fence about her own relations. It'll be enticing to see how that fleshes out down the road.
- Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Oooohhh Yaaaaahhh..... Back in the saddle with Kinsey. I don't know if it is my extended absence from the series or the writing, but this is a goodie! Really grass roots crime stuff coupled with Kinsey attitude and penuche for getting into a big ass mess. I do love the whole retro feel of these stories. Can anyone remember the last time an "imprint" of a credit card was taken? Okay, I shouldn't talk since that did happen to me once on my recent trip to Vegas but in my home environment, those machines went the way of the Dodo bird a good 10 years ago. Grafton has a wonderful way with diving deep into the details without making the whole deluge of information the reader is subjected to coming across as a sweeping influx of 'blah'. An excellent mystery, an wonderful recipe for disaster and a rather interesting lesson about how far does one take one's "good neighborly" intentions to heart.
- Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Another installment on the formula. Enjoyable but not surprising. I like Kinsey and enjoy time in her company, but sometimes she does such dumb things I want to throw the book. That's when it gets unbelievable.
- Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Kinsey is on vacation in this book and is due to be in the wedding of Rosie, the bar owner, and one of Henry, her landlord's siblings. At the start of the book Henry asks Kinsey to do a favor for a neighbor who has recently lost his grandparent. This sets the plot in motion which has Kinsey ending up in TN of all places and in the same set of clothes that she has had on for going on a week. The plot had some twist and turns but parts were see through. Had a big part of it figured out way in advance for a change.
- Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5
I really enjoyed the comic caper style of this episode in the Kinsey Millhone series. The beginning was a good build-up, but not near as much fun as the end. I could understand Kinsey's appeal to some of the characters. Her instant attraction (family-style) made the plotline even more humorous. I hated the character, Laura, but enjoyed Kinsey's sister-style bantering with her. The mystery was more of a treasure hunt, but the true treasure was the character Helen (aka Hell on Wheels). She reminds me a lot of my grandmother and I found myself laughing out loud at moments. This is definitely a character-driven story and I enjoyed the characters in the second-half of the story.
- Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Kinsey is technically on vacation in this book, but of course she can’t help but get caught up in an investigation. Her landlord and friend Henry asks for a favor as his brother’s wedding to Rosie approaches. Kinsey helps him out by looking into the question of a friend’s military history. Instead of finding a simple answer Kinsey finds herself on a cross country trip to follow some missing money and uncover the answer to a 40-year-old bank robbery. My favorite bits were meeting a few of Henry’s siblings, Kinsey’s turn as an undercover hotel maid and a sweet-as-pie Granny with a few hidden talents. I also loved that the true focus of this one is family. Everyone from the criminals to Henry and Kinsey herself are dealing with the question of what makes you family. Is it blood or loyalty and do you get to choose your family? BOTTOM LINE: Like all the alphabet mysteries, this one was a quick read and an entertaining palette cleanser. I’ll keep working my way through the series whenever I need a break from my regular reading material.
- Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Kinsey finds herself in more trouble then usual in this installment of the series by Sue Grafton. What starts out as a simple favor for her landlord Henry, Kinsey ends up first in Dallas, Texas, then Louisville, Kentucky partially by choice, partially at gunpoint, with no money, clothes, etc. Starting out her trek begins with trying to find out why the VA is denying a deceased man ever was in the service, and ends up hunting down a money trail of a 40 year old bank robbery. Not my favorite so far by Ms. Grafton, but certainly a worthwhile read.
- Rating: 3 out of 5 stars3/5The worst Kinsey Millhone mystery so far. I'm a big fan of the series but this book was somewhat of a disappointment, the twists were easy to figure out, and the story was kind of a flop. Luckily it was a quick read.
- Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Kinsey Millhone gets caught up in a case for Henry Pitts friend and travels from her own neighborhood, to Dallas to Louisville and back to solve it. Only ends up with a concussion this time but gets out from the hospital in time for Charles and Rosie's wedding. Fast paced plot and good read. One of the better novels.
- Rating: 3 out of 5 stars3/5Better than the last one.
- Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Help the Neighbour. Another very good read, slightly contrived plot line though, with some of the bad guys (again) managing almost divine feats of inspiration tracking people across america.Henry asks Kinsey to look at the paperwork behind a Vets benefit claim, shortly afterwards a bulgary finds a hidden safe and a strange key. Before long Kinsey is dragged round most of southern america looking for hidden money before the bad guys catch up. Good job her family are there after all to bail her out.Subplots:not too intrusive this time, William's wedding and the family again.