D is For Deadbeat. Finished 9-10-16, rating 4.5/5, mystery, 307 pages, pub. 1987
Book 4 of the Kinsey Millhone series (1-A is for Alibi, 2-B is for Burglar, 3- C is for Corpse)
When Alvin Limardo walks into P.I. Kinsey Millhone’s office, she smells bad news. He wants Kinsey to deliver $25,000. The recipient: A fifteen-year-old boy. It’s a simple matter. So simple that Kinsey wonders why he doesn’t deliver the money himself. She’s almost certain something is off. But with rent due, Kinsey accepts Limardo’s retainer against her better judgment…
When Limardo’s check bounces, Kinsey discovers she’s been had big time. Alvin Limardo is really John Daggett—an ex-con with a drinking problem, two wives to boot, and a slew of people who would like to see him dead. Now Kinsey is out four hundred dollars and in hot pursuit of Daggett.
When Daggett’s corpse shows up floating in the Santa Teresa surf, the cops rule the death an accident. Kinsey thinks it’s murder. But seeking justice for a man who everyone seemed to despise is going to be a lot tougher than she bargained for—and what awaits her at the end of the road is much more disturbing than she could’ve ever imagined…
from Goodreads
This fourth of the series was longer than the others and therefore able to provide more plot and suspects, two things I enjoyed. I love Kinsey. She’s independent, tough and flawed (I might even call her a nasty woman). The only thing about reading this beloved series from the beginning is that they can sometimes feel a little dated. This was published in 1987 so no cell phones, Google or 24 hour news.
I really like this series and while I missed a few of the usual folks I did like the extra-large edition.
Stacy's Books 
I have never read Grafton. I think it’s too late for me. The idea of starting at A is just too daunting. And I don’t like to read a series unless it’s at the beginning.
Well, mostly they’re short 🙂
I love Kinsey too and need to catch up with this series. By the way I met Sue Grafton and she said she keeps the series set in the past for the reasons you mentioned.
I get it. It would be hard to write a mystery with all the technology we have today. That’s why I’m always a little in awe of Harlan Coben because he does it so well.
Another series I’ve thought about reading, but like Lloyd, I like starting at the beginning of a series.
I’ve got the first twelve of these which I picked up at a car boot sale for about £5 years and years and years ago. I started reading A is for Alibi but set it aside and never picked it back up. Once I’ve finished my reread of all the Kathy Reichs books I plan to go onto these ones.
I met Grafton at a mystery readers conference, having never read her books. Of course, after meeting her, I looked for her most recent one – way down in the alphabet – S is for Silence. Did she ever make it to Z?
The last one I saw was U? She’s still putting ’em out 🙂