J is for Judgment (Kinsey Millhone Alphabet Mysteries, No. 10) Mass Market Paperback – December 2, 2008

As always, the ending sneaks up at you and then, bam! The answers come spewing forth and the last puzzle piece falls into place. I’m reading Sue Grafton’s alphabet novels in order. This story falls in line with the others. All have excellent character development, descriptive elements in relation to scenery, environment, people, and places, and most importantly the continuing development of the main character, Kinsey Millhone.This story revolves around the disappearance of someone who was a partner in a Ponzi scheme. His supposed death is caused by suicide, and his boat is found in the ocean without him. California Fidelity (insurance company who must pay out on his policy) enters back into the continuing storyline of Kinsey’s career when they rehire her to investigate a possible sighting of this man in Mexico. Another great read!

"J" Is For Judgement is a good detective story that is the tenth in a series authored by Sue Grafton. The detective story, to me, is good, but not great. However, speaking for myself, this is a very enjoyable series of stories that has become my favorite contemporary light fiction series. This has become a "FIVE STAR" experience for me. These stories are set in California in the 1980s. The protagonist is Kinsey Millhone, a "thirty something" private detective. She is an interesting combination of classic noir detective and modern American Woman.Each novel, including this one, is a standalone novel. However there is an ongoing cast of characters and related emerging back stories that causes me to really look forward to the next novel. I wait one or two months to read the next novel in this series and have come to relish the experience. Thus far, I have always purchased the audiobook and listened and read simultaneously. Each audiobook has also been excellent. I feel comfortable stating that Sue Grafton is my favorite modern author of light fiction.This particular detective story is interesting but not profound. As a retired police detective, I happened to have worked a case very similar to this. The case was very interesting and captured local interest, but to be honest, it was not really difficult to solve. One just carefully does one's homework and pays attention to details. Hence when I read this story, I thought it was pretty much what I expected. Obviously with fiction the author can throw in any number of twists. In that context, this is a well crafted, but not amazing story.It is reading all of the stories in order that has proved so interesting to me. Sue Grafton has stated that Kinsey Millhone the protagonist is an imaginary literary version of Sue Grafton. As a result, as I read these novels in order, I feel I am getting to know both Kinsey Millhone and Sue Grafton. I suppose it is the literary version of a really fun television mini series.Another aspect of Sue Grafton's writing is her artistic depiction of scenes, persons, and scenery. There are times her descriptions border on poetic. I have had readers tell me that they are not really interested in that part of a novel. Obviously this may affect one's enjoyment of a Sue Grafton novel. Another time she writes about the "vast untidy sea of truth". If that line comes from somewhere else, I can not place it. But that is a quite unusual phrase in American light modern fiction.In summary I completely enjoyed this novel. If one reads this novel as a standalone novel, one may not find it as enjoyable as if one reads it as part of the series. It is really hard for me to say. In a manner of speaking it might be like walking into the middle of a movie. Sue Grafton is a very good, professional author. However this is not an extremely complicated detective story. Thank You....

fast delivery, in good condition

What can you say about Sue Grafton other than she is a great mystery writer. Kinsey Milhone is an ex-cop and has her own detective agency and never much of a sex life if that what your looking for, go elsewhere. This is a traditional gumshoe story with action and danger for our heroine. After some spotty success writing books, Grafton changed to writing screenplays for TV and movies. With the success of her first Alphabet series book ' A is for Alibi' in 1982 it has continued to date. I first discovered her books when I came across 'G is for Gumshoe' (pub 1990) in a recycle center in 2000, I proceeded to local bookstores and Amazon to acquire all of this series up until the current at the time 'O is For Outlaw'. It's always great when you come across a great series in progress as it's a joy just reading book after book from a great writer. Much like 'binge watching TV series on Netflix nowadays. Only problem with an ongoing series is waiting for the next book. Grafton has done only a couple of yearly books and mostly every other year since 'P is for Peril' in 2001. It is now up to just plain 'X' in 2015 and will end with 'Z is for Zero'. I'm hoping she has Y & Z completed as she is 75 now and I'm 70 and don't want to miss the conclusion of this great series.

A good relaxing read which includes some laugh out loud moments.

I find some in this series very good; others to be so-so. This is one of the latter. No matter what alphabet letter, I like Kinsey Millhone. As a PI she's very real, not a superwoman. As a person, she's enjoyable.In "J" she's hired by her former employer, an insurance company to find if a certain man is dead or alive. He's a tricky little sucker, having committed a Ponzi scheme, then vanishes. The company has paid out $500,00 to his wife. Is she really widowed or not? Along the way, we have one of their sons, who is in legal trouble, his ex-partner, a girlfriend, an older ex-cop. Some of the characters are developed, others not.We also come across a good deal of dialogue involving Kinsey's lost cousin & family matters. All which have nothing to do with the story. I felt this entire section need not be in the book.The story didn't really have punch for me. The beginning was fine, the middle bogged down to the point wherein I almost did not finish this one. The ending was fine & leaves the reader wondering, which can be fun. The character of Ms. Millhone helped this book to survive till the end more than the story

Just missing a few books from Sue Grafton's Kinsey series. Once you read one of her books w/Kinsey it feels like you've found a new girlfriend. The characters in the books, her landlord Henry, his brother and his wife who owns the tavern make me laugh out loud. Nobody enjoys a burger from McDonald's more than Kinsey. Try one of her books and you will be hooked. I was so sorry to hear she had passed. Wonderful author!

Her use of wry humor and the details of daily chores brilliantly humanize plot details, and her characters are varied and unpredictable.

Bellissimo, divertente, appassionante ... Kinsey al suo meglio

I just enjoy her way of writing it is so down to earth

I have read all the other books in this series and am waiting for the next one to come out. You have to start with A and work up or you won't understand any of the others. I am a true fan of Sue Grafton and enjoy her books and look forward to having the whole collection.

As with all the Sue Grafton alphabet books they are individual stories but reading A - W Kinsey Millhone, the female Private Detective grows and not only do you read about the case in question but it follows her love life or lack of at times and are really enjoyable reads. This is my third time going through the series as I first had them in books and are now transferring to my kindle and I know in future I shall read them again.

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