Spotlight Series: Kinsey Millhone

Sue Grafton is published in 28 countries and 26 languages—including Estonian, Bulgarian, and Indonesian. She's an international bestseller with a readership in the millions. She's a writer who believes in the form that she has chosen to mine: "The mystery novel offers a world in which justice is served. Maybe not in a court of law," she has said, "but people do get their just desserts." And like Raymond Chandler and Ross Macdonald, Robert Parker and the John D. MacDonald—the best of her breed—she has earned new respect for that form. Her readers appreciate her buoyant style, her eye for detail, her deft hand with character, her acute social observances, and her abundant storytelling talents.

The Kinsey Millhone novels, also known as the Alphabet series, was the first mystery series I read that featured a female lead. It was refreshing to read about a woman who could be tough, survive on her own, and have the same commitment issues all the leading mystery men I'd read had.

Important Characters to Know 
Kinsey Millhone - Private investigator

Henry Pitts - Kinsey's friend, elderly neighbor

Rosie - Owner of the diner Kinsey frequents

Jonah Robb - The sometimes married, sometimes not detective Kinsey is occasionally romantically involved with

Kinsey Millhone (in reading order, links lead to my reviews)

1. A is for Alibi
2. B Is for Burglar
3. C Is for Corpse
4. D Is for Deadbeat
5. E Is for Evidence
6. F Is for Fugitive
7. G Is for Gumshoe
8. H Is for Homicide
9. I Is for Innocent
10. J Is for Judgement
11. K Is for Killer
12. L Is for Lawless
13. M Is for Malice
14. N Is for Noose
15. O Is for Outlaw
16. P Is for Peril
17. Q Is For Quarry
18. R Is for Ricochet
19. S Is for Silence
20. T Is for Trespass
21. U Is for Undertow
22. V is for Vengeance

If you like the Kinsey Millhone series, you should try:

The V.I. Warshawski series by Sara Paretsky

The Stephanie Plum series by Janet Evanovich

The Kay Scarpetta series by Patricia Cornwell

The Alex Delaware series by Jonathan Kellerman