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    A Is For Alibi
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    A Is For Alibi
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    A Is For Alibi
    Audiobook7 hours

    A Is For Alibi

    Written by Sue Grafton

    Narrated by Mary Peiffer

    3.5/5

    ()

    Currently unavailable

    Currently unavailable

    About this audiobook

    When Laurence Fife was murdered, few mourned his passing. Plenty of people had reason to want him dead. But the police thought his wife Nikki--with motive, access and opportunity--was the #1 suspect. The jury thought so too.

    Eight years later and out on parole, Nikki hires Kinsey Millhone, a gutsy P.I., to find the read killer. The trail is cold but Kinsey finds a lead. It brings her face-to-face with the murderer.

    This is the first in the popular series featuring California investigator Kinsey Millhone. She's 32, twice divorced, no kids, an ex-cop who likes her work... and who works strictly alone.
    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherPenguin Random House Audio
    Release dateOct 18, 2005
    ISBN9781415930113
    Unavailable
    A Is For Alibi
    Author

    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 A Is For Alibi

    3.5/5

    1,790 ratings95 reviews

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    Review must be at least 10 words

    • 4/5
      The characters in this book are great from the main character Kinsey to the bar owner Rosie. The author quickly develops a world of folks around Kinsey that you know will be ever present in other books. Also, the characters specific to the case Kinsey is working are very well developed. You want to root for Nikki Fife, Kinsey’s client.

      Sue Grafton does an excellent job of grounding this story into reality and by that I mean the case, the events are very normal and fit with the timeline of the series. The characters have assets, flaws, and trauma but don’t seem to be exaggerations or stereotypes. Also, the physical descriptions of people and locations give the reader an image in their mind and gives the story a good direction and flow.

      Even though the author tells you the ending at the beginning of the book, the excitement and tension of the finale is not lost and I think that due to the narration of Judy Kaye who brought Kinsey to life. Her Kinsey is phenomenal and brings all her emotions and characteristics into reality.
    • 4/5
      This was well written but I wish it had hooked me faster. The build-up was slow but once the story hit its stride, it became hard to put down. Not what I'd call a thriller, but a good mystery with a few heart-racing moments.
    • 4/5
      BOTTOM-LINE:Like meeting an old friend.PLOT OR PREMISE:Nikki Fife served 8 years for a murder she claims she didn't commit. Now she wants Kinsey to clear her name..WHAT I LIKED:The character of Kinsey Millhone, and her introduction on page 1 ("My name is Kinsey Millhone") is the same general format that appears in all the books. Just the facts. But she talks about having killed someone and that it weighs on her mind. Cue the flashback. And the book has all the classic elements that show up in almost all the books...her apartment near Henry, Rosie's, multiple cases at once, index cards to keep track of details, Deitz, Dolan, etc. This is a classic whodunnit with lots of twists and turns and misinformation from suspects, sometimes intentional, sometimes not..WHAT I DIDN'T LIKE:There is a bit too much relationship-angst in this outing, albeit briefly..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.
    • 4/5
      So 3.5 stars really. I figured out who really did it early on there was some twists though. Pretty good story
    • 2/5
      Once in a while I dip into what the masses are reading. I often regret it. This is a prime example.
    • 3/5
      I listened to this while I was on a drive to visit my mom on Friday. It was a very nice distraction and I will definitely continue with the series when I need some light entertainment.
    • 3/5
      Interesting how time changes a person. When I went to add this book to my LibraryThing account I discovered that I had already read it . Apparently , the much younger me did not connect with it as much as the present me because I had no recollection of ever reading it. I found this murder mystery to be a quick and interesting "get away" . The "present" me could appreciate a story with female main characters . The storyline was not as intense as some present day thrillers but it was a nice stress-less escape from reality. I am even looking into reading the next book in the series and wondering what other books the younger me did not appreciate as much as the older me would.
    • 4/5
      I am much more impressed with this one than M is for Malice. I'll have to listen to some more of this series. Hopefully, the M installment is the odd one out.
    • 3/5
      A is for Alibi by Sue Grafton; (3*)No great shakes but good enough to put me in for continuing the series. A female P.I. is on the chase of an 8 year old murder case where the wrong suspect was tried, convicted and sent to prison. The wrongly convicted woman wants to know who actually killed her husband. With lots of twists and turns, I found this to be a fun read. My main issue with the story was that I didn't find myself adequately introduced to the minor characters so when the ends were being tied up I was a bit confused as to 'now where did this person fit in?'. But all in all, a fun read.
    • 3/5
      Revisiting Kinsey after Sue Grafton's passing earlier this month. The first novel is well-paced, self-assured and definitely worth reading again, even if you remember who did it.
    • 4/5
      I read this once yonks ago and remembered nothing much about it except that a trash bin of some sort figured into the climax. With Grafton's recent death, I decided to give the series another go from the start. I enjoyed this story well enough--it goes along at a very nice clip, the mystery was entertaining and neither overly obvious nor dastardly complicated, and Kinsey is both likable enough and flawed enough to keep my interest. I was a little bit *grump* about the identity of the murderer as Kinsey was half falling in love with him and my romance-reader self kind of went *step back* at that (yeah, yeah, different genre, different expectations), and I thought there was way too much commentary on weight were it was probably not necessary. (The descriptions of one of the female characters stepped over into fat-shaming territory, honestly--though mostly of the sort that was probably fairly accepted at the time the book was written and not overtly mean-spirited--but still and therefore: head's up if that is a nope for you.) I liked it well enough I'll likely keep on with the next few anyway.
    • 4/5
      first of Sue Grafton books i have read so figured i start from the beginning. i enjoyed the book with the different twist and turns along the way. i did have an idea who did it 3/4 away trough the book but took almost to the end to confirm. i will be looking forward to continuing my way trough the alphabet with her.
    • 5/5
      This is one of the best mystery series i have ever read. I finished reading A and am getting ready to start B . It just gets better and better with each letter
    • 5/5
      A is for Alibi by Sue Grafton

      A is for Alibi is the first book in Sue Grafton's alphabet mystery series, Kinsey Millhone a 32-year-old Private Investigator living in California. I have just started this series, but I really enjoyed this book. The mystery keeps pages turning as it fascinating, suspenseful and a real fast read. The character Kinsey is very independent, you feel as you now know her, and she is portrayed as somebody you do know. Nikki Fife has just been released from prison after doing 8 years for the murdering her husband, Laurence. Nikki wants Kinsey to find the person who really killed Laurence. Kinsey begins to investigate and finds out about another murder committed only days after Laurence's that is extremely similar. The victim was the accountant for Laurence's law firm, Libby Glass, and she was killed using an identical method of poisoning. This trail is 8-years-old, and Kinsey knows it won't be easy to find the truth. Kinsey begins to put together a picture of the people involved and the circumstances that led up to Laurence's murder. But somebody is not too pleased with Kinsey investigating and unveiling facts that could lead to the true murderer. Kinsey gets herself into danger, and as she struggles to put the pieces together, someone is trying to stop her.
    • 3/5
      Nikki Fife has spent 8 years in prison for the murder of her husband, divorce lawyer and ladies man Lawrence. She approaches Kinsey and asks her to find out who did kill her husband because it was not her. The trail is 8 years old and as days go by Kinsey does not seem to be getting close to the answer. She dose learn that another woman was killed days after Lawrence's murder using the same method, poison in antihistamine tablets.When she seems to be getting no where, a woman she had tracked down to question is suddenly murdered, there are now three corpses so she knows she is making someone nervous.As other reviews have pointed out, Kinsey's having a relationship with one of the suspects in the case makes her judgement questionable. Kinsey introduces herself in this the first in the series of novels about her cases. She says she is "a private investigator, licensed in California, thirty-two yeas old, twice divorced, no kids, no pets, no plants."I found the story moved along swiftly even as she drove around California and Nevada tracking down suspects.
    • 5/5
      Kinsey Millhone is a private investigator, licensed by the State of California. She is thirty-two years old, twice divorced, no kids. She tells us in the first chapter, first page. " The day before yesterday I killed someone and the fact weighs heavily on my mind. I'm a nice person and I have a lot of friends." (Sue Grafton does an excellent job here of getting you intrigued) Kinsey also states " Aside from the hazards of my profession, my life has always been ordinary, uneventful and good." I would characterize Kinsey as a tough but at times venerable, young woman doing things on her own terms. The story is about Nikki Fife, convicted of murdering her husband, Lawrence, a prominent divorce attorney eight years ago. Its a week since her release and she has come to Kinsey, to hire her. She tells Kinsey she didn't kill her husband and wants her to find out who did. She wants her credibility back and who did me in. Kinsey takes on the case. The story leads in many directions and more things are uncovered as she proceeds. The death of someone remotely connected to the murder victim, at the same time, under similar circumstances, doesn't get investigate. During the course of Kinsey's investigation there other deaths. We don't know who is guilty until right at the end. Terrific read. Highly recommend. Already have purchased B, C, D.
    • 4/5
      A good easy read for the beach; a no brainer. Kinsey Millhone is lovable. The book was predictable. Glad I read at least one so I know what people are talking about but probably won't read another.
    • 4/5
      "A is for Alibi" is the first of what I call Sue Grafton's "Alphabet" series. The story is a little slow at first and the plot is not terribly exciting, but it slowly draws your interest. What I like is that the private investigator, Kinsey Millhone is a strongly independent woman. She understands her likes, dislikes, weaknesses, and strengths, and is not afraid to not only admit them, but also to use them to her advantage. Having read one of the later books in the series, I feel that her character definitely develops with the series.
    • 3/5
      Kinsey Millhone is in many ways a typical P.I. Tough, strong, laconic. Falls seldom, but usually for the wrong person. A former cop, she lives in a tiny apartment with few possessions and quirky neighbors. Aside from the fact of her gender, not a whole lot to set her apart from the genre standard. And, for the first half or two-thirds of "A" is for Alibi, there's not a whole lot to set this story apart from the genre standard. It starts with a new case. Nikki Fife, a beautiful dame, just released from serving eight years for killing her husband, wants Kinsey to prove her innocence. She takes the job. She investigates. People get killed along the way. First one, then another, then another, seems to be the true killer. She solves the case.It's not until that last third or so that the reader begins to see an inkling of what has brought readers clamoring to book stores for each successive installment of this series for the last twenty-eight years. It's as if, all at once, inspiration hits Sue Grafton. Her character becomes more interesting and more singular, the plot takes some juicy turns and there it is.Definitely worth a read, especially as the first in one of the most beloved mystery series around. One wonders, though, why Grafton's editor didn't ask her to go back and try to inject some of the spark she found at the end of her book into the beginning.
    • 1/5
      The book would have been so much better with a different story teller. I used it to go yo sleep
    • 5/5
      This is my first book by the author and I loved it. I loved the narrator too. I will be reading the other books in the series.
    • 3/5
      I had forgotten how funny Grafton can be. Unfortunately I remembered the perpetrator about a third of the way through the book. This is a good way to pass a couple of hours in a nondemanding way. I wouldn't read the whole series, probably, but a couple here and there can serve as an antidote to heavy personal pressures, as not much thought process is required.
    • 5/5
      I read A through Y and was so sad when I was done. Kinsey kept me company for a while. I'm not sure I loved Grafton's experimentation with shifting points of view towards the end, but I think it's good she tried something a little different.
    • 4/5
      Re-read. Quick easy read. I love the character of Kinsey Millhone. The first in the series, so we will see more of her landlord later.
    • 4/5
      ***This is a project of e-reading Grafton's series -- I started reading these back in the 1980s and would read each release as they came out over the years. To prevent spoilers, I will not attempt to summarize in detail.***Kinsey is hired by a woman who wants her name cleared for a crime she didn't do. The storyline is thin here compared to later books which are more complex, but Kinsey Millhone is so endearingly bad-ass. Looking forward to getting reacquainted with her.
    • 5/5
      A is for Alibi A is for Alibi is the first book in Sue Grafton's alphabet mystery series, Kinsey Millhone a 32-year-old Private Investigator living in California. I have just started this series, but I really enjoyed this book. The mystery keeps pages turning as it fascinating, suspenseful and a real fast read. The character Kinsey is very independent, you feel as you now know her, and she is portrayed as somebody you do know. Nikki Fife has just been released from prison after doing 8 years for the murdering her husband, Laurence. Nikki wants Kinsey to find the person who really killed Laurence Kinsey begins to investigate and finds out about another murder committed only days after Laurence's that is extremely similar. The victim was the accountant for Laurence's law firm, Libby Glass, and she was killed using an identical method of poisoning. This trail is 8-years-old, and Kinsey knows it won't be easy to find the truth. Kinsey begins to put together a picture of the people involved and the circumstances that led up to Laurence's murder. But somebody is not too pleased with Kinsey investigating and unveiling facts that could lead to the true murderer. Kinsey gets herself into danger, and as she struggles to put the pieces together, someone is trying to stop her
    • 3/5
      Really 3 1/2 stars. I liked it well enough to continue the series. I liked Kinsey quite a bit. I did guess the resolution, but at this point, I've read so many mysteries I suppose that shouldn't surprise me.
    • 3/5
      A quick but decent read that's a bit like a more-cynical Nancy Drew mystery. Having read this first book, I do think the rest of the series is worth a go. The main character has enough quirks that you want to find out more about her and the plot went at a good pace. Interested to see where the series goes.
    • 2/5
      I probably would have actually given this book a 2 1/2 stars if it was possible, but I can't. While I enjoyed it overall, I felt like there was something missing.

      I picked up these books because around 5 friends have been pushing hard for me to read this series. I thought the mystery was a good one. I was interested all the way until the end. I was slightly disappointed that I figured out whodunit pretty early on. That is part of why i wanted to give it 2 1/2 stars, I never felt the sort of suspense I'm used to when reading mysteries.

      I found Kinsey really lacking as a protagonist. She was really unlikeable to me, but I can't really place why. Her internal monologs can get really annoying, and I was super disappointed in some of her choices in the novel. I felt that she should have known better about some of the things she did, and should have definitely seen the end coming. Sorry to be vague but I don't want to spoil it for anyone else.

      Although I liked the book, it felt really flat while reading it. Nothing really got me excited or pulled me into the book. I would still recommend the book to people who like mysteries, and I hope that this was a case of it being the first book. Hopefully they start to get more interesting!
    • 3/5
      I expected to like this--a lot. I guess it was because I've heard of Sue Grafton for years and this is her series that has continued for decades and it just seemed, well, it must be really good.

      I was disappointed. I couldn't connect with the heroine, Kinsey. I've read a lot of good series lately, Stephanie Plum, Carlotta of Body Movers, Lisa Scottoline's multiple heroines, but here was a heroine I just could find no rapport or emotional connect with. She seemed like she wanted to be a good ole boy with the language and intention. Humor was lacking. I think that if you write a book about a hard-boiled female detective there should at least be a good sense of humor attached to it.

      The mystery was not that difficult to guess either.

      I haven't decided whether to end it here or try another book. (Not that I really NEED another series to follow.) :)