V is for Vengance by Sue Grafton - 2nd review

 This story was intriguing and fun, with disparate characters coming together in unexpected ways. It really shows Grafton's development as a writer. I especially enjoyed it because I could follow all of the threads. The characters were interesting, as usual, but one in particular became more likable as time went on. Dante, the mobster, was trying to get "honest" and I was hoping he would safely escape at the end. And the bad informant cop seemed to get away, but at the very end Grafton gives us a juicy tidbit that is very satisfying. I also liked the way Kinsey and Dante interacted.

I doubt if Nora's life was anything like real; but it's fun to imagine a country club lawyer's wife with money to burn and how she dresses, socializes, etc., I guess I'm not looking for reality, so it's okay that she was rather unbelievable and shallow. And how could Dante fall instantly in love with her? Who knows? All in all, these were fun people. I was disappointed that Cheney and Kinsey's relationship never reheated, and that Kinsey's family didn't enter in, but the obnoxious reporter that makes frequent appearances came out better in the end and almost makes up for the lack of the other characters' lesser roles.

I read this while waiting for winter to end in St. George, an unlikely long winter. I got to the end during a three day getaway with Leonard in Las Vegas, and it was fun to have such a good book when there was some restful downtime between our outings. I wish I could have enjoyed it around the pool, but it wasn't open yet...Alas, what a problem, huh? 

U is for Undertow by Sue Grafton

 This was an intriguing one. Kinsey again solves an old case - twenty plus years- and the flashbacks to the sixties as told by the other characters is a fun look at the stereotypical hippie and commune culture. In the modern part of the story (late 80s), Kinsey puts together cryptic clues from fascinating characters to eventually solve the crime.

She has little help from her old flame Cheney Phillips in the police department, but at least he makes an appearance or two, and seems to be moving on after being dumped!

My favorite part of this story was watching Kinsey finally learn some of the other side of her estranged family's story. And there's a sweet moment when she finally thaws out to the point of meeting her autocratic and well-known grandmother. I also loved it when she grilled the detective who had investigated her Aunt Gin. We finally get a closer look at this character who has figured strongly in every episode but only from a very narrow point of view.

I also loved how we got to see Walker, an alcoholic criminal, start on the road to sobriety and better thinking. Grafton's gift of illuminating characters' thinking is one of her best. I learn a lot from thinking about the criminal, the timid, the confident, and other types of personalities that she so thoroughly describes as they move the plot forward. Of course I enjoyed a brief look in on Stacey Oliphant and Con Dolan, the retired law enforcement buddies she has worked with before. 

I'm feeling glad to be near the end of this marathon, to move on to other things, but also a little sad because I enjoy these stories and characters so much. Sometimes, though, I'd rather read than engage with the real world, and that isn't always healthy for me, especially when there's Relief Society work that would bring more good into the world. Still, I love my time with my nose in a good book! If only thses weren't so addictive!

T is for Trespass by Sue Grafton

 This was riveting. I liked the variety of having an additional narrator besides Kinsey. Hearing Solana's point of view added to the tension in the story. In fact, the tension in this story and the way it unfolded really held my interest. Solana's devious plans and actions as she stole someone's identity and then proceeded to take advantage of Kinsey's elderly neighbor were instructive. It was interesting because it seemed so easy to do, and she had a lot of know how and a lawyer to help her. I also kept thinking about how this was the 80s and would not unfold this way with today's technology.

I was disappointed that near the beginning Kinsey explained why she broke up with Cheney. Oh, no! He added so much spice to the story! He does make a brief appearance near the end of the story, but the romance is not re-ignited. Bummer! I liked that aspect of the series because it showed a new and vulnerable side of Kinsey. I was also hoping for some more family connections, but there wasn't time in this one, I guess. The side story of the accident where the missing witness was an ex-con provided a break from the main story. Now that I think about it, the woman who was trying to take advantage of the system by claiming injuries was similar in deviousness to Solana. Two very dishonest women. And the ex-con, an earnest ventiloquist, seemed to be doing what he could to get himself healthier. Not sure about that, but he was definitely an interesting character.

This was a fun winter read which I enjoyed immensely as I snuggled under blankets in our living room, waiting for work men to arrive or depart as our basement repair nears its completion. While this story had horrible villains, it was not a depressing read. In fact, Kinsey challenges us at the end to do our part to protect children and the elderly. I liked that!

The Snow Child by Eowyn Ivey

 My neighbor, Blanche Rich, put this in my hands a couple of weeks ago. She reads books by the stack and this is one of her favorites. The copy she gave me is her "loaner;" she won't lend her original copy out because it's too dear to her. This intrigued me! I let it sit a few days because I'm in the middle of the Sue Grafton marathon, and I'm up to "T." I was afraid I would forget the characters and plot if I took a little break from "T," but a couple of nights ago, I was in the mood to be swept away. And once I began The Snow Child, I didn't want to stop. It consumed me for several days, and I enjoyed every moment.

It's not a happy story, but it's a sweet and real story. It's not depressing, per se, but rather more philosophical. I kept wondering if it was "real" or a metaphor. I just read some reviews and one called it "fantastical reality." The characters are interesting, and the interplay between fantasy and reality moved the plot and my curiosity forward. 

I enjoyed the beauty of the writing. Beautiful language and poetic descriptions abound. The Alaskan backdrop is breathtakingly described. And the inner life of the characters is also beautifully rendered with sympathy and frankness. These homesteaders live a hard, cold life. Yet the joy they stumble upon is palpable and understandable. I especially enjoyed the character of Esther, who befriends shy Mabel and insists on becoming her friend. I also liked how the characters, especially Mabel and Jack developed over the years. They had lonely times and bonding and joyful times. They read each other's moods and wondered about each others' silences. The author described the development beautifully. 

One thing that I wondered about was whether or not there would be any reliance on God. He is mentioned occasionally, but is not a central driver of any of these characters. They had a strong sense of integrity and of keeping their word, but no ultimate expectation of help in dark times. Mabel's suicide attempt at the beginning of the story showed her hopelessness. There were lots of opportunities for faith to be exercised but it didn't enter the story in any explicit way. It was faith of a subtle type, perhaps; a hope in the words of Mabel's sister, for example. Interesting for me to ponder what was missing there.