Y is for Yesterday by Sue Grafton

Grafton died of cancer after this last book of hers was published. Her family said, "For us, the alphabet ends in Y." I was sorry to have the series end with such a sordid and violent story. I wonder if the darkness of this last entry into the series was a reflection of how she was feeling? The tone isn't depressing, and Kinsey retains her spunk, but the subject matter and criminals are cold and violent and sordid. 

I must have read it when it first came out, but I didn't write about it here. I think it was probably because I disliked it so much. Because I was on a quest to finish the series this time around, I wasn't about to skip it. AND, I wanted to see if I had the same reaction this time around.

I am not sure I would ever choose to read it again, but it wasn't as upsetting as it was the first time around. There is still the trademark snappy humor and interesting characters, but there were too many graphic details of the teenagers' rape scene that were referred to over and over again. I didn't need to be reminded, and I didn't appreciate it. And, in the parallel story, the crazy serial killer Ned also showed his slimey violent self in colorful detail. Overall, the violence and descriptions were not to my liking. 

I enjoyed Pearl's emergence as somewhat of a hero after her earlier in the series introduction as a homeless n'er do well. Henry didn't get much air time, and neither did Cheney or Jonah. However, Cousin Anna's pregnancy may have presaged some interesting plot twists in upcoming Z. Too bad we'll never know what Grafton had in mind. I would have enjoyed seeing some of Kinsey's loose ends tied up neatly. For example, when would Henry die and leave her the house, etc.? Would he leave it to Pearl and others? What about Rosie and William? And where would Cheney end up? And would Dietz return for a romantic yet noncommittal relationship? Or would he finally be ready, and would Kinsey be ready to commit? And what about all of those Millhone relatives? Would there ever be good relationships built with them? So many questions...

It's kind of a relief to have the series be done, and it's also kind of sad. I really enjoyed the whole thing, and I'm also ready to move on. I've begun reading my journals, and there are plenty of them. So before I set out on another ambitious series, I'm committed to at least take one trip through my many, many journals.