THE FINAL INSTALLMENT IN SUE GRAFTON’S ALPHABET SERIES WINNER OF THE ANTHONY/BILL CRIDER AWARD FOR BEST NOVEL IN A SERIES Private investigator Kinsey Millhone confronts her darkest and most disturbing case in this #1 New York Times bestseller from Sue Grafton.In 1979, four teenage boys from an elite private school sexually assault a fourteen-year-old classmate—and film the attack. Not long … classmate—and film the attack. Not long after, the tape goes missing and the suspected thief, a fellow classmate, is murdered. In the investigation that follows, one boy turns state’s evidence and two of his peers are convicted. But the ringleader escapes without a trace.
Now, it’s 1989 and one of the perpetrators, Fritz McCabe, has been released from prison. Moody, unrepentant, and angry, he is a virtual prisoner of his ever-watchful parents—until a copy of the missing tape arrives with a ransom demand. That’s when the McCabes call Kinsey Millhone for help. As she is drawn into their family drama, she keeps a watchful eye on Fritz. But he’s not the only one being haunted by the past. A vicious sociopath with a grudge against Millhone may be leaving traces of himself for her to find…
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Fun while reading but ending came quickly with a short wrap up.
I didn’t like this book a all. It was so different from the others she wrote. It was so gross that I quit reading it way before the end.
I loved this whole series and only wish it could have been completed!
I really miss not having any new books in this series. Miss the characters and what “they may be doing today”. -:)
I read all of her ABC Mysteries. They were fun reads, great little mysteries. It is sad there will be no more due to her death. Sue Grafton will be missed. I guess I will have to start reading them again.
Another must-read by Sue Grafton.
Began the alphabet series maybe back in the 80s?? Great female protagonist, and a fun series! Too bad she didn’t finish to the Z….
Didn’t care for it. Only one so far in her series that was disappointing.
It was a little bittersweet making it to the end of Grafton’s alphabet, and absolutely worth the read. The story was dark and heartbreaking, and wove together both a mystery from the past and a serial killer very much in the present. I’ll miss reading about Rosie’s “offal” cooking and bad Chardonnay, the kindness of Henry, the spry octogenarian baker, and of course, the private detective who never gave up. Kinsey was, to the end, a force to be reckoned with.
Sad that there won’t be a Z Have enjoyed the entire alphabet stories and will miss Kinsey and her tribulations!
I will miss Kinsey, she is like an old friend.
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Love all of Sue Grafton’s books!
I have read all of the alphabet series and this did not disappoint!
4 stars
My wife and I have been reading Sue Grafton’s alphabet series for 25 years and have enjoyed every one, some more than others. This is her last book and there will be no Z, since she has passed.
The book opens in 1979, with high school students Iris and Poppy, who are friends. Poppy is having a hard time making her grades and Iris helps her by stealing test answers. This cheating is exposed by an anonymous note. Fingers are pointed at Sloan Stevens as the tattletale and she is shunned by classmates. Sloan knows that she is innocent and finds out about a videotape showing several boys sexually assaulting Iris and steals the tape as leverage to stop the shunning. But she is murdered and Fritz McCabe goes to prison for shooting her.
Fast forward to 1989, Fritz is out of prison, because he was tried as a minor. A copy of the tape is sent to Fritz’ parents, with a demand for $25,000. The parents hire Kinsey Millhone to find the blackmailer. The book alternates between 1979 and 1989 as events are developed in both time frames.
There are a couple of subplots. Ned Lowe, who tried to kill Kinsey in a previous book, has resurfaced. In addition, an illicit affair has 1 character pregnant. All of this is sorted out with a very satisfactory ending.
Some quotes:
Iris mixed drink recipe “Flame thrower–Kahlua, banana-flavored liqueur, creme de menthe, and rum.”
Kinsey diet: “I found a cherry Life Saver at the bottom of my shoulder bag and called that dinner.”
RIP Sue Grafton. You will be missed by fans forever.
This was a 14 day library book. I read it in 5 days.
I have read all books in series and enjoyed them all. I was sad when the author passed away.
Y is for Yesterday by Sue Grafton is the 25th and last book in the Kinsey Millhone series. I discovered this series in the mid 1990’s in the book on tape format i.e., cassette. I fell in love from the first–A is for Alibi. Though I have read the hard copy of some, I always go back and reread on audio form as soon as it is available. I loved hearing Ms Grafton read. She is missed.
A departure in content, this book is hard hitting–with cold case crimes– and perpetrators who do not fit the standard pattern. It is a graphic and wild ride, but I liked it!
As always the audiobook version feels best!
So sad that this is the end of the series. Was good, but not as enjoyable as the others.
A series that took three and a half decades to unwind (although only six-ish in Kinsey years) has come to an end, albeit slightly abbreviated with the passing of Ms Grafton before Z could be completed (and as was widely revealed, would not be ghostwritten in any part, per the author’s request). So. With Y, my journey with Kinsey concludes.
What I liked about “Y is for Yesterday”:
The adrenaline uptick – Full disclosure, which I’ll break down a bit more in the next section, most of this book left me feeling something between ambivalent and off balance. But at roughly the two-thirds-through mark, the tension ratcheted up. At one point, my heart was banging so loud in my chest, I could actually hear it and if a twig had snapped in my midnight-darkened backyard, I would have shrieked like the Boogeyman himself were approaching. This book got creepy in an uncharacteristic fashion, but it worked. From that point forward, I was not ho-hum about the whole thing. In fact, this alone bumped my rating up by a whole star.
Kinsey’s personal life – The peripheral folks that surround Kinsey are an odd and eclectic lot, from Cheney and Anna, to Jonah and Vera, and back again. I like that there were enough of them scattered throughout the series that they could be sprinkled in for a change of pace, but their appearances were common enough that they were familiar. And that they all made it into this unexpectedly final installment.
What I didn’t care for:
The case was particularly dark subject matter – Even for this typically gritty series, the case Kinsey found herself entangled in was distasteful and laid out more graphically than I required. I’m not one that you’d refer to as easily triggered (that’s what the kids are calling it these days, right?) but yikes.
On the subject of things that were a bit too much for my taste – I could have done without the whole Pearl aspect and the increased amount of foul language that has crept into the end of this series. Although I will admit that (spoiler alert through the end of this sentence!) I was grateful for Pearl’s presence by the end.
I had some difficulty getting into the book – For starters, it was just a strange case, upon which I cannot elaborate without giving the whole thing away. Compounded by being disjointed with the time travel. And iced with the fact that three separate things going on and bouncing around between them made me feel like I was in danger of getting whiplash.
I can’t believe it’s over. I am relieved that all my favorites concluded intact. Henry and Ed and Killer, and Kinsey’s cute little apartment will live on forever now, out of the line of fire from Kinsey’s shady investigation encounters. But still…I can’t believe that was my last go round with Kinsey. Weird, weird feeling.
Incredible series. I miss her!!!!!!!!!!!