
U Is for Undertow
A Kinsey Millhone Novel
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Narrated by:
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Judy Kaye
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By:
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Sue Grafton
About this listen
It's a question worth pondering. Through 20 excursions into the dark side of the human soul, Sue Grafton has never written the same book twice. And so it is with this, her 21st. Once again, she breaks genre formulas, giving us a twisting, complex, surprise-filled, and totally satisfying thriller.
It's April 1988, a month before Kinsey Millhone's 38th birthday, and she's alone in her office doing paperwork when a young man arrives unannounced. He has a preppy air about him and looks as if he'd be carded if he tried to buy booze, but Michael Sutton is 27, an unemployed college dropout. Twenty-one years earlier, a four-year-old girl disappeared. A recent reference to her kidnapping has triggered a flood of memories. Sutton now believes he stumbled on her lonely burial when he was six years old. He wants Kinsey's help in locating the child's remains and finding the men who killed her. It's a long shot, but he's willing to pay cash up front, and Kinsey agrees to give him one day.
As her investigation unfolds, she discovers Michael Sutton has an uneasy relationship with the truth. In essence, he's the boy who cried wolf. Is his current story true, or simply one more in a long line of fabrications?
Grafton moves the narrative between the 80s and the 60s, changing points of view, building multiple subplots, and creating memorable characters. Gradually, we see how they all connect. But at the beating center of the novel is Kinsey Millhone, sharp-tongued, observant, a loner - "a heroine", said The New York Times Book Review, "with foibles you can laugh at and faults you can forgive."
Don't miss the other titles in the Kinsey Millhone Alphabet Mystery Series.©2009 Sue Grafton (P)2009 Random HouseListeners also enjoyed...
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Overall
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- By: Sue Grafton
- Narrated by: Judy Kaye
- Length: 2 hrs and 48 mins
- Abridged
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Overall
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Performance
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Story
Laurence Fife was a slick divorce lawyer and slippery ladies' man. Until someone killed him. The jury believed that it was his pretty young wife Nikki, so they sent her to prison for eight years. Now, Nikki's out on parole and Kinsey Millhone's in for trouble. Nikki hires Kinsey to discover who really killed her husband. But the trail is eight years cold, and at the end is a chilling twist even Kinsey doesn't suspect, a second eight-year-old murder and a brand new corpse.
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Critic reviews
"It's as if Grafton purposely begins with a standard situation-and then gleefully sets about breaking every cardinal rule of the mystery novel." ( Los Angeles Times Book Review)
Featured Article: Best Mystery Series—Listens That'll Take You Right to the Crime Scene
While a standalone mystery is great when you're in the mood for a one-and-done, sometimes you want to feed your craving with an entire mystery series—knowing there's a world and characters you can keep coming back to for the satisfaction of solving crimes. With audiobooks, you get the added bonus of sinking deeper into the setting, clues, and suspects as the story is performed for you, so you'll feel like you're alongside detectives, ready to bust a case.
What listeners say about U Is for Undertow
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Overall
- Holly Pease
- 12-19-09
Judy Kaye is Great
I've been a Grafton fan for years and was reticent to get the latest installment in audio version. Since much of Grafton's books are written in Kinsey's first person, I wasn't sure I would be happy with anyone portraying her. Judy Kaye has just enough gravel in her voice to sound exactly like I imagined Kinsey to sound! She also does a great job with portraying the other characters. If you are a Kinsey Milhone fan, do not hesitate to get this audio book!
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7 people found this helpful
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Overall
- Cari
- 01-12-10
One of the better ones
The plots have gotten more complex - I really enjoyed this book.
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4 people found this helpful
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Overall
- Linda B. Hemmes
- 12-28-09
Sue Grafton write another great book
I loved it. She gave away the whole plot and I still loved it. I could not turn off my iPod. I think Ms. Grafton can still spin a tale - unlike others (Patricia Cornwell for one) who seem to run out of steam - and starts writing garbage.
I found the book to be entertaining, intriguing and believable. Thanks again. I look forward to whatever is coming in your "V" book.
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2 people found this helpful
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- Anita L. Gilliland
- 09-25-19
One of Sue's best books.
Loved it! enjoyed the narration.
Good mystery. Intriguing plot that keeps you eager to hear more.
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1 person found this helpful
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- Judith M Jeanotte
- 10-06-21
another great in the series
I like the way the story is set in the 80s. Brought back memories then juxtaposition with the sixties. such fabulous details in the narrative. I can't wait for the next one.
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1 person found this helpful
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Overall
- Gabrielle
- 01-28-10
"U" IS FOR UNDERTOW
What can I say? Kinsey, YOU ROCK!!!!
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Overall
- Yvonne Rothstein
- 04-10-10
Great as Usual
Once again I was truly entertained with a Sue Grafton novel, I look forward to the next installment.
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Overall
- Georgina Laredo Sanchez
- 02-13-10
Good but not Great
I became a kind of a fan of Sue Grafton. I liked it altouhg is is not the book of the year.
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Overall
- Todd
- 01-02-10
Secrets will get you everytime!
This one is a stand out. With many personal things going on in the background, mysteries to be solved, lives changing over personal choices, lies, murder, love . . . it's a definite must read!
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2 people found this helpful
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Overall
- Vivian
- 12-11-09
love it
This one involves my favorite things, cold cases. I am satisfied that it is not a serial killer. And on top of that our lady dective gets some peace of mind.
I think it could have been two hours longer. I would like to see the sister called out and a few other clean ups.
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1 person found this helpful