"C" is for Corpse Review
You know, I have stacks of books at my bedside, including a number of murder mysteries and even including a couple of Sue Crafton's. In fact, I've had this one in my library since 1986; it is now quite yellowed with age! I don't know why I've never gotten into the alphabet (specify letter) is for... series, but I finally decided to read the book, if for no other reason than to remove it from my shelf and pass it on to others. I have to say, I really enjoyed it. I'm not sure what took me so long. Many of my best friends have been devoted fans for years.
"C is for Corpse" is an ingeniously plotted mystery with the flair and appeal of the old Perry Mason series. There is definitely a sense of ambiance that suggests the 50's and 60's despite the 1980's settings. There is the nostolgic romance of the wealthy: the expensive cars, lavish clothing and palatial homes in California. The handsome victim is introduced almost from the beginning. All this brings back the sense of the old Perry Mason black-and-white TV series. Perhaps it's because there are no mentions of more recent events, of ATMs, cordless or wireless phones, etc. Maybe it's because of the almost conspicuous lack of gory detail. Or maybe it's simply because it's been a long time since 1986! After all, to some people 1986 is just as much "ancient history" as the 50's and 60's! (I, on the other hand, can remember when the hairstyles and fashions of the 80's weren't "retro.")
Like many of the old Mason series, the reader is introduced to the victim before he's killed. One meets all the players and observes their interactions before the murder occurs some half-way through the book. Then it becomes a matter of untangling all the clues and putting the whole puzzle together. If the other alphabet letters are as good as this one was, I may read all the way to "z!" (Do they have a "z" yet?)
"C" is for Corpse Overview
Then one Monday morning when there was no one else in the gym, Bobby Callahan approached her. His story was hard to credit: a murderous assault by a tailgating car on a lonely rural road, a roadside smash into a canyon 400 feet below, his Porsche a bare ruin, his best friend dead. The doctors had managed to put his body back together again-sort of. His mother's money had seen to that. What they couldn't fix was his mind, couldn't restore the huge chunks of memory wiped out by the crash. Bobby knew someone had tried to kill him, but he didn't know why. He knew he had the key to something that made him dangerous to the killer, but he didn't know what it was. And he sensed that someone was still out there, ready to pounce at the first sign his memory was coming back. He'd been to the cops, but they'd shrugged off his story. His family thought he had a screw loose. But he was scared-scared to death. He wanted to hire Kinsey.
His case didn't have a whole lot going for it, but he was hard to resist: young, brave, hurt. She took him on. And three days later, Bobby Callahan was dead.
Kinsey Millhone never welshed a deal. She'd been hired to stop a killing. Now she'd find the killer.
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Customer Reviews
Fantastic Little Mystery - Mesmerix - Toledo, OH USA
(No Spoilers) Book 3 in Sue Grafton's Alphabet Mysteries series starring P.I. Kinsey Millhone is a fantastic romp through the city of Santa Teresa, the fictional setting in California where Kinsey lives. We learn more about the area, beautifully described by Grafton, and its denizens. Though Kinsey is full of voice and attitude as always, each character in this book stood out to me with their eccentricities and style. I loved Bobby, our "blond dame" substitute who hires the P.I. as in all good hard-broiled detective fiction, and his crazy-rich family. I loved the further development of Kinsey, her landlord Henry, and her love interest Jonah, all reoccurring characters I can't wait to see more of. The characterization in this book was excellent.
Grafton has a knack for metaphor and narrative description. Filtered through Kinsey's perspective, the author brings the world alive and keeps the reader sucked in. The mystery itself is beautifully plotted. I followed Kinsey through each step, making my own guesses as she went, and in the end felt rewarded by the results.
After not being thrilled with the previous book, I am delightfully surprised by 'C' is for Corpse. It's a fun little mystery with a great protagonist. I'm looking forward to the next book in the series. (4 Stars)
'C' is for Corpse - Luxx Mishley -
What I appreciate most in Grafton's Kinsey Millhone series is her attention to realism. Kinsey Millhone is a professional private detective, licensed by the state, and operating in "the real world". The books stick to this idea, and present mysteries in an almost pedestrian manner; while in the middle of a case Kinsey stops by her office, sorts through her mail, drinks coffee, and goes grocery shopping. The little details of the day-to-day are all there, and while they may come off as a bit tedious at times (usually when you've read several books in a row, all with the same details), the overall effect is one of grounded reality. Kinsey is not a super hero; it is not unusual for her to encounter some extreme scenarios because it is in fact her job to pursue mysteries - or insurance fraud (after all, both pay the bills). 'C' is for Corpse is not an extraordinary book, but I can appreciate it for its consistency, and will continue to work my way back through the series.
Client's Death - Ruth Thompson - Venice, FL USA
This is the one that will not let you turn off the light. Her new client has asked her to find out what really happened when he had an almost fatal accident. He doesn't remember a thing except that some wanted him dead. Her client is dead in three days after she takes the case. Kinsey must get to the bottom of this. It keeps the pages turning. By Ruth Thompson author of "The Bluegrass Dream" and "Natchez Above The River"
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