Kinsey and Me: Stories
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Kinsey and Me: Stories Audible Audiobook – Unabridged

Sue Grafton (Author), Judy Kaye (Narrator), Penguin Audio (Publisher)
4.1 4.1 out of 5 stars 1,509 ratings
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In 1982, Sue Grafton introduced us to Kinsey Millhone. Thirty years later, Kinsey is an established international icon and Sue is a number-one best-selling author. To mark this anniversary year, Sue has given us stories that reveal Kinsey's origins and Sue's past.

Kinsey and Me has two parts: The nine Kinsey stories (1986-93), each a gem of detection, and the "And Me" stories, written in the decade after Grafton's mother died. Together, they show just how much of Kinsey is a distillation of her creator's past, even as they reveal a child who, free of parental interventions, read everything and roamed everywhere. But the dark side of such freedom was that very parental distance.

The same feisty voice and witty apercus readers fell in love with in A Is for Alibi permeate the Kinsey stories. Those in the "And Me" section trace a remarkable voyage, from anger to understanding, from pain to forgiveness. They take us into a troubled family, dysfunctional as most families are, each in their own way, but Grafton's telling is sensitive, delicate, and ultimately, loving. Enriching the way we see Kinsey and know Sue, these stories are deeply affecting.

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  1. Listening Length
    7 hours and 39 minutes
  2. Author
    Sue Grafton
  3. Narrator
    Judy Kaye
  4. Audible release date
    January 8, 2013
  5. Language
    English
  6. Publisher
    Penguin Audio
  7. ASIN
    B00AWQ0E80
  8. Version
    Unabridged
  9. Program Type
    Audiobook
  10. See all details
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Product details

Listening Length 7 hours and 39 minutes
Author Sue Grafton
Narrator Judy Kaye
Whispersync for Voice Ready
Audible.com Release Date January 08, 2013
Publisher Penguin Audio
Program Type Audiobook
Version Unabridged
Language English
ASIN B00AWQ0E80
Best Sellers Rank #105,804 in Audible Books & Originals (See Top 100 in Audible Books & Originals)
#585 in Private Investigator Mysteries (Audible Books & Originals)
#614 in Fiction Short Stories
#847 in Mystery Anthologies (Books)

Customer reviews

4.1 out of 5 stars
4.1 out of 5
1,509 global ratings

Top reviews from the United States

Robyn A. Chumley
5.0 out of 5 stars Compelling Book
Reviewed in the United States on February 4, 2024
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Author Sue Grafton shared a bunch of short stories that grabbed you a bit and made you think. That’s the first half of the book. The second half was a painful watch of an alcoholic mom drinking herself to death in the span of about 15 years. Her daughter, Kit, shares the somber story. As devastating as Kit trying to understand—fix—her mom’s weakness, that’s what created Kinsey Millhone…and Sue Grafton. Remarkable read.
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jlolarson
4.0 out of 5 stars Inside the Author's Head
Reviewed in the United States on September 9, 2013
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I picked this book for my "mostly mystery" book club. The short mystery stories were well received, though some were rather predictable. Any Kinsey Millhone story is enjoyable to me. They are not too "light" and not too "heavy". The plots are usually quite believable and as Kinsey, herself, narrates, you find much that is interesting and enjoyable in her personal and professional life. The second part of the book was about Grafton's own personal life growing up. It is interesting from the standpoint of "getting to know your author." Her real-life "demons" are not evident in Grafton's writing. Just reading a synopsis of this part of the book probably is all that is necessary for most readers. A book club friend refused to read the personal section because she felt that it mirrored her own life too much. It is probable that this personal section of the book will have numerous meanings to numerous different readers.
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oldcaman
3.0 out of 5 stars Short stories OK, the rest of the book not so much
Reviewed in the United States on February 1, 2013
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So far, I have read all the alphabetical stories, most of them good, some of them adequate.

This book consists of three parts - some rather clever short stories with no mentioning of Kinsey's elderly neighbors. The second part are the author's comments on this or that and the third introduces (?) a new fictional character presenting stuff that really did not interested me at all. Hence only three stars.

Looking forward, however, to W is for Witness, soon to be released. Being in the age of Kinsey's elderly but quite preserved neighbors, I expect them to be there or just drop dead in their sleep or something like that. Terrible deaths, hopefully, preserved for assorted villains.
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Fred Camfield
5.0 out of 5 stars A mixed collection
Reviewed in the United States on January 22, 2013
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This is the long awaited second editon of Kinsey and Me. The first edition, printed in 1991, had a limited printing and is extremely hard to obtain. The first part of the book, Kinsey, contains nine short stories that were perviously published separately including one that was not in the 1991 edition.

"Between the Sheets," 1986, was first published in Redbook magazine. A woman reports finding a body in her apartment, but the body mysteriously moves (remember that motion picture, "The Trouble With Harry"). It is up to Kinsey to reconstruct events.

"Long Gone," 1986, was first published in Redbook as "She didn't come home," and was reprinted in  Sisters in Crime 4 , 1991, Marilyn Walker, editor; and in  First Cases: First Appearances by Classic Private Eyes , Robert Randisi, editor. It is the story of a missing woman along with a large sum of money missing from her employer. She is suspected of running off with the money, but Kinsey investigates. An added aspect of the story is Kinsey's disliking of rug rats, i.e., young children.

"The Parker Shotgun," 1986, won the 1986 Macavity Award and the 1987 Anthony Award for best short story. It first appeared in  Mean Streets: The Second Private Eye Writers of America Anthology  Robert Randisi, editor, and was reprinted in the 1988 anthology,  Lady on the Case , Marcia Muller, et al, editors. It is the story of a very valuable shotgun, and a cast of characters with an interest, including one who has been killed by a shotgun blast. Only one knows the true value. A little twist in the conclusion.

"Non Sung Smoke," 1988, first appeared in  Eye for Justice: Third "Private Eye" Writers of America Anthology , Robert Randisi, editor. Something illicit and of value was stolen, and someone has turned up dead. Kinsey is hired to investigate. All is not as it seemed.

"Falling off the Roof," 1989, first appeared in the Anthology  Sisters in Crime , Marilyn Wallace, editor. The name of the Anthology is perhaps appropriate. A man is dead, and Kinsey is investigating, but there are complications as the prime suspect seems to have an ironclad alibi. But there was a witness...

"A Poison that Leaves No Trace," 1990, first appeared in the anthology  Sisters in Crime 2 , Marilyn Wallace, editor. Kinsey is hired to investigate circumstances around a death, but all is not as it seems. Oh, what a tangled web we weave when first we practice to deceive. A tale of double dealing.

"Full Circle," 1991, first appeared in the anthology  A Woman's Eye , Sara Paretsky, editor. Kinsey is a closeup witness to a fatal accident on a California freeway during rush hour, except it was no accident. Kinsey investigates and finds a suspect. The story has a twist in the end as justice is served in its own way.

"A Little Missionary Work," 1991, first appeared in the anthology  Deadly Allies , Robert Randisi, editor. I personally thought that this was the best story in the collection. A man is missing and a large ransom is demanded. The police are not to be notified and Kinsey is asked to help. Well, Kinsey has some ideas of her own about paying a ransom, and justice is served in an unexpected way.

"The Lying Game," 2003, did not appear in the first edition of Kinsey and Me, and was written by special request for Lands End for their 40th anniversary catalog. Kinsey is on a stakeout in the cold winter weather, and is wearing (of course) a Lands End parka.

The second part of the book, Me, was written after the death of Sue Grafton's mother, and is in the form of 13 memoirs. It is about Kit, reflecting on various things in her life, and gives some insight into Sue Grafton's early life. Possibly not as interesting for fans of mysteries, but of interest to someone wanting to know how a writer develops. The only one published outside the collection was "Maple Hill," first published in California Review.

There is an entr'acte between the two sections, "An Eye for an I: Justice, Morality, the Nature of the Hard-boiled Private Investigator, and All That Existential Stuff," 1995, that first appeared in  The Crown Crime Companion: The Top 100 Mystery Novels of All Time .

Like most collections, readers will like some parts better than others but, overall, a collection that is a must for fans of the author.
8 people found this helpful
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Amazon Customer
5.0 out of 5 stars Great book.
Reviewed in the United States on November 11, 2022
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Ugh! I held off reading this book, as I knew it would be the last one I haven't read from Sue Grafton. It was just like meeting up with an old friend I hadn't seen in years. Picked up right where we left off. Kinsey is one of my favorite characters, her sarcastic wit, he brains and intuition. She's got it all. The 2nd half of the book was a bit darker, but sucked me right into Kit's life. Sue Grafton, you will always be missed!
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Crystal Toller
4.0 out of 5 stars Kinsey Milhone
Reviewed in the United States on April 10, 2024
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The first part of the book is a collection of Kinsey Milhone stories written by the author. The second half of the book is short pieces about her family. Really enjoyed reading thid book by an author who is adored and missed.
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Mr Christopher Smith
5.0 out of 5 stars The short stories are a well crafted and a great read, not enough of them
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on November 22, 2015
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A surprising insight into Sue Grafton and her character Kinsey Millhone. The short stories are a well crafted and a great read, not enough of them! This book has enhanced the enjoyment of the Alphabet series, I'm just sad there are only two more to come. Another book of shorts would not go amiss. Thankyou Sue Grafton for hours of entertainment. One of my favourite authors,
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Eilleen Baker
5.0 out of 5 stars Sue Herself
Reviewed in Canada on January 16, 2014
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I enjoyed this book very much. I have read all the Alphabet books. (waiting impatiently for X )
Was happy to learn a bit about the author. I have always enjoyed Kinsey. Love her "all purpose" dress her olive & peanut butter sandwiches etc. Eileen Baker
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Irene B.
3.0 out of 5 stars Un libro particolare
Reviewed in Italy on August 18, 2014
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La prima parte contiene mini storie "autoconclusive" con la protagonista dei gialli "alfabetici", Kinsey Milhone, carine ma molto brevi appunto, personalmente non sono una fan di questo stile, ma questa è solo una questione di gusto... La seconda parte è di una tristezza infinita: pensavo fosse una sorta di analisi di come è nato il personaggio e del suo rapporto con Kinsey, invece è proprio autobiografico e, sinceramente, ha avuto un'infanzia e adolescenza così drammatici che ti lasciano veramente con l'amaro in bocca. Le tre stelle sono essenzialmente perché mi aspettavo un libro più leggero.
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A. Scott
5.0 out of 5 stars tres bon livre
Reviewed in France on May 30, 2013
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Il faut lire, il faut apprécié, il faut passer a vos amis, et après attendre la prochaine livre de cette dame fascinant!!!
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anne wilkinson
4.0 out of 5 stars Essential for the Kinsey fans
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on February 3, 2013
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I wait every year for a new Sue Grafton book - have read the whole alphabet so far and am sad they don't come out as often as they used to. So this was a great in-filler until the next one. I'm not a fan of short stories, and these are no better than most short stories - I always feel they end just as you're getting your teeth into them - but they have the Kinsey personality and are fun to read. I havn't finished the second section yet, which are rather sad reflections on Sue Grafton's upbringing, but definitely worth reading if you have any interest in her as a person, and are well and convincingly written.
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