Kinsey Millhone is not your average gal. But then again, neither was Sue Grafton. Sue, who tragically passed away on December 28 at the age of 77, began her writing career in an unusual way—plotting the murder of her ex-husband. After determining death by oleander poisoning was the best way to knock him off, Grafton decided to forgo a stint in prison and instead fictionalized her revenge.
I started reading Grafton’s books when I was in the 7th grade when my grandmother gave me her old beat up paperback of A is for Alibi. I was instantly hooked. Not only to the fast-paced, intricate story-telling, but to Kinsey Millhone, a P.I. who is a little rough around the edges.
Kinsey Millhone wasn’t like the posh, rich, beautiful types in the Mary Higgins Clark mysteries I’d read. Kinsey was more of an everywoman. She lived in a renovated garage, and her best friend was Henry Pitts, her 88-yeard-old landlord who enjoyed baking and doing crossword puzzles. Kinsey woke up most mornings and went for a run with her beat up old Sauconys, ate peanut butter and pickle sandwiches for dinner while standing at the counter in her galley kitchen, and would, when she looked in the mirror and saw her mop had become an unruly mess, clean up her locks herself with the help of nail clippers.
How confident! How badass! At the time, I remember thinking how liberating it was to see a woman so sure of herself, and who never worried about what anyone thought of her. Kinsey did Kinsey, and I admired her for it. I also loved her standard uniform—jeans and a turtleneck most days (a look I’ll admit I’ve adopted), or, for special occasions, a magical wrinkle-free all-purpose dress that could be stuff in a duffle bag and come out looking great. I loved even more that Kinsey was hungry, a lot, and would take time for meals, heading down the street to her questionable local establishment run by Hungarian friend Rosie, who plied her with all kinds of strange concoctions. Kinsey would eat happily, all while washing it down with her standard glass of Chardonnay.