Welcome to another Tuesday celebrating bookish events, from Tuesday/First Chapter/Intros, hosted by Bibliophile by the Sea; and Teaser Tuesdays hosted by A Daily Rhythm.
Today’s feature is a book from an author I have enjoyed, and whose mystery series has brought to life one of my favorite heroines. Sue Grafton’s latest is X (Kinsey Millhone Book #24). I received my e-ARC from NetGalley: release date – August 25, 2015.
Intro: In the Beginning:
Teddy Xanakis would have to steal the painting. What other choice did she have? She believed it was a Turner—a possibility she couldn’t confirm unless she shipped it to the Tate in London, where the Turner scholars, Evelyn Joll and Martin Butlin in particular, could make a judgment about its authenticity. Unfortunately, the painting was currently in the basement of the house that was now solely in Ari’s name, where it had sat for years, unrecognized and unappreciated. She might have blamed herself for the oversight, but why on earth would anyone expect to find a priceless painting in such homely company?
She and Ari had bought the house when they moved from Chicago to Santa Teresa, California. The estate had been owned by the Carpenters, who passed it down from generation to generation until the last surviving family member died in 1981, having neglected to write a will. The estate attorney had locked the doors and put the house up for sale. Teddy and Ari had bought it fully equipped and fully furnished, right down to the rolls of toilet paper in the linen closet and three sets of sterling flatware in the silver vault. The antiques, including several exquisite Persian carpets, were appraised as part of the purchase price, but in the process a small group of paintings had been overlooked. The attorney had paid the taxes owed, handing the IRS and the State of California the hefty sums to which they were entitled.
***
Teaser: (After the divorce)
Teddy made three trips to the house, thinking she could walk in casually and remove the painting without attracting notice. Unfortunately, Ari had instructed the staff to usher her politely to the door, which is what they did. Of one thing she was certain—she could not let Ari know of her interest in the seascape or her suspicions about its pedigree. (2%).
***
Blurb: X: The number ten. An unknown quantity. A mistake. A cross. A kiss.
X: The shortest entry in Webster’s Unabridged. Derived from Greek and Latin and commonly found in science, medicine, and religion. The most graphically dramatic letter. Notoriously tricky to pronounce: think xylophone.
X: The twenty-fourth letter in the English alphabet.Sue Grafton’s X: Perhaps her darkest and most chilling novel, it features a remorseless serial killer who leaves no trace of his crimes. Once again breaking the rules and establishing new paths, Grafton wastes little time identifying this sociopath. The test is whether Kinsey can prove her case against him before she becomes his next victim.
***
I always eagerly await each new “alphabet book”…and I am as fond of the writing style and MC as I have ever been. What do you think? Do the excerpts pique your curiosity? Does the blurb?
***
I’m so jealous! (But it a good way.) I am not up to X yet, but I do plan to make sure I have a copy of this one soon. I hope it’s good. I love Sue Grafton’s series.
LikeLike
I love this series and Kinsey a lot…I even read the book she wrote that was not part of the “letters”…Kinsey.
Thanks for stopping by, Wendy, and I hope you enjoy all the “alphabet books” you read until you get to this one…and then, this one, too.
LikeLike
I’ve loved this series for a long time. I haven’t read W yet, so it will be a while until I get to X. I’m going to hate it when she gets to Z and the series is over.
LikeLike
Me, too, Margot….maybe she will start something else, though. I think she is in her late seventies now, so maybe she will just retire. But I can’t imagine it.
Thanks for stopping by.
LikeLike
I want to read this! I love this series.
LikeLike
I hope you enjoy it, Emma…I love the series too!
LikeLike
Sounds like another great story from Sue Grafton. The opening definitely drew me in, and the Teaser made me wonder how she’s going to pull off the theft. I’m looking forward to reading this one.
My Tuesday post features THE LAND OF MANGO SUNSETS.
LikeLike
That is the question, isn’t it, Sandra? The fun thing about this series, too, is that it is set in the 80s when there wasn’t the technology we have now. Not even cell phones! Creativity is required….thanks for stopping by.
LikeLike
I’m on the waiting list for this at the library, so it’s definitely in my TBR pile.
LikeLike
Hope you love it, Suzie…thanks for stopping by.
LikeLike
I loved this series but got waylaid somewhere around letter H or I. LOL
LikeLike
I am not completely sure that I have read all of the earlier ones, so I think you could just jump ahead…LOL. Thanks for visiting, Candace.
LikeLike
My mom loves this series. Girl Who Reads
LikeLike
Thanks, Donna, hope she enjoys it. Maybe you would, too.
LikeLike
I’ve not read any of these books but the intro has me intrigued… I may have to add Sue Grafton to my TBR list
LikeLike
You might have to do that, Chippy…thanks for stopping by.
LikeLike
I’ve never gotten into this series. Think I read A and B and maybe J. However, that being said, I loved the little tidbits you shared with us. Maybe I need to just try ‘X’ and then work backwards? LOL
Can you believe only 2 more to go – Y and Z. Wonder if she will stop then?
LikeLike
That is definitely the big question, isn’t it?
And yes, you could do that. I think that each book can stand on its own, as the author fills us in on significant backstory as if affects each case. And Kinsey is the same age she has always been…LOL.
Thanks for visiting, Kay.
LikeLike
Based on the blurbs and excerpts, Grafton’s novels get better and better. I still haven’t read W (and I have it), so I may read these two back to back.
LikeLike
Yes, I think I may have W on my Kindle, as I don’t see it on my bookshelves…but I know I have it somewhere, and that I read it…LOL. Hope you enjoy them both, Catherine, and thanks for stopping by.
LikeLike
Mine is a Kinsey book this week too! You know I’ll be reading this as soon as I get to it.
I’m at U is for Undertow: https://madamevauquer.wordpress.com/2015/08/11/sue-grafton-undertow-kinsey-millhone/
LikeLike
I have been planning to find all of my Grafton books (the print ones) and put them together on the same shelf. Thanks for stopping by, Dagny, and I’m eager to see your excerpts.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I am so behind, since I have just recently finished A…lol. 🙂
Stormi
Teaser
LikeLike
Well, on the plus side, you have the whole series to look forward to, Stormi. Thanks for stopping by.
LikeLike
I was just over on Dagny’s blog and she’s doing a Grafton book too! I’m so behind with these!
Thanks for stopping by my teaser:)
LikeLike
I was wondering where my U is for Undertow book was, since I have several different shelves. But I found it on the one in my office book nook. Thanks for visiting, Laura.
LikeLike
I’ve read a few of them, this sounds really interesting.
LikeLike
I am definitely looking forward to it, Mary Ann.
LikeLike
I haven’t started this series and would have to read them in order, so I’d have to pass even though I do like what you shared.
LikeLike
Probably you would find them all more easily through the library, Vicki. Good luck!
LikeLike
OMG. I read it and enjoyed it and can only remember the first part of the book, jogged by your teasers. Who was the serial killer and why? I will have to re read it sometime 🙂
LikeLike
Yes, I find that I read so many more books than I once did (blogging side-effect), so I sometimes forget the details as soon as I start on another book. Sometimes my reviews jog my memory, but not about the “spoiler” events, like who the killer is…LOL. Thanks for stopping by, Harvee.
LikeLike
I have always wanted to read this whole series. I have read “A”, but then got stopped and on to others. I think that now I feel overwhelmed to continue. But I should “just do it!”
LikeLike
It has been so many years since I read the early books that I could probably reread them, and they would seem like new reads…LOL. Thanks for stopping by, Judy, and you should just go for it!
LikeLike
A few people are reading this series this week. I’ve never read it, but I want to. I’ve heard so many great things about it.
LikeLike
I got hooked on the feisty, quirky MC, Kinsey Millhone. There is enough of her personal stuff in the story, along with the mystery aspects, that I feel as though she is a friend.
Thanks for stopping by, Yvonne.
LikeLike
You can’t go wrong with this series. I love the intro, so I’d keep reading!
LikeLike
Thanks, Monica, and I agree about the series.
LikeLike
Oh, I liked those excerpts very much! The library wait is long for this one but my turn will come eventually. I do enjoy this series.
LikeLike
I hope your turn comes quickly, Bea….thanks for stopping by. Enjoy!
LikeLike