F is for Fugitive - Sue Grafton

Floral Beach wasn't much of a town: six streets long and three deep, its only notable feature a strip of sand fronting the Pacific. It was on that sandy beach seventeen years ago that the strangled body of Jean Timberlake had been found.The people of floral Beach didn't pay a whole lot of mind to past history, especially when Bailey Fowler, the self-confessed killer, had been properly processed and convicted. They weren't even unduly concerned when, a year after the murder, Fowler walked away from the men's prison at San Luis Obispo, never to be seen again. After all, everyone knew Jean had been a wild kid. "Like mother, like daughter," some said--though never within hearing of Shana Timberlake, who, whatever her faults, still mourned her murdered child.And then, by sheer fluke, the cops stumbled on Bailey Fowler. And a case seventeen years dead came murderously to life again.For Royce Fowler, old and sick with not much time left, his son's reappearance was the chance to heal an old wound. For Kinsey Millhone, the case was a long shot, but she agreed to take it on. She couldn't know then it would lead her to probe the passions buried just below the surface of family relations, where old wounds fester and the most cherished emotions become warped until they fuse into deadly, soul-destroying time bombs.

Published: 2005-11-29 (St. Martin's Paperbacks)

ISBN: 9780312939045

Language: English

Format: Paperback, 320 pages

Goodreads' rating: -

Genres

Crime Mystery Thriller Mystery Fiction Thriller

Reviews

Eartha rated it

Kinsey Millhone takes the case of helping an old man clear his son's name. The son was convicted of murder seventeen years prior, but escaped shortly after going to prison. He has been in hiding, but when he is found, the old case if brought back to light. He says he didn't do it, and it's Kinsey's job to find who did.The 6th Kinsey Millhone book in Grafton's alphabet series. This Kinsey book was a little different because it wasn't based in Santa Teresa. I liked that this one took Kinsey away from her home, and introduced her to a small town atmosphere. The small town made her case more challenging, since everyone knew everyone else, and nobody wanted to be telling secrets to an outsider. I also liked the cold-case aspect of this story. Kinsey had to rely on what others told her, and since not everyone was truthful, it made her rely on her instincts.I listened to an audio version of this book.

Ami rated it

Sue Grafton played up to her strengths, which is the descriptive. No one, nobody is better than she was at showing us these bits and pieces of metal, cloth, and concrete in which she hatched her characters.Kinsey Millhone. In each book, this character felt different. Here she is plagued by a cold case. Thankfully Sue Grafton was a dab at creating small amounts of tension. This was believable enough.Unfortunately for us readers who have grown up with Agatha Christie, Dorothy L Sayers, M.C. Beaton, and Ellery Queen, we must admit that the author here is weak at plotting. The murderer's identity was so simply concocted that it beggared belief. Still, the book is in my mind. Loved reading it.

Jessamyn rated it

I loved this story and it is probably because I have a soft spot for cold case mysteries. The other reason this is a great story is because Kinsey is complete left to her resources. Her support system is non-existent because her client isnt in good health to help her and Grafton takes the story out of Santa Theresa. The reader gets a really good feel for just how observant Kinsey is of the people around her. Grafton brings this out as Kinsey is describing the people, the family dynamics and the community culture. With no one to really talk to the only hint as to how Kinseys mind is working is through these observations and it emphasizes just why Kinsey makes a good detective. The case is engaging and the supporting characters make great suspects as Kinsey works through the process of trying to find out who killed Jean Timberlake and hopefully free Bailey Fowler. Reading the story also helps bring into reality that fact Kinsey didnt really have a true family growing up as she interacts with the Fowler family. As usual Judy Kaye continues to excel as the voice of Kinsey Millhone.

Ambrosio rated it

This is such a good series and I have enjoyed them all so far. I love to get involved with such long running story lines, because the characters become such good friends.....on to G......

Meyer rated it

There is no greater keeper of secrets than a small town that wants to protect its own. Kinsey Millhone discovers this fact when she travels to Florida to investigate a cold-case crime.