Book Review: S is for Silence

Reviewed By: Pat Reid - RAM

S is for Silence     Amazon US PB Amazon US HC Amazon Canada PB Amazon Canada HC
Sue Grafton
Class/Genre:   Mystery   Private Investigator   Woman Main Character
Series: Kinsey Milhone # 19
G. P. Putnam’s Sons, 2005, 374 pps.

Violet Sullivan was a flamboyant woman who created many different reactions from the people who knew her in the small town where she lived. Most of the men loved her or were at least attracted to her. Her husband was jealous and spent a lot of time knocking Violet around. Most of the women had no use for her. Liza Mellincamp worshiped her. Liza was a young girl who took care of Daisy, Violet’s young daughter, whenever a baby-sitter was needed.

Liza’s mother was a drunk and she confided many times in Violet since she was unable to talk to her mother. Liza’s friend Kathy Cramer resented Liza’s relationship with Violet.

One day in 1953 Violet left Liza to care for Daisy and left to go to the 4th of July picnic and never returned. It was never proven if Violet was dead or just had runaway and left her family.

Now years later Daisy hires Kinsey Millhone to investigate her mother’s disappearance. Kinsey doubts that she will do Daisy much good with the investigation and tries to talk her out of it but Daisy has made up her mind.

Kinsey goes to Daisy’s hometown and begins to find out many things regarding Violet’s disappearance that had never been revealed to the police at the time of the original investigation. She stirs up the town and even gets her tires slashed but she does get Daisy’s answer for her.

This was a fast read and an enjoyable book.

Pat Reid - RAM

Reprinted with permission. Do Not repost without permission from the author, Pat Reid - RAM