X - Sue Grafton

This was a slightly different take for Kinsey. X is the combination of three separate mysteries. First, a woman asks Kinsey to track down a son she put up for adoption who has just been released from jail. Second, Pete Wolinsky, who died in the last novel as part of a bribery scheme, has left a coded message of names of women. Third, two elderly neighbors with suspect motives have moved in next door to Henry. 

The three mysteries are completely unrelated, but all happening simultaneously. The mixture of issues helps to move the book's plot along, especially where it might have petered out in singularity. None of the three mysteries is quite enough to make a novel-length story of its own. It's nice to see Kinsey not quite so hard up for money, but it's equally disturbing seeing her throw around money on hotel rooms all the while knowing she's not getting paid. Her one paid gig in the entire book is over and done with in the first couple chapters. Otherwise she seems to be on the verge of unemployed. 

I received X a while ago on NetGalley in exchange for a review. I fully intended to make it through the earlier novels faster, but it just wasn't to be. Surprisingly though, after so many books following once character, Grafton continues to put out consistently readable and entertaining material. Perhaps she never expected to make it this far. X isn't for anything in this one. It just simply is. 

3.5/5 Stars.