"B" Is for Burglar

Private investigator Kinsey Millhone takes on what appears to be a simple missing person case when Beverly Danziger hires her to locate her sister, Elaine Boldt. The case involves tracing Elaine's movements between her home in Santa Teresa, California, and her winter residence in Boca Raton, Florida. The investigation grows more complex when Millhone discovers inconsistencies in the story of Pat Usher, who claims to be subletting Elaine's Florida apartment. The timing of Elaine's disappearance coincides with a fatal burglary and fire at a neighbor's house in Santa Teresa, raising questions about potential connections between the events. As Millhone pursues leads in both California and Florida, she faces escalating danger, with break-ins targeting locations connected to Elaine's paperwork and personal documents. The story demonstrates how seemingly straightforward cases can mask deeper layers of deception and criminal activity. The novel explores themes of identity and the ease with which people can vanish in a pre-digital world, while examining the hidden complexities that often lie beneath surface-level relationships.

Readers consider this second Kinsey Millhone mystery stronger than the first book, with tighter plotting and more complex character development. Readers appreciated: - The detailed investigation process - Multiple interwoven plot threads - Kinsey's growing confidence as a detective - California setting descriptions - Logical progression of clues Common criticisms: - Some find the pace slow in the middle sections - Supporting characters lack depth - Resolution feels rushed to some readers - A few plot points strain credibility Ratings: Goodreads: 4.0/5 (119,000+ ratings) Amazon: 4.4/5 (2,400+ reviews) Sample reader comments: "The investigative details feel authentic - you're really walking through each step with Kinsey" - Goodreads reviewer "Middle section drags with too many dead ends" - Amazon reviewer "Big improvement over A is for Alibi in terms of the mystery complexity" - LibraryThing review

The Long Goodbye by Raymond Chandler A private detective investigates a friend's apparent suicide in Los Angeles, uncovering layers of deception and corruption that mirror Kinsey Millhone's methodical investigation style.

One for the Money by Janet Evanovich A female bounty hunter pursues a murder suspect through New Jersey's criminal underworld, combining criminal investigation with personal relationships in her hometown.

Prime Suspect by Lynda La Plante A female detective chief inspector faces institutional sexism while pursuing a serial killer in London, featuring the same professional determination shown by Kinsey Millhone.

The Monkey's Raincoat by Robert Crais A Los Angeles private investigator searches for a missing woman and her son, leading to discoveries of Hollywood corruption and organized crime.

A is for Alibi by Sue Grafton The first book in the Kinsey Millhone series follows the same private detective through California as she solves a murder case involving a woman who served time for killing her husband.

🔍 Sue Grafton wrote all 25 published books in the Alphabet series in strict chronological order, with only six months passing in Kinsey Millhone's life between each novel. 🏆 "B" Is for Burglar won both the Anthony Award for Best Novel and the Shamus Award for Best Private Eye Novel in 1985, establishing Grafton as a major voice in detective fiction. 🗺️ Santa Teresa, the primary setting of the book, is a fictionalized version of Santa Barbara, California, where Grafton lived for many years. 📱 The series deliberately takes place in the 1980s, with Grafton refusing to modernize Kinsey's methods, keeping her character reliant on paper files, phone booths, and face-to-face interviews rather than computers and cell phones. 👩‍🦰 The protagonist Kinsey Millhone was partially inspired by Grafton's own experiences working as a screenwriter in Hollywood, where she developed a tough, independent personality to survive in a male-dominated industry.