U Is for Undertow

Sue Grafton

Michael Sutten comes to Kinsey Milhone with a strange story. Recently a newspaper story sparked a forgotten memory from when he was six in 1967. Now, 21 years later, he believes he witnessed two men burying the body of a kidnapped little girl who was never found.

Kinsey listens to his remarkable story. It catches her interest, but she is reluctant to take on an investigation. She agrees to look for one day, with payment in cash in advance. She doesn't find much but eventually they discover the spot in the woods where his memory probably happened. After that brings a unusual result but no missing child's body, she tells Sutton to give it up.

He won't although he agrees to leave her alone about it. Especially after he learns she met with his sister. He and his sister are at odds and knows the sister has skewed Kinsey's opinion about him. Despite all, Kinsey can't leave it alone, either. She keeps picking at some of the ends and pieces.

At the same time, her remote family reappears. She is not happy but finally accepts new information about her family. After all the years of being ignored, she's having trouble accepting them into her life. What will happen to her memories of her aunt if she opens this information.

Sue Grafton takes Kinsey Milhone in so many different directions in the series. U Is for Undertow goes yet another way using a cold case and current life problems. This is also a book written in two timelines - it goes between the current time (1988) and the years leading up to the kidnapping and presumed death of a four-year-old girl. This earlier period was in the 1960's leading up to the Summer of Love in San Francisco in 1967.

Grafton doesn't build much suspense in U Is for Undertow. About half way through the book the reader has an idea of who kidnapped the girl in 1967. The who isn't the question, but the why is. And how does the past affect the present? This is a quiet detective novel that leaves the reader well satisfied. Kinsey's personal story is advanced but the past books aren't needed for it to make sense.

This is a book that can be put down - but not for long. It wasn't long before I was back into it, wanting to know how it was going to come together. And how will the past memories affect Michael Sutton's life today? Even when we get a glimpse, we hope it will be different. Good book that mystery lovers will enjoy.

Notice:  Non-graphic violence

A is for Alibi
B is for Burglar
C is for Corpse
D is for Deadbeat
E is for Evidence
F is for Fugitive
G is for Gumshoe
H is for Homicide
I is for Innocent
J is for Judgement
K is for Killer
L is for Lawless
M is for Malice
N is for Noose
O is for Outlaw
P is for Peril
Q is for Quarry
R is for Ricochet
S is for Silence
T is for Trespass
U is for Undertow
V is for Vengeance