C is for Coprse by Sue Grafton ****

C is for Corpse by Sue Grafton is an early case for Kinsey Millhone, the private detective from Santa Teresa (aka Santa Barbara, CA). This case starts when the spoiled-rich, but sympathetic, Bobby Callahan hires her because he believes someone is trying to murder him. He believes he was run off the road nine months ago in an accident that left him with partial amnesia and paralysis. No one believes him, especially the parents of his best friend, Rick Bergen, who died in the accident.

Bobby has little support beyond Kinsey. His mother, a rich socialite, doesn’t buy the murder story. His step-father Derek, and his stoned, anorexic step-sister Kitty, are antagonistic. The police have closed the investigation as an accident. Ultimately, Kinsey solves the case.

Kinsey is a low-key PI with a dry sense of humor.

“I’d rather talk to you,” I said. He seemed surprised by that, as though no one ever preferred to talk to him.

Kinsey Millhone differs from other mystery detectives.  While Hercule Poirot see suspects and clues everywhere, Kinsey sees dead ends. Rather than this list of suspects growing, her list shrinks. It seems as each time she formulates a direction for the investigation, that possibility is closed. Eventually, the case is solved by accident, as when one of Bobby’s friends volunteers Bobby’s address book, or Kinsey has a unexpected flash of insight.

Observations from the 1980s include lots of pay phones and drinking. Practically everyone offers Kinsey a drink at all hours, and she always accepts.

Since this is a major publisher, I must note that shade is not spelled stade, and unload is not spelled unloaad.

This series continues to Y is for Yesterday The author died at the end of 2017 without leaving a manuscript for Z. She will be missed, but Kinsey Millhone will live on in the 25 mystery novels in this well-loved series.