Books › R is for Ricochet (Kinsey Millhone, #18)
R is for Ricochet (Kinsey Millhone, #18)
First published 2005 · 572 pages
A sun-drenched, pragmatic dive into the messy intersections of loyalty, revenge, and unexpected romance in 1980s California.
What it feels like
Reading this feels like sliding into the passenger seat next to a fiercely competent, dryly funny friend who knows all the local secrets. The narrative unfolds at a steady, satisfying clip, grounding you in the tactile, pre-digital reality of 1980s California where detective work means index cards, payphones, and wearing out your shoe leather. It balances the simmering tension of a high-stakes revenge plot with the surprisingly tender vulnerability of a protagonist navigating her own romantic entanglements. The atmosphere is sun-drenched but shadowed by human greed and betrayal, offering a deeply satisfying blend of procedural grit and sharp character study. It is perfect for readers who crave a no-nonsense, observant narrator and the slow-burn thrill of watching a meticulously crafted trap snap shut.
- Mood
- sun-drenched
- grounded
- simmering
- nostalgic
- Tone
- wry
- pragmatic
- observant
- dryly humorous
- Pace
- steady
- Themes
- female solidarity · the cost of revenge · romantic vulnerability · loyalty and betrayal
- The writing
- Crisp, no-nonsense, and highly observant, grounding the reader in the tactile, everyday details of 1980s California.
- The arc
- Begins with a deceptively simple, almost mundane task that slowly escalates into a tense, emotionally charged web of vengeance and personal vulnerability.
- Who it's for
- Fans of fiercely independent, pragmatic female sleuths who appreciate old-school, shoe-leather detective work mixed with sharp character studies.
Content notes
- alcoholism
- incarceration
- betrayal
- mild violence
About the book
Kinsey Millhone, employed by Nord Lafferty to drive his daughter home from her incarceration at the Californian Institute for Women, marvels at the simplicity of the task. But Reba Lafferty emerges feisty and rebellious, and Kinsey is soon fighting to prevent her charge from breaking the conditions of her parole.
As she finds herself befriending the ex-gambler, ex-alcoholic and ex-con, Kinsey discovers that Reba had taken the fall for her boss, also her lover, when he conducted a highly-crafted money laundering scam. Alan Beckwith has so far escaped the clutches of the FBI. Now they believe he is laundering money for a Columbian drug cartel - they just need the proof.
When Kinsey is asked by the police to persuade Reba to unveil crucial evidence guaranteed to put Beckwith behind bars, she doesn’t expect cooperation. But when she hears of shocking new information about her lover, Reba is suddenly all too eager to do everything she can to ruin him.
Embroiled in a cunning challenge of wits, and meanwhile bemused by her own blossoming romance, Kinsey must try to control the bitter, angry Reba as she launches her dangerous revenge...
Description from Open Library.
Books like R is for Ricochet (Kinsey Millhone, #18)
See why they match
"G" is for gumshoeSue GraftonA sun-baked, high-stakes game of cat and mouse where a fiercely independent detective must navigate both a hitman's crosshairs and her own guarded heart.
"L" is for lawlessSue GraftonA fast-talking, cross-country treasure hunt that trades dead bodies for chaotic alliances and sharp-witted survival.
RicochetSandra BrownA sultry, high-stakes collision of gritty crime-solving and dangerous, forbidden attraction.
Hot SixJanet EvanovichA hilarious, high-octane romp through a quirky New Jersey underworld where the romantic tension is just as explosive as the car bombs.
Explosive EighteenJanet EvanovichA high-energy, laugh-out-loud joyride fueled by quirky sidekicks, exploding cars, and a perpetually simmering love triangle.
FletchGregory McdonaldA sun-drenched, dialogue-heavy romp through 1970s California, fueled by sharp banter and a delightfully irreverent anti-hero.