S is for Silence - Sue Grafton - A Short Summary & Review

 S is for Silence - Sue Grafton - A Short Summary & Review

By: a.d. elliott | Take the Back Roads - Art and Other Odd Adventures

A Rite of Fancy Book Recommendation and Review

Kinsey Millhone and the case of the missing Violet (and her Chevy, too).

A short summary:

S is for Silence by Sue Grafton follows private investigator Kinsey Millhone as she reopens a long-cold missing persons case from the 1950s. Violet Sullivan vanished decades earlier, along with her Chevrolet, leaving behind rumors, half-truths, and a family still haunted by unanswered questions.

As Kinsey digs into Violet’s life, she uncovers a web of secrets stretching across generations. What first appears to be a straightforward disappearance becomes a layered exploration of identity, hidden lives, and the ways people rewrite history to survive. Piece by piece, Kinsey reconstructs a past that refuses to stay buried.

My favorite quote from the book:

"He might be a man without character, but she was a woman without courage. 

Of the two, which was worse?"

- Sue, Grafton, S is for Silence

Questions to ponder while reading:

Do you have anything you can't let go of?

Do you just feel fair?

My review:

S is for Silence is great fun and a genuinely satisfying murder mystery. Grafton’s pacing makes this an easy story to fall into, balancing investigation, character work, and quiet surprises.

What I enjoyed most was how the mystery unfolded through overlooked details and patient digging rather than flashy twists. The resolution is clever and deeply earned; I would have never thought to look there, which is exactly what makes it work.

This is classic Kinsey Millhone: smart, steady, and deeply readable. A perfect example of why Grafton’s alphabet series remains so enduring.

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About the Author
a.d. elliott is a wanderer, photographer, and storyteller traveling through life

She shares her journeys at Take the Back Roads, explores new reads at Rite of Fancy, and highlights U.S. military biographies at Everyday Patriot.

You can also browse her online photography gallery at shop.takethebackroads.com.

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