Y is for Yesterday by Sue Grafton is the twenty-fifth installment in the beloved alphabet-themed mystery series. The series follows the adventures of California-based Private Investigator Kinsey Millhone whose witty, easy going style and strong moral compass have garnered her devoted readers everywhere.
The plot unfolds when Yolanda, a teenaged student in Steven Refiao's high school English class, provides him with a veiled threat demanding his immediate attention. Being the upstanding teacher he is, he takes it upon himself to investigate the student’s odd behavior. His investigation leads him to Kinsey, who despite being an investigative private eye, he does not trust enough to release to her the full story.
Kinsey on the other hand, is ready to do whatever is necessary to protect her friend and colleague from what she believes is an impending danger. As she starts to put together clues, it soon becomes clear that a violent act that happened many years ago is still haunting its participants today.
Thirty years back, two teenagers, Yolanda and her boyfriend Benny took to a local lake for a joy ride with dire consequences. What started off as a joy ride soon escalates into a heated argument that ends in tragedy with only one of them walking away.
Now the dark secrets of the past are starting to come back to haunt those involved, and Kinsey is determined to find out the truth no matter the cost. In her relentless pursuit of justice and accountability, the clues lead her to an unexpected destination, one which threatens to have devastating repercussions on many lives.
In Y is for Yesterday, Sue Grafton continues to create an thrilling and suspenseful narrative that fans have come to expect from the series. She expertly crafts a brilliant storyline, where every clue leads to a more unexpected twist as the characters close in on the truth. Along the way, Grafton’s exploration of the characters' psychological motivations is presented in a masterful manner, highlighting the depths of the psychological strain of past trauma.
Y is for Yesterday continues the high level of excellence that Grafton has brought to the Kinsey Millhone series with its compelling main characters, captivating plot and an enthralling atmosphere. The novel would be a great addition to any collection, as it keeps readers guessing as to the true identity of the perpetrator and the ultimate resolution to the mystery.
