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Your Turn: Kinsey Millhone

From the Kinsey Millhone books, by Sue Grafton
Nominated by Brenda Kuhlman

As a kid I was mesmerized by 1960s images of female detectives like Honey West or Agent 99: women who were strong, smart and drop-dead gorgeous in heels. Enter Kinsey Millhone twenty years later, who doesn't own heels. Neither do I. Plus, like me, she cuts her hair with toenail scissors, owns only one all-purpose dress, secretly craves Quarter-Pounders and has a soft spot for octogenarians. Shes not fearless, not always smart. But she does the right thing in the end.

I first picked up G is for Gumshoe while going through an ugly divorce. I'd been feeling weak and vulnerable. One day I heard myself say out loud,"What would Kinsey do?"

I've since read every book from A is for Alibi to T is for Trespass, and there are still times I say, "What Would Kinsey Do?" Grafton has kept me strong!

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3:58 PM ET | 02- 4-2008 | permalink

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3:58 PM ET | 02- 4-2008 | permalink

 

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And while we're talking legacy, don't forget the proto-gal-gumshoe: "Harriet The Spy". Harriet was my heroine throughout gradeschool. Resourceful, smart and...sneaky.

Though my absolute favorite from the era is "M" from the Bond series. She had a complete sang-froid cachet and staff that would kick your butt for her. That's wench-power on steroids. Dame Judi Dench is perfect as current holder of the role.

Sent by Maryam Webster | 4:11 PM ET | 02-05-2008

Kinsey gets my vote, too. She gets dirty, she gets tired, she gets irritable ... just like a real person. Plus, she eats peanut butter - and - pickle sandwiches. I thought I was the only person in the world who ate them. I always salute a new Kinsey adventure by making a stack of pb & pickle sandwiches!

Sent by Vicki Brooker | 6:34 PM ET | 02-06-2008

Don't forget Stephanie Powers in The Girl From U.N.C.L.E. or how about Robert Vaughn and David McCallum in The Man From U.N.C.L.E. which has never been released on DVD to my knowledge. There's a story there, I'll bet

Sent by Roseann Fitzgerald | 6:29 PM ET | 03-16-2008
   
   
   
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