A powerful Kinsey Millhone mystery where two deaths — one accidental, one murder — collide in a story about justice, compassion, and the cost of conscience.
 
When a homeless man dies on the beach in Santa Teresa, no one seems to care — until Kinsey Millhone learns he named her as his next of kin. With no clear connection between them, Kinsey begins to investigate, uncovering a shocking link between the man’s death and the murder of a shady private investigator. As she digs deeper, the cases converge into a web of deceit, corruption, and buried guilt — forcing Kinsey to confront her own ideas of responsibility and grace.
 
In W Is for Wasted, Sue Grafton crafts a sprawling, emotionally charged mystery that examines the people society overlooks. The novel intertwines multiple storylines: Kinsey’s investigation, the backstory of a man who’s lost everything, and a moral meditation on empathy and redemption.
 
Drawing from real-world issues like homelessness, addiction, and greed, Grafton balances social realism with page-turning suspense. As Kinsey uncovers the truth, she’s reminded that justice isn’t always found in the courtroom — sometimes it’s found in compassion. A triumph of storytelling and heart, W Is for Wasted stands among Grafton’s finest works.
 
💖 Why You’ll Love It
A deeply emotional and socially aware detective story.
Complex, character-driven plot with rich moral themes.
Showcases Kinsey’s growth and empathy like never before.
Blends classic investigation with modern realism.
A late-series masterpiece by Sue Grafton.
 
🌟 Perfect For
Fans of Tana French, Ann Cleeves, and Louise Penny.
Readers who enjoy morally complex mysteries.
Book clubs exploring compassion and justice in fiction.
Collectors completing the Alphabet Mystery Series.
 
❤️ Fans Also Liked
If you enjoyed W Is for Wasted, you might also like:
U Is for Undertow by Sue Grafton — memory and guilt in a cold case.
V Is for Vengeance by Sue Grafton — greed, betrayal, and revenge.
The Beautiful Mystery by Louise Penny — moral depth in small-town suspense.