A collection of stories that reveal Kinsey Millhone's origins--and author Sue Grafton's past. The nine stories that open the book show how fully formed Kinsey was from the beginning. The thirteen stories in the second part, written in the decade following her mother's death, feature Kit Blue, a younger version of Grafton herself, and reflect her troubled family life and the author's journey from anger to understanding and forgiveness.

Librarian's note: after a preface and an introduction, the book contains 9 Kinsey fiction stories: 1. Between the sheets (1986), 2. Long gone (1986), 3. The Parker shotgun (1986), 4. Non sung smoke (1988), 5. Falling off the roof (1989), 6. A poison that leaves no trace (1990), 7. Full circle (1991), 8. A little missionary work (1991), and 9. The lying game (2003). Then there's an article by the author on mystery detective stories titled, An Eye for an I: Justice, Morality, the Nature of the Hard-Boiled Private Investigator, and All that Existential Stuff (1995). Lastly, after another introduction, there are 13 short autobiographical stories by the author: 1. A woman capable of anything, 2. That's not an easy way to go, 3. Lost people, 4. Clue, 5. Night visit, corridor a, 6. April 24, 1960, 7. The closet, 8. Maple hill (1970), 9. A portable life, 10. The quarrel, 11. Jessie, 12. Death review, and 13. A letter from my father.