It’s hard to talk about Sue Grafton without getting a little bit emotional. For mystery junkies, her "Alphabet Series" wasn't just a collection of books; it was a decades-long relationship. When Y Is for Yesterday hit the shelves in 2017, nobody—not even Grafton’s most devoted "Kinseyphiles"—knew it would be the absolute end. Then Sue passed away in December of that same year, leaving the letter Z unwritten.
It felt like a gut punch.
But honestly? If you're going to go out, this is the way to do it. Y Is for Yesterday isn't just a placeholder or a late-series slump. It’s a dark, twisty, and surprisingly modern look at how the past eventually catches up to everyone, even a scrappy private investigator in 1980s Santa Teresa.
The Darker Side of 1989
Most people remember the eighties for neon and synthesizers, but Grafton’s world was always grittier. In Y Is for Yesterday, we find Kinsey Millhone in November 1989. The wall is falling in Berlin, but in California, Kinsey is dealing with the fallout of a ten-year-old crime.
The plot kicks off with a cold case that turns hot very quickly. Back in 1979, a group of private school boys committed a horrific sexual assault, filmed it, and then watched as one of their own was murdered. Now, ten years later, someone has the tape.
Extortion. Revenge. A sociopath named Fritz Wheeler.
It’s heavy stuff.
What’s wild about this specific entry in the series is how Grafton handles the villain. Fritz isn't some shadowy figure in the background. He’s right there. You see his perspective. You see the rot. It makes the stakes feel much more personal for Kinsey, especially since she's also dealing with the return of Robert Dietz—her occasional lover and a man who carries his own set of complications.
Why Kinsey Millhone Still Matters
Kinsey is the original "unfussy" female lead. She cuts her own hair with nail scissors. She lives in a renovated garage. She owns one black "all-purpose" dress that she crinkles into a ball.
In Y Is for Yesterday, Grafton doubles down on Kinsey’s independence. While other fictional detectives were becoming tech-savvy or leaning on high-tech gadgets, Kinsey was still using index cards and payphones. This isn't just nostalgia; it's a masterclass in procedural writing. By stripping away the "magic" of modern forensics, Grafton forces the character to rely on pure observation and grit.
You’ve got to admire that.
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The book spends a lot of time on the psychological toll of the job. Kinsey is getting older. She’s reflecting on her family—or lack thereof—and her relationship with her landlord, Henry Pitts. Henry is 100 years old in this book. Let that sink in. Their bond is the heartbeat of the series, and the scenes in this final installment feel particularly poignant knowing there won't be another chapter for them.
The Narrative Structure of Y Is for Yesterday
Grafton decided to play with time here.
The story jumps between 1979 and 1989. This allows us to see the "before" and "after" of a life-shattering event. We see the boys as entitled teenagers and then as broken or predatory adults.
It’s a smart move.
It highlights a core theme: you can’t run from who you were. Whether it's the perpetrators of the assault or Kinsey herself dealing with her estranged family (the "Upper" Millhones), the past is a shadow.
A Quick Reality Check on the "Z" Rumors
Ever since 2017, fans have speculated about "Z is for Zero." Would a ghostwriter take over? Would her daughter finish it?
The answer is a hard no.
Grafton’s family was very clear. The alphabet now ends at Y. As her daughter Jamie Clark famously said, "the alphabet now ends at Y." For a series built on such a rigid structure, ending one letter short is a poetic, if heartbreaking, conclusion. It leaves Kinsey frozen in time, forever 38 years old, forever jogging along the California coast.
Breaking Down the Case: Fritz and the Tape
The extortion plot is where the "Yesterday" of the title really bites.
Fritz Wheeler is out of prison and he wants what he thinks he’s owed. The victim of the original crime, a girl named Iris, has spent a decade trying to rebuild. When the tape resurfaces, it’s not just a legal problem; it’s a total dismantling of her peace.
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Kinsey’s role here is part investigator, part protector. She’s navigating a world of wealthy families who want to bury their scandals deep.
There's a specific tension in the writing. Grafton’s prose is lean. She doesn't waste time on flowery metaphors. She tells you exactly what the air smells like in a stale apartment or how a cheap polyester suit feels against the skin. That tactile reality is what makes Y Is for Yesterday feel so grounded compared to the "psychological thrillers" that dominate the bestseller lists today.
The Technical Mastery of Sue Grafton
If you're a writer, you study Grafton.
She was a pioneer of the "hardboiled" female detective. Before Kinsey, women in mystery were often the victims, the sidekicks, or the "cozy" sleuths who solved crimes between baking muffins. Kinsey broke that mold. She was cynical. She was lonely. She was capable.
In this final book, the pacing is a bit slower than, say, S is for Silence. But the depth is greater. Grafton takes the time to explore the "why" behind the crimes. She doesn't just give us a "whodunit"—she gives us a "how-did-they-become-this."
It’s honestly a bit chilling.
The way she weaves the various threads—the extortion, the murder, Kinsey's personal life—shows a writer at the absolute top of her game. There’s no "senioritis" here. Every word is deliberate.
What Critics Got Wrong
Some reviewers at the time felt the book was too long or that the 1979 flashbacks pulled away from the main action.
I disagree.
The flashbacks are the point. Without them, the stakes in 1989 feel like just another paycheck for Kinsey. With them, we understand the weight of the tragedy. We see the arrogance of youth and the devastating consequences of "just a joke." It’s a critique of privilege that feels even more relevant now than it did when the book was released.
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Is Y Is for Yesterday a Good Entry Point?
Maybe not.
If you've never read a Kinsey Millhone novel, don't start here. Start with A is for Alibi. You need to see the evolution. You need to grow with Henry Pitts. You need to understand why Kinsey is so guarded.
But if you’ve been along for the ride, Y Is for Yesterday is a satisfying, if bittersweet, goodbye. It wraps up several long-standing character arcs while leaving the central mystery of "what happens next" to our imagination.
Actionable Takeaways for Mystery Fans
If you're looking to dive back into the world of Santa Teresa or just want to appreciate the legacy of this series, here is how to approach it:
- Read for the Procedural Details: Pay attention to how Kinsey tracks people down in 1989. She uses city directories, reverse directories (the "criss-cross" books), and public records. It’s a fascinating look at the "analog" detective era.
- Observe the Character Arcs: Look at the relationship between Kinsey and Cheney Phillips. It’s a great example of how to write a professional relationship with romantic undertones without it becoming a soap opera.
- Study the Villain: Fritz Wheeler is a lesson in writing a grounded antagonist. He isn't a "supervillain"; he's a pathetic, dangerous man fueled by resentment.
- The "Alphabet" Context: If you're a collector, look for the first edition hardcovers. The cover art for the series evolved beautifully over thirty years, and Y Is for Yesterday features a design that pays homage to the very first book.
The Final Word on Kinsey Millhone
We don’t get many characters like Kinsey anymore.
Everything now is about DNA evidence, cell phone pings, and hacking. Y Is for Yesterday reminds us that at the end of the day, solving a crime is about understanding people. It’s about recognizing the flaws, the greed, and the weird little quirks that make us human.
Sue Grafton gave us 25 books of pure, unadulterated craft. She didn't use ghostwriters. She didn't chase trends. She stayed true to Kinsey until the very end.
While we’ll never get the "Z" book, the ending of Y Is for Yesterday feels right. It’s a quiet moment. Kinsey is still there, still working, still fighting the good fight in her little corner of California.
And honestly? That’s all we ever wanted for her anyway.
To truly honor the legacy, go back and re-read the series. Notice the small things. The peanut butter and pickle sandwiches. The VW Beetle. The way the light hits the Pacific. That’s where the real story lives. Not in the "alphabet" gimmick, but in the life of a woman who refused to be anyone but herself.
Yesterday might be gone, but for Kinsey, it’s always right there, waiting to be solved.