R is for Ricochet (Kinsey Millhone, #18) Summary & Key Insights

In Sue Grafton's R is for Ricochet, Kinsey Millhone, the independent investigator, finds herself embroiled in a complex case involving a missing person and a web of deceit that stretches back decades. The narrative begins with a seemingly straightforward missing person's inquiry: the disappearance of a young woman, Polly Dyer, who vanished without a trace from a secluded area in rural California. Polly's mother, a wealthy and eccentric artist named Ginny, hires Kinsey to locate her.

Ginny's description of Polly's disappearance initially suggests a simple runaway case, but Kinsey's investigation quickly uncovers a far more intricate puzzle. She delves into Polly's past, uncovering secrets and lies that involve multiple characters with interwoven relationships. Key among these is John, Ginny's estranged husband, who holds a significant amount of control over the family's finances and exhibits suspicious behavior. His past actions also come under scrutiny.

The investigation takes Kinsey to various locations, from the isolated Dyer estate to the bustling city streets of Santa Teresa, as she follows clues and interviews individuals connected to Polly. She encounters a cast of compelling characters, including a lawyer with a shady past, a potential romantic interest who offers assistance and a degree of emotional connection, and a detective who initially appears as an unhelpful foil. Each encounter unravels another layer of the mystery, revealing hidden motives and long-buried resentments.

As Kinsey digs deeper, she uncovers a decades-old murder that remains unsolved, intricately linked to Polly’s disappearance and the Dyer family's tangled history. This revelation dramatically shifts the focus of the investigation, blurring the lines between the missing person case and a much more serious crime. The central mystery becomes one of uncovering the truth about the past, exposing the perpetrator of the long-ago murder and finding out who was responsible for making Polly vanish.

The overarching themes in R is for Ricochet revolve around the complexities of family relationships, the burden of secrets and lies, and the enduring power of the past to shape the present. Kinsey's own personal journey within the narrative reflects on her struggles with maintaining healthy relationships and her attempts to reconcile her professional life with her personal life. The narrative also explores the themes of justice, forgiveness, and the lasting impact of trauma. Ultimately, the novel highlights the enduring human capacity for deception, and the lengths individuals will go to protect their secrets, even at the cost of others' well-being. The resolution finds Kinsey once again navigating the moral complexities of her profession, dispensing justice in her own unique way while highlighting the enduring consequences of past actions.