Ask Sue Grafton if Kinsey Millhone will ever remarry or even fall in love again and she has a quick and ready reply: “Fall in love perhaps. But she's the boss.” That just about sums up Ms. Grafton's attitude toward the spunky, spirited P.I. at the center of her best-selling alphabet mystery series.

        “Kinsey has pretty much taken over my entire existence - I'm just along for the ride,” she says. “I try to be faithful to Kinsey.”

        Her faithfulness is evident in her latest novel, P is for Peril. Readers who have grown accustomed to the leading character's sharp wit and determination will not be disappointed.

        The story is this: Dr. Dowan Purcell, a prominent geriatric physician, has disappeared. He has been missing for nine weeks when Kinsey is asked by Purcell's ex-wife to find him. Kinsey, against her better judgment, tells her, “I'll do what I can, but I make no promises.”

BOOK SIGNING

Sue Grafton will discuss and sign P is for Peril 7 p.m. Monday at Joseph-Beth Booksellers, Edwards and Madison roads, Norwood, 396-8960.

        The search introduces her to an interesting array of characters. There's Crystal, Purcell's current young wife; Fiona, Purcell's eccentric ex-wife; his business associates; his colleagues at Pacific Meadows Nursing Home; his grown daughters; his troubled stepdaughter; his wife's ex-husband. The list goes on and on — and each person has a theory about Purcell's whereabouts.

        On the surface, it seems that none of them would want to do him in.

Nothing lighthearted

        In her usual style, Kinsey methodically works her way through each character, learning what she can however she can — bending the rules when necessary.

        Enter: the subplot. Generally Ms. Grafton incorporates a lighthearted subplot to break the action of the main story line. Not this time. The side story here puts Kinsey in more danger than her search for Purcell.

        As Grafton fans know, Kinsey is a loner. She enjoys being by herself and, in fact, works best that way. So when her friend Lonnie Kingman decides to relocate his office, where Kinsey rents space, she decides that it's time to find a place of her own.

        Of course, the office space she stumbles upon seems too good to be true — and it is. Her new landlords are twin Texas boys who murdered their parents. Unfortunately for Kinsey, there was never enough evidence to convict them.

        To make matters worse, one of the boys is pursuing a romantic relationship with Kinsey, one she's not totally opposed to until she learns of his murderous past. Then getting out of the budding relationship, and her signed lease, may prove to be more difficult than she imagined — and more dangerous.

        As in all of Ms. Grafton's novels, the lovable and overprotective landlord, Henry, is around, keeping his eye on his young tenant. And Rosie and William are back with more Hungarian treats and comic relief at their neighborhood restaurant.

Parallel lives

        P is for Peril is another success for Ms. Grafton and for Kinsey Millhone.

        According to Ms. Grafton, she and Kinsey are alter egos. As she matures and gets wiser, so does Kinsey. As Ms. Grafton's understanding of human nature changes, so does Kinsey's. As the writer ages and is more comfortable being herself, so is Kinsey.

        Ms. Grafton says she will continue writing the series through to the letter Z - and possibly beyond. “Some readers are worried about being separated from Kinsey,” she says. “They're worried about separation anxiety. But I have to have the juice, enthusiasm and curiosity to continue.”

        Here's hoping she's right.

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