A Is for Alibi book cover by Sue Grafton

Books like A Is for Alibi by Sue Grafton

by Sue Grafton · 1982

Book 1 of Kinsey Millhone Alphabet Series

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Genre

What it is about

Kinsey Millhone
Women private investigators

Where it happens

California

Ages

Adult

Books like this one

Last checked: October 28, 2026

The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency
Alexander McCall Smith · Adult

about 240 pages

Why: Both are mystery books about women private investigators.
- Mystery
- Women private investigators
What both books share
- mystery
  A Is for Alibi: "Fiction, mystery & detective, women sleuths" (OL subject); "FICTION / Mystery & Detective / Private Investigators" (OL subject); "FICTION / Mystery & Detective / Women Sleuths" (OL subject); "Mystery fiction" (OL subject)
  The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency: "Mystery fiction" (OL subject); "Fiction, mystery & detective, women sleuths" (OL subject); "Mystery & Detective" (OL subject); "mystery fiction" (WD genre)
- women private investigators
  A Is for Alibi: "Women private investigators" (OL subject); "Women private investigators in fiction" (OL subject); "Women private investigators -- California -- Fiction." (LoC 650)
  The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency: "Women private investigators" (OL subject); "Women private investigators -- Botswana -- Fiction." (LoC 650)
From each book's catalog record: Open Library and Wikidata for A Is for Alibi; Open Library and Wikidata for The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency.
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The Deep Blue Good-by
John D. MacDonald · 1964 · Adult

about 200 pages
Cover from Google Books

Why: Both are mystery books.
- Mystery
What both books share
- mystery
  A Is for Alibi: "Fiction, mystery & detective, women sleuths" (OL subject); "FICTION / Mystery & Detective / Private Investigators" (OL subject); "FICTION / Mystery & Detective / Women Sleuths" (OL subject); "Mystery fiction" (OL subject)
  The Deep Blue Good-by: "Fiction, mystery & detective, hard-boiled" (OL subject); "mystery" (OL subject); "Fiction, mystery & detective, general" (OL subject); "mystery fiction" (WD genre)
From each book's catalog record: Open Library and Wikidata for A Is for Alibi; Open Library and Wikidata for The Deep Blue Good-by.
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The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo
Stieg Larsson · Adult

about 580 pages

Why: Both are mystery books.
- Mystery
What both books share
- mystery
  A Is for Alibi: "Fiction, mystery & detective, women sleuths" (OL subject); "FICTION / Mystery & Detective / Private Investigators" (OL subject); "FICTION / Mystery & Detective / Women Sleuths" (OL subject); "Mystery fiction" (OL subject)
  The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo: "Mystery" (OL subject); "mystery fiction" (OL subject); "Fiction, mystery & detective, general" (OL subject); "mystery fiction" (WD genre)
From each book's catalog record: Open Library and Wikidata for A Is for Alibi; Open Library and Wikidata for The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo.
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Show 9 more

Step on a Crack
James Patterson · 2007 · Adult

about 380 pages
Cover from Google Books

Why: Both are mystery books.
- Mystery
What both books share
- mystery
  A Is for Alibi: "Fiction, mystery & detective, women sleuths" (OL subject); "FICTION / Mystery & Detective / Private Investigators" (OL subject); "FICTION / Mystery & Detective / Women Sleuths" (OL subject); "Mystery fiction" (OL subject)
  Step on a Crack: "Fiction, mystery & detective, police procedural" (OL subject); "mystery fiction" (WD genre)
From each book's catalog record: Open Library and Wikidata for A Is for Alibi; Open Library and Wikidata for Step on a Crack.
Library Bookshop.org Amazon
In the Company of Cheerful Ladies
Alexander McCall Smith · 2004 · Adult

about 250 pages

Why: Both are mystery books about women private investigators.
- Mystery
- Women private investigators
What both books share
- mystery
  A Is for Alibi: "Fiction, mystery & detective, women sleuths" (OL subject); "FICTION / Mystery & Detective / Private Investigators" (OL subject); "FICTION / Mystery & Detective / Women Sleuths" (OL subject); "Mystery fiction" (OL subject)
  In the Company of Cheerful Ladies: "Mystery" (OL subject); "Fiction, mystery & detective, women sleuths" (OL subject); "mystery fiction" (WD genre); "Mystery fiction." (LoC 655)
- women private investigators
  A Is for Alibi: "Women private investigators" (OL subject); "Women private investigators in fiction" (OL subject); "Women private investigators -- California -- Fiction." (LoC 650)
  In the Company of Cheerful Ladies: "Women private investigators" (OL subject); "Women private investigators -- Botswana -- Fiction." (LoC 650)
From each book's catalog record: Open Library and Wikidata for A Is for Alibi; Open Library and Wikidata for In the Company of Cheerful Ladies.
Library Bookshop.org Amazon
Tears of the Giraffe
Alexander McCall Smith · 2000 · Adult

about 230 pages

Why: Both are mystery books about women private investigators.
- Mystery
- Women private investigators
What both books share
- mystery
  A Is for Alibi: "Fiction, mystery & detective, women sleuths" (OL subject); "FICTION / Mystery & Detective / Private Investigators" (OL subject); "FICTION / Mystery & Detective / Women Sleuths" (OL subject); "Mystery fiction" (OL subject)
  Tears of the Giraffe: "Fiction, mystery & detective, women sleuths" (OL subject); "Mystery" (OL subject); "Mystery fiction" (OL subject); "Mystery & Detective" (OL subject)
- women private investigators
  A Is for Alibi: "Women private investigators" (OL subject); "Women private investigators in fiction" (OL subject); "Women private investigators -- California -- Fiction." (LoC 650)
  Tears of the Giraffe: "Women private investigators" (OL subject); "Women private investigators -- Botswana -- Fiction." (LoC 650)
From each book's catalog record: Open Library and Wikidata for A Is for Alibi; Open Library and Wikidata for Tears of the Giraffe.
Library Bookshop.org Amazon
The Good Husband of Zebra Drive
Alexander McCall Smith · 2007 · Adult

about 230 pages

Why: Both are mystery books about women private investigators.
- Mystery
- Women private investigators
What both books share
- mystery
  A Is for Alibi: "Fiction, mystery & detective, women sleuths" (OL subject); "FICTION / Mystery & Detective / Private Investigators" (OL subject); "FICTION / Mystery & Detective / Women Sleuths" (OL subject); "Mystery fiction" (OL subject)
  The Good Husband of Zebra Drive: "Fiction, mystery & detective, women sleuths" (OL subject); "Mystery" (OL subject); "mystery fiction" (WD genre); "Mystery fiction." (LoC 655)
- women private investigators
  A Is for Alibi: "Women private investigators" (OL subject); "Women private investigators in fiction" (OL subject); "Women private investigators -- California -- Fiction." (LoC 650)
  The Good Husband of Zebra Drive: "Women private investigators" (OL subject); "Women Private Investigators -" (OL subject); "Women private investigators -- Botswana -- Fiction." (LoC 650)
From each book's catalog record: Open Library and Wikidata for A Is for Alibi; Open Library and Wikidata for The Good Husband of Zebra Drive.
Library Bookshop.org Amazon
Tea Time for the Traditionally Built
Alexander McCall Smith · 2009 · Adult

about 250 pages

Why: Both are mystery books about women private investigators.
- Mystery
- Women private investigators
What both books share
- mystery
  A Is for Alibi: "Fiction, mystery & detective, women sleuths" (OL subject); "FICTION / Mystery & Detective / Private Investigators" (OL subject); "FICTION / Mystery & Detective / Women Sleuths" (OL subject); "Mystery fiction" (OL subject)
  Tea Time for the Traditionally Built: "Mystery" (OL subject); "Fiction, mystery & detective, women sleuths" (OL subject); "mystery fiction" (WD genre); "Mystery fiction." (LoC 655)
- women private investigators
  A Is for Alibi: "Women private investigators" (OL subject); "Women private investigators in fiction" (OL subject); "Women private investigators -- California -- Fiction." (LoC 650)
  Tea Time for the Traditionally Built: "Women private investigators" (OL subject); "Women private investigators -- Botswana -- Fiction." (LoC 650)
From each book's catalog record: Open Library and Wikidata for A Is for Alibi; Open Library and Wikidata for Tea Time for the Traditionally Built.
Library Bookshop.org Amazon
The Miracle at Speedy Motors
Alexander McCall Smith · 2008 · Adult

about 250 pages

Why: Both are mystery books about women private investigators.
- Mystery
- Women private investigators
What both books share
- mystery
  A Is for Alibi: "Fiction, mystery & detective, women sleuths" (OL subject); "FICTION / Mystery & Detective / Private Investigators" (OL subject); "FICTION / Mystery & Detective / Women Sleuths" (OL subject); "Mystery fiction" (OL subject)
  The Miracle at Speedy Motors: "Mystery" (OL subject); "Fiction, mystery & detective, women sleuths" (OL subject); "mystery fiction" (WD genre); "Mystery fiction." (LoC 655)
- women private investigators
  A Is for Alibi: "Women private investigators" (OL subject); "Women private investigators in fiction" (OL subject); "Women private investigators -- California -- Fiction." (LoC 650)
  The Miracle at Speedy Motors: "Women private investigators" (OL subject); "Women private investigators -- Botswana -- Fiction." (LoC 650)
From each book's catalog record: Open Library and Wikidata for A Is for Alibi; Open Library and Wikidata for The Miracle at Speedy Motors.
Library Bookshop.org Amazon
Echo Park
Michael Connelly · 2006 · Adult

about 450 pages

Why: Both are mystery books, set in California.
- Mystery
- California
What both books share
- mystery
  A Is for Alibi: "Fiction, mystery & detective, women sleuths" (OL subject); "FICTION / Mystery & Detective / Private Investigators" (OL subject); "FICTION / Mystery & Detective / Women Sleuths" (OL subject); "Mystery fiction" (OL subject)
  Echo Park: "Fiction, mystery & detective, police procedural" (OL subject); "mystery fiction" (WD genre); "Mystery fiction." (LoC 655)
- California
  A Is for Alibi: "California in fiction" (OL subject); "California, fiction" (OL subject); "California" (OL place); "California" (WD narrative location)
  Echo Park: "California" (WD narrative location)
From each book's catalog record: Open Library and Wikidata for A Is for Alibi; Open Library and Wikidata for Echo Park.
Library Bookshop.org Amazon
4.50 from Paddington
Agatha Christie · 1957 · Adult

about 250 pages

Why: Both are mystery books.
- Mystery
What both books share
- mystery
  A Is for Alibi: "Fiction, mystery & detective, women sleuths" (OL subject); "FICTION / Mystery & Detective / Private Investigators" (OL subject); "FICTION / Mystery & Detective / Women Sleuths" (OL subject); "Mystery fiction" (OL subject)
  4.50 from Paddington: "Mystery" (OL subject); "Fiction, mystery & detective, general" (OL subject); "Fiction, mystery & detective, traditional" (OL subject); "Mystery fiction" (OL subject)
From each book's catalog record: Open Library and Wikidata for A Is for Alibi; Open Library and Wikidata for 4.50 from Paddington.
Library Bookshop.org Amazon
A Murder of Quality
John le Carré · 1962 · Adult

about 180 pages

Why: Both are mystery books.
- Mystery
What both books share
- mystery
  A Is for Alibi: "Fiction, mystery & detective, women sleuths" (OL subject); "FICTION / Mystery & Detective / Private Investigators" (OL subject); "FICTION / Mystery & Detective / Women Sleuths" (OL subject); "Mystery fiction" (OL subject)
  A Murder of Quality: "mystery fiction" (WD genre); "Mystery fiction." (LoC 655)
From each book's catalog record: Open Library and Wikidata for A Is for Alibi; Open Library and Wikidata for A Murder of Quality.
Library Bookshop.org Amazon

Books like the Kinsey Millhone Alphabet Series series

What they share, at a glance

A Is for Alibi next to each book above. A dot means both books' records carry that fact.

Book	Mystery	Women private investigators	California
The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency	shared	shared	not shared
The Deep Blue Good-by	shared	not shared	not shared
The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo	shared	not shared	not shared
Step on a Crack	shared	not shared	not shared
In the Company of Cheerful Ladies	shared	shared	not shared
Tears of the Giraffe	shared	shared	not shared
The Good Husband of Zebra Drive	shared	shared	not shared
Tea Time for the Traditionally Built	shared	shared	not shared
The Miracle at Speedy Motors	shared	shared	not shared
Echo Park	shared	not shared	shared
4.50 from Paddington	shared	not shared	not shared
A Murder of Quality	shared	not shared	not shared

Tap a dot to open the record the match comes from.

A Is for Alibi: the facts, checked

Each line names the page it was checked on and the date.

First published: First published on April 15, 1982. Source: Wikidata, checked November 6, 2026.
Edition checked: The edition checked here is a 307-page paperback from St. Martin's Griffin. Source: Library of Congress, checked November 6, 2026. 9780312353810 ... pbk. ... 307 p. ... St. Martin's Griffin

About Sue Grafton

Born: Born in Louisville, United States, in 1940. Source: Wikidata and the place's own entry, checked November 6, 2026.
Awards and honors: Sue Grafton received the Anthony Award for Best Novel in 1986, for "B" Is for Burglar. Source: Wikidata, citing bouchercon.com, checked November 6, 2026.
Awards and honors: Sue Grafton received the Shamus Award in 1986, for "B" Is for Burglar. Source: Wikidata, citing privateeyewriters.com, checked November 6, 2026.

More about Sue Grafton

Where does A Is for Alibi sit in its series? See the reading order.

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Common questions

What does the Why line mean?

It names what the two books have in common, using only facts found in both books' catalog records. Tap What both books share to see those facts and where they came from. When the shared facts are few, the line is short. It never quotes reviews, ratings or reader reactions.

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