I really came into this one with high expectations and perhaps that was my mistake because the book couldn't match them. That said Sue Grafton is an author I genuinely love to read so why this one has been a struggle for me.

I think the core problem is that this one has really ramped my anxiety in a way I did not like.

Kinsey's entire character is a woman who doesn't really feel a need to conform to social norms. She is most happy with her internal routine and choosing how to spend her time. She has an apartment she likes, her preferred restaurant when she doesn't want to slap together a sandwich, McDonalds, and doesn't feel a need to spend time making money or accruing creature comforts.

So she doesn't have a lot of money but she is personally sufficient and happy.

Thus an entire book where Kinsey gets economically WRECKED on top of suffering and struggling just isn't enjoyable

On top of That Kinsey is not some brilliant investigator. What makes her a good PI and Detective is that she is determined, comfortable with getting into weird places, and happily keeps weird hours. She is clever and good at putting things together but anyone could do that aspect what makes her effective is pounding the pavement and grit.

And we don't really get to see her succeeding (though she has some clever ploys)