48 pages • 1 hour read
Sue GraftonA Is For Alibi
Fiction | Novel | Adult | Published in 1982A modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality Study Guides with detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, and more.
Chapters 15-20Chapter Summaries & Analyses
Chapter 15 Summary
In a visit to Claremont, Millhone plans to meet Diane, the sister of her client Greg, to gather more information on the case. She spends some time catching up with old friends, Gideon and Nell, before meeting Diane for lunch. Their meal serves as a backdrop for a discussion about family dynamics, revealing Diane’s complicated feelings toward her late father. Diane is candid about her history of therapy and her disdain for her father’s romantic choices, but her demeanor changes drastically when Millhone enquires about the family dog’s accidental death years ago.
Diane confesses she forgot to let the dog back into the house, which she believes allowed someone to tamper with her father’s medication. Millhone perceives that Diane feels responsible for her father’s death.
Chapter 16 Summary
Millhone, back at the Hacienda, sifts through phone messages from Charlie Scorsoni before heading to her room. Millhone manages to set up an appointment with Garry Steinberg, the accountant at Haycraft and McNiece, for later that day to discuss Libby Glass’s affairs. Her call to a friend in Las Vegas suggests that she might have unintentionally put Sharon Napier in danger, contributing to her death, and her friend is less than eager to assist further.
Millhone then visits Steinberg, who used to work with Libby Glass. He has lost a significant amount of weight and exudes newfound confidence. They briefly discuss their obsession with self-image before Garry shares that Libby was highly ambitious and frustrated with her pay, and that she professionally handled Laurence’s financials along with those of his firm. Garry dismisses the possibility that Libby might have been having an affair with Laurence. He also reveals that Libby’s ex-boyfriend had applied for a job and seemed unqualified and possibly high during the interview. Millhone shows interest in this former boyfriend, suspecting a possible lead. Garry agrees to look into old files for her.
Chapter 17 Summary
Millhone’s investigation takes her to Mrs. Glass’s apartment to retrieve Libby's stored belongings. She learns that Libby’s ex-husband, Raymond, is unwell and in bed. The atmosphere takes a dark turn when a light bulb in the basement is shot out, suggesting an attack aimed at Millhone and Mrs. Glass. Millhone attempts a chase but loses the assailant. Rather than call the police, she searches the disheveled basement, finding Libby's storage bin ransacked. Mrs. Glass appears both terrified and possibly culpable, dismissing the idea that her other son, Lyle, could be involved, although he knew about their basement excursion.
A neighbor, Frank, interrupts Millhone’s investigation but is rebuffed. After ensuring the basement is secure, Millhone takes Libby's belongings to sort through them. Among the items, she discovers an undated letter from Laurence to Libby that hints at a romantic relationship. This revelation rattles her and makes her question her own resistance to believing in their affair. The letter could confirm the suspicions around Laurence’s murder and might have been what got Sharon Napier killed.
Chapter 18 Summary
Millhone’s day starts with a tension-filled interaction with Arlette, followed by a visit to Grace, a client’s wife, to return boxes of inconsequential items. Despite her professional detachment, Millhone’s internal dialogue reveals her complex feelings toward Grace. After a much-needed rest, she visits Nikki’s beach house, an airy and open space that reflects Nikki’s revitalized spirit. The chapter dives into the domestic life of Nikki and her 12-year-old son Colin, who primarily communicates through sign language. Millhone observes the closeness and ease of communication between Nikki and Colin, in sharp contrast to her own inability to sign.
Nikki validates some of Millhone’s doubts, adding another layer to the overarching mystery. During this serious conversation, an interruption comes from Colin, who is puzzled by the identities in a family photo album. He struggles with the concept of an “ex-wife,” leaving Millhone puzzled as she leaves Nikki’s home.
Chapter 19 Summary
Charlie Scorsoni shows up uninvited at Millhone’s apartment, disrupting her plans for a low-key evening. Despite her protests about chores and self-care, Charlie insists on going out, and they end up at an elegant restaurant. He shares a bit about his past, revealing that he came from an abusive home. Their sexual tension is palpable, underscored by Millhone’s internal struggle between her attraction toward and fear of Charlie. This tension reaches a breaking point, and soon they become intimate.
Chapter 20 Summary
At home, Millhone has a brief conversation with her landlord, Henry Pitts, as they discuss “double meanings” in Henry’s crossword puzzles.
Millhone then goes to the homicide department to see Dolan. They argue over Millhone’s probing into areas Dolan considers his domain, including her recent trip to Las Vegas. Despite Dolan’s gruff exterior and position of authority, Millhone is unafraid to challenge him, even threatening legal action.
Sharon’s death adds urgency and gravity to Millhone’s quest for information on the old case. Dolan, while skeptical, isn’t entirely dismissive and shifts the focus to another aspect of Millhone’s investigation: Libby.
Chapters 15-20 Analysis
In these chapters, the theme of Marriage and Gender Roles factors even more prominently. Diane grapples with the consequences of her father’s choices, and Libby’s professional frustrations hint at the glass ceilings women face in their careers. Meanwhile, the undated letter between Laurence and Libby builds a narrative surrounding relationships that transcended the formal boundaries of marriage, painting a picture of the less-traditional relationship dynamics that were subtly masked in the societal norms of the time.
The theme of gender roles is also reflected in Millhone’s relationship with Charlie, a dynamic that oscillates between attraction and apprehension. The chaotic state of Millhone’s home contrasted with the luxurious atmosphere of the restaurant symbolizes the dual worlds Millhone is navigating with Charlie. Her unprepared and disheveled state starkly contrast with the opulent restaurant where menu items are narrated “like a narrative poem” (206), weaving a tapestry of symbolism that mirrors the complexity of her evolving relationship with Charlie. Yet there is irony in their interactions, as Charlie seemingly commandeers her evening with a blend of charm and assertiveness, deciding for her, down to shopping for her groceries. There is an element of dominance in Charlie’s actions, characterizing him as someone who needs to control and manipulate those around him.
In contrast, the relationship between Nikki and her son, Colin, reflects a deeper connection rooted in understanding and open communication, defying societal norms of the time. Millhone’s observations of their relationship could potentially be a moment of self-discovery, as she navigates her feelings of inadequacy and the realization of her own limitations. It possibly ignites in her a desire to foster deeper human connections, challenging her established beliefs and fostering a growth arc in her character.
The characters evolve in response to the unfolding revelations. Millhone transitions from an investigator to a potential target, her vulnerability increasing as she plunges deeper into the secrets surrounding Laurence’s death and Libby’s connections. Diane’s cathartic admission to Millhone hints at a journey of potential healing, while the shifts in the portrayals of Nikki and Charlie underscore the flux in the characters’ attitudes as more information comes to light.
Throughout these chapters, the settings—from the tight confines of the office to the open spaces of Nikki’s home—mirror the internal states and complexities of the characters involved. Millhone’s constant balancing act between professional detachment and personal involvement is accentuated, especially when compared with Nikki and Colin’s intimate relationship. The open, airy environment of Nikki’s home is a sanctuary, which contrasts starkly with the constrained office space resonating with professional detachment and limitations. Further, the elegance of the restaurant where Millhone and Charlie dine seems to serve as a haven where they momentarily escape the outer world’s chaos, allowing a peek into Charlie’s vulnerable past, a stark revelation that adds depth to his character while casting a shadow of doubt on his sincerity. The juxtaposition of Claremont’s idyllic facade against the undercurrents of emotional turmoil, and the motif of light and darkness in Mrs. Glass’s basement, deepen the narrative and elucidate themes of deception and hidden truths.
Millhone’s investigative side job concerning Marcia Threadgill further amplifies the theme of Truth and Deception. Despite successfully exposing Marcia’s fraudulent insurance claims, Millhone’s efforts are stymied by corporate bureaucracy, demonstrating the constant tension she faces between ethical imperatives and the practical constraints of her job.
These chapters provide the rising action that sets up the climax in the novel’s final chapters. They not only advance the plot but also explore the complexities that come with seeking the truth in a world filled with half-truths, deceptions, and bureaucratic roadblocks. They portray Millhone as a woman navigating complex systems—legal, corporate, societal—that often hinder her pursuit of justice. Even her allies, like Dolan, become obstacles in her path, complicating the moral landscape she has to traverse.
As the characters’ relationships develop, Millhone’s interactions with others portray both trust and skepticism. Her relationship with Nikki portrays trust grounded in empathy, while her rapport with Dolan displays mutual respect intermingled with a sense of competition and authority clashing, underscoring the broader theme of justice versus wrongful imprisonment. In her relationship with Charlie, Millhone’s professional journey takes a tumultuous turn, intertwining with personal revelations, portraying the blurring lines between personal and professional boundaries. Sharon Napier’s death adds a gravity to the narrative, highlighting a race against time as Millhone seeks to unravel the truth behind scenes interwoven with deception and concealed truths, challenging her to navigate a landscape where appearances are deceptive.
Related Titles
By Sue Grafton
