K Is for Killer was published by Henry Holt in 1994. Janice Kepler’s daughter Lorna was found dead ten months ago — decomposed beyond forensic usefulness, with no definitive cause of death. The police closed the case. Janice hires Kinsey to find answers. The investigation reveals that Lorna led a double life: respectable office worker by day, participant in the sex industry by night. The case takes Kinsey into the nocturnal world — working through the night, sleeping during the day — and the novel’s mood darkens accordingly.
The nocturnal setting gives the book a noirish atmosphere unusual for the series, and Kinsey’s immersion in Lorna’s world — water treatment plants at 3 AM, all-night diners, the loneliness of working while the world sleeps — adds a melancholy dimension.
The Double Life
Lorna Kepler’s secret — her involvement in the sex industry — is handled with Grafton’s characteristic non-judgmentalism. Kinsey does not condemn Lorna; she investigates. The novel’s treatment of sex work as labour rather than sin is ahead of its time for 1994 genre fiction.
The Moral Ending
The novel’s conclusion — in which Kinsey takes an action that crosses a moral line she has previously respected — is the most controversial moment in the series. Grafton forces the reader to confront whether justice and legality are always the same thing.
Collecting K Is for Killer
First edition (Henry Holt, New York, 1994): Boards with dust jacket.
Approximate market values:
- Fine in dust jacket: $25–$60
- Signed first edition: $50–$150
Projected values (2026–2036): Moderate appreciation.
Frequently Asked Questions
What happened to I and J? I Is for Innocent (1992) and J Is for Judgment (1993) exist in the series. This page covers K Is for Killer; the full alphabet runs A through Y.