OK, if you checked into this thread you probably know one or both of these fictional private eyes. I enjoy both Sue Grafton’s and Edna Buchanan’s creations (Milhone and Montero respectively), but the last novel by each has taken me aback a bit.
Both have the young (30ish) female detectives paired with 60ish male expolicemen buddies who have been retired from the force due to a heart problem. And in both the detectives are resenting their leaving their old jobs and are smoking and drinking too much (I won’t say more, because I don’t want to spoil it for anyone who hasn’t read the novels, but there are a few more similarities).
Anyway, what’s the deal? There seems to be too much similarity for a mere coincidence, but I suppose it is possible. Does any one know anything?
I’ve only read the first chapter of Q is for Quarry (online), but Grafton has been pairing Kinsey up with older men for a while now. I’m not really sure why, though. As to whether there’s a connection between the two authors, I’ve never read any of Buchanan’s works, so I can’t say.