Alphabet Mystery Writer Sue Grafton Passes Away

Sue Grafton, the mystery writer who wrote novels with titles based on the alphabet died at the age of 77 at Cottage Hospital in Santa Barbara, California on Thursday. She was battling cancer of the appendix.

Here are a few things to know about the iconic author:

• She wrote seven novels before she started the alphabet novels. Only two were published.
• She started her alphabet novels in 1982. All of her novels feature Kinsey Millhone, a private detective, rebel, and former police officer. She was first introduced like this:

“My name is Kinsey Millhone. I’m a private investigator, licensed by the state of California. I’m thirty-two years old, twice divorced, no kids. The day before yesterday I killed someone and the fact weighs heavily on my mind.”

• In a genre that more often than not featured male leads, Milhone’s presence offered another option.
• She was born in 1940 in Louisville Kentucky and graduated from the University of Louisville. He father was an attorney and also a mystery writer.
• Grafton grew up reading Nancy Drew and Agatha Christie. The book that had the most impact on her was Mickey Spillane’s “I, the Jury.”

She said that a big difference between her books and the ones that had male protagonists was her willingness to deal with the human and emotional ramifications of violent crime.

• She was also a screenwriter for the movies and for TV. However, she didn’t want her books to be made into shows or movies. “I would never let those clowns get their hands on my work. They’d ruin it for everyone, me more than most,” she has said.
• Her last book, starting with ‘Y’ Y Is for Yesterday came out last August. And her last book, “Z is for Zero” was slated to come out in 2019.

The Facebook message from her daughter said:

"She had been fine up until just a few days ago, and then things moved quickly. Sue always said that she would continue writing as long as she had the juice. Many of you also know that she was adamant that her books would never be turned into movies or TV shows, and in that same vein, she would never allow a ghostwriter to write in her name.

"Because of all of those things, and out of the deep abiding love and respect for our dear sweet Sue, as far as we in the family are concerned, the alphabet now ends at Y" said the post.

https://www.facebook.com/SueGrafton/posts/1606639639379527

Pic Credit: the independent

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