Sue Grafton (1940–2017)
Author of A is for Alibi
About the Author
Sue Grafton was born in Louisville, Kentucky on April 24, 1940. She received a bachelor's degree in English literature from the University of Louisville in 1961. Her first novel Keziah Dane was published in 1967. Her second novel, The Lolly-Madonna War, was published in 1969 and she adapted it into show more a screenplay. After that movie was released in 1973, she worked intermittently writing for television. A series she created, Nurse, ran for two seasons on CBS in the early 1980s. Her writing career took off when A Is for Alibi was published in 1982 and received the Mysterious Stranger Award. This was the beginning of the Kinsey Millhone Mystery series. B Is for Burglar won the Shamus and Anthony Awards and C Is for Corpse won the Anthony Award. She also received the Cartier Diamond Dagger, the Mystery Writers of America Grand Master Award, a Lifetime Achievement Award from Bouchercon, and the Ross Macdonald Literary Award. She died from cancer on December 28, 2017 at the age of 77. (Bowker Author Biography) show less
Image credit: Photographed at BookPeople in Austin, Texas by Frank Arnold
Series
Works by Sue Grafton
Sue Grafton ABC Gift Collection: "A" Is for Alibi, "B" Is for Burglar, "C" Is for Corpse (1997) 75 copies
Sue Grafton DEF Gift Collection: "D" Is for Deadbeat, "E" Is for Evidence, "F" Is for Fugitive (2005) 42 copies
Sue Grafton GHI Gift Collection: "G" Is for Gumshoe, "H" Is for Homicide, "I" Is for Innocent (2005) 30 copies
The Alphabet Mysteries: A-S 14 copies
Sue Grafton "A" IS FOR ALIBI 1982 Holt, Rinehart & Winston, NY Early Book Club [Hardcover] unknown 7 copies
Sue Grafton 3 copies
The entire "Alphabet" series 2 copies
The Alphabet Mysteries: A-T 2 copies
L Is for Lawless / M Is for Malice 2 copies
H is for Homicide / I is for Innocent / J Is for Judgment / K is for Killer / L Is for Lawless 2 copies
"C" Is For Courses 2 copies
"C" de Cadáver 1 copy
y is for Yesterday 1 copy
Carl the Coward 1 copy
de homicidio 1 copy
If You Want It Done Right 1 copy
The Lying Game 1 copy
A - Z 1 copy
The Alphabet Mysteries: G-K 1 copy
The Alphabet Mysteries: O-T 1 copy
Omnibus 1 copy
Come Killer 1 copy
The Alphabet Mysteries: G-S 1 copy
Sue Grafton - member choice 1 copy
The Parker Shotgun 1 copy
Three complete novels 1 copy
Z is for Zero 1 copy
N Is for Noose [abridged] 1 copy
Associated Works
Why We Write: 20 Acclaimed Authors on How and Why They Do What They Do (2013) — Contributor — 181 copies
The Mystery Writers of America Cookbook: Wickedly Good Meals and Desserts to Die For (2015) — Contributor — 126 copies
The New Mystery: The International Association of Crime Writers' Essential Crime Writing of the Late 20th Century (1993) — Contributor — 62 copies
Writing the Private Eye Novel: A Handbook by the Private Eye Writers of America (1997) — Contributor — 56 copies
A Taste of Murder: Diabolically Delicious Recipes from Contemporary Mystery Writers (1999) — Contributor — 45 copies
Deadly Allies: Private Eye Writers of America/Sisters in Crime Collaborative Anthology (1992) — Contributor — 43 copies
The Year's 25 Finest Crime and Mystery Stories: First Annual Edition (1992) — Contributor — 16 copies
Great Mystery Series: Top Female Sleuths by 8 of the Best Women Mystery Writers (1991) — Contributor — 6 copies
Time-Life Book Digest: "I" is for Innocent | The Trail to Seven Pines | Who Killed My Daughter? | French Silk (1992) — Contributor — 2 copies
Válogatott könyvek 34. Harlan Coben - Lidércnyomás; Alan Titchmarsh - Apa csak egy van; Sue Grafton - P mint… (2004) — Author — 2 copies
Válogatott könyvek 16. John Grisham - A végrendelet; Stuart Harrison - A fehér sólyom; Sam Llewellyn - Vashotel;… (2000) 1 copy
Reader's Digest Select Editions: You Belong to Me • Archangel • Cloud Nine • “N” is for Noose (1999) 1 copy
Kirjavaliot - Potilas (The Patient ∙ The Rescue ∙ High Risk ∙ N Is for Moose) (2001) — Author — 1 copy
Het Beste Boek 220: Spoorloos / De rookspringer / P staat voor pijngrens / Jonge honden, oude helden (2003) — Author — 1 copy
Tagged
Common Knowledge
- Canonical name
- Grafton, Sue
- Legal name
- Grafton, Sue Taylor
- Birthdate
- 1940-04-24
- Date of death
- 2017-12-28
- Gender
- female
- Nationality
- USA
- Birthplace
- Louisville, Kentucky, USA
- Place of death
- Santa Barbara, California, USA
- Cause of death
- cancer (appendix)
- Places of residence
- Santa Barbara, California, USA
Santa Monica, California, USA - Education
- University of Louisville (1961 | BA | English Literature)
Western Kentucky State Teachers College - Occupations
- admission clerk
cashier
secretary
screenwriter
detective novelist - Relationships
- Grafton, C. W. (father)
- Organizations
- Pi Beta Phi
- Awards and honors
- Romantic Times Career Achievement Award (Female Sleuth ∙ 2004)
Cartier Diamond Dagger (2008)
Shamus Award (The Eye for Lifetime Achievement ∙ 2003)
MWA Grand Master (2009)
Christopher Award (1979) - Agent
- Molly Friedrich (Aaron Priest Literary Agency)
- Short biography
- Grafton was born in Louisville, Kentucky April 24 1940; graduated University of Louisville, BA 1961 with a major in English Literature, minors in Humanities and Fine Arts.
She married to Steven F. Humphrey with three children from previous marriages: a daughter, Leslie; a son, Jay; a daughter, Jamie; and four granddaughters, Erin, age 21, Kinsey, age 13, Taylor, age 4, and Addison, age 2.
Members
Reviews
***This is a project of re-reading Grafton's series -- I started reading these back in the 1980s and would read each release as they came out over the years. To prevent spoilers, I will not attempt to summarize in detail. ***
In each of Sue Grafton's novels, Kinsey Millhone often introduced herself to the reader as being twice divorced but never went in detail about the past relationships. She did have a run-in with ex husband number two in "E" is for Evidence but continued to be mostly mum about ex number one. Until this installment, O is for Outlaw.
We learn here (early on in the story) that fifteen or so years previously, Kinsey had walked out on ex husband number one, Mickey Magruder, when he was suspected of murder and asked Kinsey to provide an alibi for him. She never saw him again after the divorce. Under unusual events, she learns that Magruder recently was shot and is in the hospital in a comatose stage. Kinsey uncovers information where she realizes he may have been innocent after all, and so she takes it on herself to figure out what really happened.
Of course, as is usual, she risks her life and bumps into a lot of characters along the way of solving this mystery and also unearths other hidden secrets. I found this unputdownable.… (more)
In each of Sue Grafton's novels, Kinsey Millhone often introduced herself to the reader as being twice divorced but never went in detail about the past relationships. She did have a run-in with ex husband number two in "E" is for Evidence but continued to be mostly mum about ex number one. Until this installment, O is for Outlaw.
We learn here (early on in the story) that fifteen or so years previously, Kinsey had walked out on ex husband number one, Mickey Magruder, when he was suspected of murder and asked Kinsey to provide an alibi for him. She never saw him again after the divorce. Under unusual events, she learns that Magruder recently was shot and is in the hospital in a comatose stage. Kinsey uncovers information where she realizes he may have been innocent after all, and so she takes it on herself to figure out what really happened.
Of course, as is usual, she risks her life and bumps into a lot of characters along the way of solving this mystery and also unearths other hidden secrets. I found this unputdownable.… (more)
Lists
Overdue Podcast (1)
Books Read in 2020 (19)
To borrow next (1)
One Letter Books (1)
Female Author (13)
Detective Stories (12)
Awards
You May Also Like
Associated Authors
Statistics
- Works
- 121
- Also by
- 48
- Members
- 94,841
- Popularity
- #97
- Rating
- 3.7
- Reviews
- 1,941
- ISBNs
- 1,561
- Languages
- 22
- Favorited
- 200
Kinsey Millhone a 32-year-old Private Investigator living in California. I have just started this series, but I really enjoyed this book. The mystery keeps pages turning as it fascinating, suspenseful and a real fast read. The character Kinsey is very independent, you feel as you now know her, and she is portrayed as somebody you do know. Nikki Fife has just been released from prison after doing 8 years for the murdering her husband, Laurence. Nikki wants Kinsey to find the person who really killed Laurence Kinsey begins to investigate and finds out about another murder committed only days after Laurence's that is extremely similar. The victim was the accountant for Laurence's law firm, Libby Glass, and she was killed using an identical method of poisoning. This trail is 8-years-old, and Kinsey knows it won't be easy to find the truth. Kinsey begins to put together a picture of the people involved and the circumstances that led up to Laurence's murder. But somebody is not too pleased with Kinsey investigating and unveiling facts that could lead to the true murderer. Kinsey gets herself into danger, and as she struggles to put the pieces together, someone is trying to stop… (more)