Sue Grafton (1940-2017) was a prolific author of detective novels known for an alphabetically titled series that began in 1982 with “A Is for Alibi,”.

She was born in Louisville, Kentucky and was educated at Atherton High School and the University of Louisville. She graduated from the University of Louisville in 1961 before moving to California.

Her entre into crime fiction was almost a foregone conclusion as her father, C. W. Grafton, a lawyer, also wrote mystery novels,and encouraged her to write from an early age. Her first novel, “Keziah Dane,” was published in 1967 after which she wrote seven more novels before she began the alphabet series featuring Kinsey Millhone, a female private investigator.

Her first book in the alphabet series wasn't a great hit with the critics, but her public thought otherwise. The Millhone books routinely made best-seller lists and also established a stellar female presence in both the character and author, particularly in a genre that leaned heavily towards a male bias.

She died in December 2017 having fought a brave battle with cancer.