Sue Grafton

Sue Grafton was a highly acclaimed American author, best known for her series of detective novels featuring private investigator Kinsey Millhone. This series, known as the "alphabet series," consists of books with titles organized in alphabetical order, starting with "A is for Alibi" and ending with "Y is for Yesterday". Grafton's works have been translated into twenty-six languages and are international bestsellers, with a readership in the millions.

Born and raised in Louisville, Kentucky, Grafton earned new respect for the mystery form with her alphabet series, which is set in the fictional city of Santa Teresa, California. She was praised for her buoyant style, eye for detail, deft hand with character, acute social observances, and abundant storytelling prowess. Grafton received numerous awards and honors for her work, including being named a Grand Master by the Mystery Writers of America in 2009 and receiving the Ross Macdonald Literary Award in 2004.

Grafton was married to Steve Humphrey for more than thirty years, and they shared their time between Montecito, California, and Louisville, Kentucky. She had three children and four grandchildren, and was a lover of cats, gardens, and good cuisine. Grafton passed away on December 28th, 2017. She had a strong stance against her novels being turned into movies or TV shows and also did not want a ghost writer to write in her name. Out of respect for her wishes, her family announced that the alphabet series would end with "Y is for Yesterday."