Sue Taylor Grafton, an international best selling American author of mystery novels, was born on April 24, 1940, in Louisville, Kentucky. Her novels have been spread all around the world and have currently been translated into 28 different languages. In addition to her mystery novels, she has written two other novels as well as screenplays and television scripts.
Ms. Grafton is best known for her series of detective novels that begin with the alphabet in chronological order. The series currently consists of 20 mystery novels. These novels feature the recurring character, Kinsey Millhone, a private detective. The titles all begin using the alphabet, from A Is For Alibi through T is For Trespass. The continual theme in her series is that justice will be served, one way or another. She is known for her upbeat style, her subtle writing, and eye for detail. The inspiration for these novels was a 6 year traumatic divorce she went through. During that time, she would imagine ways to dispose of her ex-husband. She began writing these ideas down and they became the beginning of her mystery series.
In 1979, Ms. Grafton was awarded the Christopher Award for her screenplay, Walking Through the Fire. Ms. Grafton’s mystery series novels have won three Anthony Awards, as well as three Shamus Awards. In 2000, she received the YWCA of Lexington Smith-Breckinridge Distinguished Woman of Achievement Award. She was given the Ross Macdonald Literary Award in 2004, which is given to “a California writer whose work raises the standard of literary excellence.” In 2008, she received the Cartier Dagger from the British Crime Writers’ Association, which honors a lifetime’s achievement in the field.
