Author Sue Grafton has Died
@DeborahDiane (40849)
Laguna Woods, California
December 29, 2017 7:33pm CST
Sue Grafton, one of my favorite authors, died today. I have been reading her books since 1982, and just finished her last one a few weeks ago.
She wrote the alphabet series of mysteries which began with "A is for Alibi," and ended with "Y is for Yesterday."
According to her website, her "Z" book will never be published because she was adamant that no ghost writer would ever work on one of her books. The final book was supposed to be titled "Z is for Zero."
Those of us who loved her female private detective, Kinsey Millhone, will never know what happened to Kinsey, the men she loved, the homeless people she befriended, her pregnant cousin, or her elderly landlord who was always willing to help her sort things out over a glass of wine and a homemade pastry.
Sue Grafton died of cancer of the appendix, which I had never heard of. She fought the disease for the past two years and, according to her daughter, was doing well until a few days ago, when her health declined quickly.
For those of us who have been reading her books for decades, it is a tragic loss. I'm sure her family and readers will miss her terribly. I know I certainly will!
13 people like this
12 responses
@DeborahDiane (40849)
• Laguna Woods, California
30 Dec 17
@JudyEv - I have never heard of that cancer, either. I'm pleased to know that her books made it to the other side of the world! I'm sad to realize I will never know how the series was meant to end!
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (382408)
• Rockingham, Australia
30 Dec 17
@DeborahDiane Yes indeed. So many questions left unanswered!
1 person likes this
@LadyDuck (502719)
• Italy
31 Dec 17
@DeborahDiane I am going to ask to my brother.
1 person likes this
@DeborahDiane (40849)
• Laguna Woods, California
1 Jan 18
@LadyDuck - I will be interested in what you learn from your brother.
1 person likes this
@DeborahDiane (40849)
• Laguna Woods, California
31 Dec 17
@LadyDuck - I was shocked. I never heard of that type of cancer, either. It must be very rare!
1 person likes this
@mayka123 (17083)
• India
7 Jan 18
I am very fond of detective novels but never read any of her books. I had recently heard of cancer of the appendix. As far as I remember I think Audrey Hepburn also has cancer of the appendix. Will try and get my hands on her books and read them.
1 person likes this
@mayka123 (17083)
• India
10 Jan 18
@DeborahDiane yes am eager to get my hands on her novels.
1 person likes this
@DeborahDiane (40849)
• Laguna Woods, California
8 Jan 18
I hope you enjoy her books when you read them. Her main character is very appealing and, the more books you read, the better you understand her childhood and background, and how those things affected her.
1 person likes this
@DeborahDiane (40849)
• Laguna Woods, California
10 Jan 18
@mayka123 - I hope you enjoy reading her books!
1 person likes this
@sallypup (69212)
• Centralia, Washington
30 Dec 17
@DeborahDiane She was/is known to most of America. Her work will live on.
1 person likes this
@DeborahDiane (40849)
• Laguna Woods, California
30 Dec 17
@sallypup - Her books will never be listed as major literary works, but they were fun to read and I enjoyed following the life of the main character. Yes, she was a gentle and literate soul.
1 person likes this
@DeborahDiane (40849)
• Laguna Woods, California
31 Dec 17
@sallypup - Yes, I am sure her work will live on. I just wish she had lived long enough to wrap up her series. Apparently, she did not leave behind a manuscript or any way for them to finish what she started.
1 person likes this
@DeborahDiane (40849)
• Laguna Woods, California
8 Feb 18
@Hannihar - I enjoyed her books. They were interesting and not overly gruesome. I don't think she expected to die so quickly, since she did not leave even an outline of her last book.
1 person likes this
@DeborahDiane (40849)
• Laguna Woods, California
9 Feb 18
@Hannihar - I'm sad about it, too. I loved her books. I guess we have to accept the reality that all of us will be gone someday ... some more abruptly than others.
1 person likes this
@Hannihar (130150)
• Israel
8 Feb 18
@DeborahDiane
Deborah-Diane, her name does ring a bell. I have read many books by authors I never read before. I could have read one of hers. That is horrible and so sorry she is gone.
1 person likes this
@DeborahDiane (40849)
• Laguna Woods, California
6 Jan 18
You may be fortunate. You will not have to worry about cancer of the appendix.
1 person likes this
@DeborahDiane (40849)
• Laguna Woods, California
7 Jan 18
@nela13 - Yes, I hope they are able to find a cure for cancer, or at least better treatments.
1 person likes this
@nela13 (59365)
• Portugal
6 Jan 18
@DeborahDiane probably but we never know what the future holds for us. Just Hope the cure for cancer will be really discover soon.
1 person likes this
@allen0187 (59828)
• Philippines
30 Dec 17
Very sad news. She will be missed by her family, friends, and fans.
1 person likes this
@DeborahDiane (40849)
• Laguna Woods, California
31 Dec 17
@allen0187 - Yes, you are right. She will be greatly missed by her family, friends and fans. It was a shock and very sad.
1 person likes this
@marguicha (230350)
• Chile
30 Dec 17
I have never heard of her, but I can understand your loss.
1 person likes this
@DeborahDiane (40849)
• Laguna Woods, California
31 Dec 17
@marguicha - People in other countries probably did not read many of her books, but I enjoyed them.
@silvermist (19701)
• India
30 Dec 17
Sad to know that one of my favorite writers is no more.I had read most of her books on the alphabet series.
1 person likes this
@silvermist (19701)
• India
1 Jan 18
@DeborahDiane Yes,she was a truly gifted writer.
1 person likes this
@DeborahDiane (40849)
• Laguna Woods, California
31 Dec 17
@silvermist - They were such fun mysteries to read!
1 person likes this
@sueznewz2 (10409)
• Alicante, Spain
30 Dec 17
that's a shame ... i've not heard of that particularl cancer either...
1 person likes this
@sueznewz2 (10409)
• Alicante, Spain
31 Dec 17
@DeborahDiane I think you're right that it's a rare one...
1 person likes this
@DeborahDiane (40849)
• Laguna Woods, California
31 Dec 17
@sueznewz2 - I have had a number of friends say they have never heard of that type of cancer. I wonder what causes it? It must be very rare!
1 person likes this
@JohnRoberts (109841)
• Los Angeles, California
30 Dec 17
She was very popular for years. We'll never know what she would have done is she got past Z.
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