# Alphabet ends at Y: RIP Sue Grafton **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [December 29, 2017, 8:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alphabet-ends-at-y-rip-sue-grafton/805540 "2017-12-29T20:53:12Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Hilarity\_N.Suze](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hilarity_n.suze/32/6223_2.png) [@Hilarity\_N.Suze](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hilarity_N.Suze)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2017, 8:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alphabet-ends-at-y-rip-sue-grafton/805540/1 "2017-12-29T20:53:12Z")
Sue Grafton, age 77, writer of the Kinsey Milhone series (A Is for Alibi etc.). She was a great person, a role model for women writing mysteries with female protagonists, and a great mentor to a lot of developing writers. I was really sad to hear this even though nobody lives forever. I had hoped she would get to the end of the alphabet, but not quite. ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2017, 11:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alphabet-ends-at-y-rip-sue-grafton/805540/2 "2017-12-29T23:56:02Z")
She also told her family that she did not want any ghost writers finishing the series, nor did she want the books turned into a TV series or a movie. But then she’s dead, so I guess her heirs can do what they like. ---
**Author:** ![Patx2](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/73ab20/32.png) [@Patx2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Patx2)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2017, 12:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alphabet-ends-at-y-rip-sue-grafton/805540/3 "2017-12-30T00:14:22Z")
Wow, I am really sorry to hear this. I’ve enjoyed her books over the years. ---
**Author:** ![SpoilerVirgin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/4491bb/32.png) [@SpoilerVirgin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SpoilerVirgin)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2017, 12:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alphabet-ends-at-y-rip-sue-grafton/805540/4 "2017-12-30T00:25:17Z")
☹ I was really looking forward to “Z” (for Zero, apparently). She was definitely working her way toward a conclusion for Kinsey. Totally not fair to quit one novel before the finale. But she gave me a lot of enjoyment with the first 25. RIP. ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2017, 12:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alphabet-ends-at-y-rip-sue-grafton/805540/5 "2017-12-30T00:28:17Z")
5 will get you 10 she at least has a detailed outline of the last novel in her files, and that it will be ghost-written and on bookstore shelves next year. She seems like the type to have the end-game all mapped out and written down. ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2017, 12:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alphabet-ends-at-y-rip-sue-grafton/805540/6 "2017-12-30T00:34:51Z")
> [@silenus](#): > > 5 will get you 10 she at least has a detailed outline of the last novel in her files, and that it will be ghost-written and on bookstore shelves next year. She seems like the type to have the end-game all mapped out and written down. See post #2. ---
**Author:** ![I.Dunno](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/9f8e36/32.png) [@I.Dunno](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/I.Dunno)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2017, 12:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alphabet-ends-at-y-rip-sue-grafton/805540/7 "2017-12-30T00:35:47Z")
Lines lifted from my local paper’s website: Her daughter, Jamie Clark, posted news of her mother’s death on Grafton’s web page Friday. Her daughter concluded her posting by saying, “the alphabet now ends at Y.” I too would like an alphabetic conclusion but I guess we’ll have to wait and see. ---
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2017, 12:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alphabet-ends-at-y-rip-sue-grafton/805540/8 "2017-12-30T00:40:43Z")
Only one letter away from finishing? I remember when these books first appeared in book stores over thirty years ago. I had assumed the series had been completed long ago. I guess Sue got stuck on a few letters along the way. I read a couple of the books that my mom loaned me. I think she’s read the whole series. RIP ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2017, 12:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alphabet-ends-at-y-rip-sue-grafton/805540/9 "2017-12-30T00:42:32Z")
> [@Chefguy](#): > > See post #2. I stand by my prediction. It wasn’t like she got hit by a bus at age 48. She had the last one outlined, I’m sure. The demand will be high, and the heirs aren’t bound by her wishes. ---
**Author:** ![Slash1972](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/slash1972/32/6461_2.png) [@Slash1972](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Slash1972)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2017, 12:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alphabet-ends-at-y-rip-sue-grafton/805540/10 "2017-12-30T00:46:35Z")
That’s too bad. I haven’t read any of the books, but I thought the series progression was cool. Are the books any good? ---
**Author:** ![BigT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bigt/32/12044_2.png) [@BigT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BigT)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2017, 1:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alphabet-ends-at-y-rip-sue-grafton/805540/11 "2017-12-30T01:02:52Z")
No need to defy her wishes. She didn’t want any ghostwriter finishing the series? Then let them put their name on the book. ---
**Author:** ![CelticKnot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/celticknot/32/3392_2.png) [@CelticKnot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CelticKnot)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2017, 3:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alphabet-ends-at-y-rip-sue-grafton/805540/12 "2017-12-30T03:27:25Z")
A great loss for mystery readers and writers. Condolences to family and friends. I was really hoping the series would conclude. There were so many interesting characters in those books, and I wonder what happens to them. Just like when a TV series ends. I want more! ---
**Author:** ![Ukulele\_Ike](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/df788c/32.png) [@Ukulele\_Ike](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ukulele_Ike)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2017, 3:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alphabet-ends-at-y-rip-sue-grafton/805540/13 "2017-12-30T03:38:26Z")
Ed McBain, the great police procedural author and creator of the 87th Precinct series — including **Ax, Bread, Calypso, Doll, Fuzz,** et al — always resented her for ripping off his schtick. Disclaimer: I was his editor for **Romance** (1995), and **Nocturne** (1997). He didn’t do them in order. ---
**Author:** ![digs](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/digs/32/14889_2.png) [@digs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/digs)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2017, 4:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alphabet-ends-at-y-rip-sue-grafton/805540/14 "2017-12-30T04:57:09Z")
I’m hoping her heirs open her hidden safe and find a note saying “Please ask the best twenty writers in the world to each write a version of ‘Z is for Zeitgeist’. Thank you.” Well, if my wishes are being followed in terms of Grafton’s safe, then I hope they find a completely finished “Z is for Zaftig” manuscript. ---
**Author:** ![Kamino\_Neko](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kamino_neko/32/34_2.png) [@Kamino\_Neko](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kamino_Neko)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2017, 5:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alphabet-ends-at-y-rip-sue-grafton/805540/15 "2017-12-30T05:25:21Z")
If there’s an afterlife, she’s probably still bitching out Death for not giving her another year or two to finish one last book. ---
**Author:** ![Cazzle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cazzle/32/75_2.png) [@Cazzle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cazzle)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2017, 5:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alphabet-ends-at-y-rip-sue-grafton/805540/16 "2017-12-30T05:53:01Z")
Her last book, “Z is for Zero,” was scheduled for release in fall 2019, according to the author’s website. But her husband, Steve Humphrey, said Grafton had yet to start writing the novel. “She was trying to come up with an idea, but she never got one she liked,” Humphrey said. “With chemo, she didn’t have much energy or interest in that anyway. There will just be a 25-letter alphabet, I’m sorry to say.” [https://www.google.com.au/amp/s/amp.courier-journal.com/amp/990806001](https://www.google.com.au/amp/s/amp.courier-journal.com/amp/990806001) Sounds like Y is it. ☹ ---
**Author:** ![AppallingGael](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/b9bd4f/32.png) [@AppallingGael](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AppallingGael)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2017, 6:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alphabet-ends-at-y-rip-sue-grafton/805540/17 "2017-12-30T06:08:14Z")
> [@SpoilerVirgin](#): > > ☹ I was really looking forward to “Z” (for Zero, apparently). She was definitely working her way toward a conclusion for Kinsey. Was she planning to kill her off? ---
**Author:** ![DesertDog](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/desertdog/32/11503_2.png) [@DesertDog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DesertDog)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2017, 2:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alphabet-ends-at-y-rip-sue-grafton/805540/18 "2017-12-30T14:44:04Z")
> [@Ukulele\_Ike](#): > > Ed McBain, the great police procedural author and creator of the 87th Precinct series — including **Ax, Bread, Calypso, Doll, Fuzz,** et al — always resented her for ripping off his schtick. > > Disclaimer: I was his editor for **Romance** (1995), and **Nocturne** (1997). He didn’t do them in order. As an 87th Pct. series fan I have to ask: What schtick was that, police procedurals?\* It’s not like the 87P books have any kind of discernable theme to their titles, letters, numbers, colors or days of the week. \*Having not read Sue Grafton, I have no idea what the Kinsey Milhone series is, beyond the “mystery” genre. ---
**Author:** ![Annie-Xmas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ecc23a/32.png) [@Annie-Xmas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Annie-Xmas)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2017, 2:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alphabet-ends-at-y-rip-sue-grafton/805540/19 "2017-12-30T14:56:47Z")
McBain wrote some 87 Precinct mysteries with one word titles, intending to go through the whole alphabet, with the last one being _Exit_: Ax, Bread, Calypso, Doll, Fuzz, Ghost, Heat, Ice, Jigsaw, Kiss, Lightning, Mischief, Nocturne, Poison, Romance, Tricks, Vespers and Widows were published. ---
**Author:** ![Exapno\_Mapcase](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/exapno_mapcase/32/1051_2.png) [@Exapno\_Mapcase](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Exapno_Mapcase)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2017, 4:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alphabet-ends-at-y-rip-sue-grafton/805540/20 "2017-12-30T16:37:25Z")
And even McBain was following in the footsteps of Lawrence Treat, who was doing alphabet police procedural novels starting in the 1940s. He later used the style for 40 short stories, the last one published just a year before Sue’s first Kinsey Millhone novel was published, but well after she started writing. > [@](#): > > B as in Banshee (1940) > D as in Dead (1941) > H as in Hangman (1942) > O as in Omen (1943) > V as in Victim (1945) > H as in Hunted (1946) > Q as in Quicksand (1947) > T as in Trapped (1947) > F as in Flight (1948) Grafton must have known about these. Her father was a mystery writer himself during the same period. His first two had titles taken from the first two lines of a nursery rhyme. Why he didn’t continue seems to be a … mystery. > [@](#): > > The Rat Began to Gnaw the Rope (1943) > The Rope Began to Hang the Butcher (1944) Whatever Sue Grafton’s status as a writer, please don’t attribute any originality to her titles. It’s just marketing. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alphabet-ends-at-y-rip-sue-grafton/805540.md?page=2)