Writers Who Kill

The Alphabet Ends with Y: An Appreciation of Sue Grafton’s Books by Warren Bull

Image from NewYorkTimes.com

It will be hard for new readers to understand how important Sue Grafton was to mystery fiction. From their point of view, her work will be remarkable for her skill and her evident evolution as a writer from book A to book Y. Interested readers will be able to read her honest blogs about writing a mystery as she writes one. What they will not be able to fully grasp is her contribution to writing and reading mysteries. She, along with Marsha Miller, Sara Paretsky, Maxine O’Callaghan and others, infused private eye mysteries from the hard-edged style of Dashiell Hammett, Raymond Chandler and Ross Macdonald with new life by writing about female private detectives who were competent, commanding and feminine— not men in drag.

Kinsey and her clan felt no need to apologize for their gender. They were clear-eyed realistic, and they knew how to cope with a world dominated by men, just as their authors coped with the male domination of mystery writing. The detectives worked well, sometimes at a sacrifice to their personal lives. They cared about their clients family and friends without sentimentalizing them. In one way or another people generally got what they deserved.

Part of Kinsey’s attraction for me as a reader and a writer was her slowly developing relationship with those around her, especially with her elderly but spirited landlord and neighbor, Henry. That was sufficient reason to read her books and there were many other reasons. I admit a fondness also for her yellow Volkswagen. I am one of those people. I name the cars I own.

Of course I enjoyed reading from letter to letter and seeing how her writing expands and acquires depth and nuance over the course of her work.  I admire the authenticity of Grafton’s writing. If there is a form to be filled out, it is the exact form needed in the time and place of Kinsey’s world. I also respect Grafton’s complete refusal to use cardboard cutouts in place of actual characters. If Kinsey calls a stranger, that stranger will have a distinct personality by the end of the call. 

It is such fun to watch Kinsey lie and charm her way to find out what she needs to know. Her quick thinking and ability to “read” people is like improvisational theater.

Grafton chose to have time pass slowly in the world she created. A to Y took six years, while thirty five years have passed in this world. Agatha Christie lamented the age she selected for her  characters when she began writing because time had to pass in each novel and by the end of her writing they would have been ancient.

I truly love the surprises and humor that ambush the reader. For example, in T is for Trespass Kinsey finds a professional caretaker who has worked with the caretaker she is investigating. The caretaker’s description of her coworker is delightful.  

Her most autobiographical book, Kinsey and Me is, a gem. First she lays out am unparalleled description of the process of writing mystery short stories. Then she demonstrates how well short stories can be written. She follows that with a group of the most revealing short stories she has ever written.

I never had the pleasure of meeting Sue Grafton, but like readers everywhere, I will miss her.