By Nick Bledsoe
I collect southern writers. California mystery writer Sue Grafton is not listed in Writers of the American South or A Portrait of Southern Writers. But she fits my criteria – she was born here. According to Ahearn’s Author Price Guide, she was born in Louisville, Kentucky and earned a BA from the University of Louisville. Her parents were both children of Presbyterian missionaries to China. Ms. Grafton has said, “The mystery novel offers a world in which justice is served. Maybe not in a court of law, but people do get their just desserts.” Grafton is best known for the alphabet series beginning with “A” is for Alibi, but her first book was Keziah Dane published by McMillan in 1967. A fine copy with a fine dustjacket of Keziah Dane would bring about $500, while “A” is more like $1,500. This is a case where the author’s first book is ….
Sue Grafton books available from Ken Hebenstreit, Bookseller
