The Novel Files: Sue Grafton

Over the years, I have become acquainted with many authors. Some have written classics in the 18th and 19th centuries; others have begun their careers more recently. One author that I have loved and read in earnest since I was a little girl is Sue Grafton, and her most recent novel – U is for Undertow – is one of her best yet.

Grafton cleverly decided to name each book in her “Alphabet Mystery” series after a letter of the alphabet. She began with A is for Alibi in 1982, and is still going strong. The main character and heroine in the series is Kinsey Millhone, a twice-divorced self proclaimed loner who owns her own private investigation firm in Santa Teresa, a fictionalized town based on Santa Barbara, California.

If only I had come up with the idea to name books after letters of the alphabet. Brilliant...

The novels are set in the 1980s, which is something that I really like. Instead of trying to infuse modern technology into each novel as time progresses – like many authors try to do – Grafton cleverly and craftily chooses to stay behind the times. When investigating cases, Millhone is forced to conduct research at the public library, instead of online. She doesn’t have a cell phone, which is terrifying when there is a potential killer hunting her down (which happens quite frequently). And, she doesn’t have the luxury of checking people out on Facebook or MySpace. It’s bare-boned investigation at its best, and I love it.

The most recent novel – U is for Undertow – is fantastic. It is about a crime committed twenty years earlier (in the 1960s). There is also a secondary plot line that deals with Millhone’s family – something readers are rarely privy to. And contrary to what you may think, it isn’t necessary to have previously read any of the other Alphabet Mystery books. Grafton introduces you to the story in the proper place, and explains back stories when necessary.

She seems like a cool lady...

Grafton is a gifted writer. Her style is simple and easy to follow, and it’s free of unnecessary adjectives or too much description. It’s exactly the type of novel you would want to have on hand when spending a relaxing afternoon curled up in front of the fire with a blanket and glass of wine, and I recommend it to everyone.

*Photos are courtesy of Google.