--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Sue Grafton's 'A Is for Alibi', the 1982…" description: "\"Sue Grafton's 'A Is for Alibi', the 1982 novel that introduced the world to private detective Kinsey Millhone, wasn't seen as the pioneering achievemen..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/408/sarah-weinman-7655_achievement_sue-grafton-s-a-is-for-alibi-the-1982-no_1659698.jpg" --- # Sue Grafton's 'A Is for Alibi', the 1982 novel that… ![“Sue Grafton's 'A Is for Alibi', the 1982 novel that introduced the world to private detective Kinsey Millhone, wasn't seen as the pioneering achievement we now know it to be.” quote by Sarah Weinman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/408/sarah-weinman-7655_achievement_sue-grafton-s-a-is-for-alibi-the-1982-no_1659698.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/408/sarah-weinman-7655_achievement_sue-grafton-s-a-is-for-alibi-the-1982-no_1659698.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/408/sarah-weinman-7655_achievement_sue-grafton-s-a-is-for-alibi-the-1982-no_1659698.jpg) > “Sue Grafton's 'A Is for Alibi', the 1982 novel that introduced the world to private detective Kinsey Millhone, wasn't seen as the pioneering achievement we now know it to be.” [Sarah Weinman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-weinman/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. A Is for Alibi was initially underappreciated but later recognized as a groundbreaking work introducing a strong female detective. **In simple terms:** Initially overlooked, later praised as groundbreaking. Key Takeaway Acknowledge hidden literary gems. Themes recognition gender detective fiction literary history Mood thoughtful curious Type analytical inspirational When to use this quote - book clubs - academic courses - media discussions Key Concepts Feminist criticism genre evolution Questions to Reflect On - How did the novel change the genre? - What factors caused its later acclaim? A Different Perspective Early reviews may bias long‑term perception. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Achievement](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/achievement/) [Alibi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/alibi/) [Books](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/books/) [Detective](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/detective/) [Private Detective](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/private-detective/) [Success](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/success/) [World](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/world/) ## Related quotes > [Authors don't tend to stay with the same agents and editors over their entire lifetimes, but Grafton worked with Marian Wood, her editor at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-weinman/authors-don-t-tend-to-stay-with-the-same-agents-and-editors-over/) [Sarah Weinman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-weinman/) > [The quality I appreciated most about Grafton was her loyalty. 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But when…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-weinman/walter-mosley-was-not-the-first-black-crime-writer-nor-was-he-the/) [Sarah Weinman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-weinman/) > [And the Institute sent me a little film footage of Kinsey himself preparing to do an interview for television to talk about his work,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/liam-neeson/and-the-institute-sent-me-a-little-film-footage-of-kinsey-himself/) [Liam Neeson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/liam-neeson/) > [“I love being by myself. I love it when it works, and I can't for the life of me figure out how that happens.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sue-grafton/i-love-being-by-myself-i-love-it-when-it-works-and-i-can-t-for-the/) [Sue Grafton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sue-grafton/) > [Books are like movies of the mind and it's better to leave Kinsey where she is.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sue-grafton/books-are-like-movies-of-the-mind-and-it-s-better-to-leave-kinsey/) [Sue Grafton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sue-grafton/) > [Kinsey thought that Freud in his own way was as dangerous as the Catholic Church.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-condon/kinsey-thought-that-freud-in-his-own-way-was-as-dangerous-as-the/) [Bill Condon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-condon/) > [I'm not sure Kinsey has changed in these first twelve books. I think the reader learns more about her, but from Kinsey's perspective, only…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sue-grafton/i-m-not-sure-kinsey-has-changed-in-these-first-twelve-books-i-think/) [Sue Grafton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sue-grafton/) > [Kinsey kick started a lot in shocking people with how much homosexual activity there is.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-condon/kinsey-kick-started-a-lot-in-shocking-people-with-how-much-homosexual/) [Bill Condon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-condon/) > [Kinsey was never a lawyer. She's strictly blue collar.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sue-grafton/kinsey-was-never-a-lawyer-she-s-strictly-blue-collar/) [Sue Grafton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sue-grafton/) > [“George was an atheist, and so am I. 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