All through his celebrated career, Naipaul made many scathing remarks on record about women, race and his homeland Trinidad. But that was VS Naipaul in a nutshell. Cold, unapologetic for his views, outspoken but a master storyteller with a flair of weaving unforgettable stories.

Sue Grafton, the prolific author of the bestselling "Alphabet Series" mysteries featuring private investigator Kinsey Millhone, has died at the age of 77.