2008 Award Announcements - Edgars, Lefty, Rocky, Dilys

We've just had a slew of book awards nominee announcements over the last short period of time from around the globe so it's worth taking a look at the lists.

EDGAR AWARDS

The most recent is the Edgar Awards nominees announced by the Mystery Writers of America. The winners will be announced at the MWA banquet on May 1. These are the biggies and it's definitely worth picking up and reading as many of these as you can.

BEST NOVEL
Christine Falls by Benjamin Black (Henry Holt and Company)
Priest by Ken Bruen (St. Martin's Minotaur)
The Yiddish Policemen's Union by Michael Chabon (HarperCollins)
Soul Patch by Reed Farrel Coleman (Bleak House Books)
Down River by John Hart (St. Martin's Minotaur)

BEST FIRST NOVEL BY AN AMERICAN AUTHOR
Missing Witness by Gordon Campbell (HarperCollins - William Morrow)
In the Woods by Tana French (Penguin Group - Viking)
Snitch Jacket by Christopher Goffard (The Rookery Press)
Head Games by Craig McDonald (Bleak House Books)
Pyres by Derek Nikitas (St. Martin's Minotaur)

BEST PAPERBACK ORIGINAL
Queenpin by Megan Abbott (Simon & Schuster)
Blood of Paradise by David Corbett (Random House - Mortalis)
Cruel Poetry by Vicki Hendricks (Serpent's Tail)
Robbie's Wife by Russell Hill (Hard Case Crime)
Who is Conrad Hirst? by Kevin Wignall (Simon & Schuster)

LEFT COAST CRIME

Now we'll check out the Left Coast Crime Convention held in Denver, Colorado from 6-9 March, 2008. At the LCC we find 4 awards being handed out.

The Lefty - (The most humorous mystery published in 2007)

Donna Andrews, THE PENGUIN WHO KNEW TOO MUCH
Don Bruns, STUFF TO DIE FOR
Jeff Cohen, SOME LIKE IT HOT BUTTERED
Jess Lourey, KNEE HIGH BY THE FOURTH OF JULY
Elaine Viets, MURDER WITH RESERVATIONS

The Rocky - (Best mystery set in the Left Coast Crime geographical region in 2007)

C.J. Box, FREE FIRE
Bill Cameron, LOST DOG
Margaret Coel, THE GIRL WITH THE BRAIDED HAIR
Tim Maleeny, STEALING THE DRAGON
Twist Phelan, FALSE FORTUNE

The Arty (Best cover art for a mystery published in 2007). View the covers!

Megan Abbott, QUEENPIN
Laura Benedict, ISABELLA MOON
Rhys Bowen, HER ROYAL SPYNESS
Ken Isaacson, SILENT COUNSEL
Tim Maleeny, STEALING THE DRAGON

The Dilys: An award given by members of the Independent Mystery Booksellers Association (IMBA), recognizing the book they most enjoyed selling over the past year.

Rhys Bowen, HER ROYAL SPYNESS (Berkley)
William Kent Krueger, THUNDER BAY (Atria)
Lisa Lutz, THE SPELLMAN FILES (Simon & Schuster)
Deanna Raynourn, SILENT IN THE GRAVE (Mira)
Marcus Sakey, THE BLADE ITSELF (St. Martin's Minotaur)