CyberGumshoe's Mumblings in July/August 2021
2021 McIlvanney Prize Finalists Announced
The Bloody Scotland has announced the five finalists for the 2021 McIlvanney Prize (formerly the Scottish Crime Book of the Year Prize) as follows:
THE SILENT DAUGHTER, by Emma Christie (Wellbeck)
THE COFFINMAKER'S GARDEN, by Stuart MacBride (HarperCollins)
EDGE OF THE GRAVE, by Robbie Morrison (Macmillan)
THE APRIL DEAD, by Alan Parks (Canongate)
HYDE, Craig Russell (Constable)
And the four finalists for the 2021 Bloody Scotland Debut Crime Novel of the Year Prize were already announced on June 28 as follows:
THE SILENT DAUGHTER, by Emma Christie (Wellbeck) - from Aberdeen/Portobello
NO HARM DONE, by Alistair Liddle (Self Published) - from Stirling
EDGE OF THE GRAVE, by Robbie Morrison (Macmillan) - from Helensburgh/Glasgow
WAKING THE TIGER, by Mark Wightman (Hobeck Books) - from Edinburgh/Linlithgow
[*NOTE: THE SILENT DAUGHTER by Emma Christie and EDGE OF THE GRAVE by Robbie Morrison are also on the finalists for the McIlvanney Prize.]
The winners of the McIlvanney Prize and the Debut Prize will be announced at the Albert Halls in Stirling on September 17 live online. (August 31, 2021)
Caroline Todd Dies
Caroline Todd, one-half of the mother-and-son writing team that authors under the joint pseudonym Charles Todd, died peacefully on August 27 in Delaware. The former Associate Press reporter started to co-write (with her son Charles Todd, the former corporate trouble-shooter) A TEST OF WILLS (St. Martin's, 1986), introducing Inspector Ian Rutledge, a Scotland Yard inspector with shell shock from World War One. This historical novel won the 1997 Barry Award and was nominated for the Edgar Award in the first novel category, resulting in their continuing to produce almost one Rutledge book every year. In addition, they started another historical mystery series featuring Bess Crawford, a British army nurse in World War One, starting with A DUTY TO THE DEAD (Morrow, 2009). AN UNMARKED GRAVE (Crawford #4, 2012), A QUESTION OF HONOR (Crawford #5, 2013) and THE SHATTTERED TREE (Crawford #8, 2016) won the 2013 Macavity, the 2013 Agatha and the 2017 Mary Higgins Clark Awards, respectively. The 24th Rutledge book, A GAME OF FEAR and the 13th not-yet-titled Crawford book will be published in 2022 from Morrow. To my surprise, I have found out the real names of Caroline Todd and Charles Todd are Carolyn Teachey Watjen and David Wheaton Watjen, respectively. She was 86. (August 30, 2021)
S.A. Cosby Wins Anthony
Bouchercon 2021 has announced the winners for the 2021 Anthony Awards as follows:
Best Hardcover Novel: BLACKTOP WASTELAND, by S.A. Cosby (Flatiron)
Best First Novel: WINTER COUNTS, by David Heska Wanbli Weiden (Ecco)
Best Paperback Original Novel: UNSPEAKABLE THINGS, by Jess Lourey (Thomas & Mercer)
Best Short Story: "90 Miles," by Alex Segura (in BOTH SIDES, edited by Gabino Iglesias; Agora)
Best Juvenile/Young Adult: HOLLY HERNANDEZ AND THE DEATH OF DISCO, by Richie Narvaez (Pinata)
Best Critical or Non-fiction Work: UNSPEAKABLE ACTS, edited by Sarah Weinman (Ecco)
Best Anthology or Collection: SHATTERING GLASS, edited by Heather Graham (Nasty Womann Press)
David Thomspon Special Service Award Recipient: Janet Rudolph, editor of The Mystery Readers Journal
2021 Lifetime Achievement Award Recipient: Michael Connelly
The winners were announced on August 28 online. (August 29, 2021)
S.A. Cosby Wins Macavity
The Mystery Readers International has announced the winners for the 2021 Macavity Awards as follows:
Best Novel: BLACKTOP WASTELAND, by S.A. Cosby (Flatiron Books)
Best First: WINTER COUNTS, by David Heska Wanbli Weiden (Ecco Press)
Best Critical/Biographical: H.R.F. KEATING: A LIFE OF CRIME, by Sheila Mitchel, widow of Keating (Level Best Books)
Best Short Story: "Elysian Fields," by Gabriel Valjan (in CALIFORNIA SCHEMIN', edited by Art Taylor; Wildside Press)
Best Historical Mystery: TURN TO STONE, by James W. Ziskin (Seven Street Books)
The winners were announced on August 25 online. (August 26, 2021)
Garry Disher Wins Neddie
The Australian Crime Writers Association (ACWA) has announced the winners for the 2021 Ned Kelly (also known as Neddie) Awards as follows:
Best Crime Fiction: CONSOLATION, by Garry Disher (Text)
Best Debut Crime Fiction: THE SECOND SON, by Loraine Peck (Text)
Best True Crime: STALKING CLAREMONT, by Bret Christian (HarperCollins)
Best International Crime Fiction: WE BEGIN AT THE END, by Chris Whitaker (Allen & Unwin)
The announcement was made on August 25 online. (August 26, 2021)
S.A. Cosby Wins Barry
Deadly Pleasures Mystery Magazine has announced the winners for the 2021 Barry Awards as follows:
Best Novel: BLACKTOP WASTELAND, by S.A. Cosby (Flatiron Books)
Best First Novel: WINTER COUNTS, by David Heska Wanbli Weiden (Ecco)
Best Paperback Original: TURN TO STONE, by James W. Ziskin (Seven Street)
Best Thriller: EDDIE'S BOY, by Thomas Perry (Mysterious Press)
George Easter, editor of Deadly Pleasures, announced the winners for the 2021 Barry Awards on August 05 shortly after the cancellation of Bouchercon 2021 was announced. If the year of 2021 were an ordinary year without the Covid pandemic, the winners would be announced on August 26, during the opening ceremonies at Bouchercon to be held in New Orleans, Louisiana. (August 06, 2021)
Bouchercon 2021 Cancelled!
Bouchercon 2021 has been cancelled due to the spread of the Covid variant named Delta. (Bouchecon 2021 had been scheduled to take place from August 25 thru 29 at Marriott Hotel in New Orleans, Louisiana.)
However, Bouchercon 2021 will reconvene as Bouchercon 2025 in New Orleans, and the Guests of Honor will remain the same. In addition, the Bouchercon 2021 will still hold the Anthony Awards THIS YEAR. Details of awarding the Anthonys will be announced soon. (August 05, 2021)
Mo Hayder Dies
Mo Hayder (real name: Clare Dunkel) died of motor neurone disease on July 27 in England. The former Tokyo club hostess' debut novel, BIRDMAN (Doubleday Books, 2000), introducing London police detective Jack Caffery, was an international bestseller. Her third Caffery novel, GONE (Atlantic Monthly Press, 2010), won the 2012 Edgar in the best novel category while the seventh one, WOLF (Bantam Press, 2014), was nominated for the 2015 best novel Edgar. Her non-series books TOKYO (US title: THE DEVIL OF NANKING) and HANGING HILL (both from Bantam Press) were shortlisted in the CWA Gold Dagger Award in 2004 and 2011, respectively, and she received the CWA Dagger in the Library Award for an outstading body of work. She had started a new series in a new genre, and the first in her new speculative thriller genre, THE BOOK OF SAND, will be published posthumously by Century (her new publisher) in early 2022 under her new pseudonym Theo Clare. She was 59. (July 30, 2021)
Matt Coyle Wins Shamus
The Private Eye Writers of America (PWA) has announced the winners for the 2021 Shamus Award as follows:
Best PI Novel: BLIND VIGIL, by Matt Coyle (Oceanview), featuirng Rick Cahill
Best First PI Novel: THE MISSING AMERICAN, by Kwei Quartey (Soho Crime), introducing Emma Djan
Best Original PI Paperback: BRITTLE KARMA, by Richard Helms (Black Arch Books), featuring Eamon Gold
Best PI Short Story: "Mustang Sally," by John M. Floyd (in Black Cat Mystery Magazine #7, October 2020), featuring Thomas Langford
Eye Lifetime Achievement Award Recipient: Michael Z. Lewin
The winners were announced quite suddenly on July 26. (July 27, 2021)
Chris Whitaker Wins Theakston Crime Award
Harrogate International Festival announced that WE BEGIN AT THE END, by Chris Whitaker (Zaffre) is the winner for the 2021 Theakston Crime Award for the best crime novel of the year published in paperback from May 01, 2020 to April 30, 2021 by UK and Irish authors.
The winner was announced on the opening night of Theakston Old Peculier Crime Writing Festival on July 22. At the same night, Ian Rankin and Mark Billingham received the Outstanding Contribution to Crime Fiction Award for 2021 and 2020, respectively. (July 24, 2021)
William F. Nolan Dies
William F. Nolan died on July 15 at the hospital in Vancouver, Washington following complications from an infection. The former animator at the Disney Studios may be most famous as a co-author of LOGAN'S RUN (Dial, 1967, with George Clayton Johnson), which was turned into the 1976 science fiction film starring Michael York and Jenny Agutter, but he also wrote about John Huston, Steve McQueen and Ernest Hemingway. He penned DASHIELL HAMMETT: A CASEBOOK (McNally &Loftin, 1969), one of the pioneer books on Hammett, and won the 1970 Special Edgar from the Mystery Writers of America -- a rarely known fact. He updated the Hammett bio/bibliography and published HAMMETT: A LIFE AT THE EDGE (Congdon & Weed, 1983). He also created a future private eye on Mars named Sam Space, maybe a descendant of Sam Spade, introduced in SPACE FOR HIRE (Lancer, 1971), which was nominated for the 1972 Edgar Paperback Edgar but did not win. He edited THE BLACK MASK BOYS (Morrow, 1985), an anthology of short stories from Black Mask Magazine, and wrote the three books of the Black Mask Boys series featuring a different Black Mask writer in each book: THE BLACK MASK MURDERS (1994, with Hammett); THE MARBLE ORCHARD (1996, with Raymond Chandler); and SHARK NEVER SLEEP (1998, with Erle Stanley Gardner; all three from St. Martin's). He was 93. (July 22, 2021)
David Joy Wins Hammett Prize
The International Association of Crime Writers/North America (IACW/NA) announced on July 18 that WHEN THESE MOUNTAINS BURN, by David Joy (Putnam) is the winner for the 2021 Hammett Prize for Literary Excellence.
The four other nominees were:
IN OLD BOMBAY, by Nev March(Minotaur); THE MOUNTAINS WILD, by Sarah Stewart Taylor (Minotaur); THREE HOURS IN PARIS, by Cara Black (Soho); and WINTER COUNTS, by David Heska Wanbli Weiden (Ecco). (July 20, 2021)
Louise Penny Wins Agatha
Malice Domestic has announced the winners for the 2021 Agatha Awards as follows:
Best Contemporary Novel: ALL THE DEVILS ARE HERE, by Louise Penny (Minotaur)
Best Historical Novel: THE LAST MRS. SUMMERS, by Rhys Bowen (Berkeley)
Best First Novel: MURDER AT THE MENA HOUSE, by Erica Ruth Neubauer (Kensington)
Best Short Story: "Dear Emily Etiquette," by Barb Goffman (Ellery Queen's Mystery Magazine, September/October, 2020)
Best Non-fiction: PHANTOM LADY, by Christina Lane (Chicago Review Press)
Best Children's/YA Mystery: HOLLY HERNANDEZ AND THE DEATH OF DISCO, by Richard Narvaez (Pinata)
The winners were announced on July 17 during MORE THAN MALICE, an online virtual crime festival. (July 18, 2021)
S.A. Cosby Wins Thriller Award
The International Thriller Writers (ITW) has announced the winners for the 2021 Thriller Awards as follows:
Best Harcover Novel: BLACKTOP WASTELAND, by S.A. Cosby (Flatiron Books)
Best First Novel: WINTER COUNTS, by David Heska Wanbli Weiden (Ecco)
Best Paperback Original Novel: WHAT LIES BETWEEN US, by John Marrs (Thomas & Mercer)
Best Short Story: "Rent Due," by Alan Orloff (in MICKEY FINN, edited by Michael Bracken; Down & Out Books)
Best Young Adult Novel: THROWAWAY GIRLS, by Andrea Contos (Kids Can Press)
Best E-Book Original Novel: A KILLING GAME, by Jeff Buick (Novel Words)
The winners were announced on Saturday, July 10, 2021 during Virtual ThrillerFest. (July 11, 2021)
C.J. Box Wins Maltese Falcon
The Maltese Falcon Society of Japan has announced that C.J. Box is the winner of the 2021 Maltese Falcon Award for BREAKING POINT (Putnam, 2013) as the best hardboiled/private eye novel published in Japan in the previous year. The winning novel is the 13th in the Joe Pickett series. Mr. Box will receive a wood-crafted Falcon statuette. (July 05, 2021)
Chris Whitaker Wins Dagger
The Crime Writers' Association of Britain (CWA) announced the winners for the 2021 Dagger Awards as follows:
Gold Dagger: WE BEGIN AT THE END, by Chris Whitaker (Zaffre)
Steel Dagger: WHEN SHE WAS GOOD, by Michael Robotham (Sphere)
New Blood Dagger: THE CREAK ON THE STAIR, by Eva Bjorg AEgisdottir (Orenda), Translator: Victoria Cribb
Historical Dagger: MIDNIGHT AT MALABAR HOUSE, by Vaseem Khan (Hodder & Stoughton)
Non-Fiction Dagger: WRITTEN IN BONE, by Sue Black (Doubleday)
Translation Dagger; THE DISASTER TOURIST, by Yun Ko-eun, translated by Lizzie Buehler (Serpent's Tail)
Short Story Dagger: "Monster's," by Clare Mackintosh (in FIRST EDITION: Celebrating 21 Years of Goldsboro Books; The Dome Press)
Library Dagger: Peter May
Publisher Dagger: Head of Zeus
Debut Dagger: DECEPTION, by Hannah Redding
Diamond Dagger Recipient: Martina Cole
The winners were announced at Daggers Live!, the online CWA Dagger awards ceremony on July 01. (July 02, 2021)
BACK TO HOMEPAGE