CrimeRead April: P.M. Newton & Lenny Bartulin @ Springwood

On Wednesday 3rd April, 2013, at 2pm, Australian crime-fiction authors P.M. Newton and Lenny Bartulin are giving an Author Talk at Springwood Library. Come along to hear them talk about their novels – The Old School by P.M. Newton and A Deadly Business, The Black Russian and De Luxe by Lenny Bartulin.

Pam has given talks and workshops on writing crime fiction, the journey to publication and, of course, on her first book, The Old School. Set in Sydney, this is an edgy novel featuring police detective Nhu “Ned” Kelly. Much more than a simple whodunit, this novel explores social issues such as Aboriginal land rights and the Vietnam War. Newton’s experience as a former police detective gives the story a gripping credibility.

Lenny’s books centre around Jack Susko, second-hand book dealer and trouble magnet. This is a loveable character who always seems to be in the wrong place at the wrong time. The Black Russian was shortlisted for the 2010 Ned Kelly Award for Best Fiction, and with good reason. Written with great humour, the classic dialogue, fast-paced action, and disastrous scenarios in these books are sure to give you a good chuckle.

Bookings are appreciated for this event. You can contact Springwood Library on (02) 4723 5040, or see the staff at any of our Library Branches.

We’ll also be recording a podcast interview with Pam and Lenny so look out for that to appear on Listeners in the Mist.

Edgar Allan Poe Awards 2012

The Edgar Allan Poe Awards, affectionately known as The Edgars are awarded by the Mystery Writers of America for the best in mystery fiction, non-fiction and television published or produced in 2011.

Here are some of the highlights :

BEST NOVEL : Gone by Mo Hayder

BEST FIRST NOVEL BY AN AMERICAN AUTHOR : Bent Road by Lori Roy

BEST FACT CRIME : Destiny of the Republic: A Tale of Madness, Medicine and the Murder of a President by Candice Millard

BEST CRITICAL/BIOGRAPHICAL : On Conan Doyle: Or, the Whole Art of Storytelling by Michael Dirda

BEST SHORT STORY : “The Man Who Took His Hat Off to the Driver of the Train” – by Peter Turnbull in the Ellery Queen Mystery Magazine

BEST JUVENILE : Icefall by Matthew J Kirby

BEST YOUNG ADULT : The Silence of Murder by Dandi Daley Mackall

 GRAND MASTER : Martha Grimes

You can read the full list of winners here.

“Like a female Indiana Jones with a better wardrobe”

Anyone else looking forward to Miss Fisher’s Murder Mysteries which starts on ABC TV this Friday (February 24th at 8:30pm)?

Based on the series by Kerry Greenwood set in 1920s Melbourne, the reviews and previews promise a lot of fun.  And unlike the recent series of the wonderful Zen (by Michael Dibdin) which only ran for three episodes, this series is a much more satisfying 13-parter.

Having been introduced to these books several years ago by a colleague, I’m so excited about this on TV that I might have to give up book group (1st Friday of the month), film club (2nd Friday of the month) and RFS training (3rd Friday of the month) for the next couple of months.

Phrynne is absolutely no Miss Marple. She’s smart like Miss M, but not one for knitting. She’s beautiful, wealthy, adventurous and sexy. (This last caused a bit of consternation when listening to one book on CD with my 10 year old daughter on a long journey home from Wagga Wagga last year; I listened with baited breath to Miss Fisher seducing the local doctor, wondering how long until I had to push the stop button).

And according to my TV guide there are another couple of Australian historical murder mystery series coming on the ABC :

• The Doctor Blake Mysteries - set in Ballarat in 1959
• The Mystery of the Hansom Cab and The Homicide Franchise by Fergus Hume. Published in 1886 this is set in Melbourne in the gold rush glory days.

Oooohhh, right up my alley. History, Mystery and Australia. Can’t wait.

The Phrynne Fisher books can be found on the Adult Crime Fiction shelves at GREENWOOD. Some are also available as Talking Books.

The Aurelio Zen books can be found on the Adult Crime Fiction shelves at DIBDIN.

The Mystery of the Hansom Cab by Fergus Hume can be found on the Adult Crime Fiction shelves at HUME.

Edgar Awards 2012

The Mystery Writers of America have announced the nominees for the 2012 Edgar Awards. These awards were established in 1946 to recognize writing achievements in the literary genre of mystery and crime.

I won’t list all the categories. You can read them all here.

Nominees for Best Novel :

• The Ranger by Ace Atkins
• Gone by Mo Hayder
• The Devotion of Suspect X by Keigo Higashino 
• 1222 by Anne Holt
• Field Gray by Philip Kerr

Nominees for the Best Fact Crime

• The Murder of the Century: The Gilded Age Crime That Scandalized a City and Sparked the Tabloid Wars by Paul Collins
• The Savage City: Race, Murder, and a Generation on the Edge by T.J. English
• Destiny of the Republic: A Tale of Madness, Medicine and the Murder of a President by Candice Millard
• Girl, Wanted: The Chase for Sarah Pender by Steve Miller
• The Man in the Rockefeller Suit: The Astonishing Rise and Spectacular Fall of a Serial Imposter by Mark Seal

Nominees for the Best Critical / Biographical

• The Tattooed Girl: The Enigma of Stieg Larsson and the Secrets Behind the Most Compelling Thrillers of our Time by Dan Burstein, Arne de Keijzer & John-Henri Holmberg
• Agatha Christie: Murder in the Making by John Curran
• On Conan Doyle: Or, the Whole Art of Storytelling by Michael Dirda
• Detecting Women: Gender and the Hollywood Detective Film by Philippa Gates
• Scripting Hitchcock: Psycho, The Birds and Marnie by Walter Raubicheck and Walter Srebnick 

Nominees for the Best Juvenile Book

• Horton Halfpott by Tom Angleberger
• It Happened on a Train by Mac Barnett
• Vanished by Sheela Chari 
• Icefall by Matthew J. Kirby 
• The Wizard of Dark Street by Shawn Thomas Odyssey

Nominees for the Best Young Adult book

• Shelter by Harlan Coben
• The Name of the Star by Maureen Johnson
• The Silence of Murder by Dandi Daley Mackall
• The Girl is Murder by Kathryn Miller Haines
• Kill You Last by Todd Strasser (Egmont USA) 

The winners will be presented with their awards on 26th April 2012

Last three Dagger Award winners for 2011

The Crime Writers Association Dagger Awards which recognise excellence in crime writingthe shortlists and winners are not announced all at the same time. Several award winners were announced in July and just three more remain. The winners of The Gold Dagger, The Ian Fleming Steel Dagger and The John Creasey Dagger were announced on 7th October.

Tom Franklin wins the CWA Gold Dagger 2011 for his novel, Crooked Letter, Crooked Letter

Steve Hamilton wins the CWA Ian Fleming Steel Dagger 2011 for The Lock Artist

The broadest definition of the thriller novel is used for books eligible for this Dagger; these can be set in any period and include, but are not limited to, spy fiction and/or action/ adventure stories. Ian Fleming said there was one essential criterion for a good thriller – that ‘one simply has to turn the page’.

S.J. Watson is the winner of the 2011 CWA John Creasey Dagger, for Before I Go To Sleep

This award is made in memory of CWA founder John Creasey, for first books by previously unpublished writers.

Dagger Award Shortlists

The latest shortlists for the 2011 Crime Writers Association (CWA) Dagger Awards have been announced. 

The CWA Dagger Awards, celebrating the best in crime and thriller writing, are the longest established literary awards in the UK and are internationally recognised as a mark of excellence and achievement. To be eligible, books must have had their first UK publication between 1 June 2010 and 31 May 2011.  Over the years the number of CWA Daggers has increased (and occasionally decreased). Currently nine Daggers are awarded annually by the CWA (Diamond, Gold, Steel, John Creasey, International, Non-fiction, Dagger in the Library, Short Story, Debut and Historical).

Unlike other awards, the shortlists and winners are not announced all at the same time. Several awards have already been given :

• Cartier Diamond Dagger : Lindsey Davis. This Dagger is awarded for sustained excellence in crime writing
• International Dagger : Three Seconds by Anders Roslund & Börge Hellström, translated by Kari Dickson
• Non-Fiction Dagger: The Killer of Little Shepherds by Douglas Starr
• Dagger in the Library: Mo Hayder
• Short Story dagger: Homework by Phil Lovesey
• Debut Dagger: What Hidden Lies by Michele Rowe

The latest Dagger Award shortlists to be announced are:

CWA Gold Dagger for the Best Crime Novel of the Year

This is the most illustrious prizes in the crime writing world.

• Crooked Letter, Crooked Letter by Tom Franklin
• The Lock Artist by Steve Hamilton
• Snowdrops by A.D. Miller (also on the Man Booker longlist)
• The End of the Wasp Season by Denise Mina

CWA Ian Fleming Steel Dagger 2011

This category os for thrillers which can be set in any period and include, but are not limited to, spy fiction and/or action/ adventure stories. Ian Fleming said there was one essential criterion for a good thriller – that ‘one simply has to turn the page’.

• The Good Son by Michael Gruber
• The Lock Artist by Steve Hamilton
• Cold Rain by Craig Smith
• Before I Go to Sleep by SJ Watson

The CWA John Creasey (New Blood) Dagger 2011

This award is made in memory of CWA founder John Creasey, for first books by previously unpublished writers.

• The Dogs of Rome by Conor Fitzgerald
• The Dead Women of Juarez by Sam Hawken
• Kiss Me Quick by Danny Miller
• Before I Go to Sleep by SJ Watson

The winners of these shortlists will be announced at The Specsavers Crime Thriller Awards on Friday 7th October.

Still to be announced is the shortlist for the Ellis Peters Historical Award 2011.