France Takes Another Hit

British novelist and film producer Peter James has been awarded France’s prestigious Prix Coeur Noir award for his 2005 novel, Dead Simple. Shotsmag Confidential reports:

The win is the latest in a succession of foreign accolades for Peter’s writing, firmly rooting him as one of the UK’s most internationally successful crime writers. Last year, Peter received the 2005 Krimi-Blitz award for Crime Novelist of the Year in Germany, and he also won Le Prix Polar International 2006, France, for Best Crime Novel--Dead Simple.

On receiving the prize, Peter James said: “France is a country known for its patriotism; when I heard I was shortlisted against two French authors and the award is voted for by the public, I didn’t think I had a chance. I am very proud and very thrilled. To have won one French award was an incredible feeling. Now to have won two, I’m just amazed! And very, very honoured.”

Le Prix Coeur Noir is organized by librarians, readers of Les Amis des Médiathèques and booksellers of Saint-Quentin-en-Yvelines. The public were able to vote from October 2006 January 2007 from shortlist of three crime novels.

The shortlist comprised of [sic]: Le Chien Tchéchène by Michel Maisonneuve, Comme une Tombe by Peter James and La Lune de Glace by Jan Costin Wagner. Peter James was the clear winner with more than 50% of the votes.

There seems to be a trend of late toward foreign authors winning coveted French prizes. Last year, you will recall, American Jonathan Littell captured the Académie Française’s top literary prize with his debut literary novel, Les Bienveillantes (The Furies).