Derringers Find Their Targets

The Short Mystery Fiction Society’s process this year by which it declared the finalists for its Derringer Awards was a tad confused, with revisions being made late in the game. Nonetheless, this morning brings an announcement of the winners in four categories.

Best Flash Fiction (up to 1,000 words): “How Lil Jimmie Beat the Big C,” by Joseph D’Agnese (Shotgun Honey)

Also nominated: “Because,” by Melissa Yi (Fiction River Special Edition: Crime); “Sweet Smells,” by Jed Power (Shotgun Honey); “Foodies,” by Rob Hart (Shotgun Honey); and “Knockout,” by Eryk Pruitt (Out of the Gutter)

Best Short Story (1,001-4,000 words): “The Kaluki Kings of Queens,” by Cathi Stoler (from Murder New York Style: Family Matters, edited by Anita Page; Glenmere Press)

Also nominated: “The Least of These,” by B.V. Lawson (Plan B Magazine, Vol. III); “Killing Sam Clemens,” by William Burton McCormick (Sherlock Holmes Mystery Magazine); “A Friend in Brown,” by Mary E. Stiba (from Best New England Crime Stories 2015: Rogue Wave, edited by Mark Ammons, Katherine Fast, Barbara Ross, and Leslie Wheeler; Level Best); and “The Bad Son,” by Britni Patterson (from Carolina Crimes: Nineteen Tales of Lust, Love, and Longing, edited by Karen Pullen; Wildside Press)

Best Long Story (4,001-8,000 words): “A Hopeless Case,” by Hilary Davidson (from All Due Respect, Issue #4, edited by Chris Rhatigan and Mike Monson)

Also nominated: “Separation Anxiety,” by Angel Luis Colón (from All Due Respect, Issue #5, edited by Chris Rhatigan and Mike Monson); “The Ultimate Mystery,” by M.H. Callway (World Enough and Crime, edited by Donna and Alex Carrick; Carrick Publishing); “The Missing Money,” by James T. Shannon (from Best New England Crime Stories 2015: Rogue Wave); and “Dead Men Tell No Tales,” by Cathy Wiley (from Chesapeake Crimes: Homicidal Holidays, edited by Barb Goffman and Marcia Talley; Wildside Press)

Best Novelette (8,001-20,000 words): “The Snow Angel,” by Doug Allyn (Ellery Queen Mystery Magazine [EQMM], January 2014)

Also nominated: “Hitler’s Dogs,” by Doug Allyn (Fiction River Special Edition: Crime); “Infernal,” by Trey Dowell (Untreed Reads); “Busting Red Heads,” by Richard Helms (EQMM, March 2014); and Juba Good, by Vicki Delany (Orca Books Rapid Reads)

In addition, the Edward D. Hoch Memorial Golden Derringer Award for lifetime achievement in the mystery short story goes to James Powell.

Congratulations to everyone considered for one of these prizes!