Who Bagged the Inaugural Criders?

Back in December 2018, Bouchercon organizers announced that a new award would debut during their 2019 convention ... which was held late last week in Dallas, Texas. Called the Bill Crider Prize for Short Fiction—taking its name from the popular late author of the Sheriff Dan Rhodes mysteries—it offered a first-place reward of $1,000 (plus prizes for second- and third-place winners) to stories “relating to Texas ... with an element of mystery or crime.”

Unfortunately, word of the winners has been quite slow in spreading. But here are their names at last, thanks to Erin Mitchell.

First Place: Joseph S. Walker, “The Last Man in Lafarge”
Second Place: Jaap Boekestein, “Long Overdue”
Third Place: Douglas Dorow, “Trust Me”
Fourth Place: Dixon Hill, “Mi Corazón, Sin Cartero, Sin Timbre de la Puerta” (“My Heart, Sans Postman, Sans Doorbell”)

I’m confident Crider, a fan and writer of short stories himself, would be happy to see his memory celebrated in this fashion.

ADDENDUM: It should be noted that I have reached out to Crider contest coordinator Paula Benson, asking her to confirm these award details. However, I have so far received no response.)