Snap Judgments

Most readers of this blog weren’t on hand for the events of CrimeFest 2011, which took place in Bristol, beginning this last Thursday. But fortunately, Rap Sheet contributor Ali Karim was there, and has sent back pictures. Click on any of these images for enlargements.


CrimeFest co-organizer Adrian Muller welcomes authors, fans, and others to the convention’s Gala Dinner.


Author Paul Johnston (far right) in the “hot seat” during the Criminal Mastermind challenge, hosted by Maxim Jakubowski. Johnston ultimately won that challenge, fielding questions about Sherlock Holmes, while fellow fictionist Lauren Henderson (second from left) took second place, demonstrating her impressive knowledge of Modesty Blaise.


Critic Peter Guttridge interviewing featured guest author Peter James, who’s also chair of the Crime Writers’ Association.


British thriller writers Charlie Charters and Matt Hilton signing copies of their books during CrimeFest 2011.


Writer Ann Cleeves (far left) moderates a panel discussion about translated crime fiction. To her right are Nick Sayers from Hodder & Stoughton, South African novelist Deon Meyer (another featured guest of this convention), Boyd Tonkin from The Independent, and Meyer’s literary agent, Isobel Dixon.

All photos © 2011 by Ali Karim

READ MORE: “More on CrimeFest,” by Martin Edwards (‘Do You Write Under Your Own Name?’); “CrimeFest Panel Report--Born to Be Bad,” by Donna Moore (Big Beat from Badsville).

Celebrating in Bristol

Thanks to Rap Sheet contributor Ali Karim’s Facebook alerts, we can now announce the winners of the four awards presented earlier today at CrimeFest in Bristol, England.

Last Laugh Award (for best humorous crime novel of 2010): The Herring in the Library, by L.C. Tyler (Macmillan)

Also nominated: Dr. Yes, by Colin Bateman (Headline); Love Songs from a Shallow Grave, by Colin Cotterill (Quercus); The Good Thief’s Guide to Vegas, by Chris Ewan (Simon & Schuster); Bank of the Black Sheep, by Robert Lewis (Serpent’s Tail); and Old Dogs, by Donna Moore (MaXcrime)

E-Dunnit Award (for best crime e-book of 2010): Field Grey, by Philip Kerr (Quercus)

Also nominated: Spies of the Balkans, by Alan Furst (Weidenfeld & Nicolson); A Room Swept White, by Sophie Hannah (Hodder & Stoughton); Where the Shadows Lie, by Michael Ridpath (Corvus); Heartstone, by C.J. Sansom (Mantle); The Anatomy of Ghosts, by Andrew Taylor (Penguin); and To Kill a Tsar, by Andrew Williams (John Murray)

Sounds of Crime Awards (for best audiobooks of 2010):

Abridged: Our Kind of Traitor, by John le Carré; read by John le Carré, abridged by Peter Mackie (AudioGO)

Also nominated: Fear the Worst, by Linwood Barclay; read by Jeff Harding, abridged by Elsbeth McPherson (Orion); Worth Dying For, by Lee Child; read by Kerry Shale, abridged by Carolanne Lyme (Random House); The Reversal, by Michael Connelly; read by Michael Brandon, abridged by Kati Nicholl (Orion); Dead Like You, by Peter James; read by William Gaminara, abridged by Kati Nicholl (Macmillan); Mortal Remains, by Kathy Reichs; read by Linda Emond, abridged by Jan Werner (Random House); and Heartstone, by C. J. Sansom; read by Anton Lesser, abridged by Kati Nicholl (Macmillan)

Unabridged: Dead Like You, by Peter James; read by David Bauckham (Whole Story Audio Books)

Also nominated: Fear the Worst, by Linwood Barclay; read by Buck Schirner (Orion); Caught, by Harlan Coben; read by Christopher Evan Welch (Whole Story Audio Books); The Reversal, by Michael Connelly; read by Peter Giles (Orion); Nemesis, by Lindsey Davis; read by Christian Rodska (AudioGO); and Edge, by Jeffery Deaver; read by Skipp Sudduth (Whole Story Audio Books)

Congratulations to everyone, victors and nominees alike!

(NOTE: This post has been modified from its original incarnation in order to include the Last Laugh Award results.)

READ MORE: “CrimeFest Day 3,” by Ayo Onatade (Shotsmag Confidential).

Long Days, Long on Delights

Sadly, I am not now in Bristol, England, attending this year’s CrimeFest convention. However, Ayo Onatade is on hand for the festivities, and writing about them for Shots Confidential. Her posts, in order of their appearance, are here, here, here, and here, with more to come.

Specialty Shortlists for CrimeFest

Nominees have been announced for four different awards, all to be given out during this year’s CrimeFest, May 19-22 in Bristol, England.

E-Dunnit Award (for best crime e-book of 2010):
• Spies of the Balkans, by Alan Furst (Weidenfeld & Nicolson)

• A Room Swept White, by Sophie Hannah (Hodder & Stoughton)

• Field Grey, by Philip Kerr (Quercus)

• Where the Shadows Lie, by Michael Ridpath (Corvus)

• Heartstone, by C.J. Sansom (Mantle)

• The Anatomy of Ghosts, by Andrew Taylor (Penguin)

• To Kill a Tsar, by Andrew Williams (John Murray)

Last Laugh Award (for best humorous crime novel of 2010):

• Dr. Yes, by Colin Bateman (Headline)

• Love Songs from a Shallow Grave, by Colin Cotterill (Quercus)

• The Good Thief’s Guide to Vegas, by Chris Ewan (Simon & Schuster)

• Bank of the Black Sheep, by Robert Lewis (Serpent’s Tail)

• Old Dogs, by Donna Moore (MaXcrime)

• The Herring in the Library, by L.C. Tyler (Macmillan)

Sounds of Crime Awards (for best audiobooks of 2010):

Abridged:

• Fear the Worst, by Linwood Barclay; read by Jeff Harding, abridged by Elsbeth McPherson (Orion)

• Worth Dying For, by Lee Child; read by Kerry Shale, abridged by Carolanne Lyme (Random House)

• The Reversal, by Michael Connelly; read by Michael Brandon, abridged by Kati Nicholl (Orion)

• Dead Like You, by Peter James; read by William Gaminara, abridged by Kati Nicholl (Macmillan)

• Our Kind of Traitor, by John le Carré; read by John le Carré, abridged by Peter Mackie (AudioGO)

• Mortal Remains, by Kathy Reichs; read by Linda Emond, abridged by Jan Werner (Random House)

• Heartstone, by C. J. Sansom; read by Anton Lesser, abridged by Kati Nicholl (Macmillan)

Unabridged:

• Fear the Worst, by Linwood Barclay; read by Buck Schirner (Orion)

• Caught, by Harlan Coben; read by Christopher Evan Welch (Whole Story Audio Books)

• The Reversal, by Michael Connelly; read by Peter Giles (Orion)

• Nemesis, by Lindsey Davis; read by Christian Rodska (AudioGO)

• Edge, by Jeffery Deaver; read by Skipp Sudduth (Whole Story Audio Books)

• Dead Like You, by Peter James; read by David Bauckham (Whole Story Audio Books)

Recipients of these commendations will be announced during a celebratory dinner on May 21.

(Hat tip to Mystery Fanfare.)