“Grace” Note

When I wrote yesterday about books and authors picking up awards during this last weekend’s Left Coast Crime convention in Monterey, I neglected to add that Minnesota author William Kent Krueger won the 2014 Dilys Award for his novel Ordinary Grace (Atria). The Dilys, as you are undoubtedly aware, is given annually by the The Independent Mystery Booksellers Association (IMBA) “to the mystery titles of the year which the member booksellers have most enjoyed selling.”

The other half-dozen nominees for the 2014 Dilys Award were: Seven for a Secret, by Lyndsay Faye (Amy Einhorn/Putnam); The Black Country, by Alex Grecian (Putnam); Spider Woman’s Daughter, by Anne Hillerman (Harper); Pagan Spring, by G.M. Malliet (Minotaur); and The Land of Dreams, by Vidar Sundstol; translated by Tiina Nunnally (University of Minnesota Press).

Bravo to all of these books and their writers.

READ MORE: “Left Coast Crime 2014: Calamari Crime” and “Left Coast Crime: More Photos!,” by Janet Rudolph (Mystery Fanfare); “Left Coast Crime (A Little Tardy),” by Jen Forbus (Jen’s Book Thoughts).

Left Coast, Right Choices

Last night, during the 24th annual Left Coast Crime convention, held in beautiful Monterey, California, the winners in four categories of awards were announced. They are:

The Lefty (best humorous mystery novel):
The Good Cop, by Brad Parks (Minotaur)

Also nominated: The Hen of the Baskervilles, by Donna Andrews (Minotaur); The Fame Thief, by Timothy Hallinan (Soho Crime); The Last Word, by Lisa Lutz (Simon & Schuster); and Dying for a Daiquiri, by Cindy Sample (Cindy Sample Books)

The Bruce Alexander Memorial Historical Mystery Award (for best historical mystery novel covering events before 1960):
Dandy Gilver and a Bothersome Number of Corpses, by Catriona McPherson (Minotaur)

Also nominated: Heirs and Graces, by Rhys Bowen (Berkley Prime Crime); His Majesty’s Hope, by Susan Elia MacNeal (Bantam); Murder as a Fine Art, by David Morrell (Mulholland); Covenant with Hell, by Priscilla Royal (Poisoned Pen Press); and Leaving Everything Most Loved, by Jacqueline Winspear (HarperCollins)

The Squid (best mystery set within the United States):
Ordinary Grace, by William Kent Krueger (Atria)

Also nominated: W Is for Wasted, by Sue Grafton (Putnam/Marian Wood); Purgatory Key, by Darrell James (Midnight Ink); The Wrong Girl, by Hank Phillippi Ryan (Forge); and A Killing at Cotton Hill, by Terry Shames (Seventh Street)

The Calamari (best mystery set anywhere else in the world):
How the Light Gets In, by Louise Penny (Minotaur)

Also nominated: Murder Below Montparnasse, by Cara Black (Soho Crime); Hour of the Rat, by Lisa Brackmann (Soho Crime); As She Left It, by Catriona McPherson (Midnight Ink); and Mykonos After Midnight, by Jeffrey Siger (Poisoned Pen Press)

Congratulations to all of the nominees and winners.

Who Deserves the Dilys?

It’s official now: There are six contenders in the race for the 2014 Dilys Award, which is named in honor of Dilys Winn, author and the founder of Murder Ink, the first specialty mystery bookshop in America. “The Dilys Award,” explains blogger-editor Janet Rudolph, “is given annually by the IMBA (Independent Mystery Booksellers Association) to the mystery titles of the year which the member booksellers have most enjoyed selling.” This year’s nominees are:

• Seven for a Secret, by Lyndsay Faye (Amy Einhorn/Putnam)
• The Black Country, by Alex Grecian (Putnam)
• Spider Woman’s Daughter, by Anne Hillerman (Harper)
• Ordinary Grace, by William Kent Krueger (Atria)
• Pagan Spring, by G.M. Malliet (Minotaur)
• The Land of Dreams, by Vidar Sundstol; translated by Tiina Nunnally (University of Minnesota Press)

A winner will be announced during the 24th annual Left Coast Crime convention, “Calamari Crime,” which is to be held in Monterey, California, from March 20 to 23.

Rewarding Mysteries in Monterey

Nominees have been announced in four categories of awards to be presented during the 24th annual Left Coast Crime convention, “Calamari Crime,” scheduled to be held in Monterey, California, from March 20 to 23. Here are the contenders.

The Lefty (best humorous mystery novel):
• The Hen of the Baskervilles, by Donna Andrews (Minotaur)
• The Fame Thief, by Timothy Hallinan (Soho Crime)
• The Last Word, by Lisa Lutz (Simon & Schuster)
• The Good Cop, by Brad Parks (Minotaur)
• Dying for a Daiquiri, by Cindy Sample (Cindy Sample Books)

The Bruce Alexander Memorial Historical Mystery Award (for best historical mystery novel covering events before 1960):
• Heirs and Graces, by Rhys Bowen (Berkley Prime Crime)
• His Majesty’s Hope, by Susan Elia MacNeal (Bantam)
• Dandy Gilver and a Bothersome Number of Corpses, by Catriona McPherson (Minotaur)
• Murder as a Fine Art, by David Morrell (Mulholland)
• Covenant with Hell, by Priscilla Royal (Poisoned Pen Press)
• Leaving Everything Most Loved, by Jacqueline Winspear (HarperCollins)

The Squid (best mystery set within the United States):
• W Is for Wasted, by Sue Grafton (Putnam/Marian Wood)
• Purgatory Key, by Darrell James (Midnight Ink)
• Ordinary Grace, by William Kent Krueger (Atria)
• The Wrong Girl, by Hank Phillippi Ryan (Forge)
• A Killing at Cotton Hill, by Terry Shames (Seventh Street)

The Calamari (best mystery set anywhere else in the world):
• Murder Below Montparnasse, by Cara Black (Soho Crime)
• Hour of the Rat, by Lisa Brackmann (Soho Crime)
• As She Left It, by Catriona McPherson (Midnight Ink)
• How the Light Gets In, by Louise Penny (Minotaur)
• Mykonos After Midnight, by Jeffrey Siger (Poisoned Pen Press)

All of the prizes will be handed out during a banquet on Saturday, March 22, at the Portola Hotel & Spa. The award nominees have been selected by LCC registrants.

According to a convention press release, “This year’s Guests of Honor are authors Cara Black and Louise Penny. Sue Grafton is a Special Guest. Sue Trowbridge is the Fan Guest of Honor. Author Brad Parks will serve as Toastmaster. Marcia Muller and Bill Pronzini will receive Left Coast Crime Lifetime Achievement Awards.”