Doing Hammett Proud

The International Association of Crime Writers, North American Branch, today announced its nominees for the 2012 Hammett Prize. This commendation is presented annually “for literary excellence in the field of crime-writing, as reflected in a book published in the English language in the U.S. and/or Canada.” The nominees are:

• Defending Jacob, by William Landay (Delacorte)

• Truth Like the Sun, by Jim Lynch (Knopf)

• Oregon Hill, by Howard Owen (Permanent Press)

• Patient Number 7, by Kurt Palka (McCelland & Stewart)

• Alif the Unseen, by G. Willow Wilson (Grove)

A winner will be declared during the Atlantic Independent Booksellers Association (NAIBA) fall conference taking place in Somerset, New Jersey, from September 30 to October 2.

(Hat tip to Mystery Fanfare.)