You Say You’re Starved for Awards News?

Due to a variety of obligations elsewhere, I have been neglecting The Rap Sheet a bit of late. (Sorry about that.) This means I am tardy in reporting some recent crime-fiction awards decisions. Let’s try to make up for that now. First, the 2018 Audie Awards. Here are the winners and runners-up in two categories of those prizes that might be of particular interest to readers of this blog.

Mystery: The Girl Who Takes an Eye for an Eye, by David Lagercrantz, narrated by Simon Vance (Random House Audio)

Also nominated: Glass Houses, by Louise Penny, narrated by Robert Bathurst (Macmillan Audio); Magpie Murders, by Anthony Horowitz, narrated by Samantha Bond (HarperAudio); On Her Majesty’s Frightfully Secret Service, by Rhys Bowen, narrated by Katherine Kellgren (Audible Studios); and Telling Tales, by Ann Cleeves, narrated by Julia Franklin (Macmillan Audio)

Thriller/Suspense: The Fourth Monkey, by J.D. Barker, narrated by Edoardo Ballerini and Graham Winton (Recorded Book)

Also nominated: The Breakdown, by B.A. Paris, narrated by Georgia Maguire (Macmillan Audio); Don’t Let Go, by Harlan Coben, narrated by Steven Weber (Brilliance); The Chemist, by Stephenie Meyer, narrated by Ellen Archer (Hachette Audio); A Legacy of Spies, by John le Carré, narrated by Tom Hollander (Penguin Audio); and Mississippi Blood, by Greg Iles, narrated by Scott Brick (HarperAudio)

This year’s Audie Awards were handed out on Thursday, May 31, during a “gala” affair at the New-York Historical Society in New York City. Click here to see all of the winners.

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Meanwhile, the 2018 Lambda Literary Awards—aka the “Lammys”—were presented last evening during a special ceremony in New York City. There are 23 categories in this competition, sponsored by Lambda Literary, described as America’s “oldest and largest literary arts organization advancing LGBTQ literature.” But again, there are only a couple that fall within The Rap Sheet’s natural purview.

Best Lesbian Mystery: Huntress, by E. Radley (Heartsome)

Also nominated: A Quiet Death, by Cari Hunter (Bold Strokes); Fever in the Dark, by Ellen Hart (Minotaur); The Girl on the Edge of Summer, by M. Redmann (Bold Strokes); The Last First Time, by Andrea Bramhall (Ylva); Murder Under the Fig Tree, by Kate Jessica Raphael (She Writes Press); Odd Numbers, by Anne Holt (Scribner); and Repercussions, by Jessica L. Webb (Bold Strokes)

Best Gay Mystery: Night Drop, by Marshall Thornton (Kenmore)

Also nominated: Boystown 10: Gifts Given, by Marshall Thornton (Kenmore); Long Shadows, by Kate Sherwood (Riptide); Love Is Heartless, by Kim Fielding (Dreamspinner Press); The Mystery of the Curiosities, by C.S. Poe (DSP); Ring of Silence, by Mark Zubro (MLR Press); Street People, by Michael Nava (Korima Press); and Tramps and Thieves, by Rhys Ford (Dreamspinner Press)

Click here for a list of all the winners.

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I didn’t know there was an annual competition for the Bisexual Book Awards. But I know now. Those commendations—11 of them—were dispensed last Friday, June 1. The winner in the Mystery category was Suspicious Behavior, by L.A. Witt and Cari Z. (Riptide).

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Finally, In Reference to Murder brings this news:

French crime writer Fred Vargas, the pen name of Frédérique Audoin-Rouzeau, has won Spain’s prestigious Asturias prize for literature. The award foundation said that Vargas, who is also a distinguished archaeologist, perceives society as “a mysterious and complex ecosystem” and her detective stories possess original plots and irony in their description of characters, as well as abundant imagination.

Vargas has won three International Dagger Awards from the Crime Writers Association.

There’s more information about Vargas here.