Comments on: Cracking the mystery

By: Kathleen Bolton

Kathleen Bolton — Thu, 19 Jun 2008 19:03:03 +0000

Its a deal, Eric. :0

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By: Eric

Eric — Tue, 17 Jun 2008 15:22:16 +0000

Hah, Kath…

I just meant that I too am not the typical mystery fan. I like the action-y suspense novels that end up getting shelved in the mystery section more than the typical WhoDunit.

But Westlake is not a huge name, and AFAIK he doesn’t do a lot of interviews.

If you get a line on him I’d be happy to help formulate the questions!

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By: Kathleen Bolton

Kathleen Bolton — Tue, 17 Jun 2008 13:43:14 +0000

I would be impressed if you guys could get a hold of Mr. Westlake.

Waitaminute, Eric! We don’t already impress you, LOL!

We’ll do our best for Westlake….

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By: Kathleen Bolton

Kathleen Bolton — Tue, 17 Jun 2008 10:59:59 +0000

Thanks for the tips, folks. This is a great start!

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By: Lisa Alber

Lisa Alber — Tue, 17 Jun 2008 02:06:37 +0000

Here’s some of my favorites of the more literary-type mystery writers:

Minette Walters
Elizabeth George
Erin Hart
Carol Goodman
Susan Hill
Kate Atkinson
Diana Abu-Jaber — She’s interesting because she’s a reknowned literary novelist who put out her first mystery last year. Switched to mystery, similar to Benjamin Black, who is really Irish auteur extraordinaire, John Banville.)

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By: Eric

Eric — Mon, 16 Jun 2008 15:26:41 +0000

Someone who falls into the mystery genre (at least in the bookstore shelving category) but is a more action-oriented criminal/caper/heist author that I enjoy is Donald Westlake, who also sometimes works under the pen name Richard Stark.

You might know him best from the 1999 film Payback, which is based on his Parker series of novels… even though in the movie he is called “Porter.”

I would be impressed if you guys could get a hold of Mr. Westlake. :)

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By: Therese Walsh

Therese Walsh — Mon, 16 Jun 2008 13:53:31 +0000

Also…
People are saying John Hart is the new John Grisham.

All of the 2008 Edgar award winners are probably worth checking out. Links HERE.

Best Novel:
· Christine Falls by Benjamin Black
· Priest by Ken Bruen
· The Yiddish Policeman’s Union by Michael Chabon
· Soul Patch by Reed Farrel Coleman
· Down River by John Hart — Winner!

Best First Novel by an American Author:
· Missing Witness by Gordon Campbell
· In the Woods by Tana French — Winner!
· Snitch Jacket by Christopher Goffard
· Head Games by Craig McDonald
· Pyres by Derek Nikitas

Best Paperback Original:
· Queenpin by Megan Abbott — Winner!
· Blood of Paradise by David Corbett
· Cruel Poetry by Vicki Hendricks
· Robbie’s Wife by Russell Hill
· Who Is Conrad Hirst? by Kevin Wignall

Best Young Adult:
· Rat Life by Tedd Arnold — Winner!
· Diamonds in the Shadow by Caroline B. Cooney
· Touching Snow by M. Sindy Felin
· Blood Brothers by S.A. Harazin
· Fragments by Jeffry W. Johnston

Best Juvenile:
· The Name of This Book is Secret by Pseudonymous Bosch
· Shadows on Society Hill by Evelyn Coleman
· Deep and Dark and Dangerous by Mary Downing Hahn
· The Night Tourist by Katherine Marsh — Winner!
· Sammy Keyes and the Wild Things by Wendelin Van Draanen

Grand Master Award:
· Bill Pronzini

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By: Therese Walsh

Therese Walsh — Mon, 16 Jun 2008 13:47:46 +0000

Hmm, how about this one, Kath: Too Big to Miss: An Odelia Grey Mystery by Sue Ann Jaffarian, about a plus-size sleuth in the making. It’s been a successful series.

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