Agatha Nominations 2010

The Agatha nominations made their appearance tonight. The Hungry Detective has been known to read a Cozy-Traditional just not frequently. I got my start in Crime Fiction reading Cozy-Traditional. I followed the lead of my sister who I suspect has little clue that I owe a lot of interest in Crime Fiction to her. (Thanks Jen!)

I'll be rooting for Ms. Barrett and Ms. Bork as they are local Rochester writers. THD is pretty bad at supporting local writers, so with that in mind I'll have to give BOOKPLATE SPECIAL and FOR BETTER FOR MURDER a go... and so should you.

Awards are handed out at Malice Domestic. The Hungry Detective extents their well wishes to all the nominees.

Best Novel:
Swan for the Money by Donna Andrews - St. Martin’s Minotaur
Bookplate Special by Lorna Barrett - Berkley Prime Crime
Royal Flush by Rhys Bowen - Berkley Prime Crime
A Brutal Telling by Louise Penny - Minotaur Books
Air Time by Hank Phillippi Ryan - MIRA

Again, I'll be pulling for Ms. Barrett. But I have to believe that this horse race between Ms. Bowen and Ms. Penny.

Best First Novel:
For Better For Murder by Lisa Bork - Midnight Ink
The Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie by Alan Bradley - Delacorte Press
Posed for Murder by Meredith Cole - St. Martin’s Minotaur
The Cold Light of Mourning by Elizabeth Duncan - St. Martin’s Press
In the Shadow of Gotham by Stefanie Pintoff - Minotaur Books

This is as strong a field as I have ever seen for a Best First Novel since I have been paying attention. Ms. Pintoff also has an Edgar nomination, but like others, I think this goes to Mr. Bradley.

Best Non-Fiction:
Duchess of Death by Richard Hack - Phoenix Books
Talking About Detective Fiction by P.D. James - Knopf
Blood on the Stage by 1925-1950 by Amnon Kabatchnik (Scarecrow Press)
Dame Agatha’s Shorts by Elena Santangelo - Bella Rosa Books
The Talented Miss Highsmith by Joan Schenkar - St. Martin’s Press

Best Short Story:
“Femme Sole” by Dana Cameron, Boston Noir - Akashic Books
“Handbaskets, Drawers and a Killer Cold” by Kaye George, Crooked ezine
“The Worst Noel” by Barb Goffman, The Gift of Murder - Wolfmont Press
“On the House” by Hank Phillippi Ryan, Quarry - Level Best Books
“Death Will Trim Your Tree” by Elizabeth Zelvin, The Gift of Murder - Wolfmont Press

Best Children's/Young Adult:
The Morgue and Me by John C. Ford - Viking Juvenile
The Hanging Hill by Chris Grabenstein - Random House
The Case of the Poisoned Pig by Lewis B. Montgomery - Kane Press
The Other Side of Blue by Valerie O. Patterson - Clarion Books
The Case of the Cryptic Crinoline by Nancy Springer - Philomel

Anyone else creeped out by the fact that all the book titles start with 'The?' Anyone?

Dick Francis - Goodnight Good Sir

GUTSHOT STRAIGHT - Review

Prominently mentioned in a few places is that Lou Berney's GUTSHOT STRAIGHT reads like early Elmore Leonard. So no pressure Mr. Berney. The only thing riding on whether I like this book is if it compares to who many think is the greatest living Crime Fiction writer of all time.

I get it. The review/blurb is only trying to associate Mr. Berney with Mr. Leonard, so that the reader will be able to make an informed decision; 'I like Elmore Leonard so let me give this guy a try.' But the unfortunate consequence for this reader is that I found it difficult to divorce myself from the constant checklist running in my head. Affable ex-con with rakish looks? Check Not so tough as nails heroine? Check. Loose collection of bad guy thugs who register pretty high on the stupid and cruel meter? Check. Witty back and forth between hero/heroine/thugs? Check.

It was frustrating and distracting and for about the first 80 pages I didn't think GUTSHOT STRAIGHT was going to be anything more than a diverting parrot. The gears were really grinding as we set up the characters and plot. The book needed a swift kick in the pants. Luckily, around the time Mr. Berney introduces that most well worn of narrative plot devices, 100 foreskins, the best thing started to happen. I started to laugh, and continued to do so until the book's conclusion. The interplay between 'Shake' and Gina falls into an easy rhythm. They are both enjoyable characters who are biding their time until the lesser angels of their nature appear to burn the other. From Shake and Gina's perspective it is just damn annoying that each likes the other so much.

Lou Berney writes with a lot of charm. GUTSHOT STRAIGHT is a romp, one with a lot of laughs. If not exactly the most original, one can certainly enjoy a well told comedic crime story.

Books Received - January 2010

It is the good fortune of The Hungry Detective to now and again receive books from publishers or their associated marketing agencies.

WINTERLAND - Alan Glynn - Minotaur/Thomas Dunne Books
THE TOURIST - Olen Steinhauer - Minotaur Books
SLOW FIRE - Ken Mercer - Minotaur Books

Beginning in 2010, on the first of the month, I will post a 'Book Received' entry. Primarily I want to recognize the books, authors and publisher. Some of the books will be reviewed on this blog, some of the books will not. These entries will be THD's way of acknowledging the books and thanking those that directed them to my doorstep.