2026 McIlvanney Prize Shortlist

Bloody Scotland International Crime Writing Festival announced the shortlist of nominees for the 2026 McIlvanney Prize. The winner will be awarded on September 18.

2026 McIlvanney Prize Shortlist

The Hollow Boys, by Tariq Ashkanani (Viper) 

138 Main Street, by Gavin Bell (Simon & Schuster UK)

A Bad, Bad Place, by Frances Crawford (Bantam) 

The Diary of Lies, by Philip Miller (Polygon) 

The Vanishing Place, by Zoë Rankin (Viper) 

HT: The Rap Sheet

Cartoon of the Day: Behind every great novelist is...

Grant Snider:

 

2026 Golden Poppy Book Awards Finalists: California Indie Booksellers Alliance

The California Independent Booksellers Alliance (CALIBA) announced the 2026 Golden Poppy Awards in recognition of the most distinguished books written and illustrated by creators who have made California their home. Committees for each category are made up of booksellers throughout the state tasked with developing a list of five finalists and one winner.

For the complete list in all categories, go here.

Here are the finalists in Mystery. Congratulations to all!

A Violent Masterpiece by Jordan Harper (Mulholland Books)
Get Lost by Justin Halpern (Cardinal)
The Cormorant Hunt by Michael Idov (Scribner)
The Tree of Light and Flowers by Thomas Perry (The Mysterious Press)
The Haul by Gary Phillips (Soho Crime)

Mysteries set during the Days of Awe: Rosh Hashanah through Yom Kippur

According to Jewish religion, the Days of Awe are the days between the beginning of the New Year (Rosh Hashana) and Yom Kippur. There are 10 days of repentance and renewal that begin at sunset on Rosh Hashanah and close with Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement. Rosh Hashanah starts Friday night, but you'll have 10 days to read these books - or longer. LOL.

Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement, is the holiest day in the Jewish calendar. That a murder would take place on Yom Kippur (or during the Days of Awe) runs counter to Jewish belief or action. Let's hope murders only take place in fiction!

Here's an updated short list of Mysteries that take place on Rosh Hashana, during the Days of Awe, and on Yom Kippur. As always, I welcome any additions to this list. May you be inscribed in the Book of Life for another year!

Mysteries set during the Days of Awe

Three Weeks in October by Yael Dayan
The Auschwitz Detective by Jonathan Dunsky
The Day of Atonement by Breck England
Hot Time: A Mystery by W. H. Flint

Days of Atonement by Michael Gregorio
The Yom Kippur Murder by Lee Harris
A Guide for the Perplexed by Dara Horn
Day of Atonement by Faye Kellerman
Saturday the Rabbi Went Hungry by Harry Kemelman
The Day of Atonement by David Liss
A Possibility of Violence by D.A. Mishani

Nights of Awe by Harri Nykanen

A Pain in the Tuchis by Mark Reutlinger

Yom Killer by Rabbi Ilene Schneider
Devil Among Us by Jack Winnick

Puppet by Eva Wiseman

Short Stories:  

Murder is no Mitzvah: Short Mysteries about Jewish Occasions
Mystery Midrash: An Anthology of Jewish Mystery & Detective Fiction, edited by Lawrence W. Raphael

Jewish Noir, edited by Kenneth Wishia
Jewish Noir II: Tales of Crime and Other Deeds, ed. by Kenneth Wishnia and Chantelle Aimee Osman

"The Lord is my Shamus" by Barb Goffman 

Children's Books

Pinky Blog and the Case of the Silent Shofar by Judy Press and Erica-Jane Waters

Young Adult

The Renegade Reporters by Elisa Brent Weissman

Non-Fiction

Family Blood: The True Story of the Yom Kippur Murders by Mr. Marvin J. Elf and Mr. Larry Attebery

May you be inscribed in the Book of Life for another year! And, may we have Peace in the World!

Labor Day: Mysteries that focus on Labor Unions

Labor Day!

Don't miss the updated list of Crime Fiction that focuses on Labor Unions.

Cartoon of the Day: White After Labor Day?

Happy Caturday! Happy Labor Day!