CWA Diamond Dagger: Mark Billingham

Crime Writers' Association (CWA) 2026 Diamond Dagger. This award “recognises authors whose crime-writing careers have been marked by sustained excellence, and who have made a significant contribution to the genre.” 

MARK BILLINGHAM

Sleepyhead introduced Detective Inspector Tom Thorne, leading to a further 18 books in Billingham's series, which was adapted to screen by Sky 1 in 2010, starring David Morrissey as Thorne. The latest Thorne book, What the Night Brings, was published in June 2025 - Billingham’s 25th book.

Mark Billingham said: “Presuming this is not an administrative error, I could not be more thrilled or honoured. To be added to a list that features most of my literary heroes is fantastic. That so many are also friends is the icing on the cake and, for me, a mark of how very special the crime-writing community is.”

HT: The Rap Sheet

SUPER BOWL: Super Bowl Crime Fiction & Football Mysteries

It's no longer just Super Bowl Sunday--it's Super Bowl Week! The game this year is being played in San Francisco - -but it's not. The game will actually be held in Santa Clara, some 30 miles south of the City. But that isn't stopping the City of San Francisco from celebrating. Lots of special events, concerts, and street closures. I am not going into the City this week! 

But that's not stopping me from posting Super Bowl Mysteries.There is a lot of real crime surrounding the Super Bowl: drugs, money, gambling, egos, and so much more. All fodder for the crime writer. So in 'honor' of the Super Bowl, I've updated my lists of Super Bowl and other Football Mysteries. These are in no way definitive lists -- just some football crime fiction for you to enjoy in case you're not watching the Super Bowl! And, you have a full week to read them all! As always, I welcome additions!

If you're interested in other Sports Mysteries and essays on Football Mysteries, Mystery Readers Journal has had several Sports Mysteries issues. The last Sports Mysteries Issue of MRJ was Volume 25:4 (Winter 2009-2010). Available as PDF download

Super Bowl Mysteries

The Hidden Key by George Harmon Coxe
Super-Dude by John Craig
Cover-Up: Mystery at the Super Bowl by John Feinstein (YA)
Black Sunday by Thomas Harris
Paydirt by Paul Levine
The Last Super Bowl by Robin Moore & David Harper
4th and Fixed by Reggie Rivers
Murder at the Super Bowl by Fran Tarkenton and Herb Resnicow
Life's Work by Jonathan Valin
Killerbowl by Gary K. Wolf

Movie:  
Ace Ventura: Pet Detective (1994)
 
Other Football Mysteries (not including British Football, of which there are many titles)

The Professor by Robert Bailey
Memory Man; The Might Johns by David Baldacci

Rough and Tumble by Mark Bavaro
Pass Judgment by Jerry Brewer
Sweeper by Steve Bruce 
Deal Breaker by Harlan Coben
Coliseum by Barney Cohen
Et Tu Brady by Joseph Collum

Football is Murder by Kathy Cranston
All Saints Day: A New Orleans Football Mystery by Sean Patrick Doles
Backfield Boys by John Feinstein

Under the Stadium Lights by Hunter Mills Gallo

Day of the Ram by William Campbell Gault
Murder at Cleaver Stadium by Douglas Lee Gibboney
Quarterback Trap by Dallas Gorham
Double Reverse; Ruffians by Tim Green
Playing for Pizza; Bleachers by John Grisham
Bleeding Maize and Blue by Susan Holtzer
Crown of All Virtues by Reece Kepler
The Prophet by Michael Koryta
Two-Minute Warning by George LaFountaine
Bump and Run by Mike Lupica
The Draft by Wil Mara
Dead Ball Foul by Kayla McGrady
A Cardinal Offense by Ralph McInerny
Parker's Blood by William Miller
Foul Play; Dead Ball; Off Side; Killer Pass; Foul Play: Own Goal by Tom Palmer

12th of Never by James Patterson and Maxine Paetro
The Jook by Gary Phillips
Foul by Will J. Robson

Winter and Night by S. J. Rozan
A Nutcracker Nightmare by Christina Romeril
Sudden Death by David Rosenfelt
Marked Man; Red Card by Mel Stein

The Footballer by Ben Stevens
The Football Manager Murders by Chris Tookey
A Touch of Death by Charles Williams

Short Stories:  

The Mighty Johns, edited by Otto Penzler

Nonfiction: 
Scoreboard, Baby: A Story of College Football, Crime and Complicity by Ken Armstrong and Nick Perry (winner of the 2011 Edgar for Best Fact Crime)
All-American Murder by James Patterson & Alex Abramovich

Children's:

Bones and the Football Mystery by David A. Adler, Barbara Johansen Newman (Illustrator)
The Mystery of the Stolen Football by T. J. Edwards, Charles Tang (Illustrator)
The Big Bling Blitz; The Two-Minute Warning by David A. Kelly

The Football Fiasco by Mike Lupica
Courtney Case and the Missing Football by Jeannie Meekins

International Thriller Writers Thriller Award Finalists!!

The International Thriller Writers Thriller Award Finalists! Congratulations to all!

𝐁𝐄𝐒𝐓 𝐒𝐓𝐀𝐍𝐃𝐀𝐋𝐎𝐍𝐄 𝐍𝐎𝐕𝐄𝐋

-Megan Collins – CROSS MY HEART

-Ruth Knafo Setton – ZIGZAG GIRL

-Gilly Macmillan – THE BURNING LIBRARY

-Sarah Pekkanen – THE LOCKED WARD

-Olivia Worley – SO HAPPY TOGETHER

𝐁𝐄𝐒𝐓 𝐒𝐄𝐑𝐈𝐄𝐒 𝐍𝐎𝐕𝐄𝐋

-James Byrne – CHAIN REACTION

-Robert Crais – THE BIG EMPTY

-John McMahon – HEAD CASES

-Christopher Reich – THE TOURISTS

-Vincent Zandri – TERMINAL MOONLIGHT

𝐁𝐄𝐒𝐓 𝐅𝐈𝐑𝐒𝐓 𝐍𝐎𝐕𝐄𝐋

-Chris Chibnall – DEATH AT THE WHITE HART

-Kelsey Cox – PARTY OF LIARS

-Sophie Stava – COUNT MY LIES

-Zoe B. Wallbrook – HISTORY LESSONS

-Liann Zhang – JULIE CHAN IS DEAD

𝐁𝐄𝐒𝐓 𝐀𝐔𝐃𝐈𝐎𝐁𝐎𝐎𝐊

-S. A. Cosby – KING OF ASHES, Narrated by Adam Lazarre-White

-Mark Edwards – THE WASP TRAP, Narrated by John Hopkins, Anna Burnett

-Marisa Kashino – BEST OFFER WINS, Narrated by Cia Court

-Xan Kaur – WHEN DEVILS SING, Narrated by Michael Crouch, Anjali Kunapaneni, Jennifer Pickens, Landon Woodson

-CN Mabry, N'Dia Rae – THE CHEATER'S WIFE, Narrated by Ruffin Prentiss, Machelle Williams

-Michael Robotham – THE WHITE CROW, Narrated by Katy Sobey

𝐁𝐄𝐒𝐓 𝐘𝐎𝐔𝐍𝐆 𝐀𝐃𝐔𝐋𝐓 𝐍𝐎𝐕𝐄𝐋

-Liz Lawson – MURDER BETWEEN FRIENDS

-Margot McGovern – THIS STAYS BETWEEN US

-Clay McLeod Chapman – SHINY HAPPY PEOPLE

-Diana Rodriguez Wallach – THE SILENCED

-Julie Soto – THE THRASHERS

𝐁𝐄𝐒𝐓 𝐒𝐇𝐎𝐑𝐓 𝐒𝐓𝐎𝐑𝐘

-Katrina Carrasco – LEVEL UP (Bywater Books)

-Scott William Carter – THE SEDUCTION OF DR. DIMENSION (Ellery Queen Mystery Magazine)

-Lee Child – ELEVEN NUMBERS (Amazon Original Stories)

-David Lagercrantz – FALSE NOTE (Amazon Original Stories)

-Jessica Van Dessel – THE VIOLENT SEASON (Alfred Hitchcock Mystery Magazine)

FATHER BROWN Season 13 News

Father Brown, Season 13, is finally airing (February 3) on Britbox here in the U.S (one episode a week). There are 10 episodes. So glad it's not limited to 4 or even 3 episodes like so many series are these days. Several new settings and plots, too, in this season, including a trip to the seaside. Mrs McCarthy (Sorcha Cusack) returns in the first episode, and there are many guest stars. Nancy Carroll will show up as Lady Felicia once again, although not in all episodes (darn), and John Light continues his role as the infamous Hercule Flambeau. I am so missing Bunty. Of course, Mark Williams continues to play Father Brown.  

Re: BritBox premier vs. "regular" subscription: Premier only gives you a two week viewing lead on Father Brown, and episodes are dropped weekly, just as on 'regular' Britbox. Is Britbox finally listening to its subscribers? We'll see. 

DERRINGER AWARD BEST ANTHOLOGY FINALISTS 2026

Derringer Award: 2026 Best Anthology Finalists

The Short Mystery Fiction Society is a group of writers, readers, editors, publishers, and others dedicated to the promotion and celebration of mystery and crime short stories. 

The winning anthology will be determined via member vote in April and announced May 1. Derringer Award medals will be presented in October at Bouchercon in Calgary, Alberta.

The finalists for the 2026 Best Anthology Derringer Award are

Crimeucopia - The Not So Frail Detective Agency

Edited by John Connor, Murderous Ink Press)

Gone Fishin': Crime Takes a Holiday, The Eighth Guppy Anthology

Edited by James M. Jackson, Wolf's Echo Press

Hollywood Kills: An Anthology

Edited by Adam Meyer & Alan Orloff, Level Best Books - Level Short

Midnight Schemers & Daydream Believers: 22 Stories of Mystery & Suspense: A Superior Shores Anthology

Edited by Judy Penz Sheluk, Superior Shores Press

On Fire and Under Water: A Climate Change Crime Fiction Anthology

Edited by Curtis Ippolito, Rock and a Hard Place Press

SoWest: Danger Awaits! A Desert Sleuths Anthology

Edited by Claire A. Murray, Eva Eldridge, Suzanne E. Flaig, Denise Ganley, and Sarah Smith, DS Publishing

***

Judges are currently evaluating 495 story submissions to determine the finalists in four categories. Finalista will be announced April 1. The winners will be determined via member vote in April and announced May 1. 

The story categories are

• Best Flash Story (Up to 1,000 words)
• Best Short Story (1,001 to 4,000 words)
• Best Long Story (4,001 to 8,000 words)
• Best Novelette (8,001 to 2

Cartoon of the Day: Ground Hog Day

Every Day is Ground Hog Day when you have a cat! Thanks, Simon's Cat.