***
Thursday, June 1, 2023
A Rabbit Hole with a Mystery: Guest Post by Nilima Rao
Wednesday, May 31, 2023
RIDLEY: Police Procedural Series on PBS
Where: All PBS Platforms, including PBS MASTERPIECE, PBS Passport, and Masterpiece Prime Video Channel
Retired Detective Inspector Alex Ridley (Adrian Dunbar), a former police detective, is coaxed out of retirement to advise on a complex and compelling murder case by his replacement and former protege DI Carol Farman. Carol is keen to access Ridley’s unique insight into crime-solving which served them so well in the past, but the investigation takes a dark and unexpected twist.
Tuesday, May 30, 2023
WPC 56: SEASONS 2 & 3
WPC 56 continues with Seasons 2 & 3 in June on AcornTV. This is a period crime show that follows Gina Dawson (Jennie Jacques), the first Woman Police Constable (WPC) at the Branford Police Station (West Midlands) in the 1950s. Seasons 1 & 2 focus on her struggles to gain acceptance in the male-dominated police world. Third season follows her successor at the station.
Monday, May 29, 2023
Sunday, May 28, 2023
BARBECUE MYSTERIES: Memorial Day
I posted my updated Memorial Day Crime Fiction list a few days ago, so I thought I'd update my Barbecue Mysteries list, too. So many ways one can murder someone at a barbecue, from the sauce to the skewers to the grill, not to mention the tiny wires on the barbecue brush (true crime!). Here's an updated short list of Barbecue Mysteries. Let me know if I've forgotten any titles!
Barbecue Mysteries
Delicious and Suspicious; Hickory Smoked Homicide; Finger Lickin' Dead; Rubbed Out by Riley Adams (Elizabeth Craig Spann) - The Memphis BBQ Mystery Series
Honey BBQ Murder by Patti Benning
Nice Day for a Murder by C.A. Broadribb
Topped Chef by Lucy Burdette
Low and Slow: Sweet and Savory Murder at the BBQ Cookoff by Randy Cade
A Bullet at the BBQ by SL Calder
Several Dan Rhodes books by Bill Crider
Murder at the Blue Ridge Barbecue Festival by Gene Davis
The Grilling Season by Diane Mott Davidson
Grilled for Murder by Maddie Day
Finger Lickin' Fifteen by Janet Evanovich
Barbecues & Brooms by Bella Falls
The Politics of Barbecue by Blake Fontenay
Grilling the Subject by Daryl Wood Gerber
Barbecue, Bourbon and Bullets by M.E. Harmon
A Trunk, a Canoe, and all the Barbecue by A. W. Hartoin
Cotton Comes to Harlem by Chester Himes
The Big Barbecue by Dorothy B. Hughes
Barbeque Bedlam by Lizzie Josephson
Bonfires, Barbeques and Bodies by Susan Keene
Spare Ribs and Cold Cuts by Kamaryn Kelsey
Barbecue Blues: A Professor Doug Wilson Mystery (Professor Doug Wilson Mysteries Book 3) by Duke Kuehn
The BBQ Burger Murder by Rosie A. Point
Barbecue and Murder by Kathleen Suzette
Revenge of the Barbecue Queens by Lou Jane Temple
Murder at the Barbecue by Liz Turner
Murder, Basted and Barbecued by Constance Turner
Barbecue by A. E.H. Veenman
Books, Barbecue, and Murder by Lori Woods
Short Stories:
"Gored" by Bill Crider
"A Bad Day for Barbecue" by Jonathan Woods
Young Readers:
The Barbecue Thief by Starike
Want a little chocolate on the barbie this weekend?
Check out recipes on my other blog: DyingforChocolate.com
S'mores on the Grill
Savory Chocolate Barbecue Sauces
Chocolate Ancho Chile Rub
Cocoa Spiced Salmon Rub
Scharffen Berger Cacao Nib Rub for Tri Tip
SaveSaveSaveSave
Saturday, May 27, 2023
JOHN DUNNING: R.I.P.
John Dunning passed away on May 23 at the age of 81. Author of the Cliff Janeway series, set in a bookstore, his books were some of my favorites. Booked to Die and subsequent books in the series are full of information on how to run a bookstore, how to spot a first edition, keep it pristine, price it, and enjoy it! It won the Nero Award and was nominated for an Anthony. I've always enjoyed books about books aka bibliomysteries.
Read more about John Dunning in The Rap Sheet, here.
HT: The RapSheet
Friday, May 26, 2023
David Thompson Special Service Award: Sara Paretsky
The award will be presented during the General Members Meeting at the Bouchercon 2023 convention in San Diego.
Congratulations, Sara, and welcome to the group!
Thursday, May 25, 2023
2023 Crime Writers of Canada Awards of Excellence in Canadian Crime Writing
Crime Writers of Canada (CWC) announced the Winners of the 2023 Crime Writers of Canada Awards of Excellence in Canadian Crime Writing. Since 1984, Crime Writers of Canada has recognized the best in mystery, crime, and suspense fiction, and crime nonfiction by Canadian authors, including citizens abroad and new residents.
Jack Batten is the recipient of the 2023 Derrick Murdoch Award. The Derrick Murdoch Award is issued every two years to recognize a member of Crime Writers of Canada who has made significant contributions to the crime/mystery/thriller genre.
THE 2023 AWARDS OF EXCELLENCE WINNERS
Anthony Bidulka, Going to Beautiful, Stonehouse Publishing
Best Crime First Novel sponsored by Melodie Campbell, with a $1000 prize
Sam Shelstad, Citizens of Light, TouchWood Editions
The Howard Engel Award for Best Crime Novel Set in Canada sponsored by Charlotte Engel and CWC, with a $500 prize
Joanne Jackson, A Snake in the Raspberry Patch, Stonehouse Publishing
The Whodunit Award for Best Traditional Mystery sponsored by Jane Doe, with a $500 prize
Thomas King, Deep House, HarperCollins Canada
Alexis Stefanovich-Thomson, The Man Who Went Down Under, Alfred Hitchcock Mystery Magazines
Best Crime Short Story sponsored by Mystery Magazine, with a $300 prize
Craig H. Bowlsby, The Girl Who Was Only Three Quarters Dead, Mystery Magazine
Best French Crime Book (Fiction and Nonfiction)
Best Juvenile or YA Crime Book (Fiction and Nonfiction) sponsored by Shaftesbury, with a $500 prize
Jo Treggiari, Heartbreak Homes, Nimbus Publishing Limited
The Brass Knuckles Award for Best Nonfiction Crime Book sponsored by David Reid Simpson Law Firm, Hamilton, with a $300 prize
The Award for Best Unpublished Manuscript sponsored by ECW Press, with a $500 prize
Mary Keenan, Snowed
***
About Crime Writers of Canada
Crime Writers of Canada was founded in 1982 as a professional organization designed to raise the profile of Canadian crime writers. Members include authors, publishers, editors, booksellers, librarians, reviewers, and literary agents as well as many developing authors.
MEMORIAL DAY MYSTERIES //Memorial Day Crime Fiction
In memory of all who served their country, here's an updated list of Mysteries set during Memorial Day Weekend. Let me know if I've forgotten any titles. You may also want to check out my Veterans Day Mystery List.
Memorial Day Mysteries
Death is Like a Box of Chocolates by Kathy Aarons
Last Man Standing by David Baldacci
The Twenty Three by Linwood Barclay
Treble at the Jam Fest by Leslie Budewitz
The Decoration Memorial Day War by David H. Brown
Memorial Day by Sandra Thompson Brown and Duane Brown
Flowers for Bill O'Reilly: Memorial Day by Max Allan Collins

Absolute Certainty by Rose Connors
One Was a Soldier by Julia Spencer Fleming (not technically Memorial day, but it fits the theme)
Memorial Day by Vince Flynn
Memorial Day by Harry Shannon
Beside Still Waters by Debbie Viguie
Who Killed the Neanderthal by Cheryl Zelenka
Children's Mysteries:
Trixie Belden: The Mystery of the Memorial Day Fire by Kahryn Kenny
Sam's Top Secret Journal: Memorial Day by Sean Adelman, Siri Bardarson, Dianna Border & Andrea Hurst
Rosemary is for Remembrance. Check out the recipe for Rosemary Chocolate Chip Cookies on my other blog: DyingforChocolate.com
Wednesday, May 24, 2023
The Evolution of the Mystery Novel: Trends, Tropes and Future Directions by James Polkinghorn
Though familiar, this formula–if it can be considered one–continues to inspire authors to follow it with little variation. There can be significant rewards for doing so as publishers seek material they know will sell because it always has. The creativity that we see in the genre often comes in the settings and in the character development of the sleuth. Authors describe the action in exotic or little-known locales that serve as travelogs for most readers. They invite us to get to know interesting and quirky characters that we don’t often meet in our own lives. The crimes themselves, usually murders, strike right at the heart of our deepest fears.
One fear that is probably not adequately explored in the genre today is that which we harbor toward the looming and seemingly inexorable advance of technology. Without becoming science fiction, there is substantial room for exploration of subjects in this area, many of which naturally create in us feelings of profound unease. It may well be that many writers, who focused more heavily on the “arts” when obtaining their arts and sciences degrees in college, are simply uninterested in exploring subject matter that is both foreign and intimidating. Writing itself is hard enough! But this is a fertile field waiting to be tilled, planted, and harvested.
Speaking of technology, the greater fear for all writers thinking about the future is the increasing use of artificial intelligence (AI) in businesses everywhere. Right this very second, engineers around the globe are diligently working to insert thinking machines in business environments that would have been unimaginable even twenty years ago. How difficult will it be for AI to write a mystery novel once it learns the basic formula discussed above and peruses every novel ever written as contained on the internet? Would it even be shocking to learn that some graduate student at Stanford has already programmed this in pursuit of his doctorate? One wonders just how long it will be before AI produces a manuscript that its human master takes credit for and has published. Could publishers produce their own content without the necessity of dealing with agents and finicky authors? Time will tell but it would be naive to think this hasn’t crossed some very bright minds already.
So, let’s celebrate the mystery genre as it has been passed to us and enjoy its works as we find them. Technology, both as subject matter and as existential threat to practitioners, awaits.
Tuesday, May 23, 2023
Monday, May 22, 2023
Happy Birthday, Sir Arthur Conan Doyle
Sunday, May 21, 2023
FATHER BROWN SEASON 10: Britbox
Good news! Season 10 of Father Brown will air on BritBox in the U.S. beginning June 13th, with 2 new episodes each week. There are a total of ten episodes of roughly 50 minutes each. The season has already begun in the U.K.
Returning cast members Season 10: Mark Williams as Father Brown, John Burton as Sgt Goodfellow, John Light as M Hercule Flambeau, Nancy Carroll as Lady Felicia Montague, and Ruby-May Martinwood as Brenda Palmer.
St. Hilda's College Crime Fiction Weekend: August 11-13, 2023
I've never been to St. Hilda's College Crime Fiction Weekend in Oxford. Would love to go. Alas, not this year, but it's not too late for you to sign up!
To learn more about the conference, the authors, and to register, go here:
https://www.st-hildas.ox.ac.uk/content/2023-crime-fiction-weekend
Saturday, May 20, 2023
Friday, May 19, 2023
Out & About: Conferences vs. Conventions: Guest Post by Judy Penz Sheluk
Anyway, it’s not as if I get out or about all that often. I’m a notorious homebody, happiest when tapping away at my computer, reading a book, or binging episodes of Yellowstone, The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel, and so forth, my Golden Retriever Gibbs lying by my feet. But being an author means sometimes having to do, well, author-y things.
Thursday, May 18, 2023
CRIME MUSEUMS: International Museum Day!
Crime Museum: Washington D.C.
This museum includes a crime lab, the filming studios for America's Most Wanted, a simulated shooting range, a high-speed police-chase, and hundreds of interactive exhibits and artifacts pertaining to America's favorite subject.
The Mob Museum, Las Vegas. The Las Vegas Museum of Organized Crime and Law Enforcement — aka The Mob Museum — is an interactive museum dedicated to the history of organized crime and law enforcement. Focuses on organized crime's impact on Las Vegas history and its unique imprint on America and the world.

Medieval Crime and Justice Museum, Rothenberg, Germany. A leading museum of medieval crime. Torture instruments, shame punishments and more, it also houses a vast collection of seals and law books.
American Police Hall of Fame & Museum: Titusville, FL. The American Police Hall of Fame and Museum was founded in 1960. It is the nation's first national police museum and memorial dedicated to law enforcement officers killed in the line of duty.
New York City Police Museum
National Law Enforcement Museum. Washington, D.C.
Other Police Museums:
Cleveland Police Museum
Phoenix Police Museum
Houston Police Museum
Portland Police Museum
New Jersey State Police Museum & Learning Center
Security Forces Museum (San Antonio, TX)
Los Angeles Police Historical Society Museum & Community Education Center
Seattle Metropolitan Police Museum
International Police Museum of Southern California
Norfolk Police & Fire Rescue Museum
Police Heritage Museum, York, PA
Silver State National Peace Officers Museum, NV
National Police Museum. Delhi, India.
National Police Museum, Finland
New Zealand Police Museum
Justice and Police Museum, Sydney, Australia
SPIES
International Spy Museum, Washington, D.C. The only public museum in the United States solely dedicated to espionage and the only one in the world to provide a global perspective on a profession that has shaped history and continues to have a significant impact on world events. The Museum features the largest collection of international espionage artifacts ever placed on public display.
Bletchley Park: Bletchley, Buckinghamshire, England. Home of the Codebreakers, Enigma Machines, history and more. Surely you've seen Bletchley Circle? Visited the Churchill War Rooms? Check out the website, too, and there's also a virtual tour on the Internet.
Spy Museum. Vakoilumuseo. Tampere, Finland.
James Bond Museum: Momence, IL
The James Bond Exhibit at the Dezer Collection. Miami, FL
Any favorite crime museum I've forgotten? Make a comment? Any Museum Mysteries you'll be reading today? I must post a list of Museum Mysteries. Next year??!
Medieval Meets Modern in Switzerland: Guest Post by Kim Hays
Kim Hays is a dual Swiss/US citizen who lives in Bern with her Swiss husband. The first book in her Polizei Bern series, Pesticide, was shortlisted for a Debut Dagger Award by the Crime Writers Association, and Deborah Crombie called it “a standout debut for 2022.” For more information about Kim and Switzerland, see www.kimhaysbern.com.
Wednesday, May 17, 2023
The British Book Awards aka The Nibbies
Winner: Book of the Year - Crime and Thriller
The Twyford Code by Janice Hallett (Viper)
The Twyford Code, Janice Hallett’s follow-up to her début The Appeal, was praised as “brave” and “bold” by our judges, with one dubbing it: “epistolary brainy crime”. Second books can be tricky, but Hallett smashed expectations when The Twyford Code outsold her début novel in hardback, audio and export. The judges were very impressed by Hallett’s skill in creating a mystery where the reader is invited to solve the crime alongside the characters, testifying to her growing strength as a writer. The striking cover included 33 clues within the fish’s scales and eyes and Viper’s “canny” marketing positioned Hallett as a the “queen of cosy crime” and capitalised on the love for her début. It is a “really wonderful success story”, commented one judge.
Tuesday, May 16, 2023
SISTERS IN CRIME AUCTION TO BENEFIT THE INNOCENCE PROJECT!
DON'T MISS THIS! From May 18-21, Sisters in Crime is hosting an auction to benefit the Innocence Project. As of January 2020, the Innocence Project has documented over 375 DNA exonerations in the United States. Twenty-one of these had been sentenced to death.
Monday, May 15, 2023
Why I Write Historical Fiction: Guest Post by Kathryn Lasky
“Oh, I didn’t mean to alarm you, ma’am.”
“My husband is a Jew.”
“But he’s not a war agitator.”
“Of course, I know that! But you have just neatly reduced the complexity of the human race to three categories and stuffed them into one goddam sack.”
She stood, balled up her napkin, and threw it down.
Kathryn Lasky is the author of five mysteries and over one hundred books for children and young adults, including the Guardians of Ga’Hoole series, which has more than eight million copies in print, and was turned into a major motion picture, Legend of the Guardians: The Owls of Ga’Hoole. Her books have received numerous awards including a Newbery Honor, a Boston Globe-Horn Book Award, and a Washington Post-Children’s Book Guild Nonfiction Award. She has twice won the National Jewish Book award. Her work has been translated into 19 languages worldwide. She is the author of six mysteries. Light is Bone is the latest. She lives with her husband in Cambridge, MA.