McILVANNEY PRIZE: Bloody Scotland

The McIlvanney Prize was announced at Bloody Scotland. The award, previously known as the Bloody Scotland Prize for Scottish Crime Writing, was presented on Friday, September 13, on the first night of the Bloody Scotland Festival. 

Chris Brookmyre is this year’s winner of the McIlvanney Prize for his latest crime thriller, The Cracked Mirror.

The Cracked Mirror, published by Sphere, has been described as a “cross genre hybrid of Agatha Christie and Michael Connelly”, with judges declaring it “a brilliant piece of storytelling”.

The judges were BBC Scotland presenter Bryan Burnett; category manager for Waterstones, Angie Crawford; and journalist and editor, Arusa Qureshi.

Read more Here. 

The Shortlist:

Happy Birthday, Agatha Christie!

Happy Birthday, Agatha Christie!

Over the years, I've read just about every novel and story, play, and reference book on or by the Queen of Crime, Agatha Christie. I've taught classes on Agatha Christie at UCBerkeley, Santa Cruz, and St. Mary's College, as well as focused on Agatha Christie in my mystery book group. 

Agatha Christie visited the UC Berkeley Botanical Garden and was particularly taken by the Peruvian Lily. Poisonous? Yes. In honor of that long-ago visit, I organized a poison tour for my book group at the UC Botanical Garden. We had a very knowledgeable guide.

For Agatha Christie's Centennial, I attended the CWA (Crime Writers Association - UK) conference in Torquay which included an Agatha Christie Centennial Celebration Banquet. Everyone was there, and, by that, I mean all my favorite British crime writers and several of the actors who portrayed Christie's characters over the years. David Suchet sat at the next table. I saw Joan Hickson in the Ladies Room. During that same trip, I went with CWA to visit Greenway. This was long before it opened to the public. The family was in residence at the time, and either they forgot that a group of mystery writers was stopping by or they didn’t care, as the house was in a bit of disarray after what must have been Sunday dinner (lunch to us!). It was a very lovely (and intimate) tour of the house.

When I returned to the States that year, I was on the organizing committee of the U.S. Agatha Christie Centennial. There were reading challenges, library talks, courses, and lectures, and I even wrote an 'Agatha-Christie inspired' interactive mystery event. It was great fun!

And here's a real treat: A Video of a 1955 interview with Agatha Christie from the BBC Archives in which Agatha Christie talks about her lack of formal education and how boredom during childhood led her to write The Mysterious Affair at Styles. She outlines her working methods, Miss Marple, Herculte Poirot, and discusses why it is much easier to write plays than novels. 

Raise a glass today to Agatha Chrisite, the Queen of Crime!
 

Cartoon of the Day: The Meeting

 Happy Caturday!

BOSCH: LEGACY & RENEE BALLARD series news!

The third season of Michael Connelly's Bosch: Legacy will premiere on Prime in March 2025. This will  be the last season, bringing to a close a 10 season run with this character, played by Titus Welliver. 

Connelly is currently in production on the spin-off of the Bosch series, the Renée Ballard series. And if you know anything about Connelly's books, you know that Harry Bosch will make an appearance. Ballard started filming in July in Venice Beach, CA. Maggie Q stars as Renée. Connelly's novel Desert Star is used for one of the main storylines.

Both shows will be on Prime. 

PETRONA AWARD LONGLIST: Best Scandinavian Crime Novel of the Year

2024 PETRONA AWARD Longlist for the Best Scandinavian Crime Novel of the Year 

Tove Alsterdal - You Will Never Be Found tr. Alice Menzies (Sweden, Faber & Faber)

Anne Mette Hancock - The Collector tr. Tara F Chace (Denmark, Swift Press)

Jørn Lier Horst - Snow Fall tr. Anne Bruce (Norway, Michael Joseph)

Jørn Lier Horst and Thomas Enger - Stigma tr. Megan E Turney (Norway, Orenda Books) 

Arnaldur Indriðason - The Girl by the Bridge tr. Philip Roughton (Iceland, Harvill Secker) 

Jógvan Isaksen - Dead Men Dancing tr. Marita Thomsen (Faroe Islands (Denmark), Norvik Press)

Åsa Larsson - The Sins of our Fathers tr. Frank Perry (Sweden, MacLehose Press) 

Lilja Sigurðardottir - White as Snow tr. Quentin Bates (Iceland, Orenda Books)

Yrsa Sigurðardottir - The Prey tr. Victoria Cribb (Iceland, Hodder & Stoughton) 

Karin Smirnoff - The Girl in the Eagle's Talons tr. Sarah Death (Sweden, MacLehose Press)

Both large and small publishers are represented on the longlist, with Orenda Books and MacLehose Press both having two entries, and the breakdown by country is Iceland (3), Sweden (3), Denmark (2) and Norway (2). 

The Petrona Award 2024 judging panel comprises Jackie Farrant, the creator of RAVEN CRIME READS and a bookseller/Area Commercial Support for a major book chain in the UK and Ewa Sherman, translator and writer, and blogger at NORDIC LIGHTHOUSE, with additional help from Sarah Ward, author, former Petrona Award judge and current CWA Crime Fiction in Translation Dagger judge.

The Award administrator is Karen Meek, owner of the EURO CRIME blog and website. 

The award is open to crime fiction in translation, either written by a Scandinavian author or set in Scandinavia and published in the UK in the previous calendar year. More information on the history of the Award and previous winners can be found at the Petrona Award website.

Cartoon of the Day: Novelist

 

Georges Simenon's MAIGRET: PBS MASTERPIECE NEWS & MORE

MASTERPIECE PBS is co-producing a new detective series - Maigret.

MASTERPIECE Head of Scripted Content and Executive Producer Susanne Simpson said: “Maigret will be a perfect addition to MASTERPIECE’s line up of Mystery! shows. Our partners at Playground have assembled an incredible cast and creative team, and our audience is going to love Inspector Maigret and his unique style of crime solving.” 

This is the first contemporary television adaptation of Georges Simenon’s novels about the streetwise Parisian Chief Inspector Jules Maigret. Production has started production in Budapest. Colin Callender and David Stern will executive produce for Playground, the Golden Globe and BAFTA award winning production company behind upcoming series Wolf Hall: The Mirror and the Light and All Creatures Great and Small, both for MASTERPIECE.

Jules Maigret will be played by Benjamin Wainwright (Belgravia: The Next Chapter, Lord of the Rings: War of the Rohirrim), and Stefanie Martini (The Gold, Last Kingdom, Emerald City) stars as his wife Madame Louise Maigret. Patrick Harbinson (Homeland, 24, The Tower) serves as lead writer and executive producer and will direct the first two episodes of the series.

The Jules Maigret series is the second best-selling detective series ever, behind only Sherlock Holmes. 

“To understand and not to judge”: Maigret strives above all to unravel our motivations. He is good at this not because he is a genius, or has special methods, but because he listens – he doesn’t solve crimes so much as he solves people.

I'm looking forward to the new Maigret series.

*** 

Maigret has appeared numerous times on the screen, with at least thirty-four actors assuming the role at different times. The long list of film adaptations began in 1932, two years after Maigret was created, with the release of two films. 

Some of the actors who portrayed Maigret: Michael Gabon, Rowan Atkinson, Gérard Depardieu, Bruno Cremer, and Jean Richard.

Though Simenon's books have been adapted many times for film and television, Rupert Davies's celebrated, BAFTA-winning portrayal won the approval of Simenon himself, who stated: At last, I have found the perfect Maigret! Running to 52 episodes, this complete 1960s series has been remastered in High Definition from original film elements and is featured now on MHz in its original full screen TV format. 

Read J. Madison Davis's article on The Faces of Maigret, here: 

While you're waiting for what will be a great PBS Masterpiece series have a look at some of the other portrayals of Maigret, of which many are available to stream. 

Or, start reading Simenon's mysteries. They are wonderful!

Why read the Simenon novels?  https://www.theguardian.com/books/2020/jan/04/the-enduring-depth-and-genius-of-inspector-maigret-by-graeme-macrae-burnett

ONLY MURDERS IN THE BUILDING, SEASON 4

In case you missed it, Season 4 of Only Murders in the Building dropped a few weeks ago. There are 10 episodes, one a week. Lots of new cameos and characters. Only Murders in the Building is on Hulu. Catch up on past seasons on Hulu.

And, good news: Season 5 has been confirmed by Disney Plus.

From NPR: 

The new season of Only Murders in the Building takes this unlikely trio to a new setting — but only temporarily. Because of the success of their previous seasons of crime solving, the three podcasting partners are flown to Hollywood, where a movie executive hopes to buy their life rights and make a movie based on their adventures. 

The movie exec is played by Molly Shannon, formerly of Saturday Night Live, who throws a glitzy party for the new arrivals. At the party, she tries to wow them by introducing them to the actors cast to play their big-screen counterparts. 

Once the movie is greenlit, Charles, Oliver and Mabel head back to their familiar New York apartment complex, where a recent bullet hole found in the window of Charles’ apartment leads them to suspect he may have been targeted for murder. They also suspect the sniper may have aimed from one of the apartments across their courtyard. 

Charles studies the behavior of the residents occupying the west tower, then convenes his podcast partners to discuss his suspicions. At this point, Only Murders becomes the comedy equivalent of Rear Window. Like James Stewart in that famous Hitchcock movie, our heroes expect that evil is afoot across the way. But with these three, the way they go about their voyeuristic inquiry highlights their very distinct, and very funny, personalities.

DAVITT AWARDS: Sisters in Crime Australia

Sisters in Crime Australia announced the winners of their 24th Davitt Awards for the best crime and mystery books. Congratulations to all! 

2024 DAVITT AWARD WINNERS

Adult Novels 

Monica Vuu, When One of Us Hurts (Pan Macmillan Australia) Debut

Non-Fiction 

Rebecca Hazel, The Schoolgirl, her Teacher and his Wife (Penguin Random House)

Young Adult Novels

Amy Doak, Eleanor Jones Is Not a Murderer (Penguin Random House) Debut

Children’s Novels 

Lucinda Gifford, The Wolves of Greycoat Hall (Walker Books)

Christine Keighery’s The Half Brother was named the Best Debut Novel. 

Sisters in Crime Australia members chose Alison Goodman’s The Benevolent Society of Ill-Mannered Ladies as this year’s Readers’ Choice award.

The Davitt Awards are named for Ellen Davitt (1812-1879), Australia’s first crime novelist.

HT: The Rap Sheet

Cartoon of the Day: Cat Burglar

 Happy Caturday!

MOONFLOWER MURDERS: MASTERPIECE MYSTERY!

Lesley Manville returns as book editor turned sleuth Susan Ryeland and Tim McMullan as famous literary detective Atticus Pünd in Anthony Horowitz's Moonflower Murders. Moonflower Murders premieres on Masterpiece Mystery!  PBS next Sunday, September 15 at 9/8c. When Susan Ryeland's idyll in Crete is disturbed by the shadow of a murder committed eight years ago, can she uncover the secret hidden in Alan Conway’s book before it's too late?

Like the Magpie Murders prequel, Moonflower Murders was adapted by author Anthony Horowitz. 

I've seen the four episodes, and this productions is terrific -- good story, wonderful actors, such a great mix of time periods and storyline. Exactly what we've come to expect of this great show, based on Anthony Horowitz's novel. 

 

FYI: Magpie Murders is still available on PBS Passport. If you haven't seen Magpie Murders, I suggest you catch up on this show this week before watching Moonflower Murders. You don't have to, but it will enrich your viewing. You could always read the books by Anthony Horowitz, too. Such fun!

Sign up for the MASTERPIECE e-newsletter for all the breaking news on British dramas and mysteries coming to the small screen.

Cartoon of the Day: The Thoroughly Engrossing Novel

So True!

10th Annual Hitchcock Film Festival: Bodega Bay!

10th Annual Hitchcock Film Festival: OCTOBER 25 & 26, 2024 A cinematic experience at the Hitchcock Film Festival in Bodega Bay, California.   Hitchcock Film Festival 2024! The Bodega Bay Grange Hall #777 --a celebration of the films of one of cinema’s greatest artists, Alfred Hitchcock, whose work continues to entertain and influence audiences, film-makers, authors and musicians on a global basis. The opportunity to see The Birds in Bodega Bay, where locations for the film were shot, is a privilege not to be missed. Also, The Man Who Knew Too Much (1956) will be screened on Saturday afternoon. Friday night features dinner followed by a screening of The Birds (1963). Dinner music will be provided by Erin Brazill & The Brazillionaires whose sound has been described as “noirish pop” and “original, lushly composed and arranged music with dark, rich harmonies, vaudeville instrumentation, and Hitchcockian inspired lyrics.” This is a Fundraising Event benefiting the Commercial Kitchen Restoration at the Bodega Bay Grange Hall (a designated Red Cross shelter and an official Tsunami Evacuation Site) and the Bodega Bay Elementary and Tomales Elementary schools arts programs.

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 25TH: DINNER AND A MOVIE "THE BIRDS" LIVE DINNER MUSIC Friday night showing of The Birds. Doors open at 5:30 p.m. for Drinks and Appetizers. Dinner will start at 6:00 p.m. with Live Music from Erin Brazill and The Brazillionaires.  The movie begins at 7:00 p.m.  Bodega Bay part-time resident and Hitchcock fan, Dan Sneed, will provide a short introduction to the film. $75 per person

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 26TH: MOVIES Saturday's matinee, "The Man Who Knew Too Much" starring James Stewart and Doris Day. Box office opens at 3:00 p.m. The movie begins at 3:30 p.m.  Bodega Bay part-time resident and Hitchcock fan, Dan Sneed, will provide a short introduction to the film. $15 per person Saturday night showing of "The Birds". Box office opens at 6:30 p.m. The movie begins at 7:00 p.m. Bodega Bay part-time resident and Hitchcock fan, Dan Sneed, will provide a short introduction to the film. $20 per person Full Bar, Wine, Beer, Soft Drinks, Popcorn and Concessions Tickets on sale now. https://www.eventbrite.com/e/hitchcock-film-festival-2024-tickets-1002625338377

McILVANNEY PRIZE SHORTLIST 2024

The Shortlist for the McIlvanney Prize has been announced by Bloody Scotland. The award, previously known as the Bloody Scotland Prize for Scottish Crime Writing, will be presented on Friday, September 13, on the first night of the Bloody Scotland Festival. Congratulations to all!

2024 SILVER FALCHION & CLAYMORE AWARD WINNERS: Killer Nashville

Winners of the 2024 Killer Nashville Awards were announced at the final night of the Killer Nashville International Writers’ Conference held on August 24^th. Awards were given for both the Silver Falchion & Claymore Award in their respective categories. The Silver Falchion Award celebrates the best books of 2023. The Claymore Award for the best first fifty pages of an unpublished manuscript at the time of submission. 

 

 

  

Slough House, Season 4 premiere: AppleTV +

Slow Horses, Season 4, will premiere on AppleTV+ September 4. Slow Horses continues to draw from Mick Herron's books, with season four's plot coming from book four, Spook Street. Starring Gary Oldman in his Emmy-nominated role as Jackson Lamb, the AppleTV+ Original Series Slow Horses follows the irascible head of MI5's Slough House, Jackson Lamb, and his misfit team of washed-up agents who will do anything to redeem themselves. 

The Apple TV+ spy thriller, based on Mick Herron's Slough House novels, centers around the MI5's "dumping ground department," known as Slough House. The series follows the dysfunctional British intelligence agents who "end up in Slough House due to their career-ending mistakes as they frequently find themselves blundering around the smoke and mirrors of the espionage world." Gary Oldman leads the group as Jackson Lamb, and he will be back for more in Slow Horses season four. 

Slow Horses helped break the Apple TV+ record with 9 Emmy nominations, including outstanding lead actor for Gary Oldman.

And, the good news is that there will be a Season 5. 

The Barry Award Winners 2024: Deadly Pleasures Mystery Magazine

The Barry Awards 2024. The Barry Awards are awarded by Deadly Pleasures Mystery Magazine. The winners in each category were announced at the Opening Ceremonies of the Nashville Bouchercon on August 29, 2024. Congratulations to all. 

Best Mystery or Crime Novel
Dennis Lehane, SMALL MERCIES (Harper)

Best First Mystery or Crime Novel
I.S. Berry, THE PEACOCK AND THE SPARROW (Atria)

Best Paperback Original Mystery or Crime Novel
Jake Needham, WHO THE HELL IS HARRY BLACK? (Half Penny)

Best Thriller
Mick Herron, THE SECRET HOURS (Soho Crime)

Thanks to Gabriel Valjan for the great Graphic of the Barry Award winners and nominees.