PETRONA AWARD SHORTLIST 2025: Best Scandinavian Crime Novel of the Year

Seven crime novels from Finland, Iceland, Norway and Sweden have been shortlisted for the 2025 Petrona Award for the Best Scandinavian Crime Novel of the Year. 

Samuel Bjørk - Dead Island, tr. Charlotte Barslund (Norway, Bantam)
Pascal Engman - The Widows, tr. Neil Smith (Sweden, Legend Press)
Malin Persson Giolito - Deliver Me, tr. Rachel Willson-Broyles (Sweden, 
Simon & Schuster)
Óskar Guðmundsson - The Dancer, tr. Quentin Bates (Iceland, Corylus Books)
Satu Rämö - The Clues in the Fjord, tr. Kristian London (Finland, Zaffre)
Gunnar Staalesen - Pursued by Death, tr. Don Bartlett (Norway, Orenda Books)

The winning title will be announced on October 16, 2025.

The Petrona 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.

There were 31 entries for the 2025 Petrona Award from six countries (Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway, Sweden and Switzerland). This year’s shortlist sees Norway represented with three novels, Sweden with two and Finland and Iceland with one novel each. 

Further information can be found on the Petrona Award website: http://www.petronaaward.co.uk.

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 Monday 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 Day of Atonement by Breck England
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

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

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!

Cartoon of the Day: Motivational Speaking

MURDER BEFORE EVENSONG: Acorn TV

If you're fans of Granchester and Father Brown, you'll want to check out a new series coming to AcornTV on Monday, September 29: Murder Before Evensong. There will be 6 episodes. I haven't seen it yet, but I enjoy religious mystery shows. 

Murder Before Evensong is based on the first novel in the Canon Clement Mysteries, by British author the Reverend Richard Coles, and is set in 1980’s England. Matthew Lewis stars as Canon Daniel Clement, the Rector of Champton, who finds himself unexpectedly entangled in a murder case when a dead body turns up in the church.  

Daniel shares Champton rectory with his widowed mother Audrey (Amanda Redman) – and his two dachshunds, Cosmo and Hilda. When Daniel announces a plan to modernize the church, the parish is suddenly divided. And then a body is found dead at the back of the church. As the police move in and the bodies start piling up, Daniel is the only one who can try and keep his fractured community together… and catch a killer.  

The cast also consists of all your favorite British actors whom have appeared in multiple British mystery shows. Amit Shah as DS Neil Vanloo, Adam Jamesas Bernard De Floures, Meghan Treadway as Honor De Floures, Alexander Delamain as Alex De Floures, Marion Bailey as Kath, Amanda Hadingue as Dora, Tamzin Outhwaite as Stella Harper, Francis Magee as Edgy, and Nina Toussaint-White as Jane Thwaite.  

 

Thomas Perry: R.I.P.

Such sad news. Thomas Perry passed away suddenly on September 27.  Tom Perry was a wonderful writer, supportive and kind to writers and readers, and an all around good-guy. More to come. So  unexpected. Taken too soon. My love and sympathy go out to his family and friends. May his memory be a blessing.

Posted by Tom's wife Jo Perry. 

From The Mysterious Press:

Tom was a bestselling thriller writer who was beloved by all who knew and worked with him... His first book, The Butcher’s Boy, won the Edgar Allan Poe award in 1983. He launched his popular and critically acclaimed series about Jane Whitefield in 1995 with Vanishing Act, chosen as one of the "100 Favorite Mysteries of the Century" by the Independent Mystery Booksellers Association and was included in Parade's list of "101 Best Mystery Books of All Time." The last book in the series, The Tree of Light and Flowers, will be published in March 2026. 

The author of 31 novels, he has received numerous awards, including the Barry for Best Thriller of the Year for Hero earlier this month. 

Many of his books have been acquired by Hollywood studios, most recently The Old Man, a limited run television series starring Jeff Bridges and John Lithgow which premiered on FX on June 16, 2022; a second series made its debut on September 12, 2024. His novel Strip has completed filming as Bear Country, starring Russell Crowe. 

BLOODY SCOTLAND CRIME WRITING FESTIVAL AWARDS 2025

Bloody Scotland International Crime Writing Festival announced the winners of two crime fiction prizes tonight. Congratulations, Tariq and David!

2025 McIlvanney Prize Scottish Crime Novel of the Year

The Midnight King by Tariq Ashkanani 

2025 Bloody Scotland Debut Prize Winner

A Reluctant Spy by David Goodman

Cartoon of the Day: The Menu

 

DEATH VALLEY: Second Season News

Good news, Death Valley, the British comedic mystery show set in Wales, has been renewed for a second season. Filming has already begun, and the premiere will be sometime in 2026 on the BBC and later on Britbox. Timothy Spall and Gwyneth Keyworth return as the detective duo. Paul Dolan is returning to write all six episodes of the second season. Looking forward to it!

Barry Award Winners 2025: Deadly Pleasures Mystery Magazine

Deadly Pleasures Mystery Magazine announced the winners for the Barry Awards last weekend at Bouchercon in New Orleans. Winners are voted on by readers of Deadly Pleasures Mystery Magazine.

Best Mystery Novel: 

The Waiting, by Michael Connelly (Little, Brown) 

Best First Mystery Crime Novel: 

Ordinary Bear, by C.B. Bernard (Blackstone) 

Best Paperback Original Mystery Novel: 

Double Barrel Bluff, by Lou Berney (Morrow Paperbacks) 

Best Action Thriller:

Hero, by Thomas Perry (Mysterious Press) 

DAVITT AWARDS: Sisters in Crime Australia

Sisters in Crime Australia announced the winners of this year's Davitt Awards. 

Congratulations to all.

Adult Crime Novel: 

To the River by Vikki Wakefield

Best Nonfiction: 

The Lasting Harm: Witnessing the Trial of the Century by Lucia Osborne-Crowley

Best Young Adult: 

Into the Mouth of the Wolf by Erin Gough

Children's Crime Novel: 

The Midwatch by Judith Rossell

Best Debut Crime Book:  

What I Would Do To You by Georgia Harper

Kerry Greenwood Readers Choice Award: 

What Happened To Nina? by Dervla McTiernan

***

HT: The Rap Sheet

Cartoon of the Day: Crime Scene

 

ANTHONY AWARD WINNERS: Bouchercon 2025

The Anthony Award Winners were announced Saturday night at Bouchercon, the world mystery convention, in New Orleans. Congratulations to all!

SHAMUS AWARD WINNERS: Private Eye Writers of America

The winners of the 2025 Shamus Awards were announced by the Private Eye Writers of America at the Opening Ceremonies at Bouchercon in New Orleans. Congratulations to all!

SHAMUS AWARDS 2025

BEST ORIGINAL HARDBACK P.I. NOVEL

Trouble in Queenstown by Delia Pitts

BEST ORGINAL PAPERBACK P.I. NOVEL

Call of the Void by J.T. Siemens

BEST FIRST P.I. NOVEL

Twice the Trouble by Ash Clifton

BEST P.I. SHORT STORY

“Deadhead” by Tom Andes (Issue 10.1: Cowboy Jamboree Magazine)

THE EYE LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD

Christine Matthews

Congratulations to all.

Cartoon of the Day: Detective Fare

 

Poster of the Month: September

 

Chelsea Quinn Yarbro: R.I.P.

Such sad news. Chelsea Quinn Yarbro, 82, science fiction, horror, and mystery author, passed away on Sunday, August 31. She wrote over 80 novels and 70 short works of fiction. She was probably best known for her Saint-Germain historical vampire series and spin off Olivia De Clements. She also wrote several mysteries with Bill Fawcett under the name Quinn Fawcett. Her Charlie Spotted Moon mystery series were wonderful. Quinn was an expert on the occult, a Tarot and palm reader, as well as a musical composer. Truly a woman of many talents, she was named a World Horror Grandmaster in 2003, won a Bram Stoker Lifetime Achievement Award in 2009, and received a World Fantasy Award for life achievement in 2014.

I first met Quinn at a science fiction convention in the late 70s where she read my Tarot cards. We connected over her love of mystery, though, and the friends we found we had in common. At that time, we we were also both members of MWA, and she was President of our chapter. Over the years, we often met at the post office in Berkeley where we both had PO Boxes. She was witty, supportive and to the point, never faltering. She will be missed by her many fans and friends.

Read Wiley Saichek's words here. 

Cartoon of the Day: Labor Day: Labor Day

Labor Day!

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