Mystery Melange

The International Thriller Writers announced this year's finalists for the Thriller Awards, to be handed out at ThrillerFest XI on July 9 at the Grand Hyatt in New York City.

Congratulations also to the winners of this year's Derringer Awards. The annual honors are handed out by the Short Mystery Fiction Society for excellence in short crime fiction writing.

On Tuesday May 10, The Guardian is sponsoring a Master Class with thriller author James Patterson. Patterson will share the secrets of writing a page-turner, from crafting an irresistible plot to writing dialogue that drives a story forward, and offer up advice on staying focused and motivated as a writer. Participation is limited, so if you're interested, you should sign up early.

The Sydney Writers Festival in Australia is featuring several crime writing panels and discussions, starting with Candice Fox sharing tips and tricks for the aspiring crime fiction author on Sunday, May 15, continuing all the way to May 22 with award winning crime writer Michael Robotham discussing the psychology of obsession. Girl on a Train's Paula Hawkins will also be on hand in conversation with ABC RN’s Kate Evans as she chats about her work, her inspiration, and the key ingredients for a compulsive read.

Mike Ripley's latest "Getting Away with Murder" column is out, with news about the republication of Sir Basil Thomson’s classic Inspector Richardson novels; the recent Essex Book Festival’s celebration of Margery Allingham’s fiction; a one-day crime-fiction conference called Deal Noir, which will take place this Saturday in south-eastern England; and new works by Philip Kerr (The Other Side of Silence), Quentin Bates (Thin Ice), Michael Gregorio (Think Wolf), Ruth Dudley Edwards (The Seven), and more.

Scottish author William McIlvanney has been awarded with the rare honor of a posthumous degree by University of Glasgow, which his daughter Siobhan McIlvanney accepted on his behalf. McIlvanney, dubbed "the father of Tartan Noir," passed away in December after a short illness at the age of 79.

A more recent obituary of note from last week: Stage and screen actor Douglas Wilmer, best known for portraying Sherlock Holmes in the 1960s BBC series, died at Ipswich Hospital in Suffolk, England following a short illness. He was 96.

Although this year's Quais du Polar crime fiction conference in Lyon, France has just wrapped up, Emma over at Books Around the Corner has posted a recap of the festivities including panels with Jo Nesbø, Arnaldur Indridason, Oliver Norek, Sara Gran, Deon Meyer and Craig Johnson, and more.

Writing for The Telegraph, Arts Correspondent Hannah Furness notes how technological changes mean that the cliffhangers of Enid Blyton (and many other authors of the day) 'would not have worked today because of mobile phones.

Sadie Trombetta compiled a listing of "13 of the Best Female Sleuths from Pop Culture," and after reader input, came up with a Part 2 with even more nominees.

New to the works of Agatha Christie? Hard to believe that there are readers out there who've never read a Miss Marple or Hercule Poirot novel, but just in case you haven't, Book Riot compiled a little guide, "Where To Start With Agatha Christie."

Graphic novels have become an attractive format for delivering gritty crime stories, and the Australian Network News compiled a list of the "top five detective graphic novels."

Some readers are so passionate about their favorite books, they cook up specific foods from specific books, from frozen butterbeer in Harry Potter to the chicken Frito pie that Shawna makes for Nick after Amy disappears in Gone Girl.

Crime Factory Issue #18 is out with new stories by Patrick Loveland; Michael Koenig; Bobbie Groth; Jay Helmstutler; Sarah M. Chen; Jacqui Horwood; Paul Heatley; J. M. Taylor; Greg Mollin; Jeff Esterhold; Benjamin Welton; and Adeola Adeniyi.

The new crime poem at the 5-2 is "A Page From My Diary (If I Had One)" by Anina Robb. April is Poetry Month, and the 5-2 has organized a celebratory blog tour. Check out the complete schedule here.

In the Q&A roundup, the Africa in Words blog spoke with Margie Orford, "the Queen of South African crime fiction"; Crime Watch welcomed Guy Fraser-Sampson, an investment specialist who just released his debut mystery novel, Death in Profile; Sons of Spade interviewed Grant Bywaters, winner of the Best First Private Eye Novel in the PWA competition, about his debut novel and his own PI work; Edith Maxwell stopped by Omnimystery News to discuss her new first in series mystery, Delivering the Truth; Stuart Woods chatted with the Oklahoman about his newest Stone Barrington novel, Family Jewels; and Laurie R. King discussed her latest Mary Russell novel, The Murder of Mary Russell, with the Mystery People.