Mystery Melange

Mystery Writers of America announced that the 2022 Grand Master will be Laurie R. King, bestselling author of 30 novels and other works, including the Mary Russell-Sherlock Holmes stories. MWA also announced that the Raven Award recipient, recognizing achievement in the mystery field outside the realm of creative writing, is librarian, blogger, and book reviewer, Lesa Holstine. The Ellery Queen Award recipient, which honors "outstanding writing teams and outstanding people in the mystery-publishing industry," is Juliet Grames, Associate Publisher at Soho Press, where she has curated the award-winning Soho Crime imprint since 2011. The honorees will accept their awards at the 76th Annual Edgar Awards Ceremony on April 28, 2022, at the Marriott Marquis Times Square in New York City.

Aspiring crime novelists have until the end of February to enter the Crime Writers’ Association (CWA) Debut Dagger, sponsored by ProWritingAid. Shortlisted authors often get representation by literary agents, with a number going on to get publication deals. Budding authors are invited to submit the opening 3,000 words and a synopsis of the full novel of up to 1,500 words before the competition deadline of 6pm GMT on Monday, February 28, 2022. The competition is only open to writers who have never had a novel or novella published in any genre, or self-published one within the last 5 years. However authors of published short stories are eligible, as are authors of published non-fiction. For full rules, and to enter, go to Competitions on the CWA website.

The lists of crime fiction titles to look forward to in the new year continue to grow, including Jeff Pierce's annual tally over at The Rap Sheet blog, with new-release lists through February for both the U.S. and U.K.

As the Northern Hemisphere shivers in the throes of a January deep-freeze, it seems like the perfect time to take a look at Crime Fiction set in Antarctica, courtesy of CrimeReads.

In a previous Mystery Melange post, I noted that the exhibition "Sherlock Holmes in 221 Objects" opens at New York's Grolier Club on January 21, 2022. It features items from the collection of Cathy and Glen Miranker, including artwork, books, correspondence, and manuscripts about the iconic literary detective. As the New York Times added this week, there is one puzzling exhibit among the collection; why did Sir Arthur Conan Doyle—who famously denounced pirate publishers since they cranked out cheap editions and didn't pay him royalties—sign a pirated edition of The Sign of the Four (the second of the four Sherlock Holmes novels)? (Paywall for non-NYT subscribers, alas)

Meanwhile on the other side of the Atlantic, a bronze statue of Agatha Christie is to go up in Wallingford town centre in a bid to attract fans of the author to her former hometown. Town councillors approved the use of Arts funding for the Agatha Christie Project Committee plan for the statue and town "mystery trail." Details of the trail are also yet to be confirmed, but it is hoped that it will take visitors around points of interest connected with the writer’s life, including her former home and her burial site.

The novel world of bibliotherapy: Studies over the past few years have indicated that reading improves empathy and encourages understanding and has a whole host of other positive benefits. Now, new research also shows how literature is helping people navigate mental health issues.

This week's crime poem at the 5-2 weekly is "Unresolved Story on the Butt End of Avenue B" by Saira Viola.

In the Q&A roundup, Author Interviews checked in with Alafair Burke, a New York Times bestselling author whose most recent novels include The Wife, optioned for a feature film by Amazon, and The Ex, which was nominated for the Edgar Award for best novel; Writers Who Kill welcomed Amy Pershing to chat about An Eggnog to Die For, the second book in Amy Pershing’s Cape Cod Foodie mystery series; and Murder Books spoke with novelist, short story author, and former newspaper editor Richard McGonegal about his writing and newest mystery novel, Ghoul Duty, the second in his Sheriff Francis Hood series.