Mystery Melange

 

The longlist for the McIlvanney Prize 2022, awarded to the best Scottish crime book of the year, was announced this week (with the Debut Prize Shortlist to be announced in July). The McIlvanney Prize shortlist will then be revealed in early September, with the winner unveiled on September 15 at the 10th annual Bloody Scotland conference in Stirling. You can check out the ten longlisted titles via this link and also learn more about conference registration and the schedule.

A new crime fiction program is coming to Ledbury in the UK. Titled Ledburied, the schedule will see crime-reading events featuring top crime authors taking place throughout the year. The inaugural event on June 16 will feature award-winning Ledbury-based author Sarah Hilary talking with Fiona Cummins (When I Was Ten, Into The Dark) and CM Ewan (The Interview, A Window Breaks) about the enduring lure of dark thrillers. Sarah is also one of the brains behind the festival, working alongside Ledbury Books and Maps and Ledbury Places to bring the idea to life.

The Dead Good Reader Awards are back to celebrate the very best in crime fiction, with six new categories. Readers can nominate their favorites using the form via this link. The books with the most nominations will form the shortlists and go to a public vote, with winners announced at the Theakston Old Peculier Crime Writing Festival in Harrogate this July. You'll also be entered into a prize drawing for the chance to win £100 worth of thrilling crime books.

Although many conferences have returned to in-person events this year, a few are still offering virtual events you can attend if you're uncomfortable traveling. One such event is Mystery in the Midlands, scheduled for July 16. For a very minimal charge, you can hear the keynote event with David Heska Wanbli Weiden interviewed by Hank Phillippi Ryan; plus there will be a panel on crime short fiction with Alan Orloff, Shawn Reilly Simmons, and Joseph S. Walker; a discussion of cozy mysteries with recipes with Daryl Wood Gerber, Raquel V. Reyes, and Abby L. Vandiver; and a look at "Sweltering Settings and Suspense" with Hallie Ephron, John Hart, and Hank Phillippi Ryan.

A crime writer and a crime fighter have been honored by the Queen as part of her Platinum Jubilee weekend. Inpector Rebus author, Ian Rankin, and Police Scotland Chief Constable Iain Livingstone have both been handed knighthoods. The Queen's Jubilee Birthday Honors List celebrates the public service of individuals across the UK. This year's recipients have been awarded for their outstanding contributions across all sectors, but in particular for sustained public service, the environment and sustainability, and youth engagement. Sir Ian said: "It is amazing to be honoured in this way as we celebrate Her Majesty The Queen's Platinum Jubilee...It may not make writing my next book any easier but it is gratifying to be recognised both for my crime novels and the work I do for charity."

The Big Think magazine's Tim Brinkhof discussed how detective fiction reveals the way a particular society or time period looks at crime and criminal justice, in his article "From Poe to Mao: piecing together the evolution of detective stories."

Three of Britain's bestselling crime writers – including Ann Cleeves, Sam Blake and Robin Stevens – shared their literary inspirations with The Telegraph.

This week's crime poem at the 5-2 weekly is "A Modern Frankenstein" by Tony Dawson.

In the Q&A roundup, Writers Who Kill welcomed Donnell Ann Bell to chat about Until Dead, the second novel in her "A Cold Case Suspense" series; Ellen Byron stopped by Lesa's Book Critiques to discuss launching a brand new series set in New Orleans with Bayou Book Thief; Indie Crime Scene interviewed L.M. Weeks, whose novel Bottled Lightning debuts June 14; and The Millions spoke with Katie Gutierrez about her debut crime novel, More Than You’ll Ever Know.