Mystery/Thriller Reading Friends discussion

2023 AGATHA AWARD NOMINEES ANNOUNCED
The Agatha Awards, named in honor of Agatha Christie, are nominated and voted on by Malice Domestic fans. The Agatha Awards honor the traditional mystery — books best typified by the works of Agatha Christie. The 2023 Awards are given in 2024 for books published in 2023. The Agatha Awards will be presented April 27, 2024, during Malice Domestic 36.

Best Contemporary Novel
° Wined and Died in New Orleans by Ellen Byron
° Helpless by Annette Dashofy
° The Weekend Retreat by Tara Laskowski
° Case of the Bleus by Korina Moss
° The Raven Thief by Gigi Pandian [review]

Best Historical Novel
° Death Among the Ruins by Susanna Calkins
° Act Like a Lady, Think Like a Lord by Celeste Connally
° I Heard a Fly Buzz When I Died by Amanda Flower
° Time’s Undoing by Cheryl A. Head
° The Mistress of Bhatia House by Sujata Massey

Best First Novel
° Glory Be by Danielle Arceneaux
° The Hint of Light by Kristin Kisska
° Dutch Threat by Josh Pachter
° Crime and Parchment by Daphne Silver
° Mother-Daughter Murder Night by Nina Simon [review]

Best Children’s/Young Adult Novel
° Myrtle, Means, and Opportunity by Elizabeth C. Bunce
° The Sasquatch of Hawthorne Elementary by K.B. Jackson
° Araña and Spiderman by Alex Segura
° The Mystery of the Radcliffe Riddle by Taryn Sounders
° Enola Holmes and the Mark of the Mongoose by Nancy Springer

Best Short Story
° “The Knife Sharpener” by Shelley Costa
Alfred Hitchcock’s Mystery Magazine, July/August 2023
° “A Good Judge of Character” by Tina deBellegarde
Malice Domestic 17: Murder Most Traditional
° “Real Courage” by Barb Goffman
Black Cat Mystery Magazine, October 2023
° “Ticket to Ride” by Dru Ann Love and Kristopher Zgorski
Happiness Is a Warm Gun: Crime Fiction Inspired by the Songs of The Beatles
° “Shamu, World’s Greatest Detective” by Richie Narvaez
Killin’ Time in San Diego

Best Non-fiction
° Finders: Justice, Faith and Identity in Irish Crime Fiction by Anjili Babbar
° Perplexing Plots: Popular Storytelling and the Poetics of Murder by David Bordwell
° A Mystery of Mysteries: The Death and Life of Edgar Allan Poe by Mark Dawidziak
° Fallen Angel: The Life of Edgar Allan Poe by Robert Morgan

Thanks for this Barry. Annette Dashofy is a Pittsburgh writer I really like. Love seeing her on the list. And I'm an avid fan of Sujata Massey. Was able to attend a session with both her and Brendan Slocumb during the Pittsburgh Festival of Books last year and became an even bigger fan.

Thanks Barry. I have heard of NONE of these titles or authors! Amazing. I did note one of the short story nominees, ° “Ticket to Ride” by Dru Ann Love and Kristopher Zgorski. Dru Ann Love is a reviewer and long time attendee of Bouchercon mystery conferences. She was one of the Guests of Honor in 2023 in San Diego and I heard her story in one of the featured interviews.

Thanks Barry! I have read two of these and am familiar with three other authors so a bit better than the "none" for Carol. LOL

Best Contemporary Novel
I haven't read book two yet, but enjoyed book one "Under Lock & Skeleton Key" by Gigi Pandian (° The Raven Thief is book two)

Best First Novel
° Mother-Daughter Murder Night by Nina Simon [review]
I liked this one, the characters weren't always likeable but the mystery kept me engaged.

Best Non-Fiction
° Fallen Angel: The Life of Edgar Allan Poe by Robert Morgan
I read an arc for this, and it has fascinating details.

Best Children’s/Young Adult Novel
° Araña and Spiderman by Alex Segura I loved another Alex Segura book, Secret Identity - Iwill look into this one if not a children's book..

Carol/Bonadie wrote: "Thanks Barry. I have heard of NONE of these titles or authors! Amazing..."