True to its history, the 40th annual Bouchercon World Mystery Convention closed Saturday, October 17, 2009 with the announcement of the winners of its prestigious Anthony Awards. The convention attendees selected winners in the following eight categories.
Best Novel: The Brass Verdict by Michael Connelly
This second novel in Connelly's new Mickey Haller series is also the 14th in his long running Harry Bosch series. The two protagonists meet when attorney Mickey Haller takes on a cased bequeathed by his murdered colleague, Jerry Vincent. While Haller concentrates on a headline-grabbing trial involving Hollywood studio executive Walter Elliott, Harry Bosch searches for Vincent's killer and discovers that Haller himself may be that killer's next target.
Best First Novel: The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo by Stieg Larsson
This first novel in the trilogy Larsson completed shortly before his untimely death in 2004 introduces Lisbeth Salander, a 24-year-old goth who is an expert in the art of research. Described by Larsson as "the very quintessence of difficult," Salandar pairs with journalist Mikael Blomkvist to investigate the disappearance, forty years earlier, of Harriet Vanger, daughter of a wealthy Swedish family.
Best Paperback Original: State of the Onion by Julie Hyzy
The first volume in Hyxy's White House Chef mystery series features Ollie Paras, Assistant Chef at the White House. Ollie tackles threats against the president with the same enthusiasm with which she joins in the competition for the much desired White House position of Executive Chef.
Best Short Story: "A Sleep Not Unlike Death" by Sean Chercover
Chercover's short story features Gravedigger Peace, who was a secondary character in Chercover's novels Big City, Bad Blood (2007) and Trigger City (2008). "A Sleep Not Unlike Death" was published in the Hardcore Hardboiled anthology.
Special Service Award: Jon and Ruth Jordan
Jon and Ruth Jordan are the editors and publishers of CrimeSpree Magazine. Ruth Jordon co-chaired Bouchercon 2008; Jon Jordan's 2003 interview book, Interrogations, received an Anthony Award nomination.
Best Critical Non-Fiction: Anthony Boucher: A Biography by Jeffrey Marks
Marks' reference work contains both biographical and bibliographical information on Anthony Boucher and all of Boucher's publications. However, Marks focuses on Boucher's science fiction works.
Best Young Adult Novel: The Crossroads by Chris Grabenstein
Grabenstien's central character, young Zack Jennings, discovers a tree that harbors the spirits of the victims of a 1958 bus crash. A lightening storm releases the vengeful ghost of the man who caused the crash, who is now intent on targeting Zack.
Best Cover Art: The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo by Stieg Larsson
The book cover for The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo was designed by Peter Mendelsund. A photo image of the cover accompanies this article.
Sources
Winners of the 2009 Anthony Awards Announced
Carol Thomas - Carol Thomas began her writing career by teaching English Composition at two Kentucky universities. A 25-year detour into academic ...
