The 2007 Barry Awards

Picks of the Week

Adam Thirlwell: Politics: A Novel (P.S.)
One would think this book is about sex, And while it is, since the characters have so much about it, some of it is kinky, and threesomes play a big role in the narrative. mostly POLITICS is about everything else: the mechanics, the logistics, the emotional minefields, the awkward questions, the moral dilemmas, and, well, the politics of what it is to be with someone you love or someone you don't, and how an act that should be simple is anything but. Thirlwell was disgustingly young when he wrote this but he absolutely understands that to make this book work, there must be an underlying sweetness and sincerity to the entire story. Now I want to see what he's up to more recently. Amazon | Indiebound | B & N | Borders | Powell’s
Jennifer Mascia: Never Tell Our Business to Strangers: A Memoir
Years ago I was blown away by Mascia's Modern Love piece describing her parents' secret past: her father was a mobbed-up convicted murderer, and her mother not only knew all about it, but aided and abetted her husband when life required being a fugitive, selling drugs, and living at great highs and crushing lows. Mascia's book tells a more whole story about her peripatetic life, and even with every new shocking revelation what remained consistent was how much she loved her parents, no matter how deep those lows went, and how much she misses them now that they are gone. Unconditional love never goes away, no matter if those who receive it deserve it. Indiebound | Amazon | Borders | B & N | Powell’s
Juli Zeh: In Free Fall
Give me a novel of ideas and if the story is good and the characters are believable and entertain me, I am there. Give me a crime novel of ideas, where two physics professors, friends and rivals, opposites but startlingly similar, do emotional battle on an intellectual canvas, raise the stakes through betrayal, the possible kidnapping of a child, and embroil a romantic-leaning police detective in the complicated machinations of quantum theory, and holy hell, I think I have myself one of my favorite books of the year. Powell’s | Indiebound | Amazon | Borders | B & N
Simon Lelic: A Thousand Cuts
It appears to be a crime with an easy solution: a disgruntled schoolteacher shoots up his place of employment and kills several students in the process. But really, Lelic's novel is about the catastrophic consequences of bullying, and how this act is hardly limited to kids turning on other kids, but burrows deeply into adult relationships as well. He evokes empathy for the killer and sympathy for Lucia, the investigating officer who has to fight for every scrap of dignity as she pieces together the far more complex truth of what really happened at the school. Powell’s | Amazon | Borders | Indiebound | B & N
William Lindsay Gresham: Nightmare Alley
I cannot stop raving about this book to people. The circular narrative structure, the demented feel of a traveling carny troupe, and the extraordinary rise and precipitous fall of Stan Carlisle give off the persistent, raging feeling that hell is always with us, and success is basically a sucker's game. No matter what the biographical evidence on Gresham's state of mind leading up to and after the book's bestseller (and movie basis) status in 1946, I don't think we can really know what demons plagued him to produce this marvelous noir gem. B & N | Indiebound | Amazon | Borders | Powell’s

September 28, 2007

Mystery News and Deadly Pleasures are pleased to announce the winners of the 2007 Barry Awards. The Barry Awards are named for of one of the most ardent and beloved ambassadors of mystery fiction, Barry Gardner, and are voted on by the readers of Mystery News and Deadly Pleasures.

The 11th Annual Barry Awards presentation took place at the opening reception at Bouchercon in Anchorage, Alaska on September 27, 2007. This is the first year that Mystery News has joined Deadly Pleasures in co-sponsoring the Barry Awards.

Best Novel - The Night Gardener by George Pelecanos

Best First Novel - Still Life by Louise Penny

Best British Mystery Novel - Priest by Ken Bruen

Best Thriller - The Messenger by Daniel Silva

Best Paperback Original - The Cleanup by Sean Doolittle

Best Short Story - "The Right Call" by Brendan DuBois

The Don Sandstrom Memorial Award for Lifetime Achievement in Mystery Fandom was presented to Beth Fedyn.

Congratulations to all the winners.

Posted at 07:30 AM in World of Mystery | Permalink

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Comments

Some very nice choices, as the Barrys usually are. (It's so refreshing when awards are given to books I've not only heard of, but read.)

Congrats to all!

Posted by: David J. Montgomery | September 28, 2007 at 08:47 AM

Ditto what David said. And since I haven't read the Doolittle, but have enjoyed the others, "The Cleanup" has now joined my TBR list.

Posted by: Clea Simon | September 28, 2007 at 10:55 AM

I got into Anchorage late and got up to the hotel room I'm sharing with Sean Doolittle. It was pretty annoying to see that Barry Award just lying there all casual taunting me. Now I have to hang around with Mr. Big Shot the rest of the weekend.

Victor

Posted by: Victor Gischler | September 28, 2007 at 11:46 AM

Oh, shucks...Victor...let Sean wallow in it, k? I remember the feeling-and it was great.

Congrats to the winners, but then, just being nominated makes one a winner as well.

Posted by: Elaine Flinn | September 28, 2007 at 01:07 PM

Elaine,

I hope it's clear that I'm goofing. Obvioulsy I'm happy for my good pal Sean.

Sean is a great sport and a deserving winner.

Victor

Posted by: victor gischler | September 29, 2007 at 04:32 AM

Congrats to the DHS crew at B'Con who were all recognized for doing such outstanding work this past year.

Posted by: Josephine Damian | September 29, 2007 at 09:55 AM

Victor!
Of COURSE I knew you were kidding! And I know you're thrilled and happy...just kidding back.

Posted by: Elaine Flinn | September 29, 2007 at 12:10 PM

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September 28, 2007