Confessions of an Idiosyncratic Mind: The 2007 Barry Awards

Picks of the Week

Diana Spechler: Who by Fire: A Novel (P.S.)
Spechler's unfliching, beautifully written debut strikes at the heart of how one catastrophic event creates a fissure so deep it breaks a small family into fragmented pieces. A little girl is kidnapped, presumed dead, and over a decade later her mother is still searching for answers, her older sister seeks solace in meaningless sex and her brother - who blames himself for the crime's commission - finds his life's solution among ultra-Orthodox Judaism. Spechler uses the inciting event to show the ways in which family members cling to and turn away from each other, do terrible things with the best intentions and show the comforts and prejudices of religiosity with a compassionate eye and voice.
Iain Levison: Dog Eats Dog
First published in France a few years ago, Bitter Lemon press finally makes this darkly comic gem available in English. When a bank robber, bleeding profusely from his last and very botched job, lands in a sleepy New Hampshire college town, disaster is pretty much inevitable. Never is that more true than for Elias White, roped into being the robber's accomplice as a result of an ill-fated dalliance glimpsed through an open window, and for FBI agent Denise Lupo, whose ability is less dogged and more fragmented. Levison nails the academic atmosphere and its jarring juxtaposition with the criminal underworld, but most of all he's clearly having fun with his given premise.
Matthew Hall: The Art of Breaking Glass
If this debut were published in 2008 instead of 1997, I suspect it would have been greeted with the same acclaim and the same sense that this is a major talent with a great deal in store for his career. Because holy hell, this has tremendous pacing, wonderful characters and an offbeat and very unique voice. But since its original publication, the book is all but out of print and there's no new novel from Hall in sight, as he's concentrated on TV and screenwriting duties. So read this book and hope that a) some publisher decides to reissue it b) Hall follows it up someday.
Victor Gischler: Go-Go Girls of the Apocalypse: A Novel
After four crime novels, Gischler turns to something a little different - and a lot more unclassifiable - with this incredibly funny, violent, panoramic and pulpy apocalyptic novel. The world Mortimer Tate left behind was about to go into ruins but what he returns to nine years later is littered with machine guns, strip clubs and people looking out for their best interests (both literally and carnivorously.) With the help of an eclectic crew of sidekicks and gun-toting babes, Mortimer prepares to save the world at the lost city of Atlanta - whether he likes it or not.
Zoe Sharp: Third Strike: A Thriller
Once again, Zoe Sharp finds a way to make the thriller genre her own by focusing on the psychological toll that violence takes upon a person. By the end of THIRD STRIKE, Charlie Fox is at a very dark place, fully cognizant of the consequences her actions have taken upon those she's been asked to guard and those she loves, and I was profoundly disturbed in a way I haven't been after reading a thriller in quite some time. This is a long, long way from mindless fluff, and if you're prepared to travel some very dark and thoughtful corners, this is the book (and series) to read.

September 28, 2007

The 2007 Barry Awards

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

The 2007 Barry Awards

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