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Edgar 2008 Nominnes

When is the MWA going to figure out how to get their Edgar nominations broadcasted live like the Academy Award nominations? It strikes me that in this age of meaningless hyperbole about incredibly worthless events that the MWA could find a way to trumpet their noms with something that carries a little more weight than what amounts to a press release. One thinks that it would not be too much trouble to use the MWA website to generate some buzz by having a countdown to nomination announcement? As I am not a frequent(... by which I mean hardly ever...) visitor to the MWA website it is possible this took place and I just missed.

Any way here are the Big Three Awards, and here's a link to all the nominations

Best Novel
Christine Falls - Benjamin Black
Priest - Ken Bruen
The Yiddish Policemen’s Union - Michael Chabon
Soul Patch - Reed Farrel Coleman
Down River - John Hart

Best First Novel by an American Author
Missing Witness - Gordon Campbell
In the Woods - Tana French
Snitch Jacket - Christopher Goffard
Head Games - Craig McDonald
Pyres - Derek Nikitas

Best Paperback Original
Queenpin - Megan Abbott
Blood of Paradise - David Corbett
Cruel Poetry - Vicki Hendricks
Robbie’s Wife - Russell Hill
Who Is Conrad Hirst? - Kevin Wignall

There is already some commentary out there at the lack of female writers for Best Novel. Most of the squawk out there is centered around Laura Lippman's, What the Dead Know being the most glaring omission. THD has read none of the noms, including the Lippman, but we are excited for Ken Bruen and R.F. Coleman.

For the First Novel we only vaguely recognize the Tana French book because of its slightly creepy cover. THD would like to read something from this list, so I think we am going to pull the trigger on the Craig McDonald book, Head Games.

As for the Best Paperback, THD actually own two of the nominees! How can we not own a book called Who is Conrad Hirst?, or Queenpin! Robbie's Wife is a Hard Case Crime book and purchase seems likely.

I will take a another swing at Handicapping the list before the Awards are announced on the 1st of May.

THD extends our congratulations to all of the nominees!

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