The Hungry Detective

My August 31 post of The Hungry Detective ranked all the non-Bosch books. This list returns to take on the larger task of Mr. Heironimous Bosch. 9 Dragons made its appearance right before the Indy B'Con, and try as I might... ok I didn't try that hard... I didn't have time to read it for inclusion in these rankings. As a quick aside I don't want to undersell any of the books at the bottom of the list. Mr. Connelly doesn't know how to write a bad book, but in my case there have been occasions where I have not connected with his work. 13. THE NARROWS - 2004 It is because I love THE POET so much that this book is at the end of the list. When Mr. Connelly is at his best his works has the precision of a watchmaker. THE NARROWS just felt forced and not worthy of the intricacy of THE POET. 12. BLACK ICE - 1993 Second book. Third read. I thought the story was pretty flat. It has been well over a decade since I read this book, but the story of Mexican drug runner...

The Hungry Detective had planned on his Post-B'Con post to appear sooner, but the hand of fate had other plans, namely Pneumonia. However with loads of free time over the last 5 days I have felt, besides sick, not very creative in terms of posting here. I extend my apologies to long time readers of The Hungry Detective and those of you who are just here harvesting email addresses. The Damage - 19 Books THE LANGUAGE OF BEES + O JERUSALEM - Laurie King 9 DRAGONS - Michael Connelly THE COLD DISH - Craig Johnson THE LAST QUARRY + THE FIRST QUARRY + DEADLY BELOVED - Max Allan Collins THE FURY - Jason Pinter A QUIET BELIEF IN ANGELS + The ANNIVERSARY MAN - R.J. Ellory SO COLD THE NIGHT - Michael Koryta (Free ARC at Connelly interview) RUNNING FROM THE DEVIL - Jamie Freveletti BLOOD DETECTIVE + BLOOD ATONEMENT - Daniel Waddell DOUBLE EXPOSURE - Michael Lister BOULEVARD - Stephen Jay Schwartz (Book Bazaar) A CARRION OF DEATH - Michael Stanley (Book Bazaar) DEAD MEN'S DUST - Matt Hi...

Yeah, I know it is Monday and these awards were given out on Saturday, but I need to complete the circle of the Bouchercon Awards presentations, so here are your 2009 Anthony Award Winners. Congratulation to all. A complete list of nominees and my 'predictions' can be read here . BEST NOVEL The Brass Verdict by Michael Connelly - Little, Brown and Company BEST FIRST NOVEL The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo by Stieg Larsson - Knopf BEST PAPERBACK ORIGINAL State of the Onion by Julie Hyzy - Berkley BEST SHORT STORY "A Sleep Not Unlike Death" by Sean Chercover from Hardcore Hardboiled - Kensington BEST CRITICAL NONFICTION WORK Anthony Boucher: A Bibliography by Jeffrey Marks - McFarland BEST CHILDREN'S/YA NOVEL The Crossroads by Chris Grabenstein - Random House BEST COVER ART The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo designed by Peter Mendelsund and written by Stieg Larsson - Knopf SPECIAL SERVICE AWARD Jon and Ruth Jordan

I was not in attendance at the Awards Dinner, but I am sure a good time was had by all. Just the winners are noted, but a complete list of nominees and The Hungry Detective predictions can be found here . I'll have comments, maybe, on Monday. Cheers to all the winners! Best Hardcover Empty Ever After - Reed Farrel Coleman (Bleak House Books) Best First PI Novel In the Heat - Ian Vasquez (St. Martins Minotaur) Best Paperback Original Snow Blind - Lori Armstrong (Medallion) Best Short Story “Family Values” - Mitch Alderman (Alfred Hitchcock Mystery Magazine, June 2008)

If time permits this weekend I'll post a few comments on the winners, but for now The Hungry Detective extends their warmest congratulations to the winners. For a complete list of the nominees check out my prediction post here . Best Novel: The Draining Lake - Arnaldur Indridason Best First Novel: Child 44 - Tom Rob Smith Best British Novel: The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo - Stieg Larsson Best Paperback Original: State of the Onion - Julie Hyzy Best Thriller: The Deceived - Brett Battles Best Short Story: “The Drought,” by James O. Born (from The Blue Religion, edited by Michael Connelly; Little, Brown)

Winners now. Comments later. The Hungry Detective congratulates award receipts and nominees alike! A complete list of nominees and The Hungry Detective predictions are here . Best Mystery Novel Where Memories Lie - Deborah Crombie -- Wm. Morrow Best First Mystery The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo - Stieg Larsson -- Knopf Best Nonfiction/Critical African American Mystery Writers: A Historical & Thematic Study - Frankie Y. Bailey -- McFarland Best Mystery Short Story "The Night Things Changed" - Dana Cameron -- Wolfsbane & Mistletoe, ed. by Harris & Kelner, Penguin Sue Feder Memorial Historical Mystery A Royal Pain - Rhys Bowen -- Berkley

The Hungry Detective has made the decision to group all of his predictions into one uber-prediction post for the multiple award ceremonies that will be occurring during the Bouchercon weekend. I'm predicting the Barry , Macavity , PWA Shamus , and Anthony Awards. My picks will be in Blue . Barry Awards Best Novel: Trigger City - Sean Chercover The Draining Lake - Arnaldur Indridason Envy the Night - Michael Koryta Red Knife - William Kent Krueger The Cruelest Month - Louise Penny The Dawn Patrol - Don Winslow Ms. Penny is my safe bet here. My heart wants me to go with Mr. Chercover, but I think THE CRUELEST MONTH is the winner. Best First Novel: The Kind One - Tom Epperson Stalking Susan - Julie Kramer City of the Sun - David Levien Chil d 44 - Tom Rob Smith A Carrion Death - Michael Stanley Sweeping Up Glass - Carolyn D. Wall Going with the book that made the biggest noise last year. Everyone seemed to enjoy CHILD 44. I just never found the story to be compelling. Best British N...