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

Not as long as Part One , primarily because Sunday is pretty limited in terms of a variety of offerings. Don't forget the continuing conversation that runs from 9a-3:30p on Saturday. Saturday 9am - 9:55am THE COLD DEAD HAND OF THE PAST Ross Macdonald used the past as his grim reaper. Who's doing it today? Sandra Parshall (M), Thomas H. Cook, Deborah Crombie, Jennifer McMahon, Dan Waddell If they give away free Kindles I might decide to claw my way into that panel. Saturday 10:30am - 11:35am AUTOPSIES IN THE DARK Can forensic mysteries deal with the unanswerable questions? Alan Jacobson (M), Lisa Black, D.H. Dublin, Kathryn Fox Okay, so you will probably be over a the MWA Poe panel. Pound for pound best group of writers all weekend. I might peak into that panel, but also the Crime Through Time panel and Serial Killers panel may tempt me. Saturday 1:00 pm - 1:55pm WAR CRIMES How war shapes character and crime novels. Suzanne Arruda (M), James R. Benn, Rebecca Cantrell, Martin L

Once again, I am offering what The Hungry Detective sees as the Best of Bouchercon 2009 . It is a fair bet that you will find me in these panel, but as usually there are more than a few that will be a game time decision. As this begins The Hungry Detective's coverage of the Indy B'Con, I am already nostalgic. The Shake Town B'Con is a year out and the decision has already been made to not attend. Do not cry too much for THD as I will be able to attend the 2010 NoirCon in Philadelphia. Today's focus will cover the first two days of the Indy B'Con, and Monday we will dispense with Saturday and the abbreviated Sunday activities. Right off the bat I'll mention perhaps one of the most intriguing 'panels' is the Continuing Conversation Panel that runs non stop 9a-6p Thursday and Friday, and until 3p on Saturday. Virtually every author will appear there during some portion of the weekend. Thursday 9am - 9:55 am THE MEAN STREETS OF INDIANAPOLIS