Day Two: Prelude to Malice Domestic’s Agatha Awards Virtual Party

by Paula Gail Benson

Ellen Byron

This year, we won't be able to gather in Bethesda, Maryland, to celebrate the best of the traditional mystery. We'll miss the homecoming, family reunion, and all round party blast. But, that doesn't mean that we can't celebrate the magnificent authors whose brilliant works have been nominated for the Agatha Award.

Anne Cleeves

Last year, on The Stiletto Gang, I offered a quiz to match words (from stories or novels) with authors in the Best Short Story and Best First Novel categories. This year, I'm expanding the game to include all the nominees. Yesterday, I featured the Best Historical Mystery, Best Nonfiction, and Best Children/Young Adult categories on the Stiletto Gang. Today, let’s celebrate the Best Contemporary Novel, Best First Novel, and Best Short Story nominees. (And, please let us brag for a moment that four of our WWK blogging partners, Connie Berry, Annette Dashofy, Kaye George, and Grace Topping are among those whose work is being recognized this year. Yay!) Also, check out the short stories with the links provided below. They are all outstanding.

Why don't you take these little tests from yesterday and today to remember some great reads or be introduced to some new authors? Match the titles (numbered) with the words (lettered) below. Answers are at the end!

Annette Dashofy

Best Contemporary Novel

Edwin Hill

(1) Fatal Cajun Festival by Ellen Byron (Crooked Lane Books)
(2) The Long Call by Ann Cleeves (Minotaur)
(3) Fair Game by Annette Dashofy (Henery Press)
(4) The Missing Ones by Edwin Hill (Kensington)
(5) A Better Man by Louise Penny (Minotaur)
(6) The Murder List by Hank Phillippi Ryan (Forge)

Hank Phillippe Ryan

Louise Penny

Connie Berry

Best First Mystery Novel

Tara Laskowski

(7) A Dream of Death by Connie Berry (Crooked Lane Books)
(8) One Night Gone by Tara Laskowski (Graydon House, a division of Harlequin)
(9) Murder Once Removed by S. C. Perkins (Minotaur)
(10) When It’s Time for Leaving by Ang Pompano (Encircle Publications)
(11) Staging is Murder by Grace Topping (Henery Press)

 

S.C. Perkins

Best Short Story 

(12) "Grist for the Mill" by Kaye George in A Murder of Crows (Darkhouse Books)
(13) "Alex’s Choice" by Barb Goffman in Crime Travel (Wildside Press)
(14) "The Blue Ribbon" by Cynthia Kuhn in Malice Domestic 14: Mystery Most Edible (Wildside Press)
(15) "The Last Word" by Shawn Reilly Simmons, Malice Domestic 14: Mystery Most Edible (Wildside Press)
(16) "Better Days"by Art Taylor in Ellery Queen Mystery Magazine

 

Ang Pompano

(A) An Albatross Tattoo

(B) Ancestry

(C) Archery

(D) Bee Keeping

(E) Bicycle

(F) Bridges in Two States

(G) House-Sitting

(H) Food Critic

Grace Topping

(I) Journalist

(J) Laundry Chute

(K) Pies

(L) Satan in Pearls

(M) School Bus Demolition Derby

(N) Spring Floods

(O) TV Singing Competition

(P) Victorian House

Kaye George

ANSWERS

2(A)

9(B)

7(C)

12(D)

13(E)

10(F)

8(G)

Barb Goffman

15(H)

16(I)

11(J)

14(K)

6(L)

3(M)

5(N)

1(O)

Shawn Reilly Simmons

4(P)

Cynthia Kuhn

           

Art Taylor