Each year the Private Eye Writers of America (PWA) recognizes outstanding achievement in the private eye genre in short stories, paperback originals, first novels and hardcover novels. This year one of the Guns, Gams, and Gumshoes co-authors, Colleen Collins, chaired the PWA hardcover competition, which although challenging (each judge read 63 novels!), was also a rewarding and edifying experience. Let it be said, there were many, many wonderful books.
The official announcement for the top five contenders in each category is below. Congratulations to the nominees!
Private Eye Writers of America
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE June 2012
CONTACT: Gay Toltl Kinman, Shamus Awards Chair gaykinman@gaykinman.com
PRIVATE EYE WRITERS OF AMERICA ANNOUNCES
2012 NOMINEES FOR SHAMUS AWARDS
The Private Eye Writers of America (PWA) is proud to announce the nominees for the 31st annual Shamus Awards, given annually to recognize outstanding achievement in private eye fiction. The 2012 awards cover works first published in 2011. The awards will be presented at the PWA banquet, to be held Friday evening October 5, 2012 in Cleveland, Ohio, during the Bouchercon World Mystery Convention. For banquet details, contact Robert J. Randisi at rrandisi@aol.com.
2012 Shamus Awards Nominees
BEST HARDCOVER PI NOVEL
Bye Bye, Baby by Max Allan Collins / Tom Doherty
1222 by Anne Holt / Scribner
When the Thrill is Gone by Walter Mosley / Riverhead Books
A Bad Night’s Sleep by Michael Wiley / Minotaur
The Highly Effective Detective Crosses the Line by Richard Yancey / Minotaur
BEST FIRST PI NOVEL
The Plot Against Hip Hop by Nelson George / Akashic
Claire Dewitt and the City of the Dead by Sara Gran / Houghton Mifflin
The Ocean Forest by Troy D. Nooe / Ingalls
The Shortcut Man by P.G. Sturges / Scribner
The Stranger You Seek by Amanda Kyle Williams / Bantam
BEST PAPERBACK ORIGINAL PI NOVEL
Quarry’s Ex by Max Allan Collins / Hard Case Crime
Threat Warning by John Gilstrap / Kensington
Serial by John Lutz / Kensington
Long Pig by James L. Ross / Perfect Crime Books
Fun & Games by Duane Swiercyzinski / Mulholland
BEST PI SHORT STORY
“A Bullet From Yesterday” by Terence Faherty in Ellery Queen Mystery Magazine (Jan.)
“Mr. Monk & The Sunday Paper” by Lee Goldberg in Ellery Queen Mystery Magazine (July)
“Who I Am” by Michael Z. Lewin in Ellery Queen Mystery Magazine (Dec.)
“Vampire Slayer Murdered in Key West” by Michael West in Ellery Queen Mystery Magazine (Sept. / Oct.)
“Dancer in a Storm” by L. A. Wilson in Alfred Hitchcock Mystery Magazine (Jan. / Feb.)
PWA was founded in 1981 by Robert J. Randisi to recognize the private eye genre and its writers.