By now, every mystery reader and author will have formed an opinion about this year’s Edgar nominations. And you know what they say about opinions. (If you don’t, email me and I will tell you.)

As usual, I am staying neutral on my opinions on who is on the list and who should have been on the list and who shouldn’t have been near the list, as well as who should win.

 My feeling is that people who are on these committees work hard to read the novels, come to a logical and fair and worthy list.

Full disclosure – I am one of three judges on the mystery/thriller category for the L.A. Times Book Prize, an honor I would accept again and again. One major reason being my fellow judges – Sarah Weinman and Dick Adler.

But back to the Edgars.

One thing that did leap out at me was John Hart’s nomination. (Full disclosure – it leapt out at me because someone pointed it out to me!)

Hart’s novel The Last Child is nominated for an Edgar for Best Novel. This marks the third time that Hart has been nominated for an Edgar. Oh sure, you are thinking. Lots of authors get numerous nominations during their career.

But Hart has only had three novels published.

Yep, that means each of his novels has been nominated for an Edgar.

Not a bad way to start your career.

Hart appears to be one of the few authors in the adult fiction categories to have each of his novels nominated, according to my well-placed sources. (They know who they are.) (The other is Meg Abbott and I’ll be blogging about her soon.)

His debut The King of Lies was nominated for Best First. Then, his second novel Down River was nominated for Best Novel and won.

It couldn’t happen to a nicer guy. I have interviewed John a couple of times, including last year when he came down for Sleuthfest. A devoted family man with a sharp wit, John is immensely likable.

More importantly for readers, his novels are outstanding.

His debut The King of Lies also made my list of best debuts and Down River was high on my best overall list the following year.

And, yeah, The Last Child was No. 4 for my 2009 list. In the wrap up for  The Last Child I said: “A town’s sinister secrets are exposed in this complex tale of broken families, despair and hope. “The last child” is a sullen 13-year-old hunting for his missing twin sister.”

The Edgars will be announced during the gala on April 29. Here are the details.

I wish all the authors nominated for an Edgar the best of luck.

I know this is a cliché, but just being nominated truly is an honor.

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