Archive for the ‘Thriller’ Category

Thriller winners include Tom Rob Smith

Wednesday, July 15th, 2009

smithtomrob.jpg I may be alone in this, but I love award shows.

Let me rephrase that. . . . I love award shows when I am interested in the outcome such as the Edgars, the Tonys, the Oscars, the Golden Globes and just about every mystery fiction award there is.

It’s especially interesting when you know the winners.

Certainly it’s just a coincidence, but Mystery Scene’s latest issue includes my profile of British author Tom Rob Smith, left.

During our hour-long telephone chat from his home in London, he and I talked about myriad subjects — from his background as a writer on British soap operas, to his childhood to his fondness for crime fiction.

The result is, I hope, an interesting profile in Mystery Scene about one of our up and coming writers.  His second novel The Secret Speech recently came out.
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But his first novel, the chilling, unflinching and compelling Child 44, is still getting its well-deserved buzz.

So it gives me an extra smile in listing the winners of the International Thriller Writers’  literary awards, which were awarded July 11 in New York City.

Here are the winners and special honorees:

ThrillerMaster Award
David Morrell: In recognition of his vast body of work and influence in the field of literature

Silver Bullet Award
Brad Meltzer: For contributions to the advancement of literacy

Silver Bullet Corporate Award: Dollar General Literacy FoundationFor longstanding support of literacy and education
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Best Thriller of the Year:
THE BODIES LEFT BEHIND by Jeffery Deaver (Simon & Schuster)

Best First Novel:
CHILD 44 by Tom Rob Smith (Grand Central Publishing)

Best Short Story:
THE EDGE OF SEVENTEEN by Alexandra Sokoloff (in Darker Mask)

Posted in Awards, International Thriller Writers, Thriller, Tom Rob Smith | 1,636 Comments »

Thriller Award nominations

Tuesday, April 7th, 2009

It’s always a pleasure to announce award nominees, especially when the list is so strong.

  The 2009 Thriller Award nominees from the International Thriller Writers is such a list.

  Not only does the list contain some of the best writers producing thrillers, but it also shows a wide range of authors.

 I know it sounds cliched, but to be nominated truly is an honor — especially when these authors are in such good company.

I also think that is ultra cool that it will be tough deciding the winners in each of these categories.

The winners will be announced at ThrillerFest on Saturday, July 11.

The nominees are:

BEST THRILLER OF THE YEAR
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Hold Tight by Harlan Coben
The Bodies Left Behind by Jeffery Deaver
The Broken Window by Jeffery Deaver
The Dark Tide by Andrew Gross, right,
The Last Patriot by Brad Thor

BEST FIRST NOVEL
Calumet City by Charlie Newton
Child 44 by Tom Rob Smith
Criminal Paradise by Steven Thomas
Sacrifice by S. J. Bolton
The Killer’s Wife by Bill Floyd

BEST SHORT STORY
Between the Dark and the Daylight (Ellery Queen Magazine) by Tom Piccirilli
Last Island South (Ellery Queen Magazine) by John C. Boland
The Edge of Seventeen (The Darker Mask) by Alexandra Sokoloff
The Point Guard (Killer Year Anthology) by Jason Pinter
Time of the Green (Killer Year Anthology) by Ken Bruen
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THRILLERMASTER AWARD
David Morrell honoring his influential body of work

SILVER BULLET AWARD
Brad Meltzer, right, for his outstanding charitable contributions

Posted in Announcements, Awards, Thriller | 731 Comments »

Nothing to Lose by Lee Child

Tuesday, July 15th, 2008

Nothing to Lose by Lee Child
Delacorte Press, June, 2008

As itinerant ex-marine MP Jack Reacher travels the country, he passes through Hope, Colorado, and on a whim detours to Hope’s neighboring town, Despair. Where Hope is pretty and welcoming, Despair is dowdy, gloomy, and throws strangers out of town. But the people of Despair make a grave mistake when they throw out Jack Reacher. He’s “a large stranger with nothing to lose,” and hates turning back. Soon Reacher is investigating the huge metal recycling plant that dominates the town, and the town boss who owns Despair and all its residents.

Nothing to Lose is Child’s 12th Jack Reacher thriller and will be warmly welcomed by Reacher’s many fans. Physically Reacher’s in his usual fine form, “a spectacular mesomorph” always ready for action and always in control. He is refreshingly unfettered. He makes his own rules and never hesitates to do whatever’s necessary. Fortunately for the world and righteous readers, he’s morally on the side of good. When an unexplained military guard unit stationed nearby suggests that Despair’s sinister forces have something shady to do with the Iraq War, Reacher is there to put the world back on the right path. The excitement in Nothing to Lose never lets up. Bones will break and worse before he’s done, but with Reacher on the case we know things will turn out fine.

- Verna Suit

This review appeared in the Summer 2008 issue (#105) of Mystery Scene.

Posted in Jack Reacher, Lee Child, Reviews, Thriller, Verna Suit | 1,518 Comments »