December 18, 2008
Each year at this time, we participate in the Dilys Awards process. The Dilys is given by the Independent Mystery Booksellers Association, a group that I helped found in 1992, to the new book we "most enjoyed selling" during the year. The process starts with each participating store submitting its own list of five titles. Before long, IMBA will consolidate all our lists and narrow the choices down to a final nominees list of four or five titles.  We'll do another round of voting, and we'll be announcing the winner during the Left Coast Crime convention in early March.

The fact is that we enjoy selling practically everything we stock here. We are enthusiastic about mysteries, and love nothing more than the opportunity to share that enthusiasm with all of you. So it's an enormous challenge to take a whole year's worth of books and boil everything down to a list of five that we'll be nominating for the award.

That's especially true this year, when we've had the opportunity to offer great new books by lots of great writers. As I started to list possibilities, we quickly ended up with about 25 candidates -- new books by familiar names (Laura Lippman, William Kent Krueger, Alan Gordon, for example), authors new to us this year (Joanna Slan, Barbara Fister and lots more), relative newcomers who are fast becoming favorites (Suzanne Arruda, Steve Hockensmith, Brian Freeman, Louise Penny, Mary Saums , Chris Grabenstein, and others), wonderful Indiana writers who are among our most stalwart supporters and our closest friends in the business (Jeff Stone, Jeanne Dams, Phil Dunlap). We were also especially pleased to be able to publish Kate Flora's new Thea Kozak novel, Stalking Death, through our publishing program.

Here's what we came up with for our list of the five new titles we most enjoyed selling this year here at The Mystery Company:

Trigger City by Sean Chercover
Last year, we were introduced to this cool Chicago private eye novelist on the publication of his first novel, Big City, Bad Blood, which went on to win the Shamus Award for Best First Private Eye Novel of 2007. This year, Sean Chercover returned with his second novel, Trigger City, which is even better. This is straight ahead, no-nonsense private eye fiction at its best, with a twisty and timely plot and a wonderful sense of place. Chercover clearly loves Chicago and the private eye genre, and his enthusiasm is infectious.

Buy Trigger City now - signed first editions available
Buy Chercover's first novel, available in paperback
Author's website

Antiques To Die For by Jane K. Cleland
Jane Cleland's books featuring antiques dealer Josie Prescott deliver everything we look for in a cozy series: a likable protagonist, a nice supporting cast, and a knowledgeable and entertaining introduction to a subject. The antiques stuff here is irresistible, but what really makes these books stand out is Cleland's crisp writing and Josie's business. Prescott's Antiques sounds wonderful, a great place to shop, but also the kind of workplace we all hope for. Antiques to Die For is third in the series; its predecessors (#1 - Consigned to Death, #2 - Deadly Appraisal) are in paperback.

Buy Antiques to Die For now
Search for all of Jane Cleland's books
Author's website

Blood of the Wicked by Leighton Gage
When Leighton Gage visited here in January, we learned just how dangerous Brazil is today. This compelling first novel opens with the assassination of a bishop. Inspector Mario Silva's brutal investigation forces him to confront corruption at every step. This novel is a good example of how talented crime writers are using the police procedural form to lay bare a society. We still have a couple of signed first editions; this title has also just arrived in paperback as has the sequel, Buried Strangers. (Note: Leighton Gage will return to The Mystery Company on Monday, January 12 at 7 pm to talk about and sign copies of his books.)

Buy a signed first edition of Blood of the Wicked now
Search for all of Leighton Gage's books
Author's website

State of the Onion by Julie Hyzy
Edna is the foodie here at The Mystery Company; I'm generally not a huge fan of the food mysteries. We both enjoyed this first in a series about the White House Chef. Ollie Paras is the assistant chef hoping to replace her boss, who is retiring. She has a rival for the position, but the real problem is that she thinks there's a possible assassination plot. That plot may be unlikely, but the book is nevertheless totally engrossing because of preparations for a state dinner. Who knew the extent to which food = diplomacy? Second in the series, Hail to the Chef, has just arrived. Both are available in paperback.

Buy State of the Onion now
Buy the sequel, Hail to the Chef, now
Author's website

Envy the Night by Michael Koryta
It's not always good news when the author of a series we love steps away to publish his first standalone, but Michael Koryta makes the transition beautifully in Envy the Night, a dark, atmospheric novel of revenge set in the Wisconsin wilderness. This may be my top choice for book of the year, especially for the exceptionally fine plotting and Koryta's vivid, fluid writing (especially in the action scenes).  If you have not yet discovered this great Hoosier author, this book is the perfect place to start.

Buy Envy the Night now
Search for all of Michael Koryta's books
Author's website