It’s all about awards and lists

Yeah, yeah I’m posting on a Friday, but that’s because I was running around like a crazed banshee yesterday, the reason for such to be explained on the weekend.

Anyway, January Magazine invites you to peruse their Holiday Gift Guide, and not surprisingly there’s a fairly strong crime fiction list as well. My own contributions stick pretty close to the UK side of things (as I chose new offerings from Chris Niles, Chris Simms, Anna Blundy and Mark Mills), in keeping with my new semi-unofficial policy that from now on, most any review I contribute to Jan Mag will be UK-only.

The Independent goes bananas with their Christmas guide, as Boyd Tonkin, the paper’s literary editor, rounds up the best in fiction (with brownie points for picking Liz Jensen’s THE NINTH LIFE OF LOUIS DRAX) and Jane Jakeman looks at the Best o’ Crime.

And finally, the Thrillies are here! Thrilling Detective’s annual poll about the Best in PI–of any stripe–is now open for business. Do I have to limit myself to one choice in each category? Because it may prove difficult in some cases….and I’m not just saying that b/c people keep mentioning this site in one category (but thanks, and keep it up, though I’m planning on voting for a zillion places no need for any of you to stick to just one choice.)

With that, see you Sunday for the insane weekend update of the Sunday Papers and beyond.