Edgar Nominations: Best Paperback Original

Rinse and repeat my “Where are the chicks?” lament, but even louder. I mean, paperback originals are where cozy writers rule the roost. Surely there could have been but one, even a single female writer worthy of a nomination? Besides, much as I love hardboiled fare, isn’t this list just, well, lacking some diversity?

And since it is a hardboiled-type list, what, no Peter Craig for HOT PLASTIC? No Ken Bruen for BLITZ? No Nichelle Tramble for THE LAST KING? But hey, I’m just the armchair analyst here…

So with that very analysis, back to the list itself, and boy, am I so, so, so glad to see Chris Haslam’s TWELVE STEP FANDANGO on the list, as the protagonist — amoral, coke-snorting, drug-smuggling, body-burying Martin Brock — is one any nomination committee could love. When I read the UK edition, I wanted everyone I knew who I thought might dig this to read it now. Hardly anyone listened to me. Maybe, just maybe, people will now….

And of course, Domenic Stansberry for THE CONFESSION. If there was one book I was fairly certain would make the list, this was it, and it’ll just keep increasing name recognition for Hard Case Crime as they get ready to launch the lineup for their next twelve books.

For the rest: I’m also not too surprised to see Larry Beinhart’s book here, as it’s been a while since his last and the trade PBO release allows for a bigger print run but the same review coverage as his earlier, hardcover releases. Ron Faust is a veteran, but one MIA for years. When I saw DEAD MEN RISE UP NEVER in the bookstores, a small part of me wondered if I should read it because it might be nominated for something. I didn’t, and it got nominated, so I’ll be rectifying the situation soon. And Thomas Cook is a name always around, but never quite achieving the success he deserves. He might with his next book, RED LEAVES, the launch book for Otto Penzler’s new imprint at Harcourt. But for those who can’t wait, you can try this PBO on for size.

All told, I wish there wasn’t so much damn testosterone, but at least they picked very wisely.