Edgar Nominees – 2015

January is time for the Edgar Award nominations. Of course, true to form, I’ve read relatively few, but here are my thoughts on the few I did read.

Best Novel:

Dark Road to Mercy by Wiley Cash – Unlike his previous book, The Land More Kind than Home, I didn’t love Dark Road to Mercy. I’d be interested in your views.

 

 

 

Cop Town by Karin Slaughter – I really liked Cop Town I thought it was well written and a great story. Not only does it have a murder, but it deals with sexual inequality, bigotry and religious  bias.

 

 

 

I must admit though, that there are books published in 2014 by Bruce DeSilva (Providence Rag), John Harvey (Darkness, Darkness), Archer Mayer (Proof Positive), for example, that should have been on the list.

 

Best First Novel:

Invisible City by Julia Dahl – This is the only one I read from the list and I loved it. The story was unique. The characters were good. I love mysteries set in New York. Great all around. By all means it is worthy.

 

 

Best Young Adult Mystery:

Fake ID by Lamar Giles – As with Invisible City, Fake ID was the only Young Adult Mystery I read that was nominated. Again it is totally worthy.

 

 

 

So along with a 50 best all time mystery list, I now have a whole new list to work through. I’m betting you do as well.

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Fake ID by Lamar Giles

Fake ID by Lamar Giles (not to be confused with Fake ID by Walter Sorrells) is a refreshing teen guy mystery. More of these are needed–and this is prime for a series. Nick Pearson is the new kid in school. On his first day, he accidently bumps into Reya Cruz in the gym. Unfortunately, Reya’s former boyfriend, Lamar, hasn’t gotten the hint that they’ve broken up and he’s the jealous sort. So, in the locker room, Nick gets jumped by Lamar and his friends. Nick’s ass is saved by Eli, the geeky head of the school newspaper.

Nick and Eli become sort of friends and Nick gets roped into working on the newspaper. Several weeks later, Eli is found dead on the newspaper room floor. It’s deemed a suicide but Nick feels/knows differently because Eli was working on a major story. Nick, for several reasons, feels compelled to find out who the murderer is.

There are surprises in the beginning that I don’t want to spoil. There is action, suspense, romance going on in Fake ID, in just the right proportions. Lamar Giles is a good writer. I felt that I knew Eli and Nick and the other characters. There are twists and turns that I never saw coming. I really enjoyed Fake ID.

P.S. I also enjoyed Fake ID by Walter Sorrells.  Both books will appeal to the same audience.

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