The second novel in his series exploring crime, family and the American experience, Live by Night focuses on the story of Joe Coughlin, a policeman’s son who choses to plough his furrow on the other side of the law in the 1920s and 30s. You can read the Crime Fiction Lover review here. It’s Lehane’s second Edgar – he shared one with the other writers on TV series The Wire back in 2007.
The Best First Novel by an American Author gong went to Chris Pavone for The Expats, while Ben H Winters grabbed Best Original Paperback with The Last Policeman, which our contributor MyBookishWays rated as her favourite book of 2012. It’s also on our Recommended list to the right. Winters’ new book Countdown City has just been announced.
Noted crime novelist Karin Slaughter showed that she hasn’t lost her touch with short form fiction, winning Best Short Story with The Unremarkable Heart. Meanwhile, high stature authors Ken Follett and Margaret Maron both received the coveted Grandmaster Edgars. Jack D Ferraiolo and Elizabeth Wein grabbed Juvenile and Young Adult Edgars respectively.
The Mystery Writers of America also gives an award for TV adaptations of crime novels and here the BBC came up trumps with the Sherlock episode A Scandal in Belgravia. The teleplay was adapted from Conan Doyle’s work by Steven Moffat. For a full listing of the winners click here.