Tis the season for book bloggers to start considering their favourite reads of the year; often with a focus on those newly published in 2019. However, for us fans of classic crime, it is also that time of the year when the Reprint of the Year Awards is launched!
The number of publishers reprinting vintage mysteries is on the increase, meaning us lucky devotees are getting access to more and more of the books and authors we want to try. With so many novels and short story collections on offer, it can be hard to pick out the very best, which is where the Reprint of the Year Awards come in. Before you begin to imagine the swank of the Oscars, with beautiful dresses, smart tuxedos and red carpets, let me bring you back down to earth as to how the more humble Reprint of the Year Awards is going to work…
Like last year the awards will unfold in four stages…
14th December
Next Saturday me and 6 other bloggers, (Bev, Brad, John, Moira, Puzzle Doctor and Rekha), will begin by sharing one of our nominations for the award, putting forward our reasons for why you should vote for our nominee. This title has to be a reprint published this year and not a title released for the first time.
21th December
On the following Saturday we will reveal our second choices.
22nd/23rd December
On one of these 2 days I will set up a poll for this award, listing the 14 titles me and my fellow bloggers have chosen, as well as 3 readers’ choices (more on that later). At this stage you will then be able to vote for your favoured titles.
30th December
As the year draws to a close I will reveal the results of the poll, announcing the title which has won the accolade of Reprint of the Year!
If you’ve been reading carefully you will have noticed that I have mentioned that the poll will include 3 texts which are chosen by you guys. So if there is a mystery reprint which has been released this year, which you’ve loved put it the comments section below this post. If someone has already mentioned a title you love, then please do still second it or repeat it, as I will be selecting the 3 readers choices using a random name generator. Yet if a title has more than one recommendation, (from different people of course), then they will get extra entries added to the generator.
Important: When adding a nomination in the comments below, it would be really helpful if you could, in brackets, include the name of the publisher who reprinted them. If you’re at all unsure about whether a title is eligible feel free to check.
Any questions or queries let me know and of course may the best book win!
crossexaminingcrime 
Much like Brad, “I have a little list.”
1. Death Has Deep Roots by Michael Gilbert (1951) (Published March 10th 2019 by British Library Publishing)
2. The Christmas Egg by Mary Kelly (1958) Published October 10th 2019 by British Library Publishing
3. The Night of Fear by Moray Dalton (1931) (Published March 4th 2019 by Dean Street Press)
4. The Mystery of the Peacock’s Eye by Brian Flynn (1928) (Published March 4th 2019 by Dean Street Press)
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Yay! Lists are good and you have some very good choices. Thanks for the nominations!
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It’s so hard to choose! Plus I know you all will come up with some great choices too.
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1. The Crooked Hinge by John Dickson Carr (1938) (Published 1 Oct 2019 by American Mystery Classics)
2. Smallbone Deceased by Michael Gilbert (1950) (Published 10 Jan 2019 by British Library Crime Classics)
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Thanks John! I had forgotten about that Carr title.
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I second Smallbone! I haven’t read any off the new Carr’s yet so unfortunately can’t give them my vote😞
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Yay!
Best part: Akunin can’t win! 😉
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I’m sure none of you will nominate the best one of ’em all, so I’ll leave it here:-
The Dutch Shoe Mystery (1931) by Ellery Queen (Published 5 March 2019 by American Mystery Classics)
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Neil,
You of all people should read van Dine! Greene and Bishop are the best.
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But I have read the Van Dines! Atleast, most of them. And I agree that they are largely very good. I’m very much against the “Philo Vance needs a kick in the pance” belief which so many seem to share.
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Neil…you may be surprised….
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John Dickson Carr, She Died A Lady, Birlinn Books
I expect this to get nominated by a blogger but just in case …
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SS van Dine, The first six Philo Vance books, Felony & Mayhem Press, March 2019
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Worth noting that the first two books were actually published in 2018, so only the last four are eligible.
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It occurs to me I blundered, under Kate’s rules. So instead of my original (flawed) nomination:
Greene Murder Case, SS van Dine
Bishop Murder Case, SS van Dine
Kennel Murder Case, SS van Dine
Three van Dine suggestions for the random draw rather than one!
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Thanks for the extra info. I did wonder if they were all 2019 releases, as I dimly recollected some earlier ones.
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My nominations:
1. Death Has Deep Roots – Michael Gilbert, British Library
2. Death in Captivity – Michael Gilbert, British Library
3. Murder en Route – Brian Flynn, DSP
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Thanks Christophe. It’s interesting seeing already the titles that keep coming up.
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Having just re-read it, I second Death in Captivity.
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I second She Died A Lady
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This award still needs a name. And The Farjeon is still a good name!
Other suggested titles:
Murder Will Out
Lazarus Trophy
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I like the “Lazarus Trophy.” Very a propos.
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I’ve not read all the 2019 reprints on my list, but sure was glad to see them back in print.
Harriette Ashbrook’s Murder Makes Murder (1937) republished by Black Heath (my review is scheduled for next Friday)
Carter Dickson’s She Died a Lady (1944) republished by Polygon
M.P.O. Books’ De laatste kans (The Last Chance, 2011) republished by E-Pulp (not translated in English).
John Dickson Carr’s The Crooked Hinge (1938) republished by American Mystery Classics
Brian Flynn’s The Mystery of the Peacock’s Eye (1928) and Murder en Route (1930) republished by Dean Street Press
Michael Gilbert’s Death in Captivity (1952) republished by British Library
Craig Rice’s Home Sweet Homicide (1944) republished by American Mystery Classics
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JJ will be pleased you’ve nominated Rice’s book!
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Oh, hell yeah. I second the nomination for Home Sweet Homicide. Would have nominated this myself if I hadn’t already written a review of it only a few weeks back.
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Carter Dickson, She Died a Lady, Polygon
Brian Flynn, The Mystery of the Peacock’s Eye & Murder en Route, Dean Street Press
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Thanks! Some definite favourites are emerging from the comments.
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Jean Potts: Go, Lovely Rose & The Evil Wish (two in one volume) from Stark House Press and Helen Nielsen: Borrow the Night & The Fifth Caller (two in one volume), also from Stark House Press. Thanks!
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Great to see some love for the Stark House reprints. I’ve not heard of the Nielsen one.
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[…] and Coachwhip, to bring a long forgotten author and/or title to light. As those of you who read my friend Kate’s blog know, this is the time of year when a group of us examine many of the new/old titles that have come […]
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[…] Year nominations, being orchestrated by the Tuesday Night Bloggers, as masterminded by Kate over at Cross Examining Crime. Do look at her posts to see the other contenders, or just vote for mine, your decision. Voting […]
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I second Jean Potts’ Go, Lovely Rose (Stark House) and would also like to nominate Anthony Gilbert’s Death in Fancy Dress (British Library crime Classics).
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A Body to Dye For by Grant Michaels.
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This has been a great year for reprints. I should like to single out Dean Street Press as the publishers of many of my top choices of the year, but since I am certain that my favourites from them will be nominated by others, I should like to nominate
Fear For Miss Betony by Dorothy Bowers which was republished by both Black Heath and Moonstone Press.
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Good choice. It’s great to be reminded of the different publishers working in this area. There feels like there are so many that it can be hard at times to remember them all. Moonstone Press is definitely one I need to investigate further.
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Last time, JJ’s clever nomination got the first prize. This time also, a blogger is trying the same trick, but will it work? 🙂
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Last year you said you might be open to suggestions about tweaking the award. How about nominations for the least favourite as a side line? I have a suggestion and a name for the award in mind but will reserve both.
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Whilst I know there will be reprints we are less keen on, for a variety of reasons, I don’t want to add that sort of negativity to the awards. The aim is to celebrate the increase in reprints and the various titles we now have on offer. I think voting for least favourites would detract from that.
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I was really just being a little naughty as one of the books which has been nominated above would be among my contenders.
I agree wholeheartedly about your positivity. This has been a great year for reprints and uncovering forgotten good works so let us concentrate on that. Doubtless,there will be time for a little acid comment as we go along, and once the results are in.
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Oh yes as with all competitions there is always some gruff words about the winner. Intrigued which title you’re thinking of now.
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