literature

Greg Iles and Laura Lippman Win Big at Bouchercon

October 12, 2015

Bouchercon, the world's largest mystery convention organized completely by fans of the genre, took place this past weekend in Raleigh, NC. And guess what? Both Greg Iles's Natchez Burning and Laura Lippman's After I'm Gone came home with top honors. No big mystery there!

Natchez Burning, a thrilling small town story of a son, his father, and a series of horrible crimes tearing apart their community, won The Barry Award for Best Thriller of the Year. Praise for the book includes:

“It is rare when a book as impactful and daring as Natchez Burning appears . . . Its intriguing plot demands to be read from beginning to end . . . It is compelling reading that awes [and] entertains at the same time.” —Huffington Post

After I'm Gone, a detective mystery following the case of a man, his disappearance, and the lives of those he left behind, won The Anthony Award for Best Novel of the Year. Critics have been equally thrilled:

"She's one of the best novelists around, period."—Washington Post

Congratulations to both Greg and Laura for this well-deserved recognition. If you love mysteries and thrillers, be sure to crack one or both of these titles for an experience you won't soon forget.

-The LLF Team

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The Yenta Takes It All

November 15, 2011

As the weather grows colder in New York, one need grows more urgent:

We have to find winter boyfriends.

Annie has done a bang-up, fantastic job of matching me with the perfect literary boyfriend (#literarybf). This holiday season, I plan on hunkering down indoors with King Aragorn and the perfect hot toddy. Happily matched, it’s now time for me to return the favor.

Annie’s top 3 qualities were: sense of humor, confidence (sans arrogance), and forthrightness. In my humble, entirely unbiased opinion, Annie is sweet, smart, and authentic. She’s travelled the world and is totally comfortable in her own skin. I think she needs a man who is equally sure of who he is, and what he wants. It would help if he was down-to-earth and totally hilarious—not to mention dreamy.

The contenders:

Jean Valjean, Les Miserables
Our pals at Penguin Library suggested Jean Valjean—eligible bachelor and ultimate redeemed man. He’s forthright and confident, which fits the bill, but at the end of the day, might not be enough fun for Miss Annie, whose sense of humor is matchless.

Peeta Mellark, The Hunger Games
Annie already has a soft spot for Peeta, who is “gentle and kind, but when he is threatened, fights like a maniac. He's bold…thinks very well on his feet and has a very likable personality and a flair for showmanship.” Peeta is pretty impressive but, ultimately, he’s a bit on the young side. Which brings us to the final bachelor…

Henry DeTamble, The Time Traveler’s Wife
I know what you’re thinking—Henry has a medical condition which causes him to involuntarily time travel, so he might not be the best boyfriend. But if anyone is secure enough to handle a bit of extra personal space, it’s Miss Mazes. Besides, Henry is kind, funny, handsome, honest, and smart. Also, he’s a librarian—which, on account of Annie’s MLIS, would make them a library science power couple.

Voila, I've done it! If you'd like us to find you a literary bf, join the conversation on Twitter (#literarybf). Happy dating, and happy reading!