Hammett Prize winner announced

[Bernd Kochanowski]

The Gumshoe site just reported that Gil Adamson's The Outlander won the Hammett Prize 2007.

There is a certain consequence to it: If they nominated it, they could let it win. It is definitely a fine book.

My congratulations to the winner.

The other nominees could be seen -> here.

[Bernd Kochanowski]

John,

yes, I think you are right, this was a very strong field. And I like the Hammett because all the years the juries come up with unusual books and authors. Who would read otherwise Katie Estill or Gil Adamson ? I wouldn't even know that this authors exist.

I found several reviews of Adamson's book but mostly by literary not by crime fiction reviewers, I think Adamson knew that.

Her book had not been nominated for the Arthur Ellis. I don't know if she would have qualified for the "Best first book", but her book is better than Liam Durcan's.

[John McFetridge]

Bernd,

I was at the ceremony in Toronto last night and easily the most surprised person in the room was Gil Adamson. Surprised, but very gracious and charming.

It does seem as though all of the nominees (and probably many other books from 2007) are equally fine books and choosing one over any of the others as "best" is almost at random.