Edgar Nominations

          So many friends are among the writers of 2005’s Edgar nominated novels that we must root for them all. The awards will be presented on April 27.  The Nominees are: 

Best Novel: The Lincoln Lawyer by Michael Connelly ($27); Red Leaves by Thomas H. Cook ($23); Vanish by Tess Gerritsen ($25); Drama City by George Pelecanos ($25); Citizen Vince by Jess Walter ($25)

Best First U.S. Novel: Die A Little by Megan Abbott ($23); Immoral by Brian Freeman ($23); Run the Risk by Scott Frost ($6.99); Hide Your Eyes by Alison Gaylin (PBO $5.99); Officer Down by Theresa Schwegel ($24)

Best PBO: Homicide My Own by Anne Argula ($16); The James Deans by Reed Farrel Coleman ($13); Girl in the Glass by Jeffrey Ford ($14); Kiss Her Goodbye by Allan Guthrie ($6.99); Six Bad Things by Charlie Huston ($13)

     And just one more thing, as Columbo use to say.  MWA has awarded The Black Orchid Bookshop with its Raven Award, given for outstanding achievement in the mystery field outside the realm of creative writing. We have been recognized for our support of established & emerging writers. In addition to only 5 other bookshops, past recipients have included Steven Bochco, Bill Clinton, Eudora Welty, Angela Lansbury, Vincent Price, Alfred Hitchcock and Kermit the Frog & the Muppets.  Fine company indeed

In Memoriam 

Evan Hunter 1926 – 2005

George S. Patton once said “It is foolish and wrong to mourn the men who had died.  Rather, we should thank God that such men lived.”  So we thank God that Evan Hunter (Ed McBain) lived.  We thank God that he gave us Steve Carella, Matthew Hope, Meyer Meyer and so many vivid characters in a career of over fifty years.  We thank God that we got to know this witty classy man who was as excited about his latest novel as, we imagine, he was about his first and who treated us with extraordinary kindness.  We may thank God for who he was and what he accomplished but we will miss him forever.

His memorial service will be held Saturday October 15 at 3pm at the Ethical Culture Society, 2 West 64^th Street.  The public is invited to attend.

JERRY ORBACH 1926 – 2005

            Jerry Orbach has been fixture in crime drama since his career began. He played memorable crooks from his film debut as a gang leader in the film version of Ed McBain’s Cop Hater to Martin Landau’s shady brother in Woody Allen’s Crimes and Misdemeanors.  On Broadway he orginated the role of shyster lawyer Billy Flynn in Bob Fosse’s Chicago. On the other side of the law his performance as toughguy cop Gus Levy in the underappreciated Prince of the City deserved an Oscar nomination.  But he was the ultimate NYPD detective as Law & Order’s Lennie Briscoe.  We pay tribute to this marvelous NYC actor with some prized Briscoe wisecracks:

Det. Lennie Briscoe: Boy, I'd hate for somebody to trace me by what I read.
Det. Rey Curtis: You read, Lennie?

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Lennie: I want to go to law school so I can learn how to turn gold into lead

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Lennie: Love — A dangerous disease cured by marriage

A Taste Of The Old Neighborhood