About Me

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Melfort, Saskatchewan, Canada
I am a lawyer in Melfort, Saskatchewan, Canada who enjoys reading, especially mysteries. Since 2000 I have been writing personal book reviews. This blog includes my reviews, information on and interviews with authors and descriptions of mystery bookstores I have visited. I strive to review all Saskatchewan mysteries. Other Canadian mysteries are listed under the Rest of Canada. As a lawyer I am always interested in legal mysteries. I have a separate page for legal mysteries. Occasionally my reviews of legal mysteries comment on the legal reality of the mystery. You can follow the progression of my favourite authors with up to 15 reviews. Each year I select my favourites in "Bill's Best of ----". As well as current reviews I am posting reviews from 2000 to 2011. Below my most recent couple of posts are the posts of Saskatchewan mysteries I have reviewed alphabetically by author. If you only want a sentence or two description of the book and my recommendation when deciding whether to read the book look at the bold portion of the review. If you would like to email me the link to my email is on the profile page.

Thursday, May 25, 2023

2023 Winers of Crime Writers of Canada Awards of Excellence

What a day for crime fiction in Saskatchewan! Two of the Awards of Excellence by the Crime Writers of Canada went to Saskatchewan books.

I am so glad Anthony Bidulka won the Best Crime Novel with Going to Beautiful. In my review I said it was his masterpiece. At the end of 2022 it was my choice for Best Fiction of the year. I am sure Anthony and Herb are sharing champagne tonight.

I regret I have not read A Snake in the Raspberry Patch by Joanne Jackson which won the Best Crime Novel Set in Canada. It will be my next purchase.

It is striking that both Anthony and Joanne are Saskatoon residents.

Just as striking, both books were published by Stonehouse Publishing of Edmonton.

Congratulations to all the winners:

Best Crime Novel sponsored by Rakuten Kobo, with a $1000 prize

Anthony Bidulka, Going to Beautiful, Stonehouse Publishing

Best Crime First Novel sponsored by Melodie Campbell, with a $1000 prize

Sam Shelstad, Citizens of Light, TouchWood Editions

The Howard Engel Award for Best Crime Novel Set in Canada sponsored by Charlotte Engel and CWC, with a $500 prize

Joanne Jackson, A Snake in the Raspberry Patch, Stonehouse Publishing

The Whodunit Award for Best Traditional Mystery sponsored by Jane Doe, with a $500 prize

Thomas King, Deep House, HarperCollins Canada

Best Crime Novella sponsored by Mystery Magazine, with a $200 prize

Alexis Stefanovich-Thomson, The Man Who Went Down Under, Alfred Hitchcock Mystery Magazines

Best Crime Short Story sponsored by Mystery Magazine, with a $300 prize

Craig H. Bowlsby, The Girl Who Was Only Three Quarters Dead, Mystery Magazine

Best French Crime Book (Fiction and Nonfiction)

Richard Ste-Marie, Monsieur Hämmerli, Éditions Alire

Best Juvenile or YA Crime Book (Fiction and Nonfiction) sponsored by Shaftesbury, with a $500 prize

Jo Treggiari, Heartbreak Homes, Nimbus Publishing Limited

The Brass Knuckles Award for Best Nonfiction Crime Book sponsored by David Reid Simpson Law Firm, Hamilton, with a $300 prize

Rosemary Sullivan, The Betrayal of Anne Frank: A Cold Case Investigation, HarperCollins Canada

The Award for Best Unpublished Manuscript sponsored by ECW Press, with a $500 prize

Mary Keenan, Snowed
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4 comments:

  1. Margot KinbergMay 26, 2023 at 5:04 AM

    Congratulations to Anthony BIdulka! Going to Beautiful is an excellent novel and very much worthy of the win. I think that's fantastic. And now I want to read A Snake in the Raspberry Patch...

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    1. Bill SelnesMay 26, 2023 at 11:57 AM

      Margot: Thanks for the comment. Anthony describes himself as "gobsmacked" and has a lovely video on this FB page of him reacting to the news. He was worked hard for almost 20 years on his writing skills.

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  2. TracyKMay 27, 2023 at 9:05 AM

    Bill, when I saw that Anthony Bidulka won the Best Crime Novel Award from the Crime Writers of Canada, I knew you would be very happy about that. I had already planned to get a copy and read it, based on your reviews, and this award just motivates me more. It is a well deserved award.

    Another writer on this list that I want to read is Thomas King.

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    Replies
    1. Bill SelnesMay 29, 2023 at 11:42 PM

      TracyK: Thanks for the comment. I am glad you will be reading Going to Beautiful. Thomas King is a good writer. I just bought his Award winning book.

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