At McIntyre's Books
The Beltie Mystery Prize
McIntyre’s Books is proud to present the 1st annual “Beltie Mystery Prize” for the best in Mystery Fiction, as chosen by Pete Mock, sole judge and jury, after a good year of reading.
Why now, you might ask, start a prize when it might get lost among the plethora of other prizes lining up bumper to bumper along the literary highway? Well, I’ll tell why.
1) Because it was suggested to Pete by more than one customer (and authors). We have one of the best, if not the best, mystery selections in the South so why not recognize yearly those who help make it that way.
2) Pete’s tired of his favorites never getting the recognition he thinks they deserve. It seems, year in and year out, the same old, same old, get nominated and win. The authors may change but the stories stay the same and not even the best iterations in Pete’s view. That’s why he’s the sole judge and jury. These are his favorites from the past year and he thinks it’s a darn good list. It may not have something for everyone (no cozies) but it does have great plots, good writing, and characters that will grow on you and entertain you for years to come.
Check out the long list below. The semi-finalists will be announced January 17th, and the winner will be announced February 20th.
IQ by Joe Ide – Cross Walter Mosley’s Easy Rawlins with Sherlock Holmes and you have IQ.
Never Open Desert Diner by James Anderson – Travel a 100 mile stretch of Utah highway with trucker Ben Jones. Meet his eccentric customers including a beautiful drifter playing a million dollar cello.
Safe by Ryan Gattis – A safe cracker working for the DEA and a morally conflicted gang member collide in a gritty story set in L.A. that I couldn’t put down.
The Devil’s Muse by Bill Loehfelm– One night in the life of a young cop in New Orleans during Mardi Gras. The latest in a super series no seems to have discovered yet.
Fast Falls the Night by Julia Keller – Another excellent series. This one is set in West Virginia and the latest deals with the opioid crisis.
Fox Hunter by Zoe Sharp – A tough female main character who I wouldn’t want to cross if I ever met her. The latest in long series that is only getting better.
Lightening Men by Thomas Mullen – The second in his series set in Atlanta in the 1950’s. I can’t say enough good things about Thomas Mullen.
The Old Man by Thomas Perry – The man can’t write a bad book.
McIntyre’s is offering a “Pete’s Hit List” discount – purchase four or more of the books on this list and receive 15 percent off your purchase of these items, or purchase our four hardcover signed copies (Safe, Lightning Men, Fast Falls the Night, and The Devil’s Muse) with 15 percent off.
Stop by the bookstore to pick up a signed copy of these selections – they make wonderful holiday gifts!