The Mystery Writers of America (MWA) has named Martha Grimes, the American author of the very British Inspector Richard Jury mystery series, as its 2012 Grand Master. The MWA considers this award an acknowledgement of Grimes’ contributions to the mystery genre and of the high quality of her writing.
As quoted in the organization’s Nov. 21, 2011 press release, Grimes responded to the news of her award with both gratitude and surprise. "I was, for once, speechless," she said. "Thank you very much for making me a Grand Master." Grimes will receive her award at the MWA’s Edgar Awards Banquet which will take place April 26, 2012 at the Grand Hyatt Hotel in New York City.
Readers have followed the career of Grimes’ central character, Inspector Richard Jury of Scotland Yard, since his 1981 debut in Man With a Load of Mischief through Grimes' 2010 novel, The Black Cat. In addition to her Richard Jury books, Grimes has authored two additional series featuring juvenile and young adult protagonists – the Emma Graham series and the Andi Oliver series.
As MWA Grand Master, Grimes joins a notable array of mystery writers who have previously held this title. Sara Paretsky is the most recent MWA Grand Master with Dorothy Gilman, James Lee Burke, Sue Grafton, Bill Pronzini, Stephen King, Marcia Muller, Dick Francis, Mary Higgins Clark, Elizabeth Peters, Donald Westlake, Lawrence Block, P.D. James, Ellery Queen, Ed McBain, Daphne du Maurier, Alfred Hitchcock, Graham Greene and Agatha Christie among those preceding her.
The Mystery Writers of America has also named the recipients of its 2012 Raven and Ellery Queen awards. Given to those who demonstrate outstanding achievement in the mystery field in areas other than creative writing, the 2012 Raven Award went to the San Mateo, California bookstore M is for Mystery and to Molly Weston, editor for the Sisters in Crime newsletter and creator of Meritorious Mysteries blog.
Joe Meyers of the Connecticut Post/Hearst Media News Group won the 2012 Ellery Queen Award. This prize recognizes the contributions of editors or publishers to the mystery genre.
Comments