Lambda Literary Awards 2005
vom Krimiblogger
Preise, nichts als Preise. Nun stehen auch die Finalisten für den 17. Lambda Literary Award fest. Jährlich vergibt die Lambda Literary Foundation in den USA den Preis für gute schwule, lesbische, bisexuelle und transgender Literatur. Insgesamt gibt es 20 Kategorien, darunter auch die besten schwulen und die besten lesbischen Krimis (Gay Men’s Mystery und Lesbian Mystery). Hier also die Nominierungen, die 74 Juroren ausgewählt haben.
In der Kategorie Gay Men’s Mystery sind nominiert:
Anthony Bidulka: Flight of Aquavit : A Russell Quant Mystery
Toronto: Q Press, Insomniac Press, 2004.
ISBN 1-894663-75-6
Verlagstext:
At the dead end of a desolate country road, a late night meeting suddenly becomes an ambush. Gay private detective Russell Quant is faced with personal threats he can’t ignore, a friend who may be a foe and a cagey client with a treacherous monkey on his back.
As Quant trails a menacing blackmailer known only as Loverboy, he finds himself immersed in the midnight world of e-dating and parking lot romance. Lured to New York City, Quant tests his wit, wisdom and wiles from the Old World grandeur of Fifth Avenue to the kaleidoscope world of Broadway’s electric nightspots. The fast pace continues when Quant returns to Saskatoon where he grapples with decoys and deceit, realizing that no one is as they appear. Threat turns into deadly reality and the need to uncover the identity of Loverboy becomes increasingly desperate. Quant deftly maneuvres through the twists and turns of a perilous case and a personal life rife with its own mystique and mayhem.
On the heels of his delicious Amuse Bouche, Bidulka delivers a scrumptuous second serving of Russell Quant. With sharp writing, descriptive flair and wry humour, Bidulka’s „Flight of Aquavit“ is irresistible entertainment at its winsome best.
Buch bestellen bei:
» amazon.de » libri.de
Greg Herren: Jackson Square Jazz
New York : Kensington Books, 2004.
ISBN 0-7582-0214-8 (gebundende Ausgabe)
ISBN 0-7582-0215-6 (Taschenbuchausgabe)
Verlagstext:
Doing something, anything, everything could be Scotty Bradley’s M.O. He’s certainly no saint, but when you live in New Orleans, the equivalent of the gay man’s candy store, monogamy is a challenge. Unfortunately, his straight-arrow, FBI agent, sort-of boyfriend Frank has ideas—deep, committed love ideas—that are turning Scott’s Hot Daddy into a decidedly less-than-sizzling puppy dog. It’s enough to send a guy into full-fledged slut mode, and that’s how Scotty ends up nursing a massive hangover in a hotel room with cutie pie Bryce Bell—he of the rounded backside and sheepish grin. As if that weren’t enough, Bryce turns out to be the hottest young skater in the U.S. He’s also hiding a secret bigger than his Joe Boxers.
Always up for a good time, Scotty had been thrilled to get a sly invitation and Bryce’s hotel key card delivered via a Skate America usher. But what he found when he arrived there wasn’t the gay blade himself but someone else entirely—someone who’d been stabbed to death. Suddenly, Scotty finds himself thrust into Bryce’s other life and his connection to an unsolved crime that has haunted the New Orleans police for years—the theft of a priceless artifact stolen from the celebrated Cabildo museum as it burned to the ground. He’s also drawn back into the arms of Colin, the world’s sexiest cat burglar, who has a lot of light to shed on the Cabildo fire (while also shedding clothes) and the trail of murder at its heart.
As refreshing as an ice-cold bottle of Jax beer, as sexy as the sultry bars and smoky jazz clubs of New Orleans, Jackson Square Jazz is another wonderful, strange trip down south in the company of the most deliciously decadent P.I. ever to wear a thong—and be proud of it.
Buch bestellen bei:
» amazon.de » libri.de
John Morgan Wilson: Mouth and Flame : A Benjamin Justice Novel
New York : St. Martin’s Press, 2004.
ISBN 0-312-30984-8
Verlagstext:
Benjamin Justice used to be one of Los Angeles’s most respected journalists, but a scandal over invented sources cost him the Pulitzer, his job and his reputation. With his life in ruins, he’s spent much of the past decade slowly piecing it back together. Now he’s under contract to write his biography, but the writing is going slowly and he’s in need of a job to tide him over financially. So when Bruce Bibby, a freelance writer, is murdered during an apparent burglary, Bibby’s uncompleted assignment for the city of West Hollywood is a much needed opportunity for Justice. Hired to complete the dead man’s assignment-researching and writing a booklet on the city’s historically relevant buildings – Justice resists becoming involved in the murder investigation, wanting only to maintain his quiet, stable life.
But it’s not going to be that easy. There’s a fight brewing over the fate of a set of rundown cottages – some believe them historically significant and wish to preserve them, others want them torn down to make way for a new condo project and both sides see Justice’s pamphlet as the key to winning the fight. As Justice tries to go about his business, he finds himself intrigued by the complexities of the murder case – the young Russian immigrant tied to the Bibby murder scene may be damned by his father’s notorious crimes; the detective leading the murder investigation is quietly searching for her own long missing father; the owner of the houses in question, the would-be developer, and their main opposition all share a secret connection that dates back nearly three decades. When the leader of the local preservation group is found murdered on the grounds of the controversial cottages, Justice must unravel the secrets that surround the murders or let an innocent suffer for another’s crimes.
Buch bestellen bei:
» amazon.de » libri.de
Gary Zebrun: Someone You Know
Los Angeles : Alyson Books, 2004.
ISBN 1-55583-838-3
Verlagstext:
„I want to meet you tonight, and if you don’t show up, I can’t promise your family will be safe for very long. I’ll be in touch, remember, don’t go to the cops, don’t tell your family. I’ve got plans for you.“
Newspaper columnist Daniel Caruso has a wife he loves deeply, a daughter who means everything to him, and a secret that could destroy them. At a conference in Seattle, he meets and spends a passionate night with Stephen Hart, a handsome firefighter. Awakening alone and deeply conflicted, Daniel flies home to Providence, R.I., but on a layover in Chicago he receives a bizarre and frightening message indicating that someone knows of his deception. When he is home with his family, the serenity of a weekend morning is shattered by the arrival of a second message: a gruesome package, the contents of which make clear that Stephen Hart has been murdered. The messages increase in regularity, filled with chilling details about Daniel’s activity and making it clear that the killer knows every move he and his family make. His desperation to shield his wife and daughter from the truth is replaced by fear for their safety, as the killer becomes puppet master, dragging Daniel deeper into a netherworld of bathhouses and S/M bars where the killer stalks him openly. Journalist Gary Zebrun’s debut novel is a nerve-shattering thriller of psychological terror, sexual obsession, and the devastating price of secrecy.
Buch bestellen bei:
» amazon.de » libri.de
Dorien Grey: The Role Players : A Dick Hardesty Mystery
San Francisco, CA : GLB Publishers, 2004.
ISBN 1-879194-49-X
Verlagstext:
Dick Hardest and his life partner Jonathan, visit New York for two weeks, planning on visiting friends, attending plays and seeing the sites for entertainment. Long time friend Max was involved in a new play and they intend to attend the premier. His partner Chris informs them just before the trip, however, that one of the play’s two leading men, Rod Pearce, had been found dead early that morning. Rod was apparently mugged and shot on his way home from the theater. The police already had begun to investigate everyone who had been at the rehearsal the night before.
Rod’s death is a blow to the entire show. Rod was a slut, providing plenty of motivation for a number of men to want to kill him. Tait Duncan, a financial backer for the play, hires Dick to investigate. He is very proud of The Whitman Theater Group and does not want it tarnished by the unfortunate murder, preferring to find answers himself rather than relying on the police who seem rather disinterested in solving the crime. He tells Dick that Rod’s ego far outweighed his common sense, meaning that he was often unaware of how others perceived his actions. Tait offers Dick a generous financial incentive, including reimbursement for his airfare and double his normal hourly rate. Dick need only do as much as possible for the time he and Jonathan are in New York.
Author Dorien Grey’s latest addition to his Dick Hardesty mystery series, „The Role Players“, will quickly become a favorite with fans. Jonathan’s excitement at visiting New York is palpable, making him even more endearing than ever. His obvious adoration of Dick, which is returned in equal measure, lends these characters a charming quality that starkly contrasts with Dick’s purpose when he chances into another investigation. Friends and suspects are equally vividly realized, resulting in a cast of characters that quickly become sympathetic and interesting. Moreover, Grey achieves a smoothly sophisticated backdrop by allowing the action to revolve around a play that functions as an allegory about the loss of humanity, emphasizingthe roles that people play both off stage and on.
Buch bestellen bei:
» amazon.de » libri.de
In der Kategorie Lesbian Mystery sind nominiert:
Ellen Hart: An Intimate Ghost : A Jane Lawless Mystery
New York : St. Martin’s Press, 2004.
ISBN 0-312-31747-6
Verlagstext:
Restaurateur Jane Lawless is thrilled to be catering the wedding of some family friends, Nick and Lauren Clifford, but when Jane arrives at the wedding, she’s in for a shock of a lifetime-and one that could jeopardize her career. The food has been spiked with hallucinogenic mushrooms and the drug-hazed guests are engaged in reckless behavior.
When the groom takes a near fatal dive into an empty pool, an investigation begins and Jane turns to her best friend Cordelia Thorn for help in clearing her name. But when Cordelia’s sister, Octavia, suddenly deserts her infant daughter on Cordelia’s doorstep, Jane is on her own. Events take a turn for the worse when the father of the groom comes up against shocking accusations, and it’s up to Jane to uncover the truth.
Once again, Ellen Hart has woven intriguing characters and surprising twists into a complex and absorbing story.
Buch bestellen bei:
» amazon.de » libri.de
Jennifer L. Jordan: Commitment to Die : A Kristin Ashe Mystery
Tucson, Az. : Bean Pole Books, 2004.
ISBN 0-9667359-0-0
Verlagstext:
Lauren Fairchild hiked to a remote Colorado lake and committed suicide – that much seems sure. But why? Why would she abandon her only sister, her beloved niece, and her raven-haired, hazel-eyed lover? What mysterious anniversary did Lauren celebrate just days before dying? Where had she really gone every two weeks – when her date book showed “doctor’s†appointments? And who among her lovers, relatives, and friends was hiding crucial information about Lauren’s death?
That’s what part-time P.I. Kristin Ashe must discover, all the while coping with her own demons – the heartbreak of her brother’s near-death, and her rocky relationship with beautiful lesbian activist Destiny Greaves. Good thing Kris can count on help from Fran Green, a straight-talking, queer-thinking ex-nun with attitude.
Mary Vermillion: Death By Discount : A Mara Gilgannon Mystery
Los Angeles : Alyson Books, 2004.
ISBN 1-55583-863-4
Verlagstext:
Nothing short of murder is going to drag 30-something Mara Gilgannon back to her dinky hometown of Aldoburg, Iowa. So murder it is, and Mara finds herself back in the heartland, helping her Aunt Zee keep her struggling radio station alive while unraveling clues surrounding the murder of Glad, Zee’s longtime partner. Mara begins to suspect that Glad’s vocal opposition to a Wal-Mart opening in the town, an issue that has sharply divided Aldoburg, may have more to do with the murder than antigay bias, as was originally supposed.
But nothing is ever as simple as small-town life would have you believe–as Mara and her roommate, Vince, quickly discover when they become amateur sleuths. First, Mara butts heads with the chief of police, who’d stolen her first girlfriend when they were both in high school. Then she becomes rattled by the attention of a beautiful rookie police officer, who’s conducting her own investigation. On top of all that, Mara loses her prime suspect, a vocal proponent of Wal-Mart, when he’s run over by a car–twice. Someone in town has taken the issue of the corporatization of rural America to a deadly new level!
Buch bestellen bei:
» amazon.de » libri.de
Katherine V. Forrest: Hancock Park : A Kate Delafield Mystery
New York : Berkley Prime Crime, 2004.
ISBN 0425195988
Verlagstext:
It wasn’t a typical call for detectives Kate Delafield and Joe Cameron. For one thing, the upscale neighborhood of Hancock Park was more likely to be a stop on a „bus tour of the stars“ than a homicide scene. For another, everyone seemed too willing to point the detectives in the direction of Victoria Talbot’s ex-husband. Now, while the ex is on trial for his life, Kate must piece together a puzzle of secrets and lies before she can uncover the startling truth…
Anmerkung: Dieser Roman wird voraussichtlich im April 2005 unter dem Titel „Vollrausch“ in deutscher Übersetzung bei Ariadne erscheinen.
Bibliographische Angaben:
Katherine V. Forrest: Vollrausch / Deutsch von Sonja Finck. – Hamburg : Argument, 2005
ISBN 3-88619-885-5
(Ariadne Krimi; 1155)
Englische Ausgabe bestellen bei:
» amazon.de » libri.de
Deutsche Ausgabe bestellen bei:
» amazon.de » libri.de
Claire McNab: The Wombat Strategy : A Kylie Kendall Mystery
Los Angeles : Alyson Books, 2004.
ISBN 1-55583-836-7
Verlagstext:
Running a pub in the tiny Australian outback town of Wollegudgerie doesn’t offer much fun or future to knockabout Aussie dyke Kylie Kendall. So when the father she never knew dies and leaves her 51% of his Los Angeles-based private detective agency, it’s bright lights, big city for America-bound Kylie. Not so happy about her arrival is her father’s former (and Kylie’s new) business partner, the beautiful, enigmatic Arianna Creeling, who wants to buy Kylie out and gives her a decidedly chilly reception in sunny Southern California. But the two women soon have other matters besides their bickering to attend to. Dr. Dave Deer, psychiatrist to the stars whose „slap, slap, get on with it“ approach has made him a celebrity, hires them to investigate the theft of records and subsequent suicide of a successful but almost universally reviled film director.
Concerned for his reputation, Dr. Deer would much prefer that the death of his former client be revealed to be a murder. Best-selling mystery novelist Claire McNab (The Carol Ashton Mysteries, The Denise Cleever Mysteries) launches her newest series with a bang as the sparks between Arianna and Kylie fly in the City of Angels, which has turned out to be much more difficult and dangerous than Kylie had imagined.
Buch bestellen bei:
» amazon.de » libri.de
Die Gewinner werden während einer Gala am 2. Juni 2005 in New York, im Graduate Center, City University of New York, bekannt gegeben.
