Canadian authors Robinson, Barclay snag coveted crime-writing awards
The Arthur Ellis Awards include bragging rights and a macabre statue
Winners of the country’s most sought-after crime-writing award have been announced, and they include high-profile favourites Peter Robinson and Linwood Barclay.
The 2018 Arthur Ellis Awards for Excellence in Canadian Crime Writing were announced at a gala presentation in Toronto on May 24. Prizes were handed out in nine categories by the Crime Writers of Canada.
The big prize, Best First Crime Novel with a cash award of $1,000, went to “Full Curl” by Dave Butler (Dundurn). This is one of only three prizes to come with cash (Best Crime Novella is awarded $200, while Best Unpublished Crime Manuscript receives $500).
Best Crime Novel was won by Robinson for “Sleeping in the Ground” (McClelland & Stewart). Robinson gets bragging rights and the award itself: a wooden statue of a condemned man ready for execution — the Arthur Ellis handle comes from the pseudonym taken by Canada’s last hangman.
Among the winners in other categories is Oakville resident Barclay, now an internationally bestselling author of adult crime novels, for his Young Adult book “Chase — Get Ready to Run” (Penguin Random House).
Gail Bowen was awarded the Grand Master Award in recognition of her “long and illustrious career as a crime fiction author,” the organization said in a statement. She has written almost 20 books in her long-running Joanne Kilbourn series, besides other books and plays.
The Crime Writers of Canada was founded in 1982 and includes a wide range of professionals in the publishing industry, including authors, publishers, editors and reviewers. The awards were first handed out in 1984.