Returning readers know about novelist Elizabeth C. Bunce′s reviews here at borg.  In 2021 her novel Premeditated Myrtle won the Edgar Award at the 75th annual honors (awarded by the Mystery Writers of America and named for mystery writing pioneer Edgar Allan Poe).  That year she was also a finalist for both the Agatha Award (honoring mystery author Agatha Christie), and Anthony Award (honoring mystery author Anthony Boucher), and the next year Elizabeth was again a finalist–her second consecutive year–for the Edgar Award, Agatha Award, and Anthony Award, as well as the Silver Falchion Award for Cold-Blooded Myrtle.  This year the fourth book in her series, In Myrtle Peril, became a finalist for the Agatha Award and Anthony Award, and this weekend the international writers conference Killer Nashville awarded Elizabeth its coveted Silver Falchion Award!

The Killer Nashville International Writers’ Conference was created in 2006 to bring together forensic experts, writers, and fans of crime and thriller literature.  It now addresses all genres of fiction incorporating mystery, thriller, suspense, action, or romance elements, as well as nonfiction about writing and writers.  Each year it awards the Silver Falchion Award recognizing the best genre works and non-fiction, judged by professional writers, book reviewers, librarians, and academics.  Past authors recognized by Killer Nashville and the Silver Falchion Award include Stephen King, Max Allan Collins, Sue Grafton, David Baldacci, Anne Perry, Joyce Carol Oates, Jeffery Deaver, Laurie R. King, Dori Hillestad Butler, C.J. Box, Barb Goffman, Hank Phillippi Ryan, Brad Meltzer, Lucy Worsley, Jonathan Stroud, Andy Weir, Tim Lebbon, Janet Evanovich, Catriona McPherson, Lawrence Block, Bradley Harper, and Gigi Pandian.

Publishers Weekly referred to the Myrtle Hardcastle mystery series as “the best thing to happen to youth mysteries since Trixie Belden.”  The Wall Street Journal said, “Younger Holmes fans (and older ones too) should be charmed by Elizabeth C. Bunce’s Cold-Blooded Myrtle.”  Industry reviewer Kirkus awarded In Myrtle Peril a starred review, saying, “Another thrilling mystery from our young Victorian sleuth… The mystery as a whole is charming.  How can it be otherwise when solved by “a cat, a dog, two doctors, a journalist on crutches, an unemployed law clerk, a solicitor in pyjamas, a nurse with a cricket bat, a governess, an off-duty housekeeper, and one small frantic Investigator”?  Enthusiastically, chaotically delightful.” 

The Buffalo News said, “The novel is rich in period detail including medical practices of the time and the Hardcastles’ first purchase of a telephone. Amusing footnotes throughout include an explanation of the Old French origin of the word “curfew” and the interesting tidbit that German chemist Robert Bunsen “had a mineral named for him, explored Icelandic volcanoes and survived arsenic poisoning (probably not all at the same time”).

Find out more about Killer Nashville and founder Clay Stafford here. Learn more about Elizabeth and her novel In Myrtle Peril here.  For mystery readers of all ages, check out In Myrtle Peril here at Amazon.  Elizabeth’s reviews of books, TV, and movies at borg can be found here.  Her next novel, Myrtle, Means, and Opportunity, is available for pre-order now here at Amazon.

Later this month the Anthony Awards will be announced at the annual World Mystery Convention (also called Bouchercon) in San Diego.  The convention has been held annually since 1970.  Good luck to Elizabeth at this year’s Anthonys!

Congratulations to Elizabeth and all of this year’s winners and nominees at Killer Nashville for the Silver Falchion Award!