And the winner is....

The 2011 Arthur Ellis Award winners were announced on June 2nd in Victoria, British Columbia to kick off the Bloody Words Conference.

Very exciting...some surprises and delights!

Best Crime Novel
Bury Your Dead, Louise Penny, Little, Brown UK

Best First Crime Novel
The Debba, Avner Mandelman, Random House of Canada

Best French Crime Book
Dans le quartier des agités, Jacques Côté, Éditions Alire

Best Crime Nonfiction
On the Farm, Stevie Cameron, Alfred A. Knopf Canada

Best Juvenile/YA Crime Book
The Worst Thing She Ever Did, Alice Kuipers, HarperCollins

Best Crime Short Story
So Much in Common, Mary Jane Maffini, Ellery Queen Mystery Magazine

Best First Unpublished Novel
(Unhanged Arthur)

Better Off Dead, John Jeneroux

Mary Jane Maffini is a masterful mystery writer and hilarious in real life. I read a short story of hers some time ago that was published in Ottawa Life Magazine. Nuanced and gripping--I loved it!! Well-deserved award Mary Jane! Congrats!

Congratulations to all of the winners!