LYMM-based crime writer Martin Edwards has received two major American awards for his latest book, The Golden Age of Murder.
At their annual awards ceremony in New York City, the Mystery Writers of America voted Martin’s book the best critical/biographical book of the year.
Two days later, at the Malice Domestic Convention in Washington DC, the book won an Agatha award after being voted best non-fiction book of the year.
He is the first British writer to receive both awards in the same year.
Martin made it a hat-trick of honours when the board of directors of Malice Domestic announced that next year, he will receive the Poirot award to recognise his outstanding contribution to the crime genre. In addition, The Golden Age of Murder has been shortlisted for an Anthony award, to be announced at the world mystery convention in New Orleans in September, and for Britain’s H.R.F. Keating award for the best non-fiction book of the year.
Martin said: “I was lucky enough to attend both awards ceremonies, and to win both times was a dream come true, especially given the quality of the other authors in the shortlist, including the legendary Frederick Forsyth.”
The Golden Age of Murder earned rave reviews on both sides of the Atlantic. In The Times, Marcel Berlins said: “Few, if any, books about crime fiction have provided so much information and insight and, for the reader, so enjoyably.”
Martin Edwards is the author of 18 novels, and is Series Consultant to the British Library’s bestselling series of Crime Classics. He is Vice Chair of the Crime Writers’ Association, and last November he was elected eighth President of the Detection Club, following in the illustrious footsteps of such crime writers as G.K. Chesterton, Dorothy L. Sayers, and Agatha Christie.
