Crime Fiction Heaven

Never heard of it till this year. Where have I been?! If it hadn't take place in Toronto would I still be lost in the darkness? I'm a little overdue at posting this.

The ultimate conference for lovers of crime fiction. A candy store of mystery. Over 700 authors, largely North American but many other countries represented. Louise Penny and Christopher Brookmyre (the latter recently "discovered" by moi, LL142) were among the extra-special guests.

Kathy Reichs, mid-panel; Lindsay Barclay far right

The panoply of program events was dizzying and so difficult to choose which to attend, who to see. Like Ian Hamilton! Sarah Paretsky! William Deverell! Robert Rotenberg! Ruth Ware! Ann Cleeves! Laurie R. King! Peter McGarvey! Rick Mofina! Lawrence Block! Charles Todd! Okay Brenda, dial it down.

Talks, panels, interviews, signings, booksbooksbooks, books. Globe and Mail reviewer Margaret Cannon was there.

Something for every fan — British cosies, legal/courtroom drama, foreign locales, espionage, medical or science or technology thrillers, tough detectives, funny detectives, forensic-heavy, spooky, historical, wartime — you name it.

Scandinavian and Scottish Noir were under-represented, but who would notice? So many established authors to uncover or new ones to discover. I saw .. almost touched some of my faves .. Alafair Burke, Kathy Reichs, Linwood Barclay.

Alafair Burke, third from left

New authors to try: Terry Hayes; Yrsa Sigurdardottir; Alexandra Sokoloff; and some freebies — Ross Pennie; Ed Lin; Leighton Gage. Appearing soon (within reason) on the pages of The Famdamily.

AND LOOK AT NEXT YEAR!

  

Karin Slaughter! And that man of my Edinburgh dreams, Ian Rankin himself! Why not this year, Ian? Why? Ian, why would you go to Florida when you could have come to Toronto? Whywhywhy, she moans.