Bouchercon XXXVI

Bouchercon is an annual convention of creators and devotees of mystery and detective fiction. It is named in honour of writer, reviewer, and editor Anthony Boucher; also the inspiration for the Anthony Awards, which have been issued at the convention since 1986. This page details Bouchercon XXXVI and the 20th Anthony Awards ceremony.

Bouchercon
The convention was held in Chicago, Illinois on September 1, 2005; running until the 4th. The event was chaired by "mystery fans extraordinaire" Sonya Rice, and founder of the Society Hill playhouse, Deen Kogan.

Special Guests

 * Lifetime Achievement awards — Bill Pronzini & Marcia Muller
 * International Guest of Honor — Jonathan Gash
 * American Guest of Honor — Dennis Lehane
 * Fan Guest of Honor — Beth Fedyn
 * Toastmaster — Harlan Coben

Anthony Awards
The following list details the awards distributed at the twentieth annual Anthony Awards ceremony.

Novel award
Winner:
 * William Kent Krueger, Blood Hollow

Shortlist:
 * Ken Bruen, The Killing of the Tinkers
 * John Katzenbach, The Madman's Tale
 * Laura Lippman, By a Spider's Thread
 * T. Jefferson Parker, California Girl
 * Julia Spencer-Fleming, Out of the Deep I Cry

First novel award
Winner:
 * Harley Jane Kozak, Dating Dead Men

Shortlist:
 * Sandra Balzo, Uncommon Grounds
 * Judy Clemens, Until the Cows Come Home
 * Jilliane Hoffman, Retribution
 * J. A. Konrath, Whiskey Sour

Paperback original award
Winner:
 * Jason Starr, Twisted City

Shortlist:
 * Robin Burcell, Cold Case
 * Roberta Isleib, Putt to Death
 * Susan McBride, Blue Blood
 * M. J. Rose, The Halo Effect

Short story award
Winner:
 * Elaine Viets, "Wedding Knife", from Chesapeake Crimes

Shortlist:
 * Rhys Bowen, "Voodoo", from Alfred Hitchcock's Mystery Magazine November 2004
 * Terence Faherty, "The Widow of Slane", from Ellery Queen's Mystery Magazine March / April 2004
 * Ted Hertel Jr., "It's Crackers to Slip a Rozzer the Dropsy in Snide", from Small Crimes
 * Arthur Nersesian, "Hunter/Trapper", from Brooklyn Noir

Critical / Non-fiction award
Winner:
 * Max Allan Collins, Men's Adventure Magazines

Shortlist:
 * Frankie Bailey & Steven Chermak, Famous American Crimes & Trials
 * Edward Conlon, Blue Blood
 * Leslie S. Klinger, The New Annotated Sherlock Holmes
 * Julian Rubinstein, The Ballad of the Whiskey Robber

Cover art award
Winner:
 * Sohrab Habibion; for Tim McLoughlin, Brooklyn Noir

Shortlist:
 * Gregory Manchess; for Max Phillips, Fade to Blonde
 * Sal Barracca; for J. A. Konrath, Whiskey Sour
 * Robert Santora; for Ruth Francisco, Good Morning, Darkness
 * Michael Kellner; for Gary Phillips, Monkology