2009 Derringer Award Results

The Short Mystery Fiction Society's 2009 Derringer Awards results were determined by a vote of the membership at large after member-volunteer judges narrowed the submissions to finalists. Winners bolded:

Best Flash (Up to 1,000 words)

• "No Flowers for Stacey" by Ruth McCarty (Deadfall: Crime Stories by New England Writers)
• "A Killing Season" by J.F. Benedetto (Woman's World)
• "Black Pearls" by James C. Clar (Crime and Suspense)
• "Rainy Day Fund" by J.K. Cummins (Woman's World)
• "Incident in Itawamba" by Gary Hoffman (Teacakes and Afternoon Tales)
• "No Place Like Home" by Dee Stuart (Mysterical-E)

Best Short Story (1,001–4,000 words)

• "The Cost of Doing Business" by Michael Penncavage (Thuglit)
• "Independence Day" by Allan Leverone (Crime and Suspense)
• "Regrets, I've Had a Few" by Allan Leverone (Trei Literary Magazine)
• "Taste For It" by Sophie Littlefield (Darkest Before the Dawn)
• "Stalkers" by Lew Stowe (Crime and Suspense)
• "Wishing on Whores" by John Weagly (Thieves Jargon)

Best Long Story (4,001–8,000 words)

• "The Quick Brown Fox" by Robert S. Levinson (Alfred Hitchcock's Mystery Magazine)
• "The Bonnie and Clyde Caper" by O'Neil De Noux (Ellery Queen's Mystery Magazine, August 2008)
• "The Big Score" by Chris F. Holm (The Back Alley)
• "The Art of Avarice" by Darrell James (Politics Noir)
• "Dead Even" by Frank Zafiro (Medium of Murder)

Best Novelette (8,001–17,500 words)

• "Too Wise" by O’Neil De Noux (Ellery Queen's Mystery Magazine, November 2008)
• "Haven't Seen You Since the Funeral" by Ernest B. & Alice A. Brown (Alfred Hitchcock's Mystery Magazine)
• "Jack Best and the Line in the Sand" by Steve Olley (Mysterical-E)
• "Panic On Portage Path" by Dick Stodghill (Alfred Hitchcock's Mystery Magazine

And with permission from Patricia Hoch, the SMFS has renamed its lifetime achievement award in honor of her late husband. Determined by a committee of the SMFS Officers, Awards Coordinator, and two members-at-large, the 2009 recipient of the Edward D. Hoch Memorial Golden Derringer for Lifetime Achievement:

• Clark Howard (Howard's acceptance remarks)

Recipients may obtain award certificates by emailing Gerald So (G_SO at YAHOO dot COM). Recipients were publicly recognized at the opening ceremonies of Bouchercon, Thursday, October 15, 2009 in Indianapolis, IN.