The World's Largest Mystery Convention

Today Kerry Hammond tells us why she loves the world's largest mystery convention...

It’s not that difficult to imagine why a mystery lover would look forward to Bouchercon, a huge fan based conference that is never short on books, authors, cocktails, and witty and entertaining panels. This year will be my second Bouchercon, so I kind of consider myself a pro. I got my feet wet at the Cleveland event in 2012 and walked around like a wide-eyed kid on her first trip to Disney. There were so many cool panels available that I had trouble choosing which one to sit in on, and you couldn’t spit without hitting a famous author (although I didn’t put this theory to the test or said famous authors would probably have refused to sign my books, and with good reason). 

This year, in addition to seeing all of the authors that I have been reading for years, I am really looking forward to meeting authors that I’ve just discovered this past year. I thought I would take this opportunity to mention two new-to-me authors that I am most looking forward to meeting at the 2014 Bouchercon, taking place in Long Beach, California this November. 

The first author is Chris Pavone. I discovered Chris’s debut novel The Expats when my mystery book club voted to read the book earlier this year. It involves a young woman who has given up her job and followed her husband to Luxembourg with her children in tow. She tries to acclimate to the life of an expat wife, but soon starts to realize that the friends they’ve made are hiding things and aren’t who they say they are. As she tries to figure out what their game is, she risks letting out a carefully guarded secret from her past. This book was a great read and a wonderful first novel. Pavone’s second book, The Accident, came out in March and sounds just as interesting as the first. It’s got foreign locales, CIA agents, and an anonymous manuscript. What more could you want?

Roger Hobbs is the second author I am looking forward to meeting at Bouchercon. I also discovered him through my bookclub as well (seriously, join a bookclub if you’re not in one). We read his first novel Ghostman and I thoroughly enjoyed it. What a great book and it’s so well written. 

The guests of honor at this year’s Bouchercon include Jeffery Deaver, JA Jance and Edward Marston. Other authors attending include Charlaine Harris, Laurie R. King, Michael Connolly, Lee Child, William Kent Krueger, Peter James, Hank Phillipi Ryan, Sara J Henry, Karin Slaughter, Mark Billingham, Rhys Bowen, CJ Box, Lisa Brackmann and Kate Carlisle – Just to name a few. 

The convention will take place in Long Beach, CA November 13-16. You can find out more about the conference and learn how to register here.