Bouchercon XVII

Bouchercon is an annual convention of creators and devotees of mystery and detective fiction.^[1] 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.^[2] This page details Bouchercon XVII and the inaugural Anthony Awards ceremony.

Bouchercon XVII
Date	October 10, 1986 (1986-10-10)
Location	Baltimore, Maryland
Country	USA
Hosted by	Gail M. Larson
Bouchercon · XVIII →

Bouchercon

The convention was held in Baltimore, Maryland on October 10, 1986; running for two days until the 12th. The event was chaired by Gail M. Larson, owner of the bookshop "The Butler Did It".^[3][4]

Special Guests

• Guest of Honor — Donald E. Westlake
• Fan Guest of Honor — Chris Steinbrunner
• Toastmaster — Mary Higgins Clark

Anthony Awards

The following list details the awards distributed at the first annual Anthony Awards ceremony.^[5]

Novel award

Winner:

• Sue Grafton, "B" Is for Burglar

Shortlist:

• Sarah Caudwell, The Shortest Way to Hades
• John D. MacDonald, The Lonely Silver Rain
• Charlotte MacLeod, The Plain Old Man
• Sara Paretsky, Killing Orders

First novel award

Winner:

• Jonathan Kellerman, When the Bough Breaks

Shortlist:

• Susan Kelly, The Gemini Man
• Dick Lochte, Sleeping Dog
• Robert Reeves, Doubting Thomas
• Andrew Vachss, Flood

Paperback original award

Winner:

• Nancy Pickard, Say No to Murder

Shortlist:

• P.M. Carlson, Murder is Academic
• Earl Emerson, Poverty Bay
• Kate Green, Shattered Moon
• Patrick A. Kelley, Sleightly Murder

Short story award

Winner:

• Linda Barnes, "Lucky Penny", from The New Black Mask, No. 3

Shortlist:

• Loren Estleman, "Eight Mile and Dequindre", from Alfred Hitchcock's Mystery Magazine May 1986
• Peter Lovesey, "Vandals", from Ellery Queen's Mystery Magazine December 1985
• John Lutz, "Ride the Lightning", from Alfred Hitchcock's Mystery Magazine January 1985
• Ruth Rendell, "The Convolvulus Clock", from Ellery Queen's Mystery Magazine August 1985

Movie award

Winner:

• Witness

Shortlist:

• Blood Simple
• Fletch
• Jagged Edge
• Young Sherlock Holmes

TV Series award

Winner:

• Murder, She Wrote

Shortlist:

• Hill Street Blues
• Moonlighting
• Mystery
• Spenser For Hire

Grand Master

• Barbara Mertz