Silver Falchion Award

The Killer Nashville writers conference presents the Silver Falchion Award annually to the attendee voted on by their peers at the conference for the best published book during the current conference year.

The Bad Break by Jill Orr / Review by Sharon Woods Hopkins

2019 Silver Falchion Candidate BOOK OF THE DAY By Jill Orr Prospect Park Books$16.00ISBN 978-1945551208Publication Date: April 2018 BUY HERE  The Bad Break Review by Sharon Woods Hopkin   Riley Ellison, an obit-writing, wannabe-full-time-journalist, sleuth solving protagonist, manages to talk her editor into writing Tuttle Corner, Virginia’s biggest crime story, the murder of Doctor Davenport.…

Deepest Grave by Jeri Westerson / Review by Sharon Marchisello

 2019 Silver Falchion Candidate BOOK OF THE DAY The Deepest GraveBy Jeri Westerson Severn House Publishers$28.99ISBN 978-0727887948Publication Date: August 1, 2018 BUY HERE  The Deepest Grave Review by Sharon Marchisello The Deepest Grave, the 11th installment of the Crispin Guest medieval noir mystery series by Jeri Westerson (Severn House) has been nominated for a Silver…

Game Piece by Alan Brenham/Review by Jerry Ridger

2019 Silver Falchion Candidate BOOK OF THE DAY Game PieceBy Alan Brenahm Black Opal Books$26.33ISBN 978-1644370070Publication Date: October 6, 2018 BUY HERE  Game Piece Review by Jerry Ridger For many of us, finding a balance between work and home can be difficult.  For those in law enforcement seems to be even more difficult and the…

Book of the Just by Dana Chamblee Carpenter / Review by Liz Gatterer

BOOK OF THE DAY Killer Nashville 2019 Silver Falchion Nominee Book of the Just By Dana Chamblee Carpenter Pegasus Books$25.95ISBN 978-1681778587Publication Date: October 2018 BUY HERE  Book of the Just Review by Liz Gatterer Book of the Just by Dana Chamblee Carpenter is the final book in the Bohemia Trilogy—and it is a wonderful read! …

Bar None by Cathi Stoler/ Review by Joy Gorence

BOOK OF THE DAY Killer Nashville 2019 Silver Falchion Nominee Bar None By Cathi Stoler Clay Stafford Books$16.99ISBN 978-0978842727Publication Date: October 16, 2018 BUY HERE Bar None: A Murder On The Rocks Mystery Review by Joy Gorence Events beyond Jude Dillane’s control begin to unfold when Sully, her landlord, asks her to give his key…

When Death Imitates Art by P.D. Halt/ Review by Sheila Sobel

BOOK OF THE DAY Killer Nashville 2019 Silver Falchion Nominee When Death Imitates Art By P.D. Halt Black Opal Books$13.49ISBN 978-1626948877Publication Date: March 2018   BUY HERE     WHEN DEATH IMITATES ART Review by Sheila Sobel Amanda Lee is not having an easy time of it. After giving up her life in the United…

A Knife’s Edge by Eliot Parker/Review by Jim Reed

Silver Falchion BOOK OF THE DAY   A Knife’s Edge By Eliot Parker   Headline Books$19.95ISBN 978-1946664426Publication Date: October 2018 BUY HERE A Knife’s Edge Review by Jim Reed A Knife’s Edge by Eliot Parker is a twisted bit of fiction. The sequel to Fragile Brilliance (Roundfire Books 2015), this is not a mystery for…

City of Grudges by Rick Outzen/Review by Gary Frazier

Silver Falchion Candidate BOOK OF THE DAY   City of Grudges By Rick Outzen   Select Books$16.99ISBN 978-1590794432Publication Date: March 2018 BUY HERE City of Grudges Review by Gary Frazier You’ve got to have a thick skin if you’re going to be a reporter. Just look at the abuse real-life journalists take daily from a…

Where the Crawdads Sing by Delia Owens/Review by Sharon Marchisello

BOOK OF THE DAY   Where the Crawdads Sing By Delia Owens G.P. Putnam’s Sons$26.00ISBN 978-0735219090Publication Date: August 2018 BUY HERE Where the Crawdads Sing Review by Sharon Marchisello Delia Owens hit the New York Times bestseller list with her haunting debut novel, Where the Crawdads Sing. It features a murder, a mystery, and courtroom…

One Taste Too Many by Debra H. Goldstein/Review by Sharon Marchisello

BOOK OF THE DAY   One Taste Too Many By Debra H. Goldstein Kensington$7.99ISBN 978-1496719478Publication Date: December 2018 BUY HERE One Taste Too Many Review by Sharon Marchisello One Taste Too Many, by Deborah H. Goldstein, is the first in a new three-book series from Kensington. True to the cozy mystery genre, it contains recipes,…

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The views and opinions expressed on this website and at the Killer Nashville conference are those of the contributing authors or speakers and do not necessarily reflect the official opinions of Killer Nashville, its parent company American Blackguard, Inc., its staff or management, its volunteers, or any other included authors or involved personnel. If you note any suspicious or offensive activity or content, please notify us immediately.
Contact Killer Nashville
Killer Nashville
P.O. Box 680759
Franklin, TN 37068-0759
(615) 599-4032
Future Killer Nashville Conferences
August 23-26, 2018
August 22-25, 2019
August 20-23, 2020

Ross Cavins

"Killer Nashville is one of the best writing conferences in the nation, and to be a finalist in its companion award competition is of the highest honor." - Ross Cavins, Barry Versus the Apocalypse
2014-09-17T12:53:03-06:00
"Killer Nashville is one of the best writing conferences in the nation, and to be a finalist in its companion award competition is of the highest honor." - Ross Cavins, Barry Versus the Apocalypse

Publisher’s Weekly

Publishers Weekly has named Killer Nashville and its founder Clay Stafford as playing "an essential role in defining which books become bestsellers" throughout "the nation's book culture." (PW 6/10/13)
2014-09-17T12:38:03-06:00
Publishers Weekly has named Killer Nashville and its founder Clay Stafford as playing "an essential role in defining which books become bestsellers" throughout "the nation's book culture." (PW 6/10/13)

Jessie Bishop Powell

"To me, writing success means recognition by a traditional press in the form of a contract to publish a physical book with real pages and an authentic cover.  Killer Nashville, Five Star Publishing, and Deni Dietz made all of those things possible for me." - Jessie Bishop Powell, The Marriage at the Rue Morgue
2014-09-17T12:39:40-06:00
"To me, writing success means recognition by a traditional press in the form of a contract to publish a physical book with real pages and an authentic cover.  Killer Nashville, Five Star Publishing, and Deni Dietz made all of those things possible for me." - Jessie Bishop Powell, The Marriage at the Rue Morgue

David Burnsworth

"Whether you are only thinking about writing, in the middle of eighty-thousand words, or feel you’re ready for publication, Killer Nashville is the event for you.” - David Burnsworth, Southern Heat
2014-09-17T12:40:56-06:00
"Whether you are only thinking about writing, in the middle of eighty-thousand words, or feel you’re ready for publication, Killer Nashville is the event for you.” - David Burnsworth, Southern Heat

Rosalyn Rikel

"I decided to pitch [my manuscript] at the Killer Nashville conference in 2011.  Deni Deitz from Five Star Publishing was the person who ‘caught my pitch,’ challenged me to let her see the full manuscript, and later decided to publish Millicent’s Tower.  Thanks to Deni and Five Star, I am now taking pleasure in sharing my book and my story — plus the excitement of writing another one!  Stay tuned!!!” - Rosalyn Rikel, Millicent’s Tower
2014-09-17T12:44:54-06:00
"I decided to pitch [my manuscript] at the Killer Nashville conference in 2011.  Deni Deitz from Five Star Publishing was the person who ‘caught my pitch,’ challenged me to let her see the full manuscript, and later decided to publish Millicent’s Tower.  Thanks to Deni and Five Star, I am now taking pleasure in sharing my book and my story — plus the excitement of writing another one!  Stay tuned!!!” - Rosalyn Rikel, Millicent’s Tower

Mark Troy

“Persistence pays off. So does the feedback from the Claymore judges, the agents and editors at Killer Nashville, and the contacts with the other writers.  I was delighted whenThe Law of the Splintered Paddle was named the second runner up and even more delighted when, after another revision, Five Star Mysteries offered to publish it."  - Mark Troy, The Splintered Paddle
2014-09-17T12:46:40-06:00
“Persistence pays off. So does the feedback from the Claymore judges, the agents and editors at Killer Nashville, and the contacts with the other writers.  I was delighted whenThe Law of the Splintered Paddle was named the second runner up and even more delighted when, after another revision, Five Star Mysteries offered to publish it."  - Mark Troy, The Splintered Paddle

Judy Dailey

“Killer Nashville was a wonderful experience.  Because of Killer Nashville, I now have a contract with Five Star Publishing for my cozy, Animal, Vegetable, Murder. I couldn’t be happier.”  - Judy Dailey, Animal, Vegetable, Murder
2014-09-17T12:47:54-06:00
“Killer Nashville was a wonderful experience.  Because of Killer Nashville, I now have a contract with Five Star Publishing for my cozy, Animal, Vegetable, Murder. I couldn’t be happier.”  - Judy Dailey, Animal, Vegetable, Murder

Steven Cooper

"Killer Nashville provides authors wonderful opportunities to advance up the literary ladder.  I am flattered by the recognition and grateful to Killer Nashville for giving my work a forum." - Steven Cooper, Desert Remains
2014-09-17T12:50:21-06:00
"Killer Nashville provides authors wonderful opportunities to advance up the literary ladder.  I am flattered by the recognition and grateful to Killer Nashville for giving my work a forum." - Steven Cooper, Desert Remains

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