The 2011 Crime Fiction Theme Week Tourney

Last year I hosted my first theme week and it focused on detective fiction, thus "Detectives Around the World." As part of that theme week I put together a bracket tournament similar to the NCAA basketball tournaments held every year. The top nominated detectives faced off for six weeks, each week eliminating half the contestants until we had a showdown with the final two detectives. Our winner last year was Harry Bosch and I presented Michael Connelly with a printed copy of the final bracket.

We had such a good time with the entire theme week that we're doing it again, but this year our focus will be on amateur sleuths and we're calling it "Moonlighting for Murder." Many cozy novels feature amateur sleuths, but this year's theme week is not confined to cozies. Any newspaper reporters, TV journalists, sports agents, cowboys...you get the idea. Anyone who isn't licensed or elected for law enforcement, isn't a legal practitioner (i.e., judge, attorney), and isn't a medical practitioner (i.e. nurse, doctor, ME, coroner) are eligible for participation.

We have a great bunch of bloggers who are joining in this week's theme week and I'm still accepting bloggers who would like to participate. You can find details and sign up here. The theme week will take place April 3-9.

Today we'll kick off the tournament nominations. Just like last year, you can nominate as many sleuths as you would like and you can nominate as often as you'd like. When the tournament itself starts, you will be allowed one vote per match-up, per week.

The 64 sleuths with the most nominations will compete in the tournament, starting March 7th and culminating in the theme week itself. The winner will be proclaimed on April 9th.

To nominate your favorite sleuth's, simply complete the form below. Please double check your spellings and fill out the form completely so there is no confusion as to who you are nominating. Only sleuths meeting the above qualifications will be considered for the tournament.

If you have any questions, please feel free to e-mail me. I'll post updates as we get closer to the commencement of the actual tournament and updates for the theme week. I hope you'll join us for both.