These just in:

How to crash a killer bash by Penny Warner

Dream queen by Betsy Thornton

Betrayers by Bill Pronzini

Night of the living deed by E. J.

From a slightly longer shortlist of contenders, the British Crime Writers’ Association (CWA) and its corporate partners, Specsavers, Cactus TV, and ITV3, have now announced the four finalists in each category for the 2010 Gold, Steel, and John Creasey Dagger Awards. Winners will be announced on Friday, October 8. A special awards ceremony that night at London’s Grosvenor House Hotel will be filmed, and then televised on ITV3 the following week.  (Photo: Tom Harper, CWA Chairperson)

P. D. James celebrated her 90th. birthday on August 3. The author of twenty books, most of which have been filmed and broadcast on television in the United States and other countries, Ms. James best known character is Adam Dagliesh, who has over the years risen to the status of Commander in the Metropolitan Police Service at New Scotland Yard. The first novel in the Dagliesh series, Cover Her Face, was published in 1962. Ms. James recently wrote Talking About Detective Fiction a history of the detective novel.
[Photo: © 2009 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.]

Just a reminder that this coming Sunday, August 1, will mark the end of Crimespree Magazine’s nominating period for the 2010 Crimespree Awards. You are invited to choose as many as five mystery/crime novels in each of three categories:

• Favorite Book of the Year
• Favorite First Book of the Year
• Best Book in an Ongoing Series

All novels must have been published in 2009.

So don’t wait. Send your nominations to jon@crimespreemag.com. Winners will be announced during opening night ceremonies at Bouchercon in San Francisco< (October 14-17).

The Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) and the Michigan Office of Services to the Aging (OSA) today warned citizens about recent reports of scam artists contacting seniors in an attempt to obtain personal information by asking them to reveal Medicare, Social Security or bank account numbers, or pay a fee to receive a $250 Medicare rebate check.

The DHHS and OSA are urging Medicare beneficiaries not to provide personal information to anyone representing themselves as a "Medicare" or "government" worker if contacted by phone, mail, or in person in exchange for a $250 Medicare rebate check. These one-time rebates are automatically mailed to Medicare recipients when they reach the Medicare Part D prescription drug coverage gap, also known as the 'donut hole.'

For further information, call the national Medicare office at (800) 633-4227. In Michigan, call MMAP at (800) 803-7174.

At your next family reunion or gathering, consider discussing a different type of family tree — your family health history. Knowing what diseases and health conditions run in the family can give you, your children and grandchildren clues about your risk factors. It can also be a useful tool for health care providers to assess a family member’s health risks and recommend preventive steps. Find out how to collect, organize and use information about your family’s health at Creating a Family Health History available on the NIHSeniorHealth Web site.
[Photo courtesy of Gary H. Spielvogel on flickr]

The State of Michigan's Office of Services to the Aging — Michigan Seniors has issued a warning to all older adults and their caregivers about the impact summer heat has on older adults. "Because aging affects the body's ability to respond to summer heat, older adults are particularly at risk for heat-related illnesses such as heat stroke, heat fatigue, heat cramps and heat exhaustion, according to the U.S. National Institute on Aging (NIA)."