The British Crime Writers' Association has announced its shortlists for the 2011 Dagger Awards. This past May, Lindsey Davis was awarded The Diamond Dagger Award for sustained excellence in crime writing. Ms. Davis is the author of an historical mystery series featuring Marcus Didius Falco. She is considered the 'founder' of historical mysteries.

Just read this in The Rap Sheet:

Late though I am to attending to this matter, I want to acknowledge the passing on Thursday of British novelist Ariana Franklin. Born in Devon and a former Fleet Street journalist, she was the author of four books featuring 12th-century English coroner-investigator Adelia Aguilar (including Mistress of the Art of Death, which won the 2007 Ellis Peters Historical Dagger Award).