Dagger Awards Longlist 2024

The Dagger Awards were established by the Crime Writers’ Association (CWA) in 1955. The 2024 longlist was announced on April 20, the shortlist was announced on May 10, and awards will be presented in London on July 4, 2024.

For more information check the Awards’ website.

Here are the finalists for 2024 that are in the TBP collection.

Gold Dagger

SMALL MERCIES by Dennis Lehane (DB 114456, LB 14406)
VERA WONG’S UNSOLICITED ADVICE FOR MURDERERS by Jesse Q. Sutanto
(DB 113039, LB 14540)
HOMECOMING by Kate Morton (DB 113914, BR 24840, LB 14824)

Ian Fleming Steel Dagger

SIMPLY LIES by David Baldacci (DB 114114, LB 14300)
LIE MAKER by Linwood Barclay (DB 116519)
ALL THE SINNERS BLEED by S. A. Cosby (DB 115237)
OZARK DOGS by Eli Cranor (DB 114798)
EVERYBODY KNOWS by Jordan Harper (DB 112340)
DROWNING: THE RESCUE OF FLIGHT 1421 by T. J. Newman (DB 116859)
AFTER THAT NIGHT by Karin Slaughter (DB 116356, BR 25334, LB 0000210)

ILP John Creasey (New Blood) Dagger

GOLDEN GATE by Amy Chua (DB 116781, LB 0000040)
SCORCHED GRACE by Margot Douaihy (DB 115165)
GOLDEN SPOON by Jessa Maxwell (DB 117207)
OTHER HALF by Charlotte Vassell (DB 117397)

Historical Dagger

LOCK-UP by John Banville (DB 115375, LB 14762)
FLAGS ON THE BAYOU by James Lee Burke (DB 117205, LB 14778)
HARLEM AFTER MIDNIGHT by Louise Hare (DB 116941)

ALCS Gold Dagger for Non-Fiction

ART THIEF: A TRUE STORY OF LOVE, CRIME, AND A DANGEROUS OBSESSION by Michael Finkel (DB 115367, LB 14518)
G-MAN: J EDGAR HOOVER AND THE MAKING OF THE AMERICAN CENTURY by Beverly Gage (DB 111434)
MANY LIVES OF MAMA LOVE: A MEMOIR OF LYING, STEALING, WRITING, AND HEALING by Lara Love Hardin (DB 120534, LB 14917)
SEVENTY TIMES SEVEN: A TRUE STORY OF MURDER AND MERCY by Alex Mar
(DB 115183)

Dagger for Crime Fiction in Translation

RED QUEEN written by Juan Gómez-Jurado and translated from the Spanish by Nick Caistor (DB 113173, LB 14817)

Texas Talking Book Program Author Talk: Katie Lane

Join the Talking Book Program for an author talk on Tuesday, August 13 at 7:00 p.m. (Central) with steamy romance author, Katie Lane.

Promo image of stage with red curtain and old fashioned chrome microphone with TBP and TSLAC logos and text mirroring post caption.

Reader’s Advisory Librarian, Laura Jean will talk with her about her career as an author as well as her books, from her DEEP IN THE HEART OF TEXAS Series. A Q&A chat will follow.

Our Author Talks meet via Zoom, however all you need to participate is a telephone! If you have a land line, you will use the telephone number. If you have a smart phone, you will use the “one-tap” number to join the discussion. We will also email a Zoom invitation to those who prefer to use a computer. This information will be sent to all patrons who RSVP a week prior to the author talk.

We would also like to offer you the opportunity to ask Katie Lane questions about her books. Please submit questions by August 6. We will choose questions based on the responses to this form and they may be asked during the event!

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdoK0-1wWTFHqC6gKdHhM4HIhu_nl9j0PutFXSPd24QeeQXFg/viewform?usp=sharing

To RSVP, please email us at tbpRAL@tsl.texas.gov, or call the Talking Book Program at 1-800-252-9605

Please indicate if you would like us to mail you a digital cartridge with her series or if you prefer to download them from BARD. Also, please let us know if you would like a reminder via email or phone-call (or both).

Start with the first book in her series: GOING COWBOY CRAZY (DBC 25528) by Katie Lane

NLS Annotation: Bramble, Texas, is the only place Faith Aldridge can find answers–as well as Hope, the identical twin sister she never knew she had. But the townsfolk reckon that shy city-girl Faith is really Hope, back in Bramble at last. And they’re fixin’ to do whatever it takes to heat things up between her and Hope’s longtime flame, Slate Calhoun. If that means rustling her car, spreading rumors like wildfire, and reining in some explosive secrets, well, there’s no way like the Lone Star way… Strong language and some descriptions of sex. Commercial audiobook. 2017.

We look forward to having you join us on Tuesday, August 13!

Texas Talking Book Program Author Talk: Taylor Moore

The Talking Book Program’s theme for our Summer Reading Program this year is Adventure begins at your Library, so join us for an author talk on Tuesday, July 16 at 7:00 p.m. (Central) with action-packed thriller author, Taylor Moore.

Reader’s Advisory Librarian, Laura Jean will talk with him about his career as an author as well as his books, from his GARRETT KOHL Series. A Q&A chat will follow.

Our Author Talks meet via Zoom, however all you need to participate is a telephone! If you have a land line, you will use the telephone number. If you have a smart phone, you will use the “one-tap” number to join the discussion. We will also email a Zoom invitation to those who prefer to use a computer. This information will be sent to all patrons who RSVP a week prior to the author talk.

We would also like to offer you the opportunity to ask Taylor Moore questions about his books. Please submit questions by July 9. We will choose questions based on the responses to this form and they may be asked during the event!

Question Submission Form: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdnJUBaiGh0MUQEMUtqldrlqjQFj5vIXotqLsp1WqghSNwPLg/viewform?usp=sharing

To RSVP, please reply to this email, or call the Talking Book Program at 1-800-252-9605

Please indicate if you would like us to mail you a digital cartridge with his series or if you prefer to download them from BARD. Also, please let us know if you would like a reminder via email or phone-call (or both).

Start with the first book in his series: DOWN RANGE

DOWN RANGE (DBC 26465) by Taylor Moore

NLS Annotation: “As a decorated undercover DEA special agent, Garrett Kohl has traveled the world–and fought in most of it–but it’s the High Plains of northwest Texas he calls home and dreams of returning to one day. When he is ordered back to Texas on a short mission expected to take a week at most, Kohl is unsettled to discover that the once-peaceful ranching community he loves is under attack. A band of criminals who have infiltrated law enforcement, corrupted local businesses, and is now terrorizing Kohl’s own family.”– adapted from jacket. Commercial audiobook. Violence and strong language. 2021.

We look forward to having you join us on Tuesday, July 16!

Authors and Their Pets

April 11 is National Pet Day. Celebrate by reading one of these books written by authors about their pets. The books in our collection cover variety of authors. We have popular fiction writers like Danielle Steel and Dean Koontz, as well as more literary authors such as John Steinbeck and Virginia Woolfe. In fact, Virginia Woolfe wrote a biography about Elizabeth Barrett Browning’s dog, Flush. So, poets are covered too.

BIG LITTLE LIFE: A MEMOIR OF A JOYFUL DOG by Dean R. Koontz (DB 70393, BR 18728)
BLISS TO YOU: TRIXIE’S GUIDE TO A HAPPY LIFE by Dean R. Koontz (DB 69378)
CAT WHO WENT TO PARIS by Peter Gethers (DB 34131, BR 08854)
COLTER: THE TRUE STORY OF THE BEST DOG I EVER HAD by Rick Bass (BR 13367)
DOG IS MY CO-PILOT: GREAT WRITERS ON THE WORLD’S OLDEST FRIENDSHIP (DB 57155, BR 15158)
DOG’S LIFE by Peter Mayle (DB 44236, BR 10858)
FLUSH: A BIOGRAPHY by Virginia Woolfe (BRA 09862)
MY CAT SPIT MCGEE by Willie Morris (DB 52219, BR 13597)
MY DOG SKIP by Willie Morris (DB 41612, BR 10740)
PARTICULARLY CATS–AND RUFUS by Doris Lessing (BR 09522)
PURE JOY: THE DOGS WE LOVE by Danielle Steel (DB 92763)
SHAGGY MUSES: THE DOGS WHO INSPIRED VIRGINIA WOOLF, EMILY DICKINSON, EDITH WHARTON, ELIZABETH BARRETT BROWNING, AND EMILY BRONTE by Maureen B. Adams (DB 64545)
SLEEPING WITH CATS: A MEMOIR by Marge Piercy (DB 58077)
TRAVELS WITH CHARLEY: IN SEARCH OF AMERICA by John Steinbeck (DB 16094, BR 09952)
WOOF! WRITERS ON DOGS (DB 68414)

May 2024 TBP Book Club Title Announced!

Please join us on Tuesday, May 21 at 7:00 p.m. (Central) for our Book Club discussion of MERCURY RISING: JOHN GLENN, JOHN KENNEDY, AND THE NEW BATTLEGROUND OF THE COLD WAR by Jeff Shesol.

We host our Book Club discussions via Zoom. However, all you need to participate is a telephone!

If you have a land line, we will provide a telephone number for accessing the Book Club. If you have a smart phone, we will email an easy “one click ” number you can use to join the discussion. We will also email a Zoom invitation to those who prefer to use a computer.

Patrons who register for the discussion will receive this information a week before the book club meeting.

To RSVP call us at 1-800-252-9605 or email tbp.ral@tsl.texas.gov

MERCURY RISING is available by mail as a digital cartridge and is also available to download on BARD.

MERCURY RISING: JOHN GLENN, JOHN KENNEDY, AND THE NEW BATTLEGROUND OF THE COLD WAR by Jeff Shesol (DB 110864)

A riveting history of the epic orbital flight that put America back into the space race. If the United States couldn’t catch up to the Soviets in space, how could it compete with them on Earth? That was the question facing John F. Kennedy at the height of the Cold War–a perilous time when the Soviet Union built the wall in Berlin, tested nuclear bombs more destructive than any in history, and beat the United States to every major milestone in space. The race to the heavens seemed a race for survival—and America was losing. On February 20, 1962, when John Glenn blasted into orbit aboard Friendship 7, his mission was not only to circle the planet; it was to calm the fears of the free world and renew America’s sense of self-belief. Mercury Rising re-creates the tension and excitement of a flight that shifted the momentum of the space race and put the United States on the path to the moon. Drawing on new archival sources, personal interviews, and previously unpublished notes by Glenn himself, Mercury Rising reveals how the astronaut’s heroics lifted the nation’s hopes in what Kennedy called the “hour of maximum danger.” Commercial audiobook.

We’re looking forward to having you join us on Tuesday, May 21!

Texas Talking Book Program Author Talk: Rubén Degollado

Join the Talking Book Program for an author talk on Tuesday, April 23 at 7:00 p.m. (Central) with award winning author Rubén Degollado.

Reader’s Advisory Librarian Laura Jean will talk with him about his career as an educator and author as well as his book, THE FAMILY IZQUIERDO: A NOVEL (DBC 28906).  A Q&A chat will follow.

Promo image of stage with red curtain and old fashioned chrome microphone with TBP and TSLAC logos and text mirroring post body with author name, date, etc.

Our Author Talks meet via Zoom; however, all you need to participate is a telephone! If you have a land line, you will use the telephone number. If you have a smart phone, you will use the “one-tap” number to join the discussion. We will also email a Zoom link invitation to those who prefer to use a computer. This information will be sent to all patrons who RSVP a week prior to the author talk.

We would also like to offer you the opportunity to ask Rubén Degollado questions about his book. Please submit questions by April 16. We will choose questions based on the responses to this form and they may be asked during the event!

Submit your questions at: https://forms.gle/Xagif6CpPgKgvuNj8

To RSVP, please reply to this email, or call the Talking Book Program at 1-800-252-9605

Please indicate if you would like us to mail you the digital cartridge or if you prefer to download it from BARD. Also, please let us know if you would like a reminder via email or phone-call (or both).

FAMILY IZQUIERDO: A NOVEL (DBC 28906) by Rubén Degollado

NLS Annotation: “A masterful debut that weaves together the lives of three generations of a Mexican American family bound by love, and a curse. The tight-knit Izquierdo family is grappling with misfortunes none of them can explain. Their beloved patriarch has suffered from an emotional collapse and is dying; eldest son Gonzalo’s marriage is falling apart; daughter Dina, beleaguered by the fear that her nightmares are real, is a shut-in. When Gonzalo digs up a strange object in the backyard of the family home, the Izquierdos take it as proof that a jealous neighbor has cursed them-could this be the reason for all their troubles? As the Izquierdos face a distressing present and an uncertain future, they are sustained by the blood that binds them, a divine presence, and an abiding love for one another. Told in a series of soulful voices brimming with warmth and humor, The Family Izquierdo is a tender narrative of a family at a turning point”– Provided by publisher. Commercial audiobook. Unrated. 2022.

We look forward to having you join us on Tuesday, April 23!

Maryland State Library for the Blind Podcast: NFB-NEWSLINE

Join the Maryland State Library for the Blind and Print Disabled’s podcast on Friday, February 23, 2024, at 1:00 p.m. (Central). Host Ashley Biggs will explore the amazing features and benefits of NFB-NEWSLINE, a free audio and braille information service for anyone who is blind, low-vision, deafblind, or otherwise print-disabled.

Ashley will be joined by Scott White, the Director of Sponsored Technology Programs for the National Federation of the Blind, who will share his insights and expertise on NFB-NEWSLINE and how it can enhance your access to information, entertainment, and independence.

NFB-NEWSLINE offers access to more than five hundred publications, including newspapers, magazines, breaking news sources, online international newspapers, TV listings, job listings, retail ads, and more. You can access NFB-NEWSLINE through various methods, such as the touch-tone telephone, Apple iOS app, website, or Amazon Alexa, and customize your preferences and settings. This podcast is a great opportunity for you to learn more about NFB-NEWSLINE and ask questions.

If you want to sign up for this free service, contact the Texas Talking Book Program at 1-800-252-9605 or, if you have a non-Texas area code, at (512) 463-5458.

Whether you are a current subscriber or a new user, you will find this podcast informative and engaging. Join us on Friday, February 23, 2024, at 1:00 p.m. (Central). The details on how to join the Zoom presentation are listed below.

We look forward to seeing you there!

Join Zoom Meeting

https://marylandlibraries.zoom.us/j/5770178916?omn=98747133201

Dial in: 1-301-715-8592; Meeting ID: 577 017 8916#

One tap mobile

+13462487799,,5770178916# US (Houston)

+16027530140,,5770178916# US (Phoenix)

Dial by your location

• +1 346 248 7799 US (Houston)

• +1 602 753 0140 US (Phoenix)

• +1 669 219 2599 US (San Jose)

• +1 669 900 9128 US (San Jose)

• +1 720 928 9299 US (Denver)

• +1 971 247 1195 US (Portland)

• +1 213 338 8477 US (Los Angeles)

Texas Talking Book Program Author Talk: The Texanist, David Courtney

Join the Talking Book Program for an author talk on Thursday, February 22, at 7:00 p.m. (Central) with esteemed Texas journalist and author, David Courtney.

Reader’s Advisory Librarian, Laura Jean will talk with the Temple, Texas native about his career working as a columnist and editor for Texas Monthly as well as his book, The Texanist: Fine Advice on Living in Texas (DBC 18771). A Q&A chat will follow.

No registration is needed! Simply join the meeting on February 22 via one of the following methods.



Zoom Link: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/84839719639

One-Tap phone number (use with smartphones): http://+13462487799,,84839719639#

Dial In phone number (use with landlines and non-smartphones):

(346) 248-7799
Meeting ID: 848 3971 9639

Our Author Talks meet via Zoom, however all you need to participate is a telephone! If you have a land line, you will use the telephone number. If you have a smart phone, you will use the “one-tap” number to join the conversation.

If you’d like to read THE TEXANIST book, contact us to order it by replying to this email or calling us at 1-800-252-9605.

THE TEXANIST: FINE ADVICE ON LIVING IN TEXAS (DBC 18771) by David Courtney NLS Annotation: “The Texanist, Texas Monthly’s perennially popular back-page column, has become the magazine’s most-read feature. With an inimitable style and an unassailable wholesomeness, columnist David Courtney has counseled many a well-intentioned Texan, native or wannabe, on how to properly conduct him—or herself.” Publisher’s website. 2017.

We look forward to having you join us on Thursday, February 22!

TBP Book Club Title Announced for March 2024!

Please join us on Thursday, March 21 at 7:00 p.m. (Central) for our book club discussion of LESSONS IN CHEMISTRY by Bonnie Garmus (DB 107538, BR 24813, LB 13735).

Our book club meetings take place via Zoom; however, all you need to participate is a telephone! If you have a land line, we will provide a telephone number for you to dial. If you have a smart phone, we will email you an easy “one click” number you can use to join the discussion. We will also email a Zoom invitation to those who prefer to use a computer. This information will be sent to all patrons who RSVP a week prior to the book club meeting.

To RSVP, please call the Talking Book Program at 1-800-252-9605. 

Please indicate if you would like us to mail the digital cartridge to you or if you prefer to download it from NLS BARD. Also, please let us know if you would like a reminder via email or phone call (or both).

NLS Annotation: In the early 1960s, chemist Elizabeth Zott has a lot of challenges as the only woman on her team at Hastings Research Institute. She falls for colleague Calvin Evans, but the double standards of the day eventually have her looking for a new chapter outside academia, hosting a television cooking show. Strong language and some violence. Commercial audiobook. Bestseller. 2022.

We request that everyone remember the following:

  • Keep external distractions to a minimum.
  • Be courteous and be respectful of differing opinions.
  • Keep discussion points concise and relevant to the book.

We look forward to having you join us on Thursday, March 21!

BARD Mobile Android Version 2.1.0 Release!

The National Library Service for the Blind and Print Disabled (NLS) is releasing BARD Mobile Android version 2.1.0 this week, introducing enhanced features and improvements.

BARD Mobile enables NLS patrons to download and listen to audiobooks and magazines directly from their Android devices. Registered Texas Talking Book patrons will need a BARD account and a device running Android OS version 9-14 in order to use this updated version of the app.

Among the highlights:

In-app search functionality

A fully supported in-app search function, including Music Collection search, for a more seamless experience.

Spanish translation

The app can now be set so its text and audio are in Spanish. To switch to Spanish, select it as the default language in your device settings. The app’s visual and TalkBack interface will adjust.

International language search option

Explore the new international language search option by choosing up to four languages in the app’s settings. Filter search results by selecting your preferred language.

Navigate to: App’s Settings > User Account Settings > Language Preferences > Select up to four languages.

When accessing Get Books – Search, you will have up to four languages based on your settings. Default languages are English and Spanish if no changes are made.

Compatibility and User Guide update

  • The app supports Android OS versions 9–14.
  • Please note that the User Guide is being updated and will be added later.

Users should be able to update supported Android devices by February 1, 2024. BARD Mobile users can confirm that they are running the latest version by checking the bottom of the app’s Settings screen.