The Mystery Writers of America has announced its two newest Grand Masters.
The professional association of crime authors announced in a news release that it has named Donna Andrews and Lee Child as Grand Masters, an award that “represents the pinnacle of achievement in mystery writing and was established to acknowledge important contributions to this genre, as well as for a body of work that is both significant and of consistent high quality.”
Andrews is best known for her series of novels featuring Meg Langslow, a Virginia decorative blacksmith and amateur detective. The series debuted in 1999 with Murder With Peacocks; more than 30 books have followed, including Owl’s Well That Ends Well, Some Like It Hawk, and, most recently, Five Golden Wings.
“I’m both delighted and amazed at being named a Grand Master,” Andrews said in a statement. “Joining MWA was one of the first things I did when my debut novel, Murder With Peacocks, was accepted for publication, and MWA has been an important part of my life ever since.”
Child is the creator of the character Jack Reacher, a peripatetic former military police officer and problem solver, whom he introduced in the 1997 novel Killing Floor. There are now 30 books in the series, including Without Fail and Never Go Back; the most recent installments have been co-written with his younger brother Andrew Child. The series has been adapted for the screen three times, in two films starring Tom Cruise, and in an Amazon Prime television series with Alan Ritchson playing Reacher.
Lee Child said, “I’m flattered and humbled to be placed on this eighty-year-long list with so many of my idols, role models and teachers. I’ll always be grateful to Mystery Writers of America for their support, help, friendship and camaraderie during my career, such that I feel I should be giving them an award, not getting one from them.”
The first author to receive a Grand Master award was Agatha Christie in 1955. Other winners include Graham Greene, Daphne du Maurier, Mary Higgins Clark, and Walter Mosley. Andrews and Child will accept their awards at the Edgar Awards Ceremony on April 29 in New York.
Michael Schaub is a contributing writer.
