Mystery awards

Mystery Writers of America last night announced its Edgar Allan Poe Awards for the best works of mystery published in 2006:

Best Novel: "The Janissary Tree" by Jason Goodwin

Best First Novel by an American Author: "The Faithful Spy" by New York Times reporter Alex Berenson

Best Paperback Original: "Snakeskin Shamisen'' by Naomi Hirahara

Best Critical Book/Biography: "The Science of Sherlock Holmes: From Baskerville Hall to the Valley of Fear, the Real Forensics Behind the Great Detective's Greatest Cases'' by E.J. Wagner
(From her bio: "She and her husband live on Long Island in the custody of a large Labrador Retriever named Dr. Watson.'')

Best Fact Crime: "Manhunt: The 12-Day Chase for Lincoln's Killer" by James L. Swanson

Best Young Adult Mystery: "Buried" by Robin Merrow MacCready

Best Juvenile Mystery: "Room One: A Mystery or Two'' by Andrew Clements

Stephen King was honored as the Grand Master. And mystery maven (who knew?) Al Roker from the "Today Show" was the emcee at the 61st annual banquet awards in NYC.