Minnesota probably has one of the country’s highest numbers of mystery novelists per capita, and if that’s not true, then I’ll argue that if ours are fewer, well then, they’re better. And those who survey the mystery field from a less biased position may agree: Three Minnesota writers made the nomination list for the prestigious Barry Awards, selected by Deadly Pleasures magazine. The winners will be announced in October at the Bouchercon mystery convention. Cross your fingers for William Kent Krueger, Michael Stanley and Julie Kramer.

The paperback version of Kramer’s debut, "Stalking Susan," comes out June 23.

“Yes, I believe there is a good chance it will be available in fine grocery stores,” says the wry Kramer. That gives you enough time to read it before "Missing Mark," the next book in the series, arrives July 14 (Doubleday). While the first book focused on a set of cold-case murders, in this one TV reporter Riley Spartz stumbles onto a missing person case.

Expect more TV newsroom dirt, perhaps intensifying with each book Kramer writes, as she watches her former profession implode along with all of journalism. She and the many other journos who have made the leap to fiction look smart in so many ways (former PiPress reporter and MinnPost contributor John Camp/John Sandford’s new book, "Wicked Prey," is camping quite comfortably in the Top 10 of the New York Times bestseller list).

Incidentally, there have been new developments in the real-life cold cases that inspired Kramer’s first book. WCCO reported this spring that DNA evidence indicates that a serial killer was not behind two eerily similar murders after all — and that the two separate murderers are currently not behind bars. Too disturbing. This is why people read fiction, right?

"In these uncertain times, [readers] can be fairly certain in my book that the killer will be caught, the mystery solved," said Kramer. "And you can't get that kind of guarantee in the world of news."