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Eli Cranor

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Eli Cranor (born 1988) is an American author and former professional footballer. His debut novel, Don't Know Tough, won the Edgar Allan Poe Award for Best First Novel.

Biography

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Cranor was born in Forrest City, Arkansas on January 15, 1988, to Finley and Christy Cranor. He grew up in Russellville, Arkansas and graduated from Russellville High School.[1]

Cranor attended Florida Atlantic University and played on the school's football team for a season in 2006, after which he transferred to Ouachita Baptist University. While there, he majored in English literature.[2]

Cranor was recruited as a player-coach for the Swedish-American football team the Carlstad Crusaders and played with the team for nine months. After meeting his wife, he moved back to Arkansas.[2]

In Arkansas, Cranor began teaching at a high school in the Russellville School District, where he also coached the football team.[2]

In 2022, Cranor published his debut novel, Don't Know Tough, which received multiple awards nominations and was lauded by critics. The novel was followed by Ozark Dogs in 2023 and Broiler in 2024.

Cranor lives in Arkansas with his wife and children.[3]

Awards and honors

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In 2022, USA Today included Don't Know Tough on their list of the year's best books.[4] CrimeReads included it on their list of the year's best crime novels,[5] and The New York Times included it on their list of the year's best mystery novels.[6] Booklist included it on their "Top 10 Debut Mysteries & Thrillers" list.[7]

The following year, CrimeReads,[8]The Guardian,[9] The New York Times included Ozark Dogs on their list of the year's best crime novels.[10] The Sun Sentinel included it on their list of the year's best mystery fiction.[11]

Awards for Cranor's writing
Year Title Award Result Ref.
2022 Don't Know Tough Hammett Prize Finalist [12][13]
2023 Don't Know Tough Strand Magazine Award for Best Debut Finalist
2023 Don't Know Tough Barry Award for Best First Novel Finalist [14][15]
2023 Don't Know Tough Anthony Award for Best First Novel Finalist
2023 Don't Know Tough Lefty Award for Best Debut Mystery Finalist
2023 Don't Know Tough Edgar Allan Poe Award for Best First Novel Winner [16][17]
2024 Ozark Dogs Barry Award for Best Novel Finalist [18]
2024 Ozark Dogs CWA Ian Fleming Steel Dagger Finalist

Publications

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  • Don't Know Tough. Soho Crime. 2022. ISBN 9781641293457.[19]
  • Ozark Dogs. Soho Crime. 2023. ISBN 9781641294539.[20]
  • Broiler. Soho Crime. 2024. ISBN 9781641295901.[21]

References

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  1. ^ "Eli Cranor - Football". Florida Atlantic University Athletics. Archived from the original on May 16, 2024. Retrieved May 16, 2024.
  2. ^ a b c Millar, Lindsey (April 4, 2023). "Pope County's Eli Cranor appears poised to break out big". Arkansas Times. Archived from the original on September 21, 2023. Retrieved May 16, 2024.
  3. ^ "Eli Cranor". Soho Press. Archived from the original on May 16, 2024. Retrieved May 16, 2024.
  4. ^ VanDenburgh, Barbara (December 7, 2022). "Best of 2022: See which books USA TODAY critics gave perfect reviews this year". USA Today. Archived from the original on March 7, 2023. Retrieved May 16, 2024.
  5. ^ "The Best Crime Novels of the Year: 2022". CrimeReads. December 8, 2022. Archived from the original on September 26, 2023. Retrieved May 16, 2024.
  6. ^ Weinman, Sarah (December 6, 2022). "The Best Crime Novels of 2022". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Archived from the original on August 12, 2023. Retrieved May 16, 2024.
  7. ^ Ott, Bill (May 1, 2022). "Top 10 Debut Mysteries & Thrillers: 2022". Booklist. Archived from the original on July 4, 2022. Retrieved May 15, 2024.
  8. ^ "The Best Crime Novels of 2023". CrimeReads. December 7, 2023. Archived from the original on January 5, 2024. Retrieved May 16, 2024.
  9. ^ Wilson, Laura (December 5, 2023). "Best crime and thrillers of 2023". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Archived from the original on May 16, 2024. Retrieved May 16, 2024.
  10. ^ Weinman, Sarah (December 4, 2023). "The Best Crime Novels of 2023". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Archived from the original on May 4, 2024. Retrieved May 16, 2024.
  11. ^ Cogdill, Oline H. (December 4, 2023). "Our critic's picks: Best mystery fiction books of 2023". Sun Sentinel. Archived from the original on January 13, 2024. Retrieved May 16, 2024.
  12. ^ patti (June 17, 2022). "2022 Hammett Prize -". Nightstand Book Reviews. Archived from the original on September 21, 2023. Retrieved May 15, 2024.
  13. ^ Raymundo, Bridget (April 13, 2023). "Ontario author Brad Smith shortlisted for 2022 Dashiell Hammett Prize for crime writing". CBC Books. Archived from the original on May 16, 2024. Retrieved May 15, 2024.
  14. ^ "Barry Award Nominations 2023". Deadly Pleasures. March 2023. Archived from the original on March 1, 2023. Retrieved March 2, 2023.
  15. ^ Schaub, Michael (March 2, 2023). "'Deadly Pleasures' Reveals Barry Awards Finalists". Kirkus Reviews. Archived from the original on March 2, 2023. Retrieved March 2, 2023.
  16. ^ Picker, Lenny (April 28, 2023). "Top Mystery Writers Honored at the 77th Edgar Awards". Publishers Weekly. Archived from the original on June 1, 2023. Retrieved May 16, 2024.
  17. ^ "Awards: Edgar Winners". Shelf Awareness. April 28, 2023. Archived from the original on May 5, 2023. Retrieved May 16, 2024.
  18. ^ Schaub, Michael (February 27, 2024). "Finalists for the Barry Awards Are Revealed". Kirkus Reviews. Archived from the original on March 4, 2024. Retrieved May 15, 2024.
  19. ^ "Don't Know Tough by Eli Cranor". Publishers weekly. December 14, 2021. Archived from the original on May 16, 2024. Retrieved May 16, 2024.
  20. ^ "Ozark Dogs by Eli Cranor". Publishers weekly. January 20, 2023. Archived from the original on May 16, 2024. Retrieved May 16, 2024.
  21. ^ "Broiler by Eli Cranor". Publishers weekly. April 2, 2024. Archived from the original on May 16, 2024. Retrieved May 16, 2024.
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