Gangsterstaat, as Gangster Nation is known in Dutch, was just named a finalist for the international Thriller of the Year Award…but lost to Michael Connelly’s DE NACHTPLOEG…which is Dutch for “the last Michael Connelly novel.” Other losers included John Le Carre and Dennis Lehane, so fine company. Read all about it here. In Dutch.

Here’s a translation:

“This is the second novel about Sal Cupertine. The jury isn’t fond of sequels because you have to think about the plot of the previous book. But because of Tod Goldberg’s skills they were drawn into his complex mob world immediately. The author did a great job designing a plausible plot about how the criminal world was able to benefit from 9/11. But in the end it’s a book about a guy who wants to be reunited with his wife and child.”