Sun staff writer Laura Lippman has been named winner of a 1998 Shamus Award for mystery fiction.

Lippman, who has published three Baltimore-based mysteries over the past two years, received the annual award from the Private Eye Writers of America at this past weekend's Bouchercon World Mystery Convention in Philadelphia.

Lippman was nominated for two Shamus awards -- best first novel, for "Baltimore Blues," and best paperback original, for "Charm City," both from Avon. She won for "Charm City," which earlier this year won the Edgar Award from the Mystery Writers of America for best paperback original. The Shamus for best first novel went to Rick Riordan, for "Big Red Tequila" (Bantam Books).

Lippman, a feature writer for The Sun currently covering the governor's race, has published three novels featuring reporter-turned-private investigator Tess Monaghan. A fourth Tess Monaghan book will be published next year by Avon.

Pub Date: 10/06/98