"Butchers Hill," by Sun features writer Laura Lippman, was named winner of the Agatha Award for best traditional mystery novel of 1998 at Malice Domestic, an annual national mystery convention in Washington.

The Agatha, named for mystery writer Agatha Christie, is the third major mystery award for Lippman.

"Charm City," an earlier book in her series featuring Baltimore-based private detective Tess Monaghan, won the mystery trade's Edgar and Shamus awards. Lippman has been a reporter at The Sun since 1989.

Also nominated for the best novel award was Barbara Mertz of Frederick, for her book "The Ape Who Guards the Balance," written under the pseudonym Elizabeth Peters.

Other Agatha winners were Robin Hathaway for best first mystery ("Doctor Digs a Grave"); Alzina Stone Dale for best nonfiction mystery book ("Mystery Readers Walking Guide to Washington, D.C."); and Barbara D'Amato for best short story ("Of Course You Know That Chocolate Is a Vegetable").

Pub Date: 5/04/99