In the ‘First Line of A Crime Thriller’ challenge, competitors were given the words ‘cinnamon bun,’ ‘acne medicine’ and ‘stub.’ This event is judged on both speed and artistic expression and as expected, American Carl Hiaasen finished first, composing the following sentence in just 20.4 seconds:
'Stub injected the acne medicine – as lethal to the respiratory system as it was to pimples – into the warm cinnamon bun he was about to bring up to his invalid brother, Stump.'
At 25.9 seconds, Norwegian Karin Fossum brought in this entry, which was applauded by Judge Elmore Leonard for its ‘tease and foreboding.’
'The finger stub, a bleeding candle stuck in the center of the cinnamon bun, caused the pockmarked Inspector to take a swig of his acne medicine, liberally laced with aquavit.'