CORRECTION | Oct. 9 @ 8:43 p.m. | Due to an editor’s error, a previous version of this story incorrectly stated Dr. Michael Wiley’s previous recognition by the Private Eye Writers of America.

The Private Eye Writers of America awarded Dr. Michael Wiley, a UNF English professor, the Best Hardcover P.I. Novel Shamus Award for his mystery novel “A Bad Night’s Sleep” Oct. 5.

This award was presented at the annual Bouchercon conference, which assembled international and national mystery writers and readers in Cleveland Oct. 4-7.

Wiley’s book falls into the category of private investigative mysteries, which he said entails a private detective solving a hard-to-crack case.

Wiley, who is teaching a detective fiction class this semester, said this recognition was a huge surprise and a great honor for him.

His passion for mysteries has been evident from a young age.

“I was that 7-year-old reading ‘Blood and Guts’ under my  bed cover when I was supposed to be sleeping,” he said.

And this isn’t the first time the Private Eye Writers of America have acknowledged Wiley’s fiction. In 2008, the group nominated his novel “The Last Striptease” for the Best First P.I. Novel Shamus Award.

The most recent award comes with praise from Wiley’s colleagues.

“Certainly any award that is given increases not only the respect we have for the individual faculty member but certainly makes us all proud to be a member of the same department,” said Dr. Jeanette Berger, a UNF English professor.

“A Bad Night’s Sleep” is Wiley’s third mystery novel, following “The Bad Kitty Lounge” and “The Last Striptease.” He has also written two academic books, “Romantic Geography” and “Romantic Migrations.”

Email Noor Ashouri at [email protected].