One of the best ways to find a new mystery book or author is to find one that is up for an award. With a number of crime fiction awards being presented by writing conferences and conventions in the next few weeks, I wanted to make us a list. A noble goal, I thought, but I didn’t know what a herculean task I was taking on. I didn’t realize how many award lists are out there. Like how the stories in crime fiction are so numerous and diverse, from crafty cozy to gory thriller, so are the conferences and awards. Below I’ve made a sample list, but it is in no way exclusive and, please forgive me, it’s very American biased.
One of the reasons I wanted to make the list was to explain why all these crime fiction awards and groups are necessary. Now, after finishing the list, I think the reason is obvious. The crime fiction genre is massive, incorporating so many diverse books, categories, and interests. By having conferences and publications that choose to curate the books and stories in all their diversity, and then identify the ones that stand out, we have a reference point for finding our own future favorites.
I’ve listed the awards below in no particular order. The conferences where the prizes will be presented are highlighted. If you wish to become more involved in the crime fiction community, attending a conference or convention is a great place to start. I’ve found them to be very welcoming and a great place to meet other fans and writers.
If you attend Killer Nashville or Bouchercon this year, please give me a shout.
And if you have a conference that you’ve enjoyed attending, please let me know about it in the comments.
Happy reading.
Crime Fiction Awards
The Edgar Awards
The Edgar Allan Poe Awards are presented each year by the Mystery Writers of America. The MWA is a professional organization of mystery and crime writers, based in New York City. Founded in 1945. From their website, “MWA is dedicated to promoting higher regard for crime writing and recognition and respect for those who write within the genre.
The Anthony Awards
The Anthony Awards have been presented at the Bouchercon World Mystery Convention since 1986. Named after Anthony Boucher, the attending members of each year’s conferences vote on the awards. Known as the world’s premier event, it brings together all parts of the mystery and crime fiction world. Their websites states that “Bouchercon’s mission is to introduce, attract, and promote readers and writers by producing outstanding, inclusive events to grow and sustain the mystery community.” Bouchercon was first held in 1970 in Santa Monica, California, and moves to a different city each year.
The Agatha Awards
The Agatha Awards, named for Dame Agatha Christie, are awarded to mystery and crime writers who write in the traditional mystery subgenre. They are to promote “books typified by the works of Agatha Christie…loosely defined as mysteries that contain no explicit sex, excessive gore or gratuitous violence, and are not classified as hard-boiled.” The Agathas are hand at its annual convention in Washington, D.C. The Malice Domestic Conference is an annual fan convention where famed authors, aspiring writers, and avid readers get together for a weekend centered on cozy mysteries and the like. The first convention was held in 1989 in Silver Spring, MD.
The Shamus Awards
The Shamus Awards are awarded by the Private Eye Writers of America (PWA) for the best detective fiction with a Private Investigator in genre novels and short stories of the year. Started in 2003, the awards are announced during the Bouchercon World Mystery Convention at the convention’s PWA Award Banquet.
The Silver Falchion Award
The Killer Nashville Silver Falchion Award seeks to discover and honor the best books of the previous year. The nominees incorporate the elements of mystery, thriller, suspense, action and romance in numerous genres. In nonfiction, they award books that are applicable to writers in general. The annual awards are given out at the Killer Nashville International Writers’ Conference Awards Banquet.
The Lefty Awards
The annual Left Coast Crime “Lefty” Awards are chosen by registered members of each Left Coast Crime Convention. The awards go to titles published in the U.S. or Canada the previous year. Left Coast Crime is an annual mystery convention sponsored by mystery fans, both readers and authors. It features western North American region mysteries.
The Dagger Awards
The Dagger Awards are presented each year by The Crime Writers’ Association (CWA) for the best crime writing of the year. CWA is a specialist annual awards author’s organization in the United Kingdom. The awards are announced at the annual Dagger Awards Dinner in London in July.
The Barry Awards
The Barry Awards are literary crime prizes presented annually by the editors of Deadly Pleasures since 1997. Deadly Pleasures is an American quarterly publication for crime fiction writers and the awards are chosen by their readers. Winners are announced at the Opening Ceremonies of Bouchercon.
The Maccavity Awards
The Macavity Awards are presented each year by the members of Mystery Readers International for their favorite mysteries. The Macavity is named after T.S. Eliot’s mystery cat.
Crime fiction awards @Tim Suddeth @OpeningaMystery #mysteries, #writingawards Share on X