Malice Domestic 38 and the 2025 Agatha Awards were April 23-26, 2026. This was the first time I’ve ever attended Malice Domestic. As we’ve talked about here before, Malice Domestic is an annual fan convention held each year outside of Washington, D.C. to celebrate Traditional Mystery genres. These works are exemplified by the works of Agatha Christie. As the website states, “The genre is loosely defined as mysteries which contain no explicit sex, or excessive gore or violence.”
Or as some people like to say, you can kill as many bad folks as you like, but don’t hurt the dog.
Thoughts About the Conference
Malice Domestic 38 and the 2025 Agatha Awards ran from Thursday to Sunday with panels and interviews on each day. The achievement awards went to Annette Dashofy (Guest of Honor), Jacqueline Winspear (Lifetime Achievement), and Ellen Byron (Toastmaster)
For being a first-time attendee, I felt that the conference was very welcoming. I was honored to sit at Connie Berry’s table at the award banquet. She had decorated her table to be very British. It was a fun and welcoming table to be at.
There were two things about the awards I found interesting. First, unlike other award announcements that I’ve been at, they only announce the winners. I like that. As someone who always feels like a loser at contests, this means if you didn’t win, you came in second. It’s all good.
The other thing is the prize they give to the winners. Keeping with the cozy theme, if you win an Agatha, you get a teacup and saucer. How appropriate.
Conferences and awards like this are very important for celebrating their brand of crime fiction and giving writers the encouragement and direction they need. If you are a writer, you know how lonely producing new stories can be. Being able to get with others who are working in the same field is very helpful and empowering.
Malice Domestic is a volunteer run conference. Thanks to everyone who had a part in pulling off a great celebration.
The 2025 Agatha Award Winners and Nominees (The winners will be listed first.)
Best Contemporary Novel
At Death’s Door by Mindy Quigley (Minotaur Books)
A Grave Deception by Connie Berry (Crooked Lane Books)
Murder in Fifth Position by Lori Robbins (Level Best Books)
The Devil Comes Calling by Annette Dashofy (One More Chapter)
Waters of Destruction by Leslie Karst (Severn House)
Best Historical Novel
The Case of the Christie Conspiracy by Kelly Oliver (Boldwood Books)
Bye Bye Blackbird by Elizabeth Crowens (Level Best Books)
The Girl in the Green Dress by Mariah Fredericks (Minotaur Books)
Murder at the Moulin Rouge by Carol Pouliot (Level Best Books)
The Hindenburg Spy by L.A. Chandlar (Oliver Heber Publishers)
Best First Mystery Novel
Whiskey Business by Adrian Andover (Chestnut Avenue Books)
Murder in the Crazy Mountains by K.L. Borges (Epicenter Press, Camel Press Imprint)
Player Elimination by Shelly Jones (Tule Publishing Group)
Savvy Summers and the Sweet Potato Crimes by Sandra Jackson-Opoku (Minotaur Press)
Voices of the Elysian Fields by Michael Rigg (Level Best Books)
Best Short Story
“Six-Armed Robbery” by Ashley-Ruth Bernier, Malice Domestic Mystery Most Humorous
“Baby Love’ by Barb Goffman, Double Crossing Van Dine
“Boss Cat Rules” by Nikki Knight, Malice Domestic Mystery Most Humorous
“Lola’s Last Dance” by Kerry Hammond, Celluloid Crimes
“While the Iron Is Hot” by Edith Maxwell, Ellery Queen Mystery Magazine Mar/Apr 2025
Best Children’s/YA Mystery
Death in the Cards by Mia P. Manansala (Delacorte Books for Young Readers)
Hurricane Heist by James Ponti (Aladdin Books)
Missing Mom by Lynn Slaughter (Fire and Ice Young Adult Books)
Risky Pursuit by Nancy G. West (Fire and Ice Young Adult Books)
Rufus and the Dark Side of Magic by Marilyn Levinson (Level Best Books)
Best Non-Fiction
Vacations Can Be Murder: A True Crime Lover’s Travel Guide to New England by Dawn M. Barclay
(Level Best Books)
Bone Valley by Gilbert King (Flatiron Books)
Story of a Murder: The Wives, the Mistress, and Dr. Crippen by Hallie Rubenhold (Dutton)
The Sinners All Bow: Two Authors, One Murder, and the Real Hester Prynne by Kate Winkler Dawson
(G.P. Putnam’s Books)
Malice Domestic 38 and the 2025 Agatha Award Winners @TimSuddeth, #Awards, #AgathaAwards Share on X