The 2026 International Thriller Writers (ITW ) Thriller Award Winners were announced at the ThrillerFest Awards Banquet from the New York Hilton Midtown. ThrillerFest is an annual conference to bring fans, writers and industry professionals together to celebrate thriller authors everywhere.
Thrillers are more concerned with the how, than the who. Here is an article about thrillers.
The International Thriller Writers was created in 2005 and benefits over 6600 authors internationally.
The 2026 ITW Thriller Award nominees are listed below with the award winners first and in bold. All of these books are worthy and would make a good addition to your to-be-read pile. Several are in mine.
Best First Novel
*Party of Liars by Kelsey Cox (Minotaur)
Death at the White Hart by Chris Chibnall (Pamela Dorman Books)
Count My Lies by Sophie Stava (Gallery/Scout Press)
History Lessons by Zoe B. Walbrook (Soho Books)
Julie Chan Is Dead by Liann Zhang (Atria)
Best Audiobook
*The White Crow by Michael Robotham (Simon & Schuster), narrated by Katy Sobey
King of Ashes by S.A. Cosby (Macmillan), narrated by Adan Lazarre-White
The Wasp Trap by Mark Edwards (Simon & Schuster), narrated by John Hopkins and Anna Burnett
Best Offer Wins by Marisa Kashino (Macmillan), narrated by Cia Court
When Devils Sing by Xan Kaur (Macmillan), narrated by Michael Crouch, Anjali Kunapaneni, Jennifer Pickens, and Landan Woodson
The Cheater’s Wife by CN Mabry and N’Dia Rae (Simon Maverick), narrated by Ruffin Prentiss & Michelle Williams
Best Short Story
*“The Violent Season” by Jessica Van Dessel (Alfred Hitchcock Mystery Magazine)
“Level Up” by Katrina Carrasco (Bywater Books)
“The Seduction of Dr. Dimension” by Scott Williams Carter (Ellery Queen Mystery Magazine)
“Eleven Numbers” by Lee Child (Amazon Original Stories)
“False Note” by David Lagercrantz (Amazon Original Stories)
Best Series Novel
*The Big Empty by Robert Crais (Penguin/Putnam)
Chain Reaction by James Byrne (Minotaur)
Head Cases by John McMahon (Minotaur)
The Tourists by Christopher Riech (Thomas & Mercer)
Terminal Moonlight by Vincent Zandri (Down & Out Books)
Best Young Adult Novel
*The Silenced by Diana Rodriguez Wallach (Delacorte Press)
Murder Between Friends by Liz Lawson (Delacorte Press)
This Stays Between Us by Margot McGovern (Penguin Young Readers)
Shiny Happy People by Clay McLeod Chapman (Delacorte Press)
The Thrashers by Julie Soto (Wednesday Books)
Best Standalone Thriller Novel
*Cross My Heart by Megan Collins (Atria)
Zigzag Girl by Ruth Knafo Setton (Black Spring Press)
The Burning Library by Gilly Macmillan (William Morrow)
The Locked Ward by Sarah Pekkanen (St. Martin’s Press)
So Happy Together by Olivia Worley (Minotaur)
The 2026 International Thriller Writers' Awards @TimSuddeth, @OpeningaMystery, #awards, #mysteries Share on X