Past Award Winners
2017 KILLER NASHVILLE AWARD WINNERS
2017 JOHN SEIGENTHALER GUEST OF HONOR AWARD WINNER
Max Allan Collins
2017 GUESTS OF HONOR
Chris Grabenstein
A.J. Tata
2017 BUILDER’S AWARD WINNER
Beth Terrell (Jaden Terrell)
2017 SCHOLARSHIP AWARD WINNERS
Sarah Harris, Kris Calvin Scholarship Award Winner
Lucie Smoker, Lisa Jackson Scholarship Award Winner
Toni Sorenson, Lisa Jackson Scholarship Award Winner
Tim Suddeth, Jimmy Loftin Memorial Scholarship Award Winner
2017 CLAYMORE AWARDS WINNERS
2017 Claymore Award Winner– Danny Lindsey, Serial Justice
2017 Claymore Award 1st Runner Up – Michelle Kubitz, Dragonfly Lake
2017 Claymore Award 2nd Runner Up – Lois J. Schmitt, Something Fishy
2017 CLAYMORE AWARDS FINALISTS
R.G. Belsky, The Hitler Legacy
Mark Brazaitis, The Happy House
Alan Chaput, Emerald: Drone
Kathleen Donnelly, Free Base
Matt T. Forester, Beneath the Water Lilies
Kimberly Hall, Saints and Sinners
Russell Johnson, The Mayberry Messiah
January Kerr, The Patriarchy Project
Mercedes King, Angel Redemption
J.R. Klein, The Ostermann House
Charles Kowalski, Day of the Watchers
Halee Matthews, Every Broken Piece
Kelly Oliver, Harvest
Ben Orlando, The Three Michael Greggs
Bryan Robinson, Bloody Bones
Richard Sambasivam, The Chelsea Fix
Tamra Wilson, Driving Nelson
2017 SILVER FALCHION AWARD WINNERS & NOMINEES
2017 Silver Falchion Award: Best Fiction Book of the Year
Kathryn Lane, Waking Up in Medellin
2017 Silver Falchion Award: Best Nonfiction Book of the Year
Shaun Assael, The Murder of Sonny Liston
2017 Silver Falchion Award: Best Fiction Adult Anthology / Collection
Charley Pearson, author, The Marianated Nottingham and Other Abuses of the Language
NOMINEES
Lawrence Block, editor, In Sunlight or In Shadow
John Hegenberger, author, Iceslinger
Laurie R. King & Leslie S. Klinger, editors, Echoes of Sherlock Holmes
2017 Silver Falchion Award: Best Fiction Tween/YA Mystery/Thriller
James Hannibal, The Lost Property Office
NOMINEES
P.A. De Voe, Trapped
Gabriela Naumnik, Dream Crimes
Sheila Sobel. Color Blind
Jane Suen, Children of the Future
2017 Silver Falchion Award: Best Adult Thriller
J.A. Jance, Clawback
NOMINEES
R.G. Belsky, Blonde Ice
Diane Capri, Blood Trails
Robert Dugoni, The 7th Canon
Ward Larsen, Assassin’s Silence
Catherine Lea, Child of the State
Pierre LeMaitre, Blood Wedding
Jim Nesbitt, The Last Second Chance
Lynn Sholes, Brain Trust
2017 Silver Falchion Award: Best Fiction Action / Adventure
Randall Reneau, The Medinandi License
NOMINEES
Michael Byars Lewis, Veil of Deception
Gigi Pandian, Michelangelo’s Ghost
David Robbins, The Low Bird
Carrie Smith, Forgotten City
2017 Silver Falchion Award: Best Fiction Adult Mystery
Pamela Fagan Hutchins, Fighting for Anna
NOMINEES
Traci Andrighetti, Amaretto Amber
Allen Eskens, The Heavens May Fall
Peter James, Love You Dead
Kelly Oliver, Coyote
Howard Owen, Grace
Twist Phelan, Exit
L.A. Toth, Dead Secrets
Robin Yocum, A Brilliant Death
2017 Silver Falchion Award: Best Fiction Tween/YA Horror/Fantasy
David Neilsen, Dr. Fell and the Playground of Doom
C.D. Bell, Weregirl
2017 Silver Falchion Award: Best Fiction Adult Horror/Fantasy
Andrew Peters, The City of Seven Gods
NOMINEES
A.H. Gilbert, The Crandall Haunting
Chuck Grossart, The Phoenix Descent
Julie McElwain, A Murder in Time
2017 Silver Falchion Award: Best Fiction Adult Suspense
Kathryn Lane, Waking Up in Medellin
NOMINEES
Christina Hoag, Skin of Tattoos
Ray Peden, Prime Cut
Gay Yellen, The Body Next Door
2017 Silver Falchion Award: Best Nonfiction Adult
Shaun Assael, The Murder of Sonny Liston
Timothy Egan, The Immortal Irishman
2017 Silver Falchion Award: Best Fiction Children’s
Delia Sherman, The Evil Wizard Smallbone
Mary Pope Osborne, Balto of the Blue Dawn
2017 KILLER NASHVILLE BEST ATTENDING AUTHOR
Kelly Oliver, Coyote
2017 KILLER NASHVILLE C. AUGUSTE DUPIN DETECTIVE AWARD
Kierstin Marquet
2017 KILLER NASHVILLE READER’S CHOICE AWARD WINNERS & NOMINEES
2017 Readers’ Choice Award: Best Book of the Year
J.A. Jance, Clawback
2017 Readers’ Choice Award: Best Nonfiction Adult
Shaun Assael, The Murder of Sonny Liston
Timothy Egan, The Immortal Irishman
2017 Readers’ Choice Award: Best Fiction Adult Thriller
J.A. Jance
NOMINEES
Michael J. Allwood, A Customary Dilemma
Lin Anderson, None but the Dead
Ray Anderson, Sierra
Richard Anderson, Follow Apollo
Brian Andrews and Jeffrey Wilson, Tier One
Chuck Barrett, Disruption
R.G. Belsky, Blonde Ice
Flynn Berry, Under the Harrow
Robert Bryndza, Dark Water
Diane Capri, Blood Trails
Joe Clifford, December Boys
Philip Donlay, Pegasus Down
Louise Doughty, Black Water
Robert Downs, The Convenient Escape
Robert Dugoni, The 7th Cannon
Richard Dwyer, The Demon Pool
Warren Ellis, Normal
Matt Gale, Kings and Concubines
C.B. George, The Death of Rex Nhongo
Nicholas Guild, The Spartan Dagger
David Hagberg, End Game
John Hegenberger, Spadefall
Richard Holcroft, The Omega Covenant
Renee James, A Kind of Justice
Tierney James, Dark Side of Morning
Ward Larsen, Assassin’s Silence
Catherine Lea, Child of the State
Pierre LeMaitre, Blood Wedding
James L’Etoile, At What Cost
Erik Van Lustbader, Any Minute Now
Siobhan MacDonald, Twisted River
Debbi Mack, The Planck Factor
Peter May, Coffin Road
Catherine McKenzie, Fractured
Kyle Mills, Order to Kill
Caroline Mitchell, Love You To Death
Jonathan Moore, The Poison Artist
Jim Nesbitt, The Last Second Chance
Christopher Rutledge, Murder at Venegoni’s
Alex Ryan, Beijing Red
Lynn Sholes, Brain Trust
Jessica Webb, Pathogen
Jerri Williams, Pay To Play
Carter Wilson, Revelation
Manning Wolfe, Dollar Signs: Texas Lady Lawyer vs Boots King
Susan Wolfe, Escape Velocity
2017 Readers’ Choice Award: Best Fiction Adult Suspense
Lynette Eason, Always Watching
NOMINEES
Paul Dale Anderson, Claw Hammer
Rita D’Orazio, Legend of the Coco Palms Resort
Christina Hoag, Skin of Tattoos
Cate Holahan, The Widower’s Wife
John Houde, The Criminalist
Wendy H. Jones, Killer’s Crew
Jack Ketchum, The Secret Life of Souls
Kathryn Lane, Waking Up in Medellin
Alex Marwood, The Darkest Secret
Julia McDermott, Daddy’s Girl
Caroline Mitchell, Witness
Brenda Novak, Her Darkest Nightmare
Ron Parham, Festival of Fear
Ray Peden, Prime Cut
Mike Pettit, North of Mulholland
Laura Ellen Scott, The Mean Bone in Her Body
Fred Shackelford, The Ticket
Rona Simmons, The Martyr’s Brother
Gay Yellen, The Body Next Door
2017 Readers’ Choice Award: Best Fiction Adult Mystery
Traci Andrighetti, Amaretto Amber
NOMINEES
Shannon Baker, Stripped Bare
Andrea Camilleri and Stephen Sartarelli, A Voice in the Night
John M. Arnn, Jaheewah God of the Winds
Susan Breen, Maggie Dove’s Detective Agency
Joe Clifford, December Boys
Margaret Coel, Winter’s Child
Niki Danforth, Searching for Gatsby
Mary Davidsaver, Clouds Over Bishop Hill
Lesley Diehl, Mud Bog Murder
Catherine Dilts, Stone Cold Blooded
Gerald Elias, Playing With Fire
Allen Eskens, The Heavens May Fall
Loren D. Estleman, Brazen
Amanda Flower, Crime and Poetry
Nicci French, Thursday’s Children
Danielle Girard, Exhume
Nancy Hughes, The Dying Hour
Pamela Fagan Hutchins, Fighting for Anna
Nicci French, Friday on My Mind
Michael Guillebeau, Play Nice
William Kent Krueger, Manitou Canyon
Howard Owen, Grace
Craig Johnson, An Obvious Fact
Phyllis Gobbell, Secrets and Shamrocks
Debra H. Goldstein, Should Have Played Poker
Nathan Goodwin, The Spyglass File
Elena Hartwell, One Dead, Two to Go
Samantha Hunt, Mr. Splitfoot
Christine Husom, Frosty The Dead Man
Patrick Kanouse, The Shattered Bull
Peter James, Love You Dead
S.W. Lauden, Crosswise
Meg Lelvis, Bailey’s Law
Emily Littlejohn, Inherit The Bones
Jeffrey Lockwood, Poisoned Justice
T.C. LoTempio, Crime and Catnip
Melina Marchetta, Tell the Truth, Shame the Devil
Adrian McKinty, Rain Dogs
Margaret Mizushima, Stalking Ground
Barbara Nickless, Blood on the Tracks
Kelly Oliver, Coyote
Sandra Orchard, Another Day, Another Dali
Kate Parker, Deadly Wedding
Twist Phelan, Doubt
Twist Phelan, Exit
Twist Phelan, Fake
Jean Rabe, The Dead of Winter
Fran Stewart, A Wee Homicide in the Hotel
Denise Grover Swank, Center Stage
L.A. Toth, Dead Secrets
Elle Wild, Strange Things Done
Olivia Wildenstein, The Masterminds
Kevin Wolf, The Homeplace
Reavis Wortham, Unraveled
Robin Yocum, A Brilliant Death
Rich Zahradnik A Black Sail
James Ziskin, Heart of Stone
2017 Readers’ Choice Award: Best Fiction Adult Horror
Eric Gardner, Awakening
NOMINEES
Eric Gardner, Defiance
A.H. Gilbert, The Crandall Haunting
Janet Leigh Green, Unspeakable Acts
Christian Larsen, The Blackening of Flesh
2017 Readers’ Choice Award: Best Fiction Adult Fantasy / Sci-Fi
Barbara Barnett, The Apothecary’s Curse
NOMINEES
Chuck Grossart, The Phoenix Descent
Julie McElwain, A Murder in Time
Lois McMaster Bujold,
Gentleman Jole and the Red Queen
Andrew Peters, The City of Seven Gods
Lydia Staggs, Shamar
Rysa Walker, The Delphi Effect
2017 Readers’ Choice Award: Best Fiction Action / Adventure
Carrie Smith, Forgotten City
NOMINEES
James Lee Burke, The Jealous Kind
Deb Gaskill, Love, Fitz
John Hegenberger, Superfall
David Knop, Animal Parts
S.W. Lauden, Grizzly Season
Michael Byars Lewis, Veil of Deception
Bill Loehfelm, Let the Devil Out
Gigi Pandian, Michelangelo’s Ghost
Randall Reneau, The Medinandi License
Christian Snow, Pawpaws House
Danny Wynn, The Benevolent Terrorist
2017 Readers’ Choice Award: Best Fiction Action / Adventure
Carrie Smith, Forgotten City
NOMINEES
James Lee Burke, The Jealous Kind
Deb Gaskill, Love, Fitz
John Hegenberger, Superfall
David Knop, Animal Parts
S.W. Lauden, Grizzly Season
Michael Byars Lewis, Veil of Deception
Bill Loehfelm, Let the Devil Out
Gigi Pandian, Michelangelo’s Ghost
Randall Reneau, The Medinandi License
Christian Snow, Pawpaws House
Danny Wynn, The Benevolent Terrorist
2017 Readers’ Choice Award: Best Fiction Young Adult
Sheila Sobel, Color Blind
NOMINEES
M.J. Beaufrand, Useless Bay
C. D. Bell, Weregirl
P. A. De Voe, Trapped
Sally Gardner, The Door That Led to Where
James R. Hannibal, The Lost Property Office
Wendy H. Jones, The Dagger’s Curse
Gabriela Naumnik, Dream Crimes
David Neilsen, Dr. Fell and the Playground of Doom
Lisa Y. Potocar, Train to Glory
Jane Suen, Children of the Future
2017 Readers’ Choice Award: Best Fiction Children’s
Janice Petri, Something’s Tuggin on my Claw
Mary Pope Osborne, Balto of the Blue Dawn
Philip Reeve, Pugs of the Frozen North
Delia Sherman, The Evil Wizard Smallbone
2017 Readers’ Choice Award: Best Fiction Adult Anthology / Collection (awarded to editor or single author)
Michael Guillebeau, Eight Mystery Writers You Should Be Reading Now
Lawrence Block, In Sunlight of In Shadow
John Hegenberger, Iceslinger
Laurie R. King and Leslie S. Klinger, Echoes of Sherlock Holmes
Helen Oyeyemi, What is Not Yours Is Not Yours
Charley Pearson, The Marianated Nottingham and Other Abuses of the Language
2017 MYSTERY WRITERS OF AMERICA – SOUTHEAST CHAPTER
2017 SEMWA Silver Quill Award – Beth Terrell (Jaden Terrell)
2017 SEMWA Magnolia Award – Richard Helms
2016 Award Winners
Claymore Award – R.G. Belsky, Forget-Me-Not
1st Runner Up – Roger Toll, Hooray for Hollywood
2nd Runner Up – Peggy O’Neal Peden, Jake’s Hand
Claymore Award Finalists:
Alicia Anthony, Inheritance
J. J. Beall, Scandal
R.G. Belsky, Forget Me Not
Patricia James Dusenbury, Two Weeks in Geary
Mercedes King, Junkyard Lounge
Marlene Kurban, Under Suspicion
Laura Renee Oles, The Daughters of Bad Men
Peggy O’Neal Peden, Jake’s Hand
Roger Toll, Hooray for Hollywood
SB Woodson, Voice for the Dead
Silver Falchion Award
Best Fiction Adult Book – Jenny Milchman, As Night Falls
Finalists:
Baron R. Birtcher, Hard Latitudes
Mylo Carbia, The Raping of Ava Desantis
Christine Carbo, The Wild Inside
Paul Cleave, Trust No One
Craig Faustus, Buck Go Down Hard
Ray Peden, One Tenth of the Law
D.M. Pulley, The Dead Key
Michael Ransom, The Ripper Gene
Jan Thomas & Grant Jerkins, Done in One
Timothy Vincent, Prince of the Blue Castles
Best Fiction First Novel – Kris Calvin, One Murder More
Finalists:
Christine Carbo, The Wild Inside
Bevan Frank, The Mind of God
Michael Ransom, The Ripper Gene
Best Nonfiction Adult Book – Unni Turrettini, The Mystery of the Lone Wolf Killer
Finalist:
Merlin Tuttle, The Secret Lives of Bats
Best Fiction Young Adult Book (ages 14 and up) – Gwenda Bond, Fallout
Finalists:
Shane Berryhill, Chance Fortune: Out of Time
Mord McGhee, Old Flames and Heroes
Best Nonfiction Young Adult Book (ages 14 and up) – Stephanie Osborn, Sherlock Holmes and the Mummy’s Curse
Finalist:
P.A. De Voe, Warned
Best Fiction Tween Adult Book (ages 10-14) – Sally Ann Melia, Hunted by Aliens
Finalist:
Malia Ann Haberman, Chase Tinker and the House of Destiny (Book 3 of the Chase Tinker Series)
Best Children’s First Chapter Book – Fiction, Nonfiction, or Silly (ages 7-10) – Linda Joy Singleton, The Curious Cat Spy Club
Finalists:
Christopher Edge, The Black Crow Conspiracy
Emmanuel Ngwainmbi, Bo Aku, Undisputed King of the Forest
Best Children’s First Reader Book – Fiction, Nonfiction, or Silly (ages 5-8) – Scott Sonneborn, The North Police: Reindeer Games
Best Fiction Short Story Anthology – Kaye George, Murder on Wheels
Finalists:
Ramona DeFelice Long, Fish or Cut Bait
Joe McKinney, Shrieks and Shivers from the Horror Zine
Josh Pachter, The Tree of Life
Best Action Adventure – Baron R. Birtcher, Hard Latitudes
Finalists:
Jan Thomas & Grant Jerkins, Done in One
JD Wallace, Silent Cats: Deadly Dance
Best Comedy – John Hegenberger, Spyfall
Finalists:
Traci Andrighetti and Elizabeth Ashby, Deadly Dye and a Soy Chai
Thomas Davidson, Past is Present
Best Horror – Michael Ransom, The Ripper Gene
Finalists:
Mylo Carbia, The Raping of Ava Desantis
Derik Cavignano, Colony of the Lost
Best Mystery / Crime – Kay Kendall, Rainy Day Women
Finalists:
R.G. Belsky, Shooting for the Stars
Kris Calvin, One Murder More
BV Lawson, Dies Irae
Melinda Leigh, Minutes to Kill (A Scarlet Falls Novel)
D.M. Pulley, The Dead Key
Michael Ransom, The Ripper Gene
Linda Sands, 3 Women Walk into a Bar
K.C. Tansley, The Girl Who Ignored Ghosts
Jan Thomas & Grant Jerkins, Done in One
Best Non-Genre / Literary – (tie) Baron R. Birtcher, Hard Latitudes & Christine Carbo, The Wild Inside
Finalist:
Timothy Vincent, Prince of the Blue Castles
Best Romance / Romantic Suspense – Melinda Leigh, Minutes to Kill (A Scarlet Falls Novel)
Finalist:
Glenna Mason, In the Rafters
Best Science Fiction – Chuck Grossart, The Gemini Effect
Finalist:
Sally Ann Melia, Hunted by Aliens
Best Thriller – (tie) Baron R. Birtcher, Hard Latitudes & Melinda Leigh, Minutes to Kill (A Scarlet Falls Novel)
Finalists:
R.G. Belsky, Shooting for the Stars
Thomas Davidson, Past is Present
Bevan Frank, The Mind of God
Debra K. Gaskill, Call Fitz
Jerry Hatchett, Unallocated Space
Michael Ransom, The Ripper Gene
M.A. Richards, Choice of Enemies
Jan Thomas & Grant Jerkins, Done in One
John Vance, Death by Mournful Numbers
Best Book by an Attendee – Kay Kendall, Rainy Day Women
Finalists:
Baron R. Birtcher, Hard Latitudes
Bill Loehfelm, Doing the Devil’s Work
Caroline Fardig, Death Before Decaf
Christine Matthews, Beating the Bushes
Cindy Sample, Dying for a Donut
Claire Applewhite, The Doctor’s Tale
Dana Chamblee Carpenter, Bohemian Gospel
Debra Gaskill, Call Fitz
Derik Cavignano, Colony of the Lost
E.C. Diskin, Broken Grace
Eliot Parker, Fragile Brilliance
Erica Wright, The Granite Moth,
Jean Rabe, Pockets of Darkness,
John Hegenberger, Spyfall
John Vance, Death by Mournful Numbers
Ken Vanderpool, Stop the Music
Kris Calvin, One Murder More
L. Sydney Fisher, The Phoenix Mission
Laurel Heidtman, Bad Girls (An Eden Mystery)
Linda Sands, 3 Women Walk into a Bar
Linda Thorne, Just Another Termination
Maggie Toussaint, Bubba Done It
M.K. Gilroy, Cold as Ice
Michael Guillebeau, A Study in Detail
Phyllis Gobbell, Pursuit in Provence
R.G. Belsky, Shooting for the Stars
Ray Peden, One Tenth of the Law
Ray Wenck, Ghost of a Chance
Robert J. Randisi, McKenna’s House,
Susan Crawford, The Pocket Wife
Wendy Sand Eckel, Murder at Barclay Meadow,
2015 Award Winners
Claymore Award – Michael F. Stewart, The Boy Who Swallows Flies
1st Runner Up – Jean Rabe, The Christmas Card Killer
2nd Runner Up (tie, listed in alphabetical order) –
Philip Cioffari, Night and Its Burdens
Sasscer Hill, Dark Side of Town
Claymore Award Finalists:
(in alphabetical order by author)
J.D. Allen, 19 Crimes
Philip Cioffari, Night and Its Burdens
Nikki M. Clarke, Wicked Hands
Alice Fitzpatrick, The Thing of Darkness
Sasscer Hill, Dark Side of Town
L.G. Jenkins, Diptastic
J.E. Mooney (Jean Rabe), The Christmas Card Killer
Ben Orlando, The Lost Journals of Sundown
Michael F. Stewart, The Boy Who Swallows Flies
Jonathan Stone, Two for the Show
Silver Falchion Award
Best Novel
Cozy/Traditional Mystery – Charles Todd, Hunting Shadows
Finalists:
Andrea Camilleri, Angelica’s Smile
E. J. Copperman and Jeff Cohen, The Question of the Missing Head
Mary Daheim, The Alpine Yeoman
Margaret Maron, Designated Daughters
Crime Thriller – Lisa Unger, In the Blood
Finalists:
Paul Doiron, The Bone Orchard
Gwen Florio, Dakota
Tod Goldberg, Gangsterland
John Lescroart, The Keeper
Historical – Anne Perry, Death On Blackheath
Finalists:
Rennie Airth, The Reckoning
P.F. Chisholm, An Air of Treason
Kathleen George, The Johnstown Girls
Alex Grecian, The Devil’s Workshop
Literary Mystery / Suspense / Thriller – Catriona McPherson, The Day She Died
Finalists:
Linda Castillo, The Dead Will Tell
John Katzenbach, Red 1-2-3
Stephen King, Mr. Mercedes
Tom Rob Smith, The Farm
Political / Adventure / Espionage Thriller – Terry Hayes, I am Pilgrim
Finalists:
Adam Brookes, Night Heron
Matthew Dunn, Dark Spies: A Spycatcher Novel
Assaf Gavron, The Hilltop
Ward Larsen, Assassin’s Game
Private Detective / Police Procedural / Mystery – John Sandford, Field of Prey
Finalists:
Ace Atkins, The Forsaken
Reed Farrel Coleman, The Hollow Girl
Christopher Fowler, Bryant & May and the Bleeding Heart
David Mark, Sorrow Bound
Romantic Suspense – Hank Phillippi Ryan, Truth Be Told
Finalists:
Carey Baldwin, Judgment
Catherine Coulter and J.T. Ellison, The Lost Key
Janet Evanovich, Top Secret Twenty-One
Rebecca James, Sweet Damage
Speculative / Horror / Science Fiction / Fantasy – F. Paul Wilson, Fear City
Finalists:
Stephen Lloyd Jones, The String Diaries
Tim Lebbon, Coldbrook
John Scalzi, Lock In
Jonathan Wood, Yesterday’s Hero
Long-form Novelty Fiction – Danica Novgorodoff, The Undertaking of Lily Chen
Finalists:
Notes from the Cat House – Jack Ketchum
Best First Novel
Cozy / Traditional / Historical – Allen Eskens, The Life We Bury
Finalists:
J. Bard-Collins, Honor Above All
Nancy Coco, To Fudge or Not to Fudge
Hannah Dennison, Murder at Honeychurch Hall
TJ O’Connor, Dying to Know
Literary Suspense – Laura McHugh, The Weight of Blood
Finalists:
Tom Bouman, Dry Bones in the Valley
John Darnielle, Wolf in White Van
Samuel W. Gailey, Deep Winter
Oliver Truc, Forty Days Without Shadow
Leta Serafim, The Devil Takes Half
Thriller / Mystery – Lori Rader-Day, The Black Hour
Finalists:
Sarah Hilary, Someone Else’s Skin
Mark Nielsen, Hotlanta!
Matthew Palmer, The American Mission
Chrysler Szarlan, The Hawley Book of the Dead
Neely Tucker, The Ways of the Dead
Andy Weir, The Martian
Best Nonfiction
Academic – Charles Brownson, The Figure of the Detective: A Literary History and Analysis
Finalists:
Edited by Patricia Prandini Buckler, Bloody Italy: Essays on Crime Writing in Italian Settings
Edited by Curtis Evans, Mysteries Unlocked: Essays in Honor of Douglas G. Greene
Amnon Kabatchnik, Blood on the Stage 480 B.C. to 1600 A.D.: Milestone Plays on Murder, Mystery, and Mayhem
Elizabeth Kolbert, The Sixth Extinction: An Unnatural History
James Mancall, James Ellroy: A Companion to the Mystery Fiction
Mainstream Crime Reference – Adam Plantinga, 400 Things Cops Know
Finalists:
Lucy Worsley, The Art of the English Murder
Memoir / Biography – Karen Abbott, Liar, Temptress, Soldier, Spy: Four Women Undercover in the Civil War
Finalists:
Kai Bird, The Good Spy: The Life and Death of Robert Ames
Sarah Churchwell, Careless People: Murder, Mayhem, and the Invention of The Great Gatsby
Lacy M. Johnson, The Other Side: A Memoir
J.W. Ocker, Poe-Land: The Hallowed Haunts of Edgar Allan Poe
True Crime – Deborah Halber, The Skeleton Crew: How Amateur Sleuths Are Solving America’s Coldest Cases
Finalists:
Kevin Cook, Kitty Genovese: The Murder, the Bystanders, The Crime that Changed America
Joshua Horwitz, War of the Whales
William J. Mann, Tinseltown: Murder, Morphine, and Madness at the Dawn of Hollywood
Matt Richtel, A Deadly Wandering: A Tale of Tragedy and Redemption in the Age of Attention
Best Children, Middle Grade, and Young Adult
Children’s Picture Book – Julie Kraulis, An Armadillo in Paris
Finalists:
Dan Bar-El, Illustrated by David Huyck, Nine Words Max
Zachary Hyman, Illustrated by Zachary Pullen, The Bambino and Me
Monica Kulling, Illustrated by David Parkins, Spic-and-Span! Lillian Gilbreth’s Wonder Kitchen
Eric Walters, Illustrated by Eugenie Fernandes, Hope Springs
Children’s Chapter Book – Dori Hillestad Butler, Illustrated by Aurore Damant, The Haunted Library
Finalists:
Bryn Fleming, Range Riders: Cassie & Jasper to the Rescue
Lewis B. Montgomery, Illustrated by Amy Wummer, The Milo & Jazz Mysteries: The Case of the Buried Bones
Scott Sonneborn, Illustrated by Timothy Banks, The Frankenstein Journals: Volume 1
Martin Widmark, Illustrated by Helena Willis, The Whodunit Detective Agency: The Diamond Mystery
Middle Grade – Jacqueline West, Still Life (The Books of Elsewhere, Book #5)
Finalists:
Dan Bar-El, Illustrated by Tatjana Mai-Wyss, Audrey (Cow)
Charis Cotter, The Swallow: A Ghost Story
Kate De Goldi, Illustrated by Gregory O’Brien, The ACB with Honora Lee
Tania Unsworth, The One Safe Place
Young Adult – Kimberly G. Giarratano, Grunge Gods and Graveyards
Finalists:
Kate Brauning, How We Fall
Elle Cosimano, Nearly Gone
Hollis Gillespie, Unaccompanied Minor
S.J. Laidlaw, The Voice Inside My Head
Best Anthology, Collection, and Attending Author
Anthology – Laurie R. King and Leslie S. Klinger (Editors), In the Company of Sherlock Holmes: Stories Inspired by the Holmes Canon
Finalists:
Mark Ammons, Katherine Fast, Barbara Ross, and Leslie Wheeler (Editors), Rogue Wave: Best New England Crime Stories
David Baldacci (Editor), Faceoff
Jeffery Deaver and Raymond Benson (Editors), Ice Cold: Tales of Intrigue from the Cold War
Kristine Kathryn Rusch (Editor), Fiction River Special Edition: Crime
Collection – Terry Odell, Seeing Red: From the Case Files of Detective James T. Kirkland
Finalists:
C.J. Box, Shots Fired: Stories from Joe Pickett Country
Jeffery Deaver, Trouble in Mind: The Collected Stories, Volume 3
Craig Johnson, Wait for Signs: Twelve Longmire Stories
Joyce Carol Oates, High Crime Area: Tales of Darkness and Dread
Attending Author – C. Hope Clark, Palmetto Poison
Finalists:
Stacy Allen, Expedition Indigo
R.G. Belsky, The Kennedy Connection
Philip Cioffari, Dark Road, Dead End
Connie Dial, Unnatural Murder
Chris Knopf, A Billion Ways to Die
Bryan E. Robinson, Limestone Gumption
Robert Rotstein, Reckless Disregard: A Parker Stern Novel
Charles Salzberg, Swann’s Lake of Despair
Rich Zahradnik, Last Words
John Seigenthaler Legends Award – Robert K. Tanenbaum
Dupin Detective Award – Bobbi Blake
SEMWA Magnolia Award – Ross Cavins
2014 Award Winners
Claymore Award – Dana Chamblee Carpenter, Bohemian Gospel
1st Runner Up – Ronald Kidd, The Raven and Me
2nd Runner Up (tie, listed in alphabetical order) –
Philip Cioffari, The Cold Eye of Danger
Barbara Nickless, White Line Fever
Claymore Award Finalists:
(in alphabetical order by author)
Ross Cavins, Barry Versus the Apocalypse
Nichole Christoff, The Kill Shot: Book 2
Steven Cooper, Desert Remains
Laine Cunningham, Break the Bow
Rick Koster, Gris Gris Gumbo
Barbara Nickless,White Line Fever
Tim O’Brien, Twelve Bricks
Silver Falchion Award
Best Novel
Cozy/Traditional Mystery – Maggie Toussaint, Dime if I Know
Finalists:
Miriam Auerbach, Dirty Harriet
C.C. Benison, Ten Lords a’ Leaping
C. Hope Clark, Tidewater Murder
Livia Day, A Trifle Day
G.M. Mailliet, Pagan Spring
Cindy Sample, Dying for a Daiquiri
Crime Thriller – Michael Sears, Mortal Bonds
Finalists:
Linwood Barclay, A Tap On The Window
Jefferson Bass, Cut to the Bone
David Freed, Fangs Out
Val McDermid, Cross and Burn
John Sandford, Silken Prey
Preston & Child, White Fire
Historical – Anne Perry, Blind Justice
Finalists:
Max Allan Collins, Ask Not
Loren D. Estleman, The Confessions of Al Capone
Lyndsay Faye, Seven for a Secret
Alex Grecian, The Black Country
John Lawton, Then We Take Berlin
Priscilla Royal, Covenant with Hell
Literary Mystery / Suspense / Thriller – William Kent Krueger, Ordinary Grace
Finalists:
Liana Moriary, The Husband’s Secret
Thomas H. Cook, Sandrine’s Case
Lauren Beukes, The Shining Girls
Anne Holt, Death of the Demon
Morag Joss, Our Picnics in the Sun
Political / Adventure / Espionage Thriller – Jeffery Deaver, The Kill Room
Finalists:
Jeff Abbott, Downfall
David Baldacci, King and Maxwell
John F. Dobbyn, Deadly Diamonds
Frederick Forsyth, The Kill List
Brad Thor, Hidden Order
Private Detective / Police Procedural / Mystery – Sue Grafton, “W” is for Wasted
Finalists:
Kevin J. Anderson, Unnatural Acts
Ace Atkins, Robert B. Parker’s Wonderland
Robert Galbraith, The Cuckoo’s Calling
Sara Gran, Clara Dewitt and the Bohemian Highway
Timothy Hallinan, Little Elvises
Joanie McDonnell, Bolero
Romantic Suspense – Lisa Jackson, Tell Me
Finalists:
Sandra Brown, Deadline
Mary Burton, No Escape
Karen Robards, The Last Kiss Goodbye
Speculative / Horror / Science Fiction / Fantasy – Dean Koontz, Innocence
Finalists:
Max Berry, Lexicon
Stephen King, Dr. Sleep
Ted Kosmatka, Prophet of Bone
Seth Patrick, Reviver
Benjamin Percy, Red Moon
Daniel Polansky, She Who Waits
Long-form Novelty Fiction – Lee Child et al., Inherit the Dead
Finalists:
NOIR: Erasure Poetry Anthology
V.M. Straka, Ship of Theseus
Best First Novel
Cozy / Traditional / Historical – Dee Phelps, The Disappointment Room
Finalists:
Gretchen Archer, Double Whammy
Marilyn Bos, The Stray Pitch
Linda S. Reilly, Some Enchanted Murder: An Apple Mariani Mystery
Suzanne Rindell, The Other Typist
Susan Spann, Claws of the Cat: A Shinobi Mystery
Literary Suspense – Jamie Mason, Three Graves Full
Finalists:Gwen Florio, Montana
Michael Guillebeau, Josh Whoever
A.S.A. Harrison, The Silent Wife
Holly Goddard Jones, The Next Time You See Me
Jenny Milchman, Cover of Snow
Thriller / Mystery – Lisa Cutts, Never Forget
Finalists:
Mary Louise Kelly, Anonymous Sources
Barry Lancet, Japan Town
Terri Nolan, Burden of Truth
Lachlan Smith, Bear is Broken
Linda Stasi, The Sixth Station
Koethi Zan, The Never List
Best Nonfiction
Academic (tie, listed in alphabetical order) –
Charles J. Rzepka, Being Cool: The Work of Elmore Leonard
Bruce Shaw, Jolly Good Detecting: Humor in English Crime Fiction of the Golden Age
Finalists:
Pamela Bedore, Dime Novels and the Roots of American Detective Fiction
Martin Clancy & Tim O’Brien, Murder at the Supreme Court: Lethal Crimes and Landmark Cases
Margaret Anne Hutton, French Crime Fiction 1945-2005: Investigating World War II
Mary Papenfuss, Killer Dads: The Twisted Drives that Compel Fathers to Murder Their Own Kids
Peter Schweizer, Extortion: How Politicians Extract Your Money, Buy Votes, and Line Their Own Pockets
Theodore Zilkowski, The Lure of the Arcane: The Literature of the Cult and Conspiracy
Craft and Business of Writing – Chuck Wendig, The Kick-Ass Writer
Finalists:
Editor Robert Lee Brewer, 2014 Guide to Self-Publishing – Writer’s Digest
Orson Scott Card & Philip Athan, Writing Fantasy & Science Fiction
Jeff Gerke, Story Physics: Harnessing the Underlying Forces of Storytelling – Write Your Novel in a Month
Adam Grant, Give and Take: A Revolutionary Approach to Success
K.M. Weiland, Structuring Your Novel: Essential Keys to Writing an Outstanding Story
Mainstream Crime Reference – Brad Meltzer with Katie Ferrell, History Decoded: The 10 Greatest Conspiracies of All Time
Finalists:
John Douglas & Mark Olshaker, Law & Disorder: The Legendary FBI Profiler’s Relentless Pursuit of Justice
Editor Sarah Janssen, The World Almanac Book of Facts 2014
Chuck Klosterman, I Wear the Black Hat: Grappling with Villains (Real and Imagined)
Maria Konnikova, Master-Mind: How to Think Like Sherlock Holmes
David McConnell, American Honor Killings: Desire and Rage Among Men
Memoir / Biography – Anne Serling, As I Knew Him: My Dad, Rod Serling
Finalists:
Bill Dedman & Paul Clark Newell, Jr., Empty Mansions: The Mysterious Life of Hugette Clark and the Spending of a Great American Fortune
Earle Labor, Jack London: An American Life
Lance Parkin, Magic Words: The Extraordinary Life of Alan Moore
Domenica Ruta, With Or Without You
Justin St.Germain, Son of a Gun
True Crime – Judith Yates, The Devil You Know
Finalists:
Diana Fanning, Sleep My Darlings
Jerid M. Fisher, Upside Down
Charles Graeber, The Good Nurse: A True Story of Medicine, Madness, and Murder
M. William Phelps, Bad Girls
Hannes Rastam, Thomas Quick: The Making of a Serial Killer
Linda Rosencrance, House of Lies
Robert K. Tanenbaun, Echoes of My Soul
Best Children, Middle Grade, and Young Adult
Children’s Picture Book – Janice S. C. Petrie (Writer, Illustrator), Did You Make the Hole In the Shell In the Sea?
Finalists:
Paul Czajak, Monster Needs A Costume
Denis Dowling Mortenson (Writer), Cece Bell (Illustrator), The Bug Patrol
Peggy Kochanoff (Writer, Illustrator), Be A Wilderness Detective
Spelile Rivas (Writer), Valeria Cervantes (Illustrator), The Cucuy Stole My Cascarones
Anita Yasuda (Writer), Steve Harpster (Illustrator), Dino Detectives – The Beach Bandit
Anita Yasuda (Writer), Steve Harpster (Illustrator), Dino Detectives – Ghost Stories
Children’s Chapter Book (tie, listed in alphabetical order) –
Annie Barrows (Writer), Sophie Blackall (Illustrator), Ivy + Bean Take the Case
Lewis B. Montgomery (Writer), Amy Wummer – The Case of the Locked Box
Finalists:
Steve Brezenoff, Ravens Pass: Cheaters
Steven Brezenoff, The Crook That Made Kids Cry
Hazel Hutchins, The Great Bike Rescue
Thomas Kingsley Troupe, Furry and Flo: The Big Hairy Secret
Middle Grade – Jessica Scott Kerrin, The Spotted Dog Last Seen
Finalists:
Blue Balliett, Hold Fast
Erin Dionne, Moxie and the Art of Rule-Breaking
Phoebe Stone, Romeo Blue
Jonathan Stroud, Lockwood and Co.: The Screaming Staircase
Kristin O’Donnell Tubb, The 13th Sign
Jacqueline West, The Books of Elsewhere: The Strangers
Young Adult – Elisa Nader, Escape from Eden
Finalists:
Cinda Williams Chima, The Enchanted Heir
T.L. Costa, Playing Tyler
Ashley Elston, The Rules for Disappearing
Aimee Gilchrist, The Tell-Tale Con
Amie Kaurman & Megan Spooner, These Broken Stars
Katie McGarry, Crash Into You
Best Anthology, Collection, and Attending Author
Anthology – Mike Ashley (Editor), Sisters In Crime: Early Crime and Mystery Stories by Women
Finalists:
Jess Faraday, Undead and the Detective
Maxim Jakubowski, The Mammoth Book of Best British Mysteries
Ross E. Lockhart, Tales of Jack the Ripper
George Mann, Encounters with Sherlock Holmes
Brad Meltzer, The Mystery Box
Otto Penzler, Kwik Krimes
Collection – Barb Goffman, Don’t Get Mad, Get Even: 15 Tales Tales of Revenge and More
Finalists:
Joanne Anderton, The Bone Chime Song and Other Stories
David Fingerman, Two Degrees Closer to Hell
Edmund Glasby, The Ash Murders: Supernatural Mystery Stories
Morris Herschman, Stop at Nothing/ Vicious Circles: Classic Stories
David James Keaton, Fish Bites Cop: Stories to Bash Authorities
Lyn McConchie, Sherlock Holmes: Repeat Business
Attending Author – Don Bruns, Reel Stuff
Finalists:
Sallie Bissell, Music of Ghosts
Connie Dial, Dead Wrong
Craig Faris, The Spectrum Conspiracy
Steven James, Singularity
Kay Kendall, Desolation Row
Hank Phillippi Ryan, The Wrong Girl
John Seigenthaler Legends Award – Donald Bain
Dupin Detective Award – Logan Masterson
SEMWA Magnolia Award – Karen McCullough
2013 Award Winners
Claymore Award – Terri Coop, Dial 1-Pro-Hac-Vice
1st Runner Up – Jacob M. Appel, The Man Who Trounced God at Chess
2nd Runner Up – Elizabeth Visser, Profile of a Killer
Claymore Award Finalists:
(in alphabetical order by author)
Laura Brennan, The End of All Things
Vinnie Hansen, Black Beans & Venom
Charles Kingsman, Unbelievers
John Madinger, Hot Shot
Joan Kane Nichols, A Novel By Dickens
Ray Peden, One Tenth of the Law
Shellie Williams, Deadly Secrets
Silver Falchion Award – Sara J. Henry, A Cold And Lonely Place
1st Runner Up – Sara J. Henry, A Cold And Lonely Place
2nd Runner Up (tie, listed in alphabetical order) –
Jamie Mason, Three Graves Full
Molly MacRae, Last Wool & Testament
Dupin Detective Award – Lisa Anderson
SEMWA Magnolia Award – Mary Saums
2012 Award Winners
Claymore Award – Jonathan Stone, Again
1st Runner Up – V.R. Barkowski, A Twist of Hate
2nd Runner Up (tie, listed alphabetically) –
Carol Baier, Wicked Schemes
Mark Troy, The Law of the Splintered Paddle
Claymore Award Finalists:
(in alphabetical order by author)
Anna Castle, Murder By Misrule
Philip Cioffari, The Bronx Kill
Marianna Heusler, Hallowed Darkened Space
Susan Lindgren, Forgotten Treasures
Terry Shames, The Last Death of Jack Harbin
Maris Soule, A Killer Past
Silver Falchion Award – C. Hope Clark, Lowcountry Bribe
Dupin Detective Award – Logan Masterson
SEMWA Magnolia Award – Chester D. Campbell
2011 Award Winners
Claymore Award – Judith Dailey, Animal, Vegetable, Murder
1st Runner Up – Craig Faustus Buck, Go Down Hard
2nd Runner Up – Joan Lipinsky Cochran, The Yiddish Gangster’s Daughter
Claymore Award Finalists:
(in alphabetical order by author)
Baron R. Birtcher, Rain Dogs
Bryan Camp, Where the Dead Remain
Debora Dale, Canyon Road
Jessica Ferguson, A Bad Guy Forever
Frank Jenkins, An Embarrassment of Riches
Doc Macomber, Riff Raff
E. Joan Sims, A.K.A. Love
Silver Falchion Award – Marco Conelli, Matthew Livingston and the Politics of Death
Dupin Detective Award – Deborah DeLong
SEMWA Magnolia Award – Clay Stafford
2010 Award Winners
Claymore Award – Tom Wallace, Gnosis
1st Runner Up – Carolyn McSparren, A Disciplined Death
2nd Runner Up – Korey Kaul, Jury Rig
Claymore Award Finalists:
(in alphabetical order by author)
Ronnie Casella, The Watchers
Philip Cioffari, Dark Road, Dead End
Alan Lewis, The Blood in Snowflake Garden
E. J. Rand, Labyrinth
Terry Shames, The Art of Murder
Michael Siverling, The Blood of Alexander
J. J. White, Prayer Offerings
Silver Falchion Award – Radine Trees Nehring, Journey to Die For
Dupin Detective Award – Laura Hayden
SEMWA Magnolia Award – Charles Todd
2009 Award Winners
Claymore Award (Inaugural Year) – Linda Black, The Death of Noble Dancer
Claymore Award Finalists:
(in alphabetical order by author)
Glen Allison, Hunka Burnin’ Death
David Booker, The Painted Beast
Nancy Horgan, The Murder Rules
David E. Knop, Mining Sacred Ground
Joseph Newcum, Cast Out of Paradise
Sarah Parrott, The Blonde Leading the Blonde
Eyre Price, An Unsolicited Manuscript
Jonathan Sicherman, Watchman’s Tale
Marylee Woods, Temporarily Dead
Silver Falchion Award – Chester Campbell
SEMWA Magnolia Award – Beth Terrell
2008 Award Winners
Silver Falchion Winner (Inaugural Year) – Don Bruns
Dupin Detective Award – Stephen Wherley
SEMWA Magnolia Award Winner – Margaret Maron
2007 Award Winners
Dupin Detective Award (Inaugural Year) – Stephen Wherley
SEMWA Magnolia Award – Chris Roerden
2006 Award Winners
SEMWA Magnolia Award Winner – Gwen Hunter
2005 Award Winners
SEMWA Magnolia Award Winner – Tamar Myers