Book Notes — Best Mystery/Crime Novels of the New Century, Updated for 2015

Edgar & Hammett 2915

Each year there are hundreds of awards given for mystery-related writing.  What follows is a list of awards for the top award  (“best novel” of the year) in this new century as determined by the genre’s most established award givers — Mystery Writers of America (The Edgar and Anthony),  Private Eye Writers of America (The Shamus*), Mystery Readers International (The Macavity) and the comprehensive mystery review quarterly, Deadly Pleasures (The Barry).

Some years, a single author dominates.  Last year William Kent Krueger nearly swept the board.  This year, the honors were more widely spread. 

Congratulations to all the 2015 winners and to all of the nominees. Check the organizations’ web sites for best first novels, best short stories and other outstanding accomplishments by today’s crime writers. 

2000  

Jan Burke, Bones, Edgar

Don Winslow, California Fire and Life, Shamus

Peter Robinson, In a Dry Season, Anthony

Sujata Massey, The Flower Master, Macavity

Peter Robinson, In a Dry Season, Barry

Anthony 2915

2001  

Joe R. Lansdale, The Bottoms, Edgar

Carolina Garcia-Aguilera, Havana Heat, Shamus

Val McDermid, A Place of Execution, Anthony

Val McDermid, A Place of Execution, Macavity

Nevada Barr Deep South, Barry

2002  

T. Jefferson Parker, California Girl, Edgar

S. J. Rozan, Reflecting the Sky, Shamus

Dennis Lehane, Mystic River, Anthony

Laurie R. King, Folly, Macavity

Dennis Lehane, Mystic River, Barry

2003  

S. J. Rozan, Winter and Night, Edgar

James W. Hall, Blackwater Sound, Shamus

Michael Connelly, City of Bones, Anthony

S.J. Rozan, Winter and Night, Macavity

Michael Connelly, City of Bones, Barry

2004  

Ian Rankin, Resurrection Men, Edgar

Ken Bruen, The Guards, Shamus

Laura Lippman, Every Secret Thing, Anthony

Peter Lovesey, The House Sitter, Macavity

Laura Lippman, Every Secret Thing, Barry

Macavity 2015

2005  

T. Jefferson Parker, California Girl, Edgar

Ed Wright, While I Disappear, Shamus

William Kent Krueger, Blood Hollow, Anthony

Ken Bruen, The Killing of the Tinkers, Macavity

Lee Child, The Enemy, Barry

2006  

Jess Walter, Citizen Vince, Edgar

 Michael Connelly, The Lincoln Lawyer, Shamus

 William Kent Krueger, Mercy Falls, Anthony

 Michael Connelly, The Lincoln Lawyer, Macavity

 Thomas H. Cook, Red Leaves, Barry

2007  

Jason Goodwin, The Janissary Tree, Edgar

Ken Bruen, The Dramatist, Shamus

Laura Lippman, No Good Deeds, Anthony

Nancy Pickard, The Virgin of Small Plains, Macavity

George Pelecanos, The Night Gardener, Barry

2008  

John Hart, Down River, Edgar

Reed Farrel Coleman, Soul Patch, Shamus

Laura Lippman, What the Dead Know, Anthony

Laura Lippman, What the Dead Know, Macavity

Laura Lippman, What the Dead Know, Barry

Shamus 2015

2009  

C. J. Box, Blue Heaven, Edgar

Reed Farrel Coleman, Empty Ever After, Shamus

Michael Connelly, The Brass Verdict, Anthony

Deborah Crombie, Where Memories Lie, Macavity

Arnaldur Indridason, The Draining Lake, Barry

2010  

John Hart, The Last Child, Edgar

Marcia Muller, Locked In, Shamus

Louise Penny, The Brutal Telling, Anthony

John Hart, The Last Child, Macavity

John Hart, The Last Child, Barry

2011  

Steve Hamilton, The Lock Artist, Edgar

Lori Armstrong, No Merci, Shamus

Louise Penny, Bury Your Dead, Anthony

Louise Penny, Bury Your Dead, Macavity

Steven Hamilton, The Lock Artist, Barry

2012  

Mo Hayder, Gone, Edgar

Michael Wiley, A Bad Night's Sleep, Shamus

Louise Penny, A Trick of the Light, Anthony

Susan Gran, Claire DeWitt and the City of the Dead, Macavity

Jussi Adler Olsen, The Keeper of Lost Causes, Barry

   

Barry 2015

2013  

Dennis Lehane, Live By Night, Edgar

Robert Crais, Taken, Shamus

Louise Penny, The Beautiful Mystery, Anthony

Louise Penny, The Beautiful Mystery, Macavity

Peter May, The Blackhouse, Barry

2014

William Kent Krueger, Ordinary Grace, Edgar

Brad Parks, The Good Cop, Shamus

William Kent Krueger, Ordinary Grace, Anthony

William Kent Krueger, Ordinary Grace, Macavity

William Kent Krueger, Ordinary Grace, Barry

2015

Stephen King, Mr. Mercedes, Edgar

David Rosenfelt, Hounded, Shamus

Laura Lippman, After I’m Gone, Anthony

Alex Marwood, The Killer Next Door, Macavity

Greg Isles, Natchez Burning, Barry

Other recent Awards: The Hammett Prize, from The International Association of Crime Writers (North American Branch) went to Stephen King for his novel, Mr. Mercedes. Paul Cleave’s Five Minutes Alone picked up the 2015 Ngaio Marsh Award for best crime novel. Another note: The Shamus for best Indie P.I. novel (a rare, but timely category) was awarded to Trace Conger for The Shadow Broker, which I reviewed here earlier this year.  In the cozy world, this year’s Agatha was given to Hank Phillippi Ryan for Truth Be Told. 

*Note To qualify for the Shamus, the main character must be a private investigator or a non-cop who is paid for his or her services.

Book Notes — Best Mystery/Crime Writers of the New Century

A number of important awards will be announced later this week at the big Mystery Writers of America (MWA) conference, Bouchercon, in Cleveland.  Last Monday we listed some of the “best mystery novel” awards, stopping just before the 21st Century. Today, we pick this up where we left off.

The compilation is based on awards given by the MWA (The Edgar and the Anthony), the Private Eye Writers of America (The Shamus), Mystery Readers International (The Macavity) and the comprehensive mystery review quarterly, Deadly Pleasures (The Barry).

Among those who have had their books judged the “best” of the year by these organizations, a mystery novel by Michael Connelly has won nine awards over the years, with probably more to come. Laura Lippman and Sue Grafton have each picked up six.  John Hart’s The Last Child and Laura Lippman’s What the Dead Know won three out of the five “bests” for 2010 and 2008 respectively. I was surprised to see that some of the legendary writers in the thriller/suspense/mystery field have won few or none of these awards, including many writers who regularly appear at the top of the bestseller lists.

Two other points should be noted.  One is that eligibility for the Shamus Award is limited to books about private investigators.  The second is that most of these organizations give awards in several categories — best paperback, best first novel, etc.  The books listed here are for “Best Novel” only.

To check out the 2012 winners as they are announced later this week, visit Rap Sheet or the web sites of the organizations giving the awards.  I’ll also update this post with the new awards as they are reported.

2000   Jan Burke, Bones, Edgar

            Don Winslow, California Fire and Life, Shamus

            Peter Robinson, In a Dry Season, Anthony

            Sujata Massey, The Flower Master, Macavity

            Peter Robinson, In a Dry Season, Barry

2001   Joe R. Lansdale, The Bottoms, Edgar

            Carolina Garcia-Aguilera, Havana Heat, Shamus

            Val McDermid, A Place of Execution, Anthony

Val McDermid, A Place of Execution, Macavity

Nevada Barr Deep South, Barry

2002   T. Jefferson Parker, California Girl, Edgar

            S. J. Rozan, Reflecting the Sky, Shamus

            Dennis Lehane, Mystic River, Anthony

            Laurie R. King, Folly, Macavity

            Dennis Lehane, Mystic River, Barry

2003   S. J. Rozan, Winter and Night, Edgar

            James W. Hall, Blackwater Sound, Shamus

            Michael Connelly, City of Bones, Anthony

            S.J. Rozan, Winter and Night, Macavity

            Michael Connelly, City of Bones, Barry

2004   Ian Rankin, Resurrection Men, Edgar

            Ken Bruen, The Guards, Shamus

            Laura Lippman, Every Secret Thing, Anthony

            Peter Lovesey, The House Sitter, Macavity

            Laura Lippman, Every Secret Thing, Barry

2005   T. Jefferson Parker, California Girl, Edgar

            Ed Wright, While I Disappear, Shamus

            William Kent Krueger, Blood Hollow, Anthony

            Ken Bruen, The Killing of the Tinkers, Macavity

            Lee Child, The Enemy, Barry

2006   Jess Walter, Citizen Vince, Edgar

            Michael Connelly, The Lincoln Lawyer, Shamus

            William Kent Krueger, Mercy Falls, Anthony

            Michael Connelly, The Lincoln Lawyer, Macavity

            Thomas H. Cook, Red Leaves, Barry

2007   Jason Goodwin, The Janissary Tree, Edgar

            Ken Bruen, The Dramatist, Shamus

            Laura Lippman, No Good Deeds, Anthony

            Nancy Pickard, The Virgin of Small Plains, Macavity

            George Pelecanos, The Night Gardener, Barry

2008   John Hart, Down River, Edgar

            Reed Farrel Coleman, Soul Patch, Shamus

            Laura Lippman, What the Dead Know, Anthony

            Laura Lippman, What the Dead Know, Macavity

            Laura Lippman, What the Dead Know, Barry

2009   C. J. Box, Blue Heaven, Edgar

            Reed Farrel Coleman, Empty Ever After, Shamus

            Michael Connelly, The Brass Verdict, Anthony

            Deborah Crombie, Where Memories Lie, Macavity

            Arnaldur Indridason, The Draining Lake, Barry

2010   John Hart, The Last Child, Edgar

            Marcia Muller, Locked In, Shamus

            Louise Penny, The Brutal Telling, Anthony

            John Hart, The Last Child, Macavity

            John Hart, The Last Child, Barry

2011   Steve Hamilton, The Lock Artist, Edgar

            Lori Armstrong, No Merci, Shamus

            Louise Penny, Bury Your Dead, Anthony

            Louise Penny, Bury Your Dead, Macavity

            Steven Hamilton, The Lock Artist, Barry

2012   Mo Hayder, Gone, Edgar
           Michael Wiley, A Bad Night's Sleep, Shamus
           Louise Penny, A Trick of the Light, Anthony
           Susan Gran, Claire DeWitt and the City of the Dead, Macavity
           Jussi Adler Olsen, The Keeper of Lost Causes,  Barry
   

       

Book Notes — Best Mystery/Crime Books of the 20th Century

Won Three of Four Major Awards

This is the award season. One of the top crime writing awards was made earlier in New York; but with Bouchercon about to begin in Cleveland, and a bunch of awards scheduled to be announced there, it might be good to have a look at award winners from the past. 

Actually, I’m not sure how I feel about book awards.  I’d probably feel better about them if I had received a few.  However, I think we have to recognize that award giving is one way of letting readers know about excellence in the field.  In this presentation I’m listing awards by year.  I’ve tapped the awards from respected organizations in order to provide the broadest possible view of the best novels of each decade.  The compilation will come from the Mystery Writers of America (The Edgar and the Anthony), the Private Eye Writers of America (The Shamus), Mystery Readers International (The Macavity) and the quarterly magazine Deadly Pleasures (The Barry). 

It should be noted, though, that until the 1980s, the only recognized author awards for crime writers was the Mystery Writers of America’s Edgars. It should also be noted that eligibility for the Shamus Award, the second oldest established award for crime writing, is limited to books about private investigators.

Best Mystery/Crime Fiction Novels — The 1950s

1954   Charlotte Jay, Beat Not the Bones, Edgar

1955   Raymond Chandler, The Long Goodbye, Edgar

1956   Margaret Miller, Beast in View, Edgar

1957   Charlotte Armstrong, Dram of Poison, Edgar

1958   Ed Lacy, Room to Swing, Edgar

1959   Stanley Ellin, The Eighth Circle, Edgar

Best Mystery, Crime Fiction Novels — The 1960s

1960   Celia Fremlin, The Hours Before Dawn, Edgar

1961   Julian Symons, The Progress of a Crime, Edgar

1962   J. J. Marric, Gideon’s Fire, Edgar

1963   Ellis Peters, Death and the Joyful Woman, Edgar

1964   Eric Ambler, The Light of Day, Edgar

1965   John le Carre, The Spy Who Came in From the Cold, Edgar

1966   Adam Hall, The Quiller Memorandum, Edgar

1967   Nicholas Freeling, The King of the Rainy Country, Edgar

1968   Donald E. Westlake, God Save the Mark, Edgar

1969   Jeffrey Hudson, A Case of Need, Edgar

Best Mystery, Crime Fiction Novels — 1970s

1970   Dick Francis, Forfeit, Edgar

1971   Maj Sjöwall & Per Wahlöö, The Laughing Policeman, Edgar

1972   Frederick Forsyth, The Day of the Jackal, Edgar

1973   Warren Kiefer, The Lingala Code, Edgar

1974   Tony Hillerman, Dance Hall of the Dead, Edgar

1975   Jon Cleary, Peter’s Pence, Edgar

1976   Brian Garfield, Hopscotch, Edgar

1977   Robert B. Parker, Promised Land, Edgar

1978   William H. Hallahan, Catch Me: Kill Me, Edgar

1979   Ken Follett, Eye of the Needle, Edgar

Best Mystery, Crime Fiction Novels — 1980s

1980   Arthur Mailing, The Reheingold Route, Edgar

1981   Dick Francis, Whip Hand, Edgar

1982   William Bayer, Peregrine, Edgar

            Bill Pronzini, Hoodwink, Shamus

1983   Rick Boyer, Billingsgate Shoal, Edgar

            Lawrence Block, Eight Million Ways to Die, Shamus

1984   Elmore Leonard, La Brava, Edgar

            Max Allan Collins, True Detective, Shamus

1985   Ross Thomas, Briarpatch, Edgar

            Loren D. Estleman, Sugartown, Shamus

1986   L. R. Right, The Suspect, Edgar

            Sue Grafton, “B” Is for Burglar, Shamus

            Sue Grafton, “B” Is for Burglar, Anthony

1987   Barbara Vine, A Dark-Adapted Eye, Edgar

            Jeremiah Healy, The Staked Goat, Shamus

            Sue Grafton, “C” Is for Corpse, Anthony

            Faye Kellerman, The Ritual Bath &

                        Marilyn Wallace, A Case of Loyalties, Macavity (tie)

1988   Aaron Elkins, Old Bones, Edgar

            Benjamin Sutz, A Tax in Blood,Shamus

            Tony Hillerman, Skinwalkers, Anthony

            Robert Crais, The Monkey’s Raincoat, Macavity

1989   Stuart M. Kaminsky, A Cold Red Sunrise, Edgar

            John Lutz, Kiss, Shamus

            Thomas Harris, The Silence of the Lambs, Anthony

            Tony Hillerman, A Thief of Time, Macavity

Best Mystery, Crime Fiction Novels — 1990s

1990   James Lee Burke, Black Cherry Blues, Edgar

            Jonathan Valin, Extenuating Circumstances, Shamus

            Sarah Cauldwell, The Siren Songs of Murder, Anthony

            Carolyn Hart, A Little Class on Murder, Macavity

1991   Julie Smith, New Orleans Mourning, Edgar

            Sue Grafton, “G” Is for Gumshoe, Shamus

            Sue Grafton, “G” Is for Gumshoe, Anthony

            Sharyn McCrumb, If Ever I Return, Peggy-O, Macavity

1992   Lawrence Block, A Dance at the Slaughterhouse, Edgar

            Max Allan Collins, Stolen Away, Shamus

            Peter Lovesey, The Last Detective, Anthony

            Nancy Picard, I.O.U., Macavity

1993   Margaret Maron, Bootlegger’s Daughter, Edgar

            Harold Adams, The Man Who Was Taller Than God, Shamus

            Margaret Maron, Bootlegger’s Daughter, Anthony

            Margaret Maron, Bootlegger’s Daughter, Macavity

1994   Minette Walters, The Sculptress, Edgar

            Lawrence Block, The Devil Knows Your Dead, Shamus

            Marcia Muller, Wolf in the Shadows,  Anthony

            Minette Walters, The Sculptress, Macavity

1995   Mary Willis Walker, The Red Scream, Edgar

            Sue Grafton, “K” Is for Killer, Shamus

            Sharyn McCrumb, She Walks These Hills, Anthony

            Sharyn McCrumb, She Walks These Hills, Macavity

1996   Dick Francis, Come to Grief, Edgar

S. J. Rozan, Concourse, Shamus

Mary Willis Walker, Under the Beetle’s Cellar, Anthony

Mary Willis Walker, Under the Beetle’s Cellar, Macavity

1997   Thomas H. Cook, The Catham School Affair, Edgar

Robert Crais, Sunset Express, Shamus

Michael Connelly, The Poet, Anthony

Peter Lovesey, Bloodhounds, Macavity

Peter Lovesey, Bloodhounds, Barry

1998   James Lee Burke, Cimarron Rose, Edgar

            Terence Faherty, Come Back Dead, Shamus

            S. J. Rozan, No Colder Place, Anthony

            Deborah Crombie, Dreaming of the Bones, Macavity

            Michael Connelly, Trunk Music, Barry

1999   Robert Clark, Mr. White’s Confession, Edgar

            Bill Pronzini, Boobytrap, Shamus

            Michael Connelly, Blood Work, Anthony

            Michael Connelly, Blood Work, Macavity

            Reginald Hill, On Beulah Height and

Dennis Lehane, Gone Baby Gone, Barry (tie)

We’ll pick up the best mysteries of the year 2000 next Monday.