Saturday, October 10, 2015

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.



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