The Shamus Awards

As bestowed by The Private Eye Writers of America

1982 SHAMUS AWARDS

THE EYE (Lifetime Achievment Award)

• Ross Macdonald
  Accepted in his absence by his friend and colleague Dennis Lynds

BEST P.I. HARDCOVER

• Hoodwink by Bill Pronzini (Nameless)
• A Stab in the Dark by Lawrence Block (Matt Scudder)
• 30 for a Harry by Richard Hoyt (John Denson)
• Hard Trade by Arthur Lyons (Jake Asch)
• Early Autumn by Robert B. Parker (Spenser)

BEST ORIGINAL P.I. PAPERBACK

• California Thriller by Max Byrd (Mike Haller)
• Carpenter, Detective by Hamilton T. Caine (Ace Carpenter)
• Brown’s Requiem by James Ellroy (Fritz Brown)
• The Old Dick by L.A. Morse (Jake Spanner)
• Murder in the Wind by George Ogan (Johnny Bordelon)

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1983 SHAMUS AWARDS

THE EYE (Lifetime Achievment Award)

• Mickey Spillane

BEST P.I. HARDCOVER

• Eight Million Ways to Die by Lawrence Block (Matt Scudder)
• A is for Alibi by Sue Grafton (Kinsey Millhone)
• Gravedigger by Joseph Hansen (David Brandstetter)
• A Piece of the Silence by Jack Livingston (Joe Binney)
• Ceremony by Robert B. Parker (Spenser)

BEST ORIGINAL P.I. PAPERBACK

• The CANA Diversion by William Campbell Gault (Brock Callahan & Joe Puma)
• Nevsky’s Return by Dimitri Gat (Yuri Nevsky)
• Pieces of Death by Jack Lynch (Peter Bragg)
• Smoked Out by Warren Murphy (Julian “Digger” Burroughs)

BEST P.I. SHORT STORY

• “What You Don’t Know Can Hurt You” by John Lutz (November 1982, AHMM; Alo Nudger)
• “Meet Athalia Goode” by Raleigh Bond (January 27, 1982, EQMM; Athalia Goode)
• “Dead Soldier” by Loren D. Estleman (Mid-September, AHMM; Amos Walker)
• “My Little Girl” by Kenneth Gavrell (May 1982, AHMM; Carlos Bannon)
• “Cardula and the Locked Room” by Jack Ritchie (March 31, 1982, AHMM, Cardula)

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1984 SHAMUS AWARDS

THE EYE (Lifetime Achievment Award)

• William Campbell Gault

BEST P.I. HARDCOVER

• True Detective by Max Allan Collins (Nate Heller)
• Dancing Bear by James Crumley (Milo Milodragovitch)
• The Glass Highway by Loren D. Estleman (Amos Walker)
• The Dark Fantastic by Stanley Ellin (John Milano)
• The Widening Gyre by Robert B. Parker (Spenser)

BEST ORIGINAL P.I. PAPERBACK

• Dead in Centerfield by Paul Engelman (Mark Renzler)
• Finders Weepers by Max Byrd (Mike Haller)
• Death And The Single Girl by Elliott Lewis (Fred Bennett)
• Trace by Warren Murphy (Trace)
• The Steinway Collection by Robert J. Randisi (Miles Jacoby)

BEST P.I. SHORT STORY

• “Cat’s Paw” by Bill Pronzini (Wave’s Press; Nameless)
• “The Oldest Killer” by Michael Collins (November 1983, The Thieftakers Journal, Dan Fortune)
• “Greektown” by Loren D. Estleman (August 1983, AHMM; Amos Walker)
• “The Long Slow Dive” by T. Robin Kanter (February 1983, AHMM; Ben Perkins)
• “Only One Way To Land” by John Lutz (October 1983, AHMM; ; Alo Nudger)

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1985 SHAMUS AWARDS

THE EYE (Lifetime Achievment Award)

• Howard Browne

BEST P.I. HARDCOVER

• Sugartown by Loren D. Estleman (Amos Walker)
• True Crime by Max Allan Collins (Nate Heller)
• Die Again, Macready by Jack Livingston
• Nightlines by John Lutz (Alo Nudger)
• Full Contact by Robert J. Randisi (Miles Jacoby)

BEST ORIGINAL P.I. PAPERBACK

• Ceiling of Hell by Warren Murphy
• Squeeze Play by Paul Benjamin (Max Klein)
• San Quentin by Jack Lynch (Peter Bragg)
• Trace and 47 Miles of Rope by Warren Murphy (Trace)
• The Man Who Risked His Partner by Reed Stephens

BEST FIRST P.I. NOVEL

• A Creative Kind of Killer by Jack Early
• Blunt Darts by Jeremiah Healy (John Francis Cuddy)
• The Nebraska Quotient by William J. Reynolds (Nebraska)

BEST P.I. SHORT STORY

• “By the Dawn’s Early Light” by Lawrence Block (Playboy; Matt Scudder)
• “Easy Money” by John Boland (April 1984, EQMM)
• “Iris” by Stephen Greenleaf (The Eyes Have It; John Marshall Tanner)
• “The Rat Line” by Rob Kantner (The Eyes Have It; Ben Perkins)
• “The Big Winners” by Ernest Savage (September 1984, EQMM)

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1986 SHAMUS AWARDS

THE EYE (Lifetime Achievment Award)

• Richard S. Prather

BEST P.I. HARDCOVER

• B is for Burglar by Sue Grafton (Kinsey Millhone)
• The Naked Liar by Harold Adams
• Hardball by Doug Hornig (Loren Swift)
• A Catskill Eagle by Robert B. Parker (Spenser)
• Bones by Bill Pronzini (Nameless)

BEST ORIGINAL P.I. PAPERBACK

• Poverty Bay by Earl Emerson (Thomas Black)
• The Rainy City by Earl Emerson (Thomas Black)
• The Kill by Douglas Heyes
• Trace: Pigs Get Fat by Warren Murphy (Trace)
• Blue Heron by Philip Ross

BEST FIRST P.I. NOVEL

• Hardcover by Wayne Warga
• New, Improved Murder by Ed Gorman (Jack Dwyer)
• Sleeping Dog by Dick Lochte (Leo Bloodworth & Serendipity Dahlquist)
• Embrace the Wolf by Benjamin Schutz (Leo Haggerty)
• Flood by Andrew Vachss (Burke)

BEST P.I. SHORT STORY

• “Eight Mile and Dequindre” by Loren D. Estleman (May 1985, AHMM; Amos Walker)
• “Lucky Penny” by Linda Barnes (New Black Mask #3)
• “Shooting Match” by Wayne Dundee (Hardboiled; Joe Hannibal)
• “Perfect Pitch” by Rob Kantner (July 1985, AHMM; Ben Perkins)
• “The Snaphaunce” by Robert J. Randisi (Fall 1985, Hardboiled; Nick Delvecchio)

ST. MARTINS’ PRESS/PWA BEST FIRST P.I. NOVEL CONTEST

• An Infinite Number of Monkeys by Les Roberts (Saxon)

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1987 SHAMUS AWARDS

THE EYE (Lifetime Achievment Award)

• Bill Pronzini, creator of the Nameless Detective series

BEST P.I. HARDCOVER

• The Staked Goat by Jeremiah Healy (John Francis Cuddy)
• When the Sacred Ginmill Closes by Lawrence Block (Matt Scudder)
• In La-La Land We Trust by Robert Campbell (Whistler)
• The Million Dollar Wound by Max Allan Collins (Nate Heller)
• C is for Corpse by Sue Grafton (Kinsey Millhone)

BEST ORIGINAL P.I. PAPERBACK

• The Back Door Man by Rob Kantner (Ben Perkins)
• Melting Point by Kenn Davis
• Nervous Laughter by Earl Emerson (Thomas Black)
• Dark Fields by T.J. MacGregor
• Trace: Too Old a Cat by Warren Murphy (Trace)

BEST FIRST P.I. NOVEL

• Jersey Tomatoes by J.W. Rider
• No One Rides for Free by Larry Beinhart
• Tourist Season by Carl Hiassen

BEST P.I. SHORT STORY

• “Fly Away Home” by Rob Kantner (Mean Streets; Ben Perkins)
• “Quint and the Braceros” by Paul Bishop (Hardboiled; Quintana)
• “Body Count” by Wayne D. Dundee (Mean Streets; Joe Hannibal)
• “I’m in the Book” by Loren D. Estleman (Mean Streets; Amos Walker)
• “Between the Sheets” by Sue Grafton (Redbook, Kinsey Millhone)

ST. MARTINS’ PRESS/PWA BEST FIRST PRIVATE EYE NOVEL CONTEST

• Fear of the Dark by Gar Anthony Haywood (Aaron Gunner)

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1988 SHAMUS AWARDS

THE EYE (Lifetime Achievment Awards)

• Dennis Lynds (aka Michael Collins, William Arden, John Crowe, Carl Dekker, Mark Sadler, Brett Halliday, etc.)
• Wade Miller (Robert Wade and Bob Miller)

BEST P.I. HARDCOVER

• A Tax in Blood by Benjamin Schutz (Leo Haggerty)
• Lady Yesterday by Loren D. Estleman (Amos Walker)
• Ride the Lightning by John Lutz (Alo Nudger)
• A Trouble Of Fools by Linda Barnes
• The Autumn Dead by Ed Gorman (Jack Dwyer)

BEST ORIGINAL P.I. PAPERBACK

• Wild Night by L.J. Washburn
• The Monkey’s Raincoat by Robert Crais (Elvis Cole)
• Snake Eyes by Gaylord Dold (Mitch Roberts)
• Recount by David Everson (Robert Miles)
• Madelaine by Joseph Louis

BEST FIRST P.I. NOVEL

• Death on the Rocks by Michael Allegretto (Jacob Lomax)
• The House Of Blue Lights by Robert Bowman
• Shawnee Alley Fire by John Douglas
• Detective by Parnell Hall (Stanley Hastings)
• An Infinite Number Of Monkeys by Les Roberts (Saxon)

BEST P.I. SHORT STORY

• “Turn Away” by Ed Gorman (Black Lizard Anthology of Crime Fiction)
• “Bodyguards Shoot Second” by Loren Estleman (A Matter Of Crime; Amos Walker)
• “The Kerman Kill” by William Campbell Gault (Murder In Los Angeles)
• “Merely Players” by Joseph Hansen (February 1987, AHMM)
• “My Brother’s Life” by Rob Kantner (March 1987, AHMM; Ben Perkins)

ST. MARTINS’ PRESS/PWA BEST FIRST PRIVATE EYE NOVEL CONTEST

• Katwalk by Karen Kijewski (Kat Colorado)

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1989 SHAMUS AWARDS

THE EYE (Lifetime Achievment Award)

• No Award Given

BEST P.I. HARDCOVER

• Kiss by John Lutz (Carver)
• Neon Mirage by Max Allan Collins (Nate Heller)
• Deviant Behavior by Earl Emerson (Thomas Black)
• Swan Dive by Jeremiah Healy (John Francis Cuddy)
• Blood Shot by Sara Paretsky (V.I. Warshawski)

BEST ORIGINAL P.I. PAPERBACK

• Dirty Work by Rob Kantner (Ben Perkins)
• The Last Private Eye by John Birkett
• Bonepile by Gaylord Dold (Mitch Roberts)
• Rebound by David Everson (Robert Miles)
• The Crystal Blue Persuasion by W. R. Philbrick

BEST FIRST P.I. NOVEL

• Fear of the Dark by Gar Anthony Haywood (Aaron Gunner)
• Lost Daughter by Michael Cormany
• Burning Season by Wayne D. Dundee (Joe Hannibal)
• Wall of Glass by Walter Satterthwait (Joshua Croft)
• Slow Dance in Autumn by Philip Lee Williams

BEST P.I. SHORT STORY

• “The Crooked Way” by Loren D. Estleman (New Black Mask; Amos Walker)
• “The Man Who Knew Dick Bong” by Robert Crais (Raymond Chandler’s Philip Marlowe; Philip Marlowe)
• “The Reason Why” by Ed Gorman (Crimal Elements; Jack Dwyer)
• “In the Line of Duty” by Jeremiah Healy (Raymond Chandler’s Philip Marlowe; Philip Marlowe)
• “Incident in a Neighborhood Tavern” by Bill Pronzini (An Eye For Justice; Nameless)

ST. MARTINS’ PRESS/PWA BEST FIRST PRIVATE EYE NOVEL CONTEST

• Kindred Crime by Janet Dawson (Jeri Howard)

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1990 SHAMUS AWARDS

THE EYE (Lifetime Achievment Award)

• No Award Given

BEST P.I. HARDCOVER

• Extenuating Circumstances by Jonathan Valin (Harry Stoner)
• Out On The Cutting Edge by Lawrence Block (Matt Scudder)
• The Skintight Shroud by Wayne Dundee (Joe Hannibal)
• The Shape Of Dread by Marcia Muller (Sharon McCone)
• The Killing Man by Mickey Spillane (Mike Hammer)

BEST ORIGINAL P.I. PAPERBACK

• Hell’s Only Half Full by Rob Kantner (Ben Perkins)
• Muscle And Blood by Gaylord Dold (Mitch Roberts)
• Behind The Fact by Richard Hilary
• Tough Enough by W. R. Philbrick
• A Collector Of Photographs by Deborah Valentine

BEST FIRST P.I. NOVEL

• Katwalk by Karen Kijewski (Kat Colorado)
• Medicine Dog by Geoff Peterson
• Cold Night by Al Sarrantonio
• Rock Critic Murders by Jesse Sublett (Martin Fender)

BEST P.I. SHORT STORY

• “The Killing Man” by Mickey Spillane (December 1989, Playboy; Mike Hammer)
• “Deadly Fantasies” by Marcia Muller (April 1989, AHMM; Sharon McCone)
• “Here Comes Santa Claus” by Bill Pronzini (Mistletoe Mysteries; Nameless)
• “The Sure Thing” by Dan A. Sproul (January 1989, AHMM; Joe Standard)
• “Sloat’s Last Case” by Robert Twohy (May 1989, EQMM)

ST. MARTINS’ PRESS/PWA BEST FIRST PRIVATE EYE NOVEL CONTEST

• The Loud Adios by Ken Kuhlken (Tom Hickey)

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1991 SHAMUS AWARDS

THE EYE (Lifetime Achievment Award)

• Roy Huggins

BEST P.I. HARDCOVER

• G is for Gumshoe by Sue Grafton (Kinsey Millhone)
• Dead Irish by John Lescroart
• The Desert Look by Bernard Schopen
• Polo’s Wild Card by Jerry Kennealy (Nick Polo)
• Poor Butterfly by Stuart Kaminsky (Toby Peters)
• A Ticket to the Boneyard by Lawrence Block (Matt Scudder)

BEST ORIGINAL P.I. PAPERBACK

• Rafferty: Fatal Sisters by W. Glenn Duncan (Rafferty)
• Made in Detroit by Rob Kantner (Ben Perkins)
• Bimbo Heaven by Marvin Albert
• The Blue Room by Monroe Thompson
• The Queen’s Mare by John Birkett

BEST FIRST P.I. NOVEL

• Devil in a Blue Dress by Walter Mosely (Easy Rawlins)
• Body Scissors by Jerome Doolittle (Tom Bethany)
• Kindred Crimes by Janet Dawson (Jeri Howard)
• The Stone Veil by Ronald Tierney (Deets Shanahan)

BEST P.I. SHORT STORY

• “Final Resting Place” by Marcia Muller (Justice for Hire; Sharon McCone)
• “Bypass to Murder” by Dick Stodghill (Justice for Hire)
• “Battered Spouse” by Jeremiah Healy (Fall 1990, TAD; John Francis Cuddy)
• “Cigarette Stop” by Loren D. Estleman (Justice for Hire; Amos Walker)
• “Naughty, Naughty” by Wayne D. Dundee (Justice for Hire; Joe Hannibal)
• “A Poison That Leaves No Trace” by Sue Grafton (Sisters In Crime 2; Kinsey Millhone)

ST. MARTINS’ PRESS/PWA BEST FIRST PRIVATE EYE NOVEL CONTEST

• A Sudden Death at the Norfolk Cafe by Winona Sullivan (Sister Cecile)

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1992 SHAMUS AWARDS

THE EYE (Lifetime Achievment Award)

• Joseph Hansen

BEST P.I. HARDCOVER

• Stolen Away by Max Allan Collins (Nate Heller)
• Dance at the Slaughterhouse by Lawrence Block (Matt Scudder)
• Where Echoes Live by Marcia Muller (Sharon McCone)
• A Fistful of Empty by Benjamin Schutz (Leo Haggerty)
• Second Chance by Jonathan Valin (Harry Stoner)

BEST ORIGINAL P.I. PAPERBACK

• Cool Blue Tomb by Paul Kemprecos
• Black Light by Daniel Hearn
• House of Cards by Kay Hooper
• The Thousand Yard Stare by Rob Kantner (Ben Perkins)

BEST FIRST P.I. NOVEL

• Suffer Little Children by Thomas Davis (Dave Strickland)
• The January Corpse by Neil Albert (Dave Garrett)
• Dead on the Island by Bill Crider
• Best Performance by a Patsy by Stan Cutler
• Cool Breeze on the Underground by Don Winslow

BEST P.I. SHORT STORY

• “Dust Devil” by Nancy Pickard (Winter 1991, TAD)
• “Dying in the Post War World” by Max Allan Collins (Dying in the Post War World; Nate Heller)
• “The Man Who Loved Noir” by Loren D. Estleman; February 1991, AHMM; Amos Walker)
• “Full Cirle” by Sue Grafton (A Woman’s Eye; Kinsey Millhone)

ST. MARTINS’ PRESS/PWA BEST FIRST PRIVATE EYE NOVEL CONTEST

• Storm Warning by E.C. Ayres (Tony Lowell; eventually published as Hour of the Manatee)

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1993 SHAMUS AWARDS

THE EYE (Lifetime Achievment Award)

• Marcia Muller

BEST P.I. HARDCOVER

• The Man Who was Taller Than God by Harold Adams (Carl Wilcox)
• Cassandra in Red by Michael Collins (Dan Fortune)
• Lullaby Town by Robert Crais (Elvis Cole)
• Shallow Graves by Jeremiah Healy (John Francis Cuddy)
• Special Delivery by Jerry Kennealy (Nick Polo)

BEST ORIGINAL P.I. PAPERBACK

• The Last Tango of Delores Delgado by Marele Day (Claudia Valentine)
• Lay It on the Line by Catherine Dain (Freddie O’Neal)
• Dirty Money by Mark Davis
• The Brutal Ballet by Wayne D. Dundee (Joe Hannibal)

BEST FIRST P.I. NOVEL

• The Woman Who Married a Bear by John Straley (Cecil Younger)
• Return Trip Ticket by David C. Hall
• Switching the Odds by Phyllis Knight
• The Long-Legged Fly by James Sallis (Lew Griffin)

BEST P.I. SHORT STORY

• “Mary, Mary, Shut the Door” by Benjamin Schutz (Deadly Allies; Leo Haggerty)
• “The Messenger” by Jacklyn Butler (October 1992, AHMM)
• “Safe House” by Loren D. Estleman (Deadly Allies; Amos Walker)
• “A Little Missionary Work” by Sue Grafton (Deadly Allies; Kinsey Millhone)
• “Rest Stop” by Jeremiah Healy (May 1992, AHMM; John Francis Cuddy)

ST. MARTINS’ PRESS/PWA BEST FIRST PRIVATE EYE NOVEL CONTEST

• The Harry Chronicles by Allan Pedrazas (Harry Rice)

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1994 SHAMUS AWARDS

THE EYE (Lifetime Achievment Award)

• Stephen J. Cannell

BEST P.I. NOVEL

• The Devil Knows You’re Dead by Lawrence Block (Matt Scudder)
• Foursome by Jeremiah Healy (John Francis Cuddy)
• Wolf In The Shadows by Marcia Muller (Sharon McCone)
• Moth by James Sallis (Lew Griffin)
• The Lies That Bind by Judith Van Gieson (Neil Hamel)

BEST ORIGINAL P.I. PAPERBACK

• Brothers And Sinners by Rodman Philbrick
• The Half-hearted Detective by Milton Bass (Vinnie Altobelli)
• A Minyon For The Dead by Richard Fliegel
• Shadow Games by Edward Gorman
• Torchtown Boogie by Steven Womack (Harry James Denton)

BEST FIRST P.I. NOVEL

• Satan’s Lambs by Lynn Hightower (Lena Padget)
• Brotherly Love by Randye Lordon (Sydney Sloane)
• By Evil Means by Sandra West Prowell (Phoebe Siegal)

BEST P.I. SHORT STORY

• “The Merciful Angel Of Death” by Lawrence Block (The New Mystery; Matt Scudder)
• “The Sultans Of Soul” by Doug Allyn (March 1993, EQMM; R.B. “Ax” Acton)
• “Nobody Wins” by Charles Ardai (Mid-December 1993, AHMM)
• “The Bagged Man” by Jeremiah Healy (February 1993, EQMM; John Francis Cuddy)
• “The Watt’s Lion” by Walter Mosley (The New Mystery; Easy Rawlins)

ST. MARTINS’ PRESS/PWA BEST FIRST PRIVATE EYE NOVEL CONTEST

• The Heaven Stone by David Daniel (Alex Rasmussen)

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1995 SHAMUS AWARDS

Presented June 17, 1995, at EYECON, by the Private Eye Writers of America.

THE EYE (Lifetime Achievment Award)

• John Lutz and Robert B. Parker

BEST P.I. NOVEL

• K Is For Killer by Sue Grafton (Kinsey Millhone)
• A Long Line Of Dead Men by Lawrence Block (Matt Scudder)
• Carnal Hours by Max Allan Collins (Nate Heller)
• The Killing Of Monday Brown by Sandra West Prowell (Phoebe Siegal)
• The Lake Effect by Les Roberts (Milan Jacovich)

BEST FIRST P.I. NOVEL

• A Drink Before the War by Dennis Lehane (Patrick Kenzie & Angela Gennaro)
• The Heaven Stone by David Daniel (Alex Rasmussen)
• One For The Money by Janet Evanovich (Stephanie Plum)
• The Fall-down Artist by Thomas Lipinski (Carroll Dorsey)
• When Death Comes Stealing by Valerie Wilson Wesley (Tamara Hayle)

BEST ORIGINAL P.I. PAPERBACK

• Served Cold by Ed Goldberg (Lenny Schneider)
• Double Plot by Leo Axler
• Lament For A Dead Cowboy by Catherine Dain (Freddie O’Neal)
• Dead Ahead by Bridget Mckenna (Caley Burke)
• Deadly Devotion by Patricia Wallace

BEST P.I. SHORT STORY

• “Necessary Brother” by Brendan DuBois (May 1994, EQMM)
• “A Matter Of Character” by Michael Collins (Partners In Crime; Dan Fortune)
• “Slipstream” by Loren Estleman (Deadly Allies II; Amos Walker )
• “Split Decision” by Clark Howard (December 1994, EQMM)
• “The Romantics” by John Lutz (Deadly Allies II)

ST. MARTINS’ PRESS/PWA BEST FIRST PRIVATE EYE NOVEL CONTEST

• Diamond Head by Charles Knief (John Caine)

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1996 SHAMUS AWARDS

Winners were announced in a special ceremony at Bouchercon 27 World Mystery Convention (St. Paul, MN, Oct. 10-13, 1996).

THE EYE (Lifetime Achievment Award)

• No Award Given

BEST P.I. NOVEL

• Concourse by S.J. Rozan (Lydia Chin & Bill Smith)
• The Vanishing Smile by Earl Emerson (Thomas Black)
• Come To Grief by Dick Francis (Sid Halley)
• Movie by Parnell Hall (Stanley Hastings)
• The Neon Smile by Dick Lochte (Terry Manion)

BEST P.I. PAPERBACK ORIGINAL

• Native Angels by William Jaspersohn (Peter Boone)
• Zero Tolerance by J.D. Knight
• Interview With Mattie by Shelley Singer (Barrett Lake)
• Charged With Guilt by Gloria White (Ronnie Ventana)
• Way Past Dead by Steven Womack (Harry James Denton)

BEST FIRST P.I. NOVEL

• The Innocents by Richard Barre (Wil Hardesty)
• Who In Hell Is Wanda Fuca? by G.M. Ford (Leo Waterman)
• If Looks Could Kill by Ruthe Furie (Fran Kirk)
• Penance by David Housewright (Holland Taylor)
• The Harry Chronicles by Allan Pedrazas (Harry Rice)

BEST P.I. SHORT STORY

• “And Pray Nobody Sees You” by Gar Anthony Haywood (Spooks, Spies & Private Eyes; Aaron Gunner)
• “Trial By Fire” by David Dean (EQMM)
• “Plain And Honest Death” by Bill Pomidor (EQMM)
• “Home Is The Place Where” by Bill Pronzini (EQMM; Nameless)
• “Enigma” by D.H. Reddall (AHMM)

ST. MARTINS’ PRESS/PWA BEST FIRST PRIVATE EYE NOVEL CONTEST

• No Award Given

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1997 SHAMUS AWARDS

Winners announced October30, 1997, at Bouchercon 28 World Mystery Convention held in Monterey, California.

THE EYE (Lifetime Achievment Award)

• Stephen Marlowe, the author of the Chet Drum series

BEST P.I. NOVEL:

• Sunset Express by Robert Crais (Elvis Cole)
• Damned in Paradise by Max Allan Collins (Nate Heller)
• Flesh Wounds by Stephen Greenleaf (John Marshall Tanner)
• Invasion Of Privacy by Jeremiah Healy (John Francis Cuddy)
• Sentinels by Bill Pronzini (Nameless)
• When Wallflowers Die by Sandra West Prowell (Phoebe Siegal)

BEST P.I. PAPERBACK ORIGINAL

• Fade Away by Harlan Coben (Myron Bolitar)
• Chain Of Fools by Steven Womack (Harry James Denton)
• A Natural Death by Ruthe Fury (Fran Kirk)

BEST FIRST P.I. NOVEL

• This Dog For Hire by Carol Lea Benjamin (Rachel Alexander)
• Keeper by Greg Rucka (Atticus Kodiak)
• The Low End Of Nowhere by Michael Stone (Streeter)
• This Far, No Further by John Wessel (Harding)

BEST P.I. SHORT STORY

• “Dead Drunk” by Lia Matera in (Guilty As Charged)
• “Eye Of The Beholder” by Ed Gorman (The Autumn Dead & A Cry Of Shadows; Jack Dwyer)
• “Turning The Witness” by Jeremiah Healy (Guilty As Charged; John Francis Cuddy)
• “The One About The Green Detective” by John Lethem (Unusual Suspects; Oscar Fife)
• “The Girl Who Talked To Horses” by Robert J. Randisi (Homicide Hosts Presents; Henry Po)

ST. MARTINS’ PRESS/PWA BEST FIRST PRIVATE EYE NOVEL CONTEST

• A Cold Day in Paradise by Steve Hamilton (Alex McKnight)

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1998 SHAMUS AWARDS

The Private Eye Writers of America announced the 1998 Shamus Awards winners at the Shamus Awards ceremony during the Bouchercon in Philadelphia, October 1-4, 1998.

BEST P.I. NOVEL

• Come Back Dead by Terrance Faherty (Scott Elliott)
• Indigo Slam by Robert Crais (Elvis Cole)
• Deception Pass by Earl Emerson (Thomas Black)
• Sacred by Dennis Lehane (Patrick Kenzie & Angela Gennaro)
• Down For The Count by Maxine O’Callaghan (Delilah West)
• No Colder Place by S.J. Rozan (Lydia Chin & Bill Smith)

BEST P.I. PAPERBACK ORIGINAL

• Charm City by Laura Lippman (Tess Monaghan)
• Back Spin by Harlan Coben (Myron Bolitar)
• A Whisper Of Rage by Tim Hemlin (Neil Marshall)
• Father Forgive Me by Randye Lordon (Sydney Sloane)
• Sunset And Santiago by Gloria White (Ronnie Ventana)

BEST P.I. FIRST NOVEL

• Big Red Tequilla by Rick Riordan (Tres Navarre)
• Baltimore Blues by Laura Lippman (Tess Monaghan)
• Legwork by Katy Munger (Casey Jones)

BEST P.I. SHORT STORY

• “Love Me For My Yellow Hair Alone” by Carolyn Wheat (Marilyn: Shades Of Blonde)
• “Copperhead Run” by Doug Allyn (June 1997, EQMM)
• “Lord of Obstacles” by Greg Fallis (January 1997, AHMM)
• “A Front-Row Seat” by Jan Grape (Vengeance Is Hers; Jenny Gordon & C.J. Gunn)
• “Nightcrawlers” by John Lutz (April 1997, EQMM; Carver)

ST. MARTINS’ PRESS/PWA BEST FIRST PRIVATE EYE NOVEL CONTEST

• The Losers’ Club by Lise S. Baker (Cal Brantley)

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1999 SHAMUS AWARDS

As presented at Eyecon’99 in July in St. Louis.

THE EYE (Lifetime Achievment Award)

• Maxine O’Callaghan, the author of the Delilah West series.

BEST P.I. NOVEL

• Boobytrap by Bill Pronzini (Nameless)
• Gone Baby Gone by Dennis Lehane (Patrick Kenzie & Angela Gennaro)
• No Badge, No Gun by Harold Adams (Carl Wilcox)
• Flying Blind by Max Allan Collins (Nate Heller)
• The Only Good Lawyer by Jeremiah Healy (John Francis Cuddy)

BEST FIRST P.I. NOVEL

• A Cold Day In Paradise by Steve Hamilton (Alex McKnight)
• Like A Hole In The Head by Jen Banbury
• Dead Low Tide by Jamie Katz (Dan Kardon)
• Zen And The Art Of Murder by Elizabeth Cosin (Zen Moses)

BEST P.I. PAPERBACK ORIGINAL

• Murder Manual by Steve Womack (Harry James Denton)
• Too Easy by Philip Depoy (Flap Tucker)
• Butcher’s Hill by Laura Lippman (Tess Monaghan)
• The Widower’s Two-Step by Rick Riordan (Tres Navarre)
• Death In A City Of Mystics by Janice Steinberg

BEST P.I. SHORT STORY

• “Another Day, Another Dollar” by Warren Murphy (Murder on the Run)
• “Sidewinder” by David Edgerley Gates (AHMM)
• “No, Thank You, John” by Michelle Knowlden (AHMM)
• “All About Heroes” by Dan A. Sproul (AHMM)
• “More Light” by James Sallis (New Mystery)

ST. MARTINS’ PRESS/PWA BEST FIRST PRIVATE EYE NOVEL CONTEST

• Street Legal by Bob Truluck (Duncan Sloan)

FRIENDS OF PWA (a new award)

• Michael Seidman, Editor at Walker, former editor of The Armchair Detective
• Joe Pittman, Senior Editor at Signet

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2000 SHAMUS AWARDS

The Private Eye Writers of America announced the winners of its 2000 Shamus Awards during the Bouchercon World Mystery Convention, September 7-10 in Denver, Colorado.

THE EYE (Lifetime Achievment Award)

• Edward D. Hoch

BEST P.I. NOVEL

• California Fire And Life by Don Winslow (Jack Wade)
• L.A. Requiem by Robert Crais (Elvis Cole)
• Monster by Jonathan Kellerman (Alex Delaware)
• Prayers For Rain by Dennis Lehane (Patrick Kenzie & Angela Gennaro)
• Stone Quarry by S.J. Rozan (Lydia Chin & Bill Smith)

BEST P.I. PAPERBACK ORIGINAL

• In Big Trouble by Laura Lippman (Tess Monaghan)
• Deadbeat by Leo Atkins (Connor Gibbs)
• Fulton County Blues by Ruth Birmingham (Sunny Childs)
• The Last Song Dogs by Sinclair Browning (Trade Ellis)
• Steel City Confessions by Thomas Lipinski (Carroll Dorsey)

BEST P.I. FIRST NOVEL

• Every Dead Thing by John Connolly (Charlie Parker)
• East Of A by Russell Atwood (Payton Sherwood)
• The Immortal Game by Mark Coggins (August Riordan)
• Maximum Insecurity by P.J. Grady (Matty Madrid)
• The Answer Man by Roy Johansen (Ken Parker)

BEST P.I. SHORT STORY

• “Akitada’s First Case” by I.J. Parker (July/August, 1999, AHMM)
• “Unchained Melody” by Doug Allyn (January, 1999, EQMM; R.B. “Ax” Axton)
• “Hodegetria” by Jeremiah Healy (1999, Death Cruise; John Francis Cuddy)
• “The Reluctant Op” by Barbara Paul (September/October, 1999, EQMM; Callie Darrow)
• “Cro-magnon, P.I.” by Mike Reiss (July/August, 1999, AHMM)

ST. MARTINS’ PRESS/PWA BEST FIRST PRIVATE EYE NOVEL CONTEST

• Catching Water in a Net by J.L. Abramo (Jake Diamond)

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2001 SHAMUS AWARDS

The PWA were to be presented at that year’s Shamus Awards at their 20th Anniversary Banquet during Bouchercon, but decided to forego the event “due to the tragedies that occurred in NY and Washington.” Instead they announced the winners in a press release. (I was there — the place was packed)

BEST HARDCOVER P.I. NOVEL

• Havana Heat by Carolina Garcia-Aguilera, (Lupe Solano)
• A Smile On The Face Of The Tiger by Loren Estleman (Amos Walker)
• The Deader The Better by G. M. Ford (Leo Waterman)
• Ellipsis by Stephen Greenleaf (John Marshall Tanner)
• Listen To The Silence by Marcia Muller (Sharon McCone)

BEST P.I. PAPERBACK ORIGINAL

• Death In The Steel City by Thomas Lipinski (Carroll Dorsey)
• The Blazing Tree by Mary Jo Adamson (Michael Merrick)
• The Sporting Club by Sinclair Browning (Trade Ellis)
• The Hindenburg Murders by Max Allan Collins (Leslie Charteris, P.I.?)
• Bad To The Bone by Katy Munger (Casey Jones)
• Dirty Money by Steven Womack (Harry James Denton)

BEST P.I. FIRST NOVEL

• Street Level by Bob Truluck (Duncan Sloan)
• Brigham’s Day by John Gates (Brigham Bybee)
• The Heir Hunter by Chris Larsgaard (Nick Merchant)
• Resurrection Angel by William Mize (Monty Crocetti & Denton Ward)
• Lost Girls by Andrew Pyper (Bartholomew Crane)

BEST P.I. SHORT STORY

• “The Road’s End” by Brendan Dubois (April 2000, EQMM)
• “What’s In A Name?” by Jeremiah Healy (The Shamus Game; John Francis Cuddy)
• “The Sleeping Detective” by Gary Phillips (The Shamus Game; Ivan Monk)
• “The Big Bite” by Bill Pronzini (The Shamus Game; Nameless)
• “The Good Daughter” by Mike Wiecek (December 2000, AHMM; Masakazu Sakonju)

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2002 SHAMUS AWARDS

THE EYE (Lifetime Achievement)

• Lawrence Block

BEST HARDCOVER P.I. NOVEL

• Reflecting The Sky by S.J. Rozan (Bill Smith and Lydia Chin)
• Angel In Black by Max Allan Collins (Nate Heller)
• Ashes Of Aries by Martha C. Lawrence (Dr. Elizabeth Chase)
• The Devil Went Down To Austin by Rick Riordan (Tres Navarre)
• Cold Water Burning by John Straley (Cecil Younger)

BEST P.I. PAPERBACK ORIGINAL

• Archangel Protocol by Lyda Morehouse (Dierdre McMannus)
• Ancient Enemy by Robert Westbrook (Howard Moon Deer )
• Keepers by Janet Lapierre (Patience and Verity Mackellar)

BEST P.I. FIRST NOVEL

• Chasing the Devil’s Tail by David Fulmer (Valentin St. Cyr)
• Epitaph by James Siegel (William Riskin)
• Rat City by Curt Colbert (Jake Rossiter)
• A Witness Above by Andy Straka (Frank Pavlicek)
• Pilikia Is My Business by Mark Troy (Val Lyon)

BEST P.I. SHORT STORY

• “Rough Justice” by Ceri Jordan (July 2001, AHMM)
• “The Jungle” by John Lantigua (And the Dying Is Easy; Willie Cuesta)
• “Last Kiss” by Tom Sweeney (Mystery Street; Jerry)
• “Golden Retriever” by Barbara Paul (December 2001, EHMM; Callie Darrow)
• “The Cobalt Blues” by Clark Howard (September 2001, EHMM)

FRIEND OF PWA

• Jan Grape

ST. MARTINS’ PRESS/PWA CONTEST FOR BEST FIRST PRIVATE EYE NOVEL

• The Sterling Inheritance by Michael Siverling (Jason Wilder)

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2003 SHAMUS AWARDS

The Shamus Awards were presented in October at the PWA banquet in Las Vegas, Nevada, during Bouchercon, the World Mystery Convention.

THE EYE (Lifetime Achievement)

• Sue Grafton

BEST P.I. NOVEL

• Blackwater Sound by James W. Hall (Thorn)
• North Of Nowhere by Steve Hamilton (Alex McKnight)
• The Last Place by Laura Lippman (Tess Monaghan)
• Hell To Pay by George Pelecanos (Derek Strange & Terry Quinn)
• Winter And Night by S.J. Rozan (Lydia Chin and Bill Smith)

BEST FIRST P.I. NOVEL

• The Distance by Eddie Muller (Billy Nichols)
• Westerfield’s Chain by Jack Clark (Nick Acropolis)
• The Bone Orchard by D. Daniel Judson (Declan “Mac” MacManus)
• Open And Shut by David Rosenfeld (Andy Carpenter)
• Private Heat by Robert Bailey (Art Hardin)

BEST PAPERBACK ORIGINAL P.I. NOVEL

• The Poisoned Rose by D. Daniel Judson (Declan “Mac” MacManus)
• Cash Out by Paul Boray (John “Tomb” Tomei)
• Juicy Watusi by Richard Helms (Pat Gallegher)
• The Lusitania Murders by Max Allan Collins (S.S. Van Dine, P.I. — yeah, right)
• Paint It Black by P.J. Parish (Louis Kincaid)

BEST P.I. SHORT STORY

• “The Second Coming” by Terence Faherty (November 2002, EQMM; Scott Elliott)
• “Setting Up the Kill” by J. Michael Blue (Summer 2002, Hand Held Crime; Micki Garrity)
• “Aftermath” by Jeremiah Healy (2002, Most Wanted; Rory Calhoun)
• “Second Story Sunlight” by John Lutz (2002, Most Wanted; Alo Nudger)
• “The Jewels of Atlantis” by James Powell (November 2002, EQMM; Ambrose Ganelon)

ST. MARTINS’ PRESS/PWA CONTEST FOR BEST FIRST PRIVATE EYE NOVEL

• Tonight I Said Goodbye by Michael Koryta (Lincoln Perry)

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2004 SHAMUS AWARDS

The 2004 Shamus Awards were announced at the Bouchercon in Toronto.

THE EYE (Lifetime Achievment Award)

• Donald Westlake

BEST P.I. NOVEL

• The Guards by Ken Bruen (Jack Taylor)
• Scavenger Hunt by Robert Ferrigno (Jimmy Gage)
• Blood is the Sky by Steve Hamilton (Alex McKnight)
• Fatal Flaw by William Lashner (Victor Carl)
• A Visible Darkness by Jonathon King (Max Freeman )

BEST FIRST P.I. NOVEL

• Black Maps by Peter Spiegelman (John March)
• Spiked by Mark Arsenault (Eddie Bourque)
• Lovers Crossing by James C. Mitchell (Roscoe Brinker)

BEST PAPERBACK ORIGINAL P.I. NOVEL

• Cold Quarry by Andy Straka (Frank Pavlicek)
• Thicker Than Water by PJ Parrish (Louis Kincaid)
• Wet Debt by Richard Helms (Pat Gallegher)
• Dragonfly Bones by David Cole (Laura Winslow)

BEST P.I. SHORT STORY

• “Lady on Ice” by Loren D. Estleman ( A Hot and Sultry Night For Crime)
• “Munchies” by Jack Bludis (Hardbroiled; Alan)
• “The Rock in the Orange Grove” by Mitch Alderman (June 2003, AHMM; Bubba Simms)
• “Slayer Statute” by Janet Dawson (September/October 2003, EQMM; Jeri Howard)
• “Valhalla” by Doug Allyn (January 2003, EQMM; R.B.”Ax” Axton)

ST. MARTINS’ PRESS/PWA CONTEST FOR BEST FIRST PRIVATE EYE NOVEL

• First Kill by Michael Kronenwetter (Hank Berlin)

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2005 SHAMUS AWARDS

The 2005 Shamus Awards were announced at the Bouchercon in Chicago.

THE EYE (Lifetime Achievement)

• Sara Paretsky

BEST P.I. NOVEL

• While I Disappear by Ed Wright (John Ray Horn)
• Fade To Clear by Leonard Chang (Allen Choice)
• The Wakeup by Robert Ferrigno (Frank Thorpe)
• After The Rain by Chuck Logan (Phil Broker)
• Choke Point by James Mitchell (Roscoe Brinker)

BEST PAPERBACK ORIGINAL P.I. NOVEL

• Fade To Blonde by Max Phillips (construction worker Ray Corson)
• Call The Devil by His Oldest Name by Sallie Bissell (Assistant D.A.Cherokee Mary Crow)
• Shadow Of The Dahlia by Jack Bludis (Rick Page)
• The London Blitz Murders by Max Allan Collins (amateur sleuth Agatha Christie)
• Island Of Bones by P. J. Parrish (Louis Kincaid)

BEST FIRST P.I. NOVEL

• The Dead by Ingrid Black (true-crime writer Saxon)
• Little Girl Lost by Richard Aleas (John Blake)
• The Last Goodbye by Reed Arvin (Jack Hammond)
• Aspen Pulp by Patrick Hasburgh (Jake Wheeler)
• Some Danger Involved by Will Thomas (Thomas Llewelyn and Cyrus Barker)

BEST P.I. SHORT STORY

• “Hasidic Noir” by Pearl Abraham (2004, Brooklyn Noir)
• “Burnt Wood” by Mitch Alderman (July 2004, AHMM; Bubba Simms)
• “Trumpeter Swan” by John F. Dobbyn (February 2004, AHMM)
• “Dog on Fire” by Gregory S. Fallis (May 2004, AHMM; Joop Wheeler & Kevin Sweeney)
• “Tricks” by Steve Hockensmith (August 2004, AHMM; Larry Erie)

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2006 SHAMUS AWARDS

The 2006 Shamus Awards were announced at the Bouchercon in Madison, Wisconsin on September 29, in a rollicking affair that saw Mickey Spillane honoured, Max Allan Collins was presented with The Eye for Lifetime Achievment, and PWA founder Robert Randisi was roasted slowly — and none too gently — over an open flame. A grand old time was had by Al. And Bob had a good time too.

THE EYE (Lifetime Achievment Award)

• Max Allan Collins

BEST P.I. NOVEL

• The Lincoln Lawyer by Michael Connelly (Mickey Haller)
• Oblivion by Peter Abrahams (Nick Petrov)
• The Forgotten Man by Robert Crais (Elvis Cole)
• In A Teapot by Terence Faherty (Scott Elliott)
• The Man with the Iron-On Badge by Lee Goldberg (Harvey Mapes)
• Cinnamon Kiss by Walter Mosley (Easy Rawlins)

BEST FIRST P.I. NOVEL

• Forcing Amaryllis by Louise Ure (Calla Gentry)
• Blood Ties by Lori G. Armstrong (Julie Collins)
• Still River by Harry Hunsicker (Lee Henry Oswald)
• The Devil’s Right Hand by J. D. Rhoades (Jack Keller)

BEST PAPERBACK ORIGINAL P.I. NOVEL

• The James Deans by Reed Farrel Coleman (Moe Prager)
• Falling Down by David Cole (Laura Winslow)
• Deadlocked by Joel Goldman (Lou Mason)
• Cordite Wine by Richard Helms (Eamon Gold)
• A Killing Rain by PJ Parrish (Louis Kincaid)

BEST P.I. SHORT STORY

• “A Death in Ueno” by Michael Wiecek. (March 2005, AHMM; Masakazu Sakonju)
• “Oh, What a Tangled Lanyard We Weave” by Parnell Hall (Murder Most Crafty; Stanley Hastings)
• “Two Birds with One Stone” by Jeremiah Healy (January/February 2005, AHMM; John Francis Cuddy)
• “The Big Road” by Steve Hockensmith. (May 2005, AHMM; Larry Erie)
• “The Breaks” by Timothy Williams (September/October 2005, EQMM; Charlie Raines)

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2007 SHAMUS AWARDS

The 2007 Shamus Awards were presented in the course of the annual PWA banquet, held in Anchorage, Alaska, during the Bouchercon convention.

THE EYE

• Stuart M. Kaminsky

THE HAMMER

A new annual prize celebrating a memorable private eye character or a series. Named after Mickey Spillane’s Mike Hammer, of course.

• Shell Scott by Richard S. Prather

BEST P.I. NOVEL

• The Dramatist by Ken Bruen (Jack Taylor)
• The Darkest Place by Daniel Judson (Reggie Clay)
• The Do-Re-Me by Ken Kuhlken (Clifford and Tom Hickey)
• Vanishing Point by Marcia Muller (Sharon McCone)
• Days of Rage by Kris Nelscott (Smokey Dalton)

BEST PAPERBACK ORIGINAL

• An Unquiet Grave by P.J. Parrish (Louis Kincaid)
• Hallowed Ground by Lori G. Armstrong (Julie Collins)
• The Prop by Pete Hautman (Peeky Kane)
• The Uncomfortable Dead by Paco Ignacio Taibo II and Subcomandante Marcos (Hector Belascoaran Shayne)
• Crooked by Brian M. Wiprud (Nicholas Palihnic)

BEST FIRST NOVEL

• The Wrong Kind of Blood by Declan Hughes (Ed Loy)
• Lost Angel by Mike Doogan (Nik Kane)
• A Safe Place for Dying by Jack Fredrickson (Dek Elstrom)
• Holmes on the Range by Steve Hockensmith (Old Red & Big Red Amlingmeyer)
• 18 Seconds by George D. Shuman  (Sherry Moore)

BEST SHORT STORY

• “The Heart Has Reasons” by O’Neil De Noux. (September 2006, AHMM; Lucien Caye)
• “Sudden Stop” by Mitch Alderman.(November 2006, AHMM, Bubba Simms)
• “Square One” by Loren D. Estleman (November 2006, AHMM, Amos Walker)
• “Devil’s Brew” by Bill Pronzini (December 2006, EQMM; John Quincannon)
• “Smoke Got In My Eyes” by Bruce Rubenstein (2006, Twin Cities Noir; Martin McDonough)

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2008 SHAMUS AWARDS

The 2008 awards were presented at the PWA banquet, October 10, 2008, in Baltimore, Maryland, during the Bouchercon World Mystery Convention.

THE EYE

• Joe Gores

BEST P.I. NOVEL

• Soul Patch by Reed Farrel Coleman (Moe Prager)
• Head Games by Thomas B. Cavanagh (Mike Garrity)
• The Color of Blood by Declan Hughes (Ed Loy)
• A Welcome Grave by Michael Koryta (Lincoln Perry)
• A Killer’s Kiss by William Lashner (Victor Carl)

BEST PAPERBACK ORIGINAL

• Songs of Innocence by Richard Aleas (John Blake)
• Exit Strategy by Kelley Armstrong (Nadia Stafford)
• Stone Rain by Linwood Barclay (Zack Walker)
• Deadly Beloved by Max Allan Collins (Ms. Tree)
• Blood of Paradise by David Corbett (Jude McManus)

BEST FIRST P.I. NOVEL

• Big City, Bad Blood by Sean Chercover (Ray Dudgeon)
• The Cleaner by Brett Battles (Jonathan Quinn)
• Keep It Real by Bill Bryan (Ted Collins)
• When One Man Dies by Dave White (Jackson Donne)
• The Last Striptease by Michael Wiley (Joe Kozmarski)

BEST SHORT STORY

• “Hungry Enough” by Cornelia Read (2008, A Hell of a Woman; Philip)
• “Kill the Cat” by Loren D. Estleman (2008, Detroit Noir; Amos Walker)
• “Trust Me” by Loren D. Estleman (June 2007; AHMM; Amos Walker)
• “Open Mike” by James Nolan (2008, New Orleans Noir; Vincent Panarello)
• “Room for Improvement” by Marilyn Todd (December 2007, EQMM; Lois Hepburn)

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2009 SHAMUS AWARDS

The awards were given out at a banquet on Friday, October 19, during Bouchercon in Indianapolis.

THE EYE

• Robert J. Randisi

THE HAMMER

A new annual prize celebrating a memorable private eye character or a series. Named after Mickey Spillane’s Mike Hammer, of course.

• Matt Scudder by Lawrence Block

BEST HARDCOVER

• Empty Ever After by Reed Farrel Coleman (Moe Prager)
• Salvation Boulevard by Larry Beinhart (Carl Van Wagener)
• The Blue Door by David Fulmer (Eddie Cero)
• The Price of Blood by Declan Hughes (Ed Loy)
• The Ancient Rain by Domenic Stansberry (Dante Mancuso)

BEST FIRST NOVEL

• In the Heat by Ian Vasquez (Miles Young)
• Stalking Susan by Julie Kramer (Riley Spartz)
• Swann’s Last Song by Charles Salzberg (Henry Swann)
• The Eye of Jade by Diane Wei Liang (Mei Wang)
• Veil of Lies by Jeri Westerson (Crispin Guest)

BEST PAPERBACK ORIGINAL

• Snow Blind by Lori Armstrong (Julie Collins)
• Shot Girl by Karen Olson (Annie Seymour)
• The Stolen by Jason Pinter (Henry Parker)
• The Black Hand by Will Thomas (Cyrus Barker & Thomas Llewelyn)
• The Evil That Men Do by Dave White (Jackson Donne)

BEST SHORT STORY

• “Family Values” by Mitch Alderman (June 2008, AHMM; Bubba Simms)
• “Last Island South” by John C. Boland (September/October 2008, EQMM, Meggie Trevor)
• “The Blonde Tigress” by Max Allan Collins (June 2008, EQMM, Nate Heller)
• “Discovery” by Kristine Kathryn Rusch (November 2008, AHMM, Pia Cardenas)
• “Panic on Portage Path” by Dick Stodghill (January/February 2008, AHMM; Jack Eddy)

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2010 SHAMUS AWARDS

THE EYE

• Robert Crais

BEST HARDCOVERNOVEL

• Locked In by Marcia Muller (Sharon McCone)
• The Silent Hour by Michael Koryta (Lincoln Perry)
• Where the Dead Lay by David Levien (Frank Behr)
• Schemers by Bill Pronzini (Nameless)
• My Soul to Take by Yrsa Sigurdardottir (Thóra Gudmundsdóttir)

BEST FIRST NOVEL

• Faces of the Gone by Brad Parks (Carter Ross)
• Loser’s Town by Daniel Depp (David Spandau)
• The Last Gig by Norman Green (Al Martillo)
• The Good Son by Russel D. McLean (J. McNee)
• Chinatown Angel by A.E. Roman (Chico Santana)

BEST PAPERBACK ORIGINAL NOVEL

• Sinner’s Ball by Ira Berkowitz (Jackson Steeg)
• Dark Side of the Morgue by Raymond Benson (Spike)
• Red Blooded Murder by Laura Caldwell (Izzy McNeil)
• Vengeance Road by Rick Mofina (Jack Gannon)
• Body Blows by Marc Strange (Joe Grundy)

BEST SHORT STORY

• “Julius Katz” by Dave Zeltserman (September/October 2009, EQMM)
• “The Dark Island” by Brendan DuBois (2009, Boston Noir)
• “Deadline Edition” by S.L. Franklin (April 2009, AHMM)
• “Blazin’ on Broadway” by Gary Phillips (2009, Phoenix Noir)
• “Suicide Bonds” by Tim L. Williams (March/April 2009, EQMM)

THE HAMMER

• Sharon McCone by Marcia Muller

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2011 SHAMUS AWARDS

During a banquet at Bouchercon in St. Louis on September 16, 2011, the Private Eye Writers of America (PWA) announced the winners of the 2011 Shamus Awards, given annually to recognize outstanding achievement in private eye fiction.

THE EYE

• Ed Gorman

THE HAMMER AWARD (Best P.I. Series Character):

• V.I. Warshawski by Sara Paretsky

BEST HARDCOVER P.I. NOVEL

• No Mercy by Lori Armstrong (Mercy Gunderson)
• The First Rule by Robert Crais (Joe Pike)
• Voyeur by Daniel Judson (Remer)
• If the Dead Rise Not by Philip Kerr (Bernie Gunther)
• Naked Moon by Domenic Stansberry (Dante Mancuso)

BEST FIRST P.I. NOVEL

• In Search of Mercy by Michael Ayoob (Dexter Bolzjak)
• One Man’s Paradise by Douglas Corleone (Kevin Corvelli)
• Rogue Island by Bruce DeSilva (Liam Mulligan)
• Random Violence by Jassy MacKenzie (Jade de Jong)
• City of Dragons by Kelli Stanley (Miranda Corbie)

BEST PAPERBACK ORIGINAL P.I. NOVEL

• Asia Hand by Christopher G. Moore (Vincent Calvino)
• Hostage Zero by John Gilstrap (Jonathan Grave)
• Nightshade by Tom Henighan (Sam Montcalm)
• Mister X by John Lutz (Frank Quinn)
• The Panic Zone by Rick Mofina (Jack Gannon)
• The Little Death by P.J. Parrish (Louis Kincaid)

BEST P.I. SHORT STORY

• “The Lamb Was Sure to Go” by Gar Anthony Haywood (November 2010, AHMM)
• “The God of Right and Wrong” by Steven Gore (January/February 2010, AHMM)
• “The Girl in the Golden Gown” by Robert S. Levinson (March/April 2010, EQMM)
• “Phelan’s First Case” by Lisa Sandlin (2010, Lone Star Noir; Delpha Wade & Tom Phelan)
• “A Long Time Dead” by Mickey Spillane and Max Allan Collins (June-Sept. 2010, The Strand Magazine)

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2012 SHAMUS AWARDS

The winners were announced and awards presented, on October 5th, at the PWA banquet (on a rverboat, no less) during Bouchercon in Cleveland, Ohio.

THE HAMMER AWARD (BEST SERIES P.I. CHARACTER)

• Nate Heller by Max Allan Collins.

BEST HARDCOVER P.I. NOVEL

• A Bad Night’s Sleep by Michael Wiley (Joe Kozmarski)
• Bye Bye Baby by Max Allan Collins (Nate Heller)
• 1222 by Anne Holt (Hanne Wilhelmsen)
• When the Thrill is Gone by Walter Mosley (Leonid McGill)
• The Highly Effective Detective Crosses the Line by Richard Yancey (Teddy Ruzak)

BEST FIRST P.I. NOVEL

• The Shortcut Man by P.G. Sturges (Dick Henry)
• The Plot Against Hip Hop by Nelson George (D Hunter)
• Claire DeWitt and the City of the Dead by Sara Gran (Claire DeWitt)
• The Ocean Forest by Troy D. Nooe (Frankie McKeller)
• The Stranger You Seek by Amanda Kyle Williams (Keye Street)

BEST PAPERBACK ORIGINAL P.I. NOVEL

• Fun & Games by Duane Swierczynski (Charlie Hardie)
• Quarry’s Ex by Max Allan Collins (Quarry)
• Threat Warning by John Gilstrap (Jonathan Grave)
• Serial by John Lutz (Frank Quinn)
• Long Pig by James L. Ross (Hayes Rutherford)

BEST P.I. SHORT STORY

• “Who I Am” by Michael Z. Lewin (December 2011, EQMM; Albert Samson)
• “A Bullet from Yesterday” by Terence Faherty (January 2011, EQMM; Scott Elliott)
• “Mr. Monk & the Sunday Paper” by Lee Goldberg (July 2011, EQMM; Adrian Monk)
• “Vampire Slayer Murdered in Key West” by Michael Haskins (October 2011, EQMM; “Mad Mick” Murphy)
• “Dancer in a Storm” by L. A. Wilson (January/February 2011, AHMM; Memphis Red)

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2013 SHAMUS AWARDS

For works published in 2012: The winner was announced at the PWA Banquet at Bouchercon in Albany, New York, on Friday, September 20.

THE EYE

• Loren D. Estleman

BEST HARDCOVER P.I. NOVEL

• Taken by Robert Crais (Elvis Cole)
• Robert B. Parker’s Lullaby by Ace Atkins (Spenser)
• Hunting Sweetie Rose by Jack Fredrickson (Dek Elstrom)
• Blues in the Night by Dick Lochte (Dave “Mace” Mason)
• The Other Woman by Hank Phillippi Ryan (Jane Ryland)

BEST FIRST P.I. NOVEL

• Black Fridays by Michael Sears (Jason Stafford)
• Hush Money by Chuck Greaves (Jack MacTaggart)
• Murder Unscripted by Clive Rosengren (Eddie Collins)
• Racing the Devil by Jaden Terrell (Jared McKean)
• The Twenty-Year Death by Ariel S. Winter (Dennis Foster)

BEST ORIGINAL PAPERBACK PI NOVEL

• And She Was by Alison Gaylin (Brenna Spector)
• Death Warmed Over by Kevin J. Anderson (Dan Shambles)
• Archie Meets Nero Wolfe by Robert Goldsborough (Nero Wolfe & Archie Goodwin)
• False Negative by Joseph Koenig (Adam Jordan)
• Pulse by John Lutz (Frank Quinn)

BEST P.I. SHORT STORY

• “Ghost Negligence” by John Shepphird (July/August 2012, AHMM; Jack O’Shea)
• “The Sequel” by Jeffrey Deaver (The Strand)
• “After Cana” by Terence Faherty (September/October 2012, EQMM; Owen Keane)
• “O’Nelligan and the Lost Fates” by Michael Nethercott (March 2012, AHMM; O’Nelligan & Plunkett)
• “Illegitimati Non Carborundum” by Stephen D. Rogers (May/June 2012, Crimespree)

BEST INDIE P.I. NOVEL

• White Heat by Paul Marks (Duke Rogers)
• Stranger in Town by Cheryl Bradshaw (Sloane Monroe)
• Enamored by O’Neil De Noux (Lucien Caye)
• One-Eyed Jack by Christopher J. Lynch (John Sharp)
• Devil May Care by James Mullaney (Crag Banyon)

MINOTAUR BOOKS/PWA AWARD

• Wink of an Eye by Lynn Chandler Willis (Gypsy Moran)

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2014 SHAMUS AWARDS

For works published in 2013: The awards were presented at the PWA Banquet at Bouchercon 2014 in Long Beach, California on November 14, 2014.

THE HAMMER AWARD (BEST P.I. SERIES CHARACTER)

• Kinsey Millhone by Sue Grafton

BEST HARDCOVER P.I. NOVEL

• The Good Cop by Brad Parks (Carter Ross)
• Little Elvises by Timothy Hallinan (Junior Bender)
• The Mojito Coast by Richard Helms (Cormac Loame)
• W is for Wasted by Sue Grafton (Kinsey Millhone)
• Nemesis by Bill Pronzini (Nameless)

BEST FIRST P.I. NOVEL

• Bear is Broken by Lachlan Smith (Leo Maxwell)
• A Good Death by Christopher R. Cox (Sebastian Damon)
• Montana by Gwen Florio (Lola Wicks)
• Blood Orange by Karen Keskinen (Jaymie Zarlin)
• Loyalty by Ingrid Thoft (Fina Ludlow)

BEST ORIGINAL PAPERBACK P.I. NOVEL

• Heart of Ice by P.J. Parrish (Louis Kincaid)
• Seduction of the Innocents by Max Allan Collin (Jack Starr)
• Into the Dark by Alison Gaylin (Brenna Spector)
• Purgatory Key by Darrell James (Del Shannon)
• The Honky Tonk Big Hoss Boogie by Robert J. Randisi (“Auggie” Velez-Colon)

BEST P.I. SHORT STORY

• “So Long, Chief” by Max Allan Collins & Mickey Spillane (February-May 2013, The Strand Magazine; Mike Hammer)
• “The Ace I” by Jack Fredrickson (June 2013, EQMM; Pelmar Lindeman)
• “What We Do” by Mick Herron (September/October EQMM; Zoë Boehm)
• “Extra Fries” by Michael Z. Lewin (May 2013, EQMM; Albert Samson)
• “The Lethal Leeteg” by Hayford Peirce in August 2013, EQMM; Joe Caneili)

BEST INDIE P.I. NOVEL

• Don’t Dare a Dame by M. Ruth Myers (Maggie Sullivan)
• Murder Take Three by April Kelly & Marsha Lyons (Maureen O’Brien & Blake Ervansky)
• A Small Sacrifice by Dana King (Nick Forte)
• No Pat Hands by J.J. Lamb (Zach Rolfe)
• State vs. Lassiter by Paul Levine (Jake Lassiter)

MINOTAUR BOOKS/PWA AWARD

• The Red Storm by Grant Bywaters (William Fletcher)

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2015 SHAMUS AWARDS

For works published in 2014. The awards were presented at the PWA Banquet at Bouchercon 2015 in Raleigh, North Carolina on Friday, October 9, 2015.

THE EYE (LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT)

• Parnell Hall

BEST HARDCOVER P.I. NOVEL

• Hounded by David Rosenfelt (Andy Carpenter)
• The Hollow Girl by Reed Farrel Coleman (Moe Prager)
• The Silkworm by Robert Galbraith (Cormoran Strike)
• Tokyo Kill by Barry Lancet (Jim Brodie)
• Peter Pan Must Die by John Verdon (Dave Gurney)

BEST FIRST P.I. NOVEL

• Invisible City by Julia Dahl (Rebekah Roberts)
• Bad Country by C.B. McKenzie (Rodeo Grace Garnet)
• Last of the Independents by Sam Wiebe (Michael Drayton)
• Wink of an Eye by Lynn Chandler Willis (Gypsy Moran)
• City of Brick and Shadow by Tim Wirkus (Elder Toronto and Elder Schwartz)

BEST ORIGINAL PAPERBACK P.I. NOVEL

• Moonlight Weeps by Vincent Zandri (Dick Moonlight)
• The Detective and the Pipe Girl by Michael Craven (John Darvelle)
• Beauty with a Bomb by M.C. Grant (Dixie Flynn)
• Critical Damage by Robert K. Lewis (Mark Mallen)
• Street Justice by Kris Nelscott (Smokey Dalton)

BEST P.I. SHORT STORY

• “Clear Recent History” by Gon Ben Ari (Tel Aviv Noir)
• “The Ehrengraf Fandango” by Lawrence Block (Defender of the Innocent; Martin Ehrengraf)
• “Fear is the Best Keeper of Secrets” by Vali Khahili (Terhan Noir)
• “Mei Kwei, I Love You” by Stachen Christine Lim (Singapore Noir)
• “Busting Red Heads” by Richard Helms (EQMM; Tommy Crane)

BEST INDIE P.I. NOVEL

• The Shadow Broker by Trace Conger (Mr. Finn)
• Nobody’s Child by Libby Fischer Hellmann (Georgia Davis)
• Played to Death by BV Lawson (Scott Drayco)
• The Kids are All Right by Steve Liskow (Zach Barnes)
• Get Busy Dying by Ben Rehder (Roy Ballard)

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2016 SHAMUS AWARDS

For works published in 2015. The awards were presented at the PWA Banquet at Bouchercon 2016 in New Orleans.

THE EYE (LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT)

• S.J. Rozan

BEST PRIVATE EYE NOVEL

• Brutality by Ingrid Thofts (Fina Ludlow)
• The Promise by Robert Crais (Elvis Cole & Joe Pike)
• Dance of the Bones by J.A. Jance (Brandon Walker)
• Gumshoe by Robert Leininger (Mortimer Angel)
• Brush Back by Sara Paretsky (V.I. Warshawski)

BEST FIRST PRIVATE EYE NOVEL

• The Do-Right by Lisa Sandlin (Delphia Wade & Tom Phelan)
• The Red Storm by Grant Bywater’s (William Fletcher)
• Night Tremors by Matt Coyle (Rick Cahill)
• Trouble in Rooster Paradise by T.W. Emory (Gunnar Nilson)
• Depth by Lev Ac Rosen (Simone Pierce)

BEST ORIGINAL PRIVATE EYE PAPERBACK

• Circling the Runway by J.L. Abramo (Jake Diamond)
• The Long Cold by O’Neil De Noux (Dino LaStanza)
• Split to Splinters by Max Everhart (Eli Sharpe)
• The Man in the Window by Dana King (Nick Forte)
• Red Desert by Clive Rosengren (Eddie Collins)

BEST PRIVATE EYE SHORT STORY

• “The Dead Client” by Parnell Hall (Dark City Lights: New York Stories; Stanley Hastings)
• “The Runaway Girl from Portland, Oregon” by C.B. Forrest (October 2015, AHMM; Ray)
• “The Sleep of Death” by David Edgerley Gates (December 2016, AHMM; Placido Geist)
• “The Dead Detective” by Robert S. Levinson (Coast to Coast: Murder from Sea to Shining Sea)
• “The Continental Opposite” by Evan Lewis (May 2015, AHMM; Peter Collins)

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2017 SHAMUS AWARDS

For works published in 2016.

THE EYE (LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT)

• Jerry Kennealy

BEST PRIVATE EYE NOVEL

• Where It Hurts by Reed Farrel Coleman (Gus Murphy)
• The Graveyard of the Hesperides by Lindsey Davis (Flavia Albia)
• Fields Where They Lay by Timothy Hallinan (Junior Bender)
• With 6 You Get Wally by Al Lamanda (John Bekker)
• The Stardom Affair by Robert S. Levinson (Gulliver & Marriner)

BEST FIRST PRIVATE EYE NOVEL

• IQ by Joe Ide (Isaiah Quintabe)
• Fever City by Tim Baker (Nick Alston)
• Deep Six by D. P. Lyle (Jake Longy)
• The Second Girl by David Swinson (Frank Marr)
• Soho Sins by Richard Vine (Jackson Wyeth)

BEST ORIGINAL PRIVATE EYE PAPERBACK

• The Perplexing Theft of the Jewel in the Crown by Vaseem Khan (Baby Ganesh Agency)
• The Detective and the Chinese High-Fin by Michael Craven (John Darvelle)
• Hold Me, Babe by O’Neil De Noux (Lucien Caye)
• The Knife Slipped by Erle Stanley Gardner (Bertha Cool & Donald Lam)
• My Bad by Manuel Ramos (Gus Corral)

BEST PRIVATE EYE SHORT STORY

• “A Battlefield Reunion” by Brendan DuBois (June 2016, AHMM; Billy Sullivan)
• “Keller’s Fedora” by Lawrence Block (May 2016 e-publication; Keller)
• “Stairway From Heaven” by Ake Edwardson (Stockholm Noir; Peter Kampinsky)
• “A Dangerous Cat” by Mickey Spillane & Max Allan Collins (Feb/May 2016, The Strand; Mike Hammer)
• “Archie On Loan” by Dave Zeltserman (Sept/Oct 2016, EQMM; Julius Katz & Archie Smith)

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2018 SHAMUS AWARDS

THE EYE (Lifetime Achievment Award)

• Walter Mosley

BEST PI HARDCOVER

• The Room of White Fire by T. Jefferson Parker (Roland Ford)
• Dark Water by Parker Bilal (Makana)
• Blood Truth by Matt Coyle (Rick Cahill)
• Y is for Yesterday by Sue Grafton (Kinsey Millhone)
• Monument Road by Michael Wiley (Franky Dask)

BEST FIRST PI NOVEL

• The Last Place You Look by Kristen Lepionka (Roxane Weary)
• Under Water by Casey Barrett (Duck Darley)
• A Negro and an Ofay by Danny Gardner (Elliot Caprice)
• Gone to Dust by Matt Goldman (Nils Shapiro)
• August Snow by Stephen Mack Jones (August Snow)

BEST PI PAPERBACK ORIGINAL

• Lights Out Summer by Rich Zahradnik (Coleridge Taylor)
• Play a Cold Hand by Terence Faherty (Scott Elliott)
• The Strange Disappearance of a Bollywood Star by Vaseem Khan (The Baby Ganesh Agency)
• Dames Fight Harder by M. Ruth Myers (Maggie Sullivan)
• The Painted Gun by Bradley Spinelli (David “Itchy” Crane)

BEST PI SHORT STORY

• “Rosalie Marx is Missing” by Robert S. Levinson (May/June 2017, EQMM)
• “Out of Business” by Eric Beetner (Coast to Coast: Private Eyes from Sea to Shining Sea)
• “Breakage” by Reed Farrel Coleman (Down & Out: The Magazine)
• “Random” by Brendan Dubois (January/February 2017, AHMM)
• “Windward” by Paul D. Marks (Coast to Coast: Private Eyes from Sea to Shining Sea)

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2019 SHAMUS AWARDS

The winners of the 2019 Shamus Awards, for works published in 2018, were announced at the PWA Banquet at Bouchercon in Dallas.

BEST PI HARDCOVER

• What You Want to See by Kristen Lepionka (Roxane Weary)
• Wrong Light by Matt Coyle (Rick Cahill)
• The Widows of Malabar Hill by Sujata Massey (Perveen Mistry)
• Baby’s First Felony by John Straley (Cecil Younger)
• Cut You Down by Sam Wiebe (Dave Wakeland)

BEST FIRST PI NOVEL

• The Best Bad Things by Katrina Carrasco (Alma Rosales)
• Broken Places by Tracy Clark (Cass Raines)
• Last Looks by Howard Michael Gould (Charlie Waldo)
• What Doesn’t Kill You by Aimee Hix (Willa Pennington)
• Only to Sleep by Lawrence Osborne (Philip Marlowe)

BEST PI PAPERBACK ORIGINAL

• The Questionable Behavior of Dahlia Moss by Max Wirestone (Dahlia Moss)
• She Talks to Angels by James D. F. Hannah (Henry Malone)
• No Quarter by John Jantunen (Deacon Riis)
• Shark Bait by Paul Kemprecos (Aristotle “Soc” Socarides)
• Second Story Man by Charles Salzberg (Charlie Floyd)

BEST PI SHORT STORY

• “Chin Yong-Yun Helps a Fool” by S.J. Rozan (September-October 2018, EQMM; Chin Yong-Yun)
• “Fear of the Secular” by Mitch Alderman (AHMM; Bubba Simms)
• “Three-Star Sushi” by Barry Lancet (March 2018, Down & Out Magazine; Jim Brodie)
• “The Big Creep” by Elizabeth McKenzie (Santa Cruz Noir; nameless)
• “Game” by Twist Phelan (September-October 2018, EQMM; Finn Teller)

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2020 SHAMUS AWARDS

Announced online, due to COVID.

BEST PI HARDCOVER

• Lost Tomorrows by Matt Coyle (Rick Cahill)
• The Tower of Songs by Casey Barrett (Duck Darley)
• The Shallows by Matt Goldman (Nils Shapiro)
• Below the Line by Howard Michael Gould (Charlie Waldo)
• The Cold Way Home by Julia Keller (Bell Elkins)

BEST PI PAPERBACK ORIGINAL

• Behind the Wall of Sleep by James D.F. Hannah (Henry Malone)
• The Skin Game by JD Allen (Jim Bean)
• Paid in Spades by Richard Helms (Pat Gallegher)
• Ration of Lies by M. Ruth Myers (Maggie Sullivan)
• The Bird Boys by Lisa Sandlin (Delpha Wade & Tom Phelan)

BEST PI SHORT STORY

• “Sac-A-Lait Man” by O’Neil De Noux (Sept/Oct. 2019,  EQMM; Lucien Caye)
• “The Smoking Bandit of Lakeside Terrace” by Chad Baker (May/June 2019, EQMM; Barbara Mayer)
• “The Dunes of Saulkrasti” by William Burton McCormick (September/October 2019, EQMM)
• “The Fourteenth Floor” by Adam Meyer (Crime Travel; Frank Russo)
• “Weathering the Storm” by Michael Pool (The Eyes of Texas; Riley Reeves)

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2021 SHAMUS AWARDS

THE EYE (Lifetime Achievment Award)

• Michael Lewin

BEST PI HARDCOVER

• Blind Vigil by Matt Coyle (Rick Cahill)
• What You Don’t See by Tracy Clark (Cass Raines)
• Do No Harm by Max Allan Collins (Nate Heller)
• House on Fire by Joseph Finder (Nick Heller) 
• And Now She’s Gone by Rachel Howzell Hall (Grayson Sykes) 

BEST ORIGINAL PI PAPERBACK

• Brittle Karma by Richard Helms (Eamon Gold)
• Farewell Las Vegas by Grant Bywaters (Joe Roddick)
• All Kinds of Ugly by Ralph Dennis (Jim Hardman)
• Remember My Face by John Lantigua (Willie Cuesta)
• Damaged Goods by Debbi Mack (Erica Jensen)

BEST PI SHORT STORY

• “Mustang Sally” by John M. Floyd in Black Cat Mystery Magazine (Thomas Langford)
• “A Dreamboat Gambol” by O’Neil De Noux in Alfred Hitchcock Mystery Magazine (Lucien Caye)
• “Setting the Pick” by April Kelly in Mystery Weekly Magazine (Joe)
• “Show and Zeller” by Gordon Linzner in Black Cat Mystery Magazine (Dorian Zeller)
• “Nashua River Floater” by Tom MacDonald in Coast to Coast Noir (Dermot Sparhawk)

BEST FIRST PI NOVEL 

• The Missing American by Kwei Quartey (Emma Djan)
• Squatter’s Rights by Kevin R. Doyle (Sam Quinton)
• Derailed by Mary Keliikoa (Kelly Pruett)
• I Know Where You Sleep by Alan Orloff (Anderson & Carrie West)
• Winter Counts by David Heska Wanbli Weiden (Virgil Wounded Horse)

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2022 SHAMUS AWARDS

The winners of the 2022 Shamus Awards, for works published in 2021, were announced by PWA Awards Chairperson John Shepphird on August 4, 2022. 

BEST PI HARDCOVER

• Family Business by S. J. Rozan (Lydia Chin/Bill Smith)
• Runner by Tracy Clark (Cass Raines)
• Last Redemption by Matt Coyle (Rick Cahill)
• Pay Or Play by Howard Michael Gould (Charlie Waldo)
• Head Case by Michael Wiley (Sam Kelson)

BEST PI PAPERBACK

• Every City Is Every Other City by John Mcfetridge (Gord Stewart)
• The Burden Of Innocence by John Nardizzi (Ray Infantino)
• Angels In The Wind by Manuel Ramos (Gus Corral)
• Frog in a Bucket by Clive Rosengren (Eddie Collins)
• An Empty Grave by Andrew Welsh-Huggins (Andy Hayes)

BEST FIRST PI NOVEL

• Lost Little Girl by Gregory Stout (Jackson Gamble)
• Porno Valley by Phillip Elliot (Mickey O’Rourke)
• Dead Man’s Eyes by Lori Duffy Foster (Lisa Jamison)
• Suburban Dicks by Fabian Nicieza (Andie Stern & Kenneth Lee)
• The Arrangement by M. Ravenel (Tootsie Carter)

BEST PI SHORT STORY

• “Sweeps Week” by Richard Helms (July/August 2021, EQMM)
• “Disposable Women” by Michael Bracken (Toughcrime.Com)
• “Sixteen Lies” by Matt Goldman (September/October 2021, EQMM)
• “Oro De Tontos (Fool’s Gold)” by Tom Larsen (November/December 2021, AHMM)
• “The Hidden Places” By Linda Stansberry (May/June 20212, EQMM)

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2023 SHAMUS AWARDS

BEST PI HARDCOVER

• The Wheel of Doll by Jonathan Ames (Happy Doll)
• The Big Bundle by Max Allan Collins (Nate Heller)
• The Goodbye Coast by Joe Ide (Philip Marlowe)
• Holmes Coming by Kenneth Johnson (Sherlock Holmes)
• The Blackmail by M. Ravenel (Tootsie Carter)

BEST PI PAPERBACK

• Dead-Bang Fall by J.R. Sanders (Nate Ross)
• Quarry’s Blood by Max Allan Collins (Quarry)
• DoubleBlind by Libby Fischer Hellmann (Georgia Davis)
• Canary in a Coal Mine by Charles Salzberg (Pete Fortunato)
• Hush Hush by Gabriel Valjan (Shane Cleary)

BEST FIRST PI NOVEL

• The Goldenacre by Philip Miller (Shona Sandison) 
• Big Fat F@!k-up by Lawrence Allan (Jimmy Cooper)
• Pay Dirt Road by Samantha Jayne Allen (Annie McIntyre)
• Foote by Tom Bredehoft (Big Jim Foote)
• What Meets the Eye by Alex Kenna (Kate Myles)

BEST PI SHORT STORY

• “Charlie’s Medicine” by Libby Cudmore (Lawyers, Guns, and Money: Crime Fiction Inspired by the Music of Warren Zevon; Martin Wade)
• “No Place for a Dame” by Lori Armstrong (Edgar & Shamus Go Golden; Vivian Marlow)
• “A Jelly of Intrigue” by O’Neil De Noux (Edgar & Shamus Go Golden; Lucien Caye)
• “The Pearl of Antilles” by Caroline Garcia-Aguilera (Edgar & Shamus Go Golden; Sophie Stevenson)
• “Bad Actor” by Elliot Sweeney (November/December 2022, Alfred Hitchcock Mystery Magazine; Dylan Kaspar)

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2024 SHAMUS AWARDS

The finalists for the 2024 Shamus Awards, for works published in 2023, were announced at the Bouchercon Opening Ceremonies in Nashville, Tennessee. The winners are in red.

BEST PI HARDCOVER

• Heart of the Nile by Will Thomas (Barker & Llewelyn)
• Hard Rain by Samantha Jayne Allen (Annie McIntyre)
• Go Find Daddy by Steve Goble (Ed Runyon)
• The Mistress of Bhatia House by Sujata Massey (Perveen Mistry)
• The Bell in the Fog by Lev AC Rosen (Evander Mills)

BEST PI PAPERBACK

• Liar’s Dice by Gabriel Valjan (Shane Cleary)
• Drums Guns ’N’ Money by Jonathan J. Brown (Lou Crasher)
• Gillespie Field Groove by Corey Lynn Fayman (Rolly Waters)
• The Truth We Hide by Liz Milliron (Betty Ahern)
• Bring the Night by J.R. Sanders (Nate Ross)

BEST FIRST PI NOVEL

• This award was not given out this year, due to a lack of qualifying submissions.

BEST PI SHORT STORY

• “Errand for a Neighbor” by Bill Bassman (January/February 2023, Ellery Queen Mystery Magazine; Ray Zino)
• “Beyond Belief” by Libby Cudmore (May 2023, Tough; Martin Wade)
• “The Soiled Dove of Shallow Hollow” by Sean McCluskey (January/February 2023 Ellery Queen Mystery Magazine; Shane “Cutter” Caine)
• “Imperfect Data” by Bob Tippee (January/February 2023, Alfred Hitchcock Mystery Magazine)
• “Making the Bad Guys Nervous” by Joseph S. Walker (2023, Black Cat Weekly #102; Tim Chadwick)

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2025 SHAMUS AWARDS

The winners of the 2025 Shamus Awards were presented at the 2025 Bouchercon’s Opening Ceremonies in New Orleans, Louisiana. The winners, as always, are in red.

BEST PI HARDCOVER

• Trouble in Queenstown by Delia Pitts (Vandy Myrick)
• Kingpin by Mike Lawson (Joe DeMarco)
• The Hollow Tree by Phillip Miller (Shona Sandison)
• Farewell, Amethystine by Walter Mosley (Easy Rawlins)
• Death and Glory by Will Thomas (Barker & Llewelyn)

BEST ORGINAL PAPERBACK P.I. NOVEL

• Call of the Void by J.T. Siemens (Sloane Donovan)
• Geisha Confidential by Mark Coggins (August Riordan)
• Quarry’s Return by Max Allan Collins (Quarry)
• Not Born of Woman by Teel James Glenn (Adam Paradise)
• Bless Our Sleep by Neil S. Plakcy (George Clay)
• The Big Lie by Gabriel Valjan (Shane Cleary)

BEST FIRST P.I. NOVEL

• Twice the Trouble by Ash Clifton (Noland “Nole” Twice)
• The Devil’s Daughter by Gordon Greisman (Jack Coffey)
• Fog City by Claire M. Johnson (Maggie Laurent & Nick Moore)
• The Road to Heaven by Alexis Stefanovich-Thomson (Patrick Bird)
• Holy City by Henry Wise (Bennico Watts & Will Seems)

BEST P.I. SHORT STORY

• “Deadhead” by Tom Andes (Fall 2024, Cowboy Jamboree Magazine; Genest)
• “Alibi in Ice” by Libby Cudmore (July/August 2024, AHMM; Martin Wade)
• “Drop Dead Gorgeous” by M.E. Proctor (Janie’s Got a Gun: Crime Fiction Inspired by the Music of Aerosmith; Harry McLean)
• “Under Hard Rock” by Ed Teja (October 2024, Black Cat Weekly #164; Nameless)
• “The Five Cent Detective” by S.B. Watson (November 2024, Crimeucopia: Great Googly-Moo!)

THE EYE LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENY

• Christine Matthews

FURTHER INVESTIGATION

• The Eye
  Winners of The PWA Lifetime Achievement Award

List respectfully compiled by Kevin Burton Smith. Thanks to Gay Kinman, Robert Randisi, Jan Grape, Jan Long, Gerald So, Ali Karim and especially Cathleen Jordan for their help with this one.  PWA Logo by Terry Beatty (copyright 2005).