For Works First Published in the U.S. in 2024
Following are the categories for the Private Eye Writers of America 2025 Shamus Awards for private eye novels and short stories first published in the United States in 2024.
DEADLINE
Submissions must be postmarked by March 31, 2025. No extensions can be given.
Shamus Committees will forward their final lists to the Shamus Awards Chair by May 31, 2025.
ELIGIBILITY
Eligible works must feature as a main character a person PAID for investigative work but NOT employed for that work by a unit of government. These include traditionally licensed private investigators; lawyers and reporters who do their own investigations; and others who function as hired private agents. These do NOT include law enforcement officers, other government employees, or amateur, uncompensated sleuths.
Independently published books (Indies) may be submitted to the Best Original Paperback P.I. Novel category.
SUBMISSIONS
Please send one copy of each eligible work to ALL members of the appropriate committee. Do NOT submit a book to more than one committee.
There is no application fee and no submission form, as a simple cover letter for each submission will suffice. If you have any questions, please e-mail John Shepphird (at) yahoo dot com BEFORE submitting.
BEST HARDCOVER P.I. NOVEL: A book-length work of fiction published in hardcover in 2024 that is NOT the author’s first published P.I. novel.
BEST FIRST P.I. NOVEL: A book-length work of fiction, in hardcover or paperback, first published in 2024 and that is the author’s first published novel featuring a private investigator as a main character.
BEST ORIGINAL PAPERBACK P.I. NOVEL: A book-length work of fiction first published as a paperback original in 2024 that is NOT the author’s first P.I. novel. Paperback reprints of previously published novels are NOT eligible.
BEST P.I. SHORT STORY: A work of fiction of 20,000 words or fewer, published in a recognized print or online magazine, anthology or collection in 2024. Stories first published in an earlier year and reprinted in a magazine, anthology or collection in 2024, are NOT eligible. Self-published stories are NOT eligible.
2025 SHAMUS AWARDS COMMITTEES
BEST HARDCOVER P.I. NOVEL
Stephen Koenig (Chair)
P.O. Box 321
Shelton, NE 68876
April Kelly
P.O. Box 5
Ooltewah, TN 37363
William Frank
3232 Calle Celestial
Santa Fe, New Mexico 87506
BEST FIRST P.I. NOVEL
David R. Thompson (Chair)
17402 Wild Rose Lane
Huntington Beach, CA 92649
Paul McGoran
364 Bellevue Av. Unit D201
Newport RI 02840
C.M. Chan
5555 N. Port Washington Road, Suite #300
Glendale, WI 53217
BEST ORIGINAL PAPERBACK P.I. NOVEL
Ted Fitzgerald (Chair)
63 Old Post Rd
East Walpole, MA 02032
Christopher Chambers
437 Irving St NW
Washington, DC 20010
Tom Milani
1211 Duke Street
Alexandria, VA 22314-3515
BEST P.I. SHORT STORY
Greg Rucka (Chair)
2925 NE 15th Ave
Portland, OR 97212
Teel James Glenn
27 50th St (RS),
Weehawken NJ, 07086
Jim Guigli
5336 Mustang Way
Carmichael, CA 95608-1231
Respectfully posted by Kevin Burton Smith.
