Crime Writers of Canada (CWC) have announced the winners for the 2022 Crime Writers of Canada Awards of Excellence in Canadian Crime Writing. Started in 1984, the annual Crime Writers of Canada Awards of Excellence, then known as the Arthur Ellis Awards, recognizes the best in mystery, crime, and suspense fiction, and crime nonfiction by Canadian authors.
The presentation of the winners can be viewed on CWC’s YouTube channel:
Best Crime Novel sponsored by Rakuten Kobo, with a $1000 prize
Under an Outlaw Moon by Dietrich Kalteis ECW Press
Best Crime First Novel sponsored by Writers First, with a $500 prize
The Push by Ashley Audrain Viking Canada
The Whodunit Award for Best Traditional Mystery sponsored by Jane Doe, with a $500 prize
What’s the Matter with Mary Jane? By Candas Jane Dorsey ECW Press
The Howard Engel Award for Best Crime Novel Set in Canada sponsored by The Engel Family, with a $500 prize
Beneath Her Skin by C. S. Porter, Vagrant Press / Nimbus Publishing Inc.
Best Crime Novella sponsored by Mystery Magazine, with a $200 prize
Letters From Johnny by Wayne Ng Guernica Editions
Best Crime Short Story sponsored by Mystery Magazine, with a $300 prize
Number 10 Marlborough Place by Elizabeth Elwood Ellery Queen Mystery Magazine
Best French Crime Book (Fiction and Nonfiction)
Flots by Patrick Senécal, Editions Alire
Best Juvenile or YA Crime Book (Fiction and Nonfiction) sponsored by Shaftesbury, with a $500 prize
The Traitor's Blade by Kevin Sands Aladdin (Simon & Schuster)
The Brass Knuckles Award for Best Nonfiction Crime Book sponsored by Simpson & Wellenreiter LLP, Hamilton, with a $300 prize
The Beatle Bandit by Nate Hendley Dundurn Press
The Award for Best Unpublished Manuscript sponsored by ECW Press, with a $500 prize
Elmington by Renee Lehnen
About Crime Writers of Canada
Crime Writers of Canadawas founded in 1982 as a professional organization designed to raise the profile of Canadian crime writers. Members include authors, publishers, editors, booksellers, librarians, reviewers, and literary agents as well as many developing authors. Past winners of the Awards have included major names in Canadian crime writing such as Mario Bolduc, Gail Bowen, Stevie Cameron, Howard Engel, Barbara Fradkin, Louise Penny, Peter Robinson and Eric Wright.
Crime Writers of Canada (CWC) have announced the Shortlists for the 2022 Crime Writers of Canada Awards of Excellence in Canadian Crime Writing. Started in 1984, the annual Crime Writers of Canada Awards of Excellence, then known as the Arthur Ellis Awards, recognizes the best in mystery, crime, and suspense fiction, and crime nonfiction by Canadian authors.
Winners will be announced Thursday 26 May 2022.
Crime Writers of Canada (CWC) have announced the Shortlists for the 2022 Crime Writers of Canada Awards of Excellence in Canadian Crime Writing. Started in 1984, the annual Crime Writers of Canada Awards of Excellence, then known as the Arthur Ellis Awards, recognises the best in mystery, crime, and suspense fiction, and crime nonfiction by Canadian authors.
Winners will be announced Thursday 26 May 2022.
Best Crime Novel sponsored by Rakuten Kobo, with a $1000 prize
Find You First by Linwood Barclay (William Morrow, an imprint of HarperCollins Publishers Ltd.)
Lost Immunity by Daniel Kalla, (Simon & Schuster)
Under the Outlaw Moon by Dietrich Kalteis (ECW Press)
Not a Happy Family by Shari Lapena (Doubleday Canada)
The Hunted by Roz Nay (Simon & Schuster)
Best Crime First Novel sponsored by Writers First, with a $500 prize
The Push by Ashley Audrain (Viking Canada)The Captive by Fiona King Foster (HarperCollins Publishers Ltd.)
Windfall: A Henry Lysyk Mystery by Byron TD Smith (Shima Kun Press)
All Is Well by Katherine Walker (Thistledown Press)
Seven Down by David Whitton (Rare Machines an imprint of Dundurn Press)
The Whodunit Award for Best Traditional Mystery sponsored by Jane Doe, with a $500 prize
What’s the Matter with Mary Jane? By Candas Jane Dorsey (ECW Press)
Three Dog Knight by Alice Bienia (Cairn Press)
Hell's Half Acre by Jackie Elliott (Joffe Books)
So Many Windings by Catherine Macdonald (At Bay Press)
Murder in a Teacup by Vicki Delany (Kensington Publishing Corp)
The Howard Engel Award for Best Crime Novel Set in Canada sponsored by The Engel Family, with a $500 prize
Beneath Her Skin by C. S. Porter (Vagrant Press / Nimbus Publishing Inc.)
Corpse with an Iron Will by Cathy Ace (Four Tails Publishing Inc.)
Death on Darby’s Island by Alice Walsh (Vagrant Press / Nimbus Publishing Inc.
Hell and Gone by Sam Wiebe (Harbour Publishing Co. Inc.)
Three for Trinity by Kevin Major (Breakwater Books)
Best Crime Novella sponsored by Mystery Magazine, with a $200 prize
Identity Withheld by Marcelle Dubé (Falcon Ridge Publishing)
Murder in Abstract by Brenda Gayle (Bowstring Books)
Letters From Johnny by Wayne Ng (Guernica Editions)
Not So Fast Dr. Quick by Elvie Simons, (Dell Magazines)
Best Crime Short Story sponsored by Mystery Magazine, with a $300 prize
What can You Do? By Pam Barnsley (Ellery Queen Mystery Magazine)
Weed Man by Hilary Davidson (Dell Magazines)
Number 10 Marlborough Place by Elizabeth Elwood (Dell Magazines)
All My Darlings by Charlotte Morganti Die Laughing: An Anthology of Humorous Mysteries
Dead Man's Hand by Melissa Yi (Dell Magazines)
Best French Crime Book (Fiction and Nonfiction)
Le Murmure des Hakapiks by Roxanne Bouchard (Libre Expression)
Dis-moi Qui Doit Vivre… by Marc-André Chabot (Libre Expression)
Conduite Dangereuse by Guillaume Morrissette (Saint-Jean)
Flots by Patrick Senécal (Editions Alire)
Stigmates by Richard Ste-Marie (Editions Alire)
Best Juvenile or YA Crime Book (Fiction and Nonfiction) sponsored by Shaftesbury, with a $500 prize
Blood Donor by Karen Bass (Orca Book Publishers)
Alice Fleck's Recipes for Disaster by Rachelle Delaney (Puffin Canada)
Hunting By Stars, by Cherie Dimaline (Penguin Teen)
The Traitor's Blade by Kevin Sands (Aladdin (Simon & Schuster))
Don't Breathe a Word by Jordyn Taylor (HarperTeen (HarperCollins Publishers))
The Brass Knuckles Award for Best Nonfiction Crime Book sponsored by Simpson & Wellenreiter LLP, Hamilton, with a $300 prize
Don't Call it a Cult, by Sarah Berman (Viking Canada)
Vancouver Vice: Crime and Spectacle in the City's West End, by Aaron Chapman (Arsenal Pulp Press)
Murder on the Inside: The True Story of the Deadly Riot at Kingston Penitentiary by Catherine Fogarty (Biblioasis)
The Beatle Bandit by Nate Hendley (Dundurn Press)
The Don: The Story of Toronto's Infamous Jail by Lorna Poplak (Dundurn Press)
The Award for Best Unpublished Manuscript sponsored by ECW Press, with a $500 prize
The Strength to Rise by Delee Fromm
Captives by Pam Isfeld
Elmington by Renee Lehnen
Ken's Corner by Katie Mac
Part Time Crazy by Mark Thomas
CWC announces the 2022 Grand Master Award recipient Louise Penny.
Louise Penny’s debut novel, Still Life, not only won CWC Award for Best First Novel but also the New Blood Dagger, Anthony and Barry awards. Since then, Louise Penny has penned over sixteen Inspector Gamache novels, won many more awards, become an International Bestseller and Canadian icon. Inspector Gamache is being adapted for television by Left Bank Productions with Alfred Molina playing the beloved detective. Her most recent book, State of Terror, was written with 2016 U.S. Presidential candidate Hilary Clinton, a literary coup and another bestseller.
About Crime Writers of Canada
Crime Writers of Canada was founded in 1982 as a professional organization designed to raise the profile of Canadian crime writers. Our members include authors, publishers, editors, booksellers, librarians, reviewers, and literary agents as well as many developing authors. Past winners of the Awards have included such major names in Canadian crime writing as Mario Bolduc, Gail Bowen, Stevie Cameron, Howard Engel, Barbara Fradkin, Louise Penny, Peter Robinson and Eric Wright. We would like to thank ECW Press, Rakuten Kobo, Mystery Magazine, Shaftesbury, Simpson and Wellenreiter LLP (Hamilton), Writers First, Jane Doe and the Howard Engel family for their sponsorship, and the many participating publishers for their continued support.
The shortlist presentation can also been seen on YouTube below.
Crime Writers of Canada (CWC) have announced the Shortlists for the 2021 Crime Writers of Canada Awards of Excellence in Canadian Crime Writing. Formerly known as the Arthur Ellis Awards, the Awards started in 1984. The annual Crime Writers of Canada Awards of Excellence recognizes the best in mystery, crime, and suspense fiction, and crime nonfiction by Canadian authors. Congratulations to all! Winners will be announced Thursday 27 May 2021.
Best Crime Novel sponsored by Rakuten Kobo, with a $1000 prize
Marjorie Celona, How a Woman Becomes a Lake, Hamish Hamilton Canada; Penguin Canada
Cecilia Ekbäck, The Historians, HarperCollins Publishers Ltd.
Will Ferguson, The Finder, Simon & Schuster Canada
Thomas King, Obsidian, HarperCollins Publishers Ltd.
Roz Nay, Hurry Home, Simon & Schuster Canada
Best Crime First Novel sponsored by Writers First, with a $500 prize
Raye Anderson, And We Shall Have Snow, Signature Editions
Guglielmo D’Izza, The Transaction, Guernica Editions
Russell Fralich, True Patriots, Dundurn Press
Emily Hepditch, The Woman in the Attic, Flanker Press
Chris Patrick Carolan, The Nightshade Cabal, Parliament House Press
The Howard Engel Award for Best Crime Novel Set in Canada sponsored by The Engel Family with a $500 prize
Randall Denley,Payback, Ottawa Press and Publishing
Helen Humphreys, Rabbit Foot Bill, HarperCollins Publishers Ltd.
Ann Lambert,The Dogs of Winter, Second Story Press
Kevin Major,Two for The Tablelands, Breakwater Books
Katrina Onstad, Stay Where I Can See You, HarperCollins Publishers Ltd.
Best Crime Novella sponsored by Mystery Weekly with a $200 prize
C.C. Benison, The Unpleasantness at the Battle of Thornford, At Bay Press
Vicki Delany, Coral Reef Views, Orca Book Publishers
Winona Kent, Salty Dog Blues, Sisters in Crime - Canada West
Sam Wiebe, Never Going Back, Orca Book Publishers
Best Crime Short Story sponsored by Mystery Weekly with a $300 prize
Marcelle Dubé, Cold Wave, Sisters in Crime - Canada West
Sylvia Maultash Warsh, Days Without Name, Carrick Publishing
Twist Phelan, Used to Be, Ellery Queen's Mystery Magazine
Christian Giguère, Le printemps des traîtres, Héliotrope NOIR
Guy Lalancette,Les cachettes, VLB éditeur
Jean Lemieux, Les Demoiselles du Havre-Aubert, Éditions Québec Amérique
Best Juvenile or YA Crime Book (Fiction and Nonfiction) sponsored by Shaftesbury with a $500 prize
Frances Greenslade, Red Fox Road, Puffin Canada, an imprint of Penguin Random House Janet Hill, Lucy Crisp and the Vanishing House, Tundra Books, an imprint of Penguin Random House
Sheena Kamal, Fight Like a Girl, Penguin Teen, an imprint of Penguin Random House
Kelly Powell, Magic Dark and Strange, Margaret K. McElderry Books, an imprint of Simon & Schuster Inc.
Tom Ryan, Hope You're Listening, Albert Whitman & Co.
The Brass Knuckles Award for Best Nonfiction Crime Book sponsored by Simpson & Wellenreiter LLP, Hamilton, with a $300 prize
Jeff Blackstock, Murder in the Family: How the Search For My Mother's Killer Led to My Father, Viking Press
Norm Boucher, Horseplay: My Time Undercover on the Granville Strip, NeWest Press
Silver Donald Cameron, Blood in the Water: A True Story of Revenge in the Maritimes, Viking Press
Justin Ling, Missing From the Village: The Story of Serial Killer Bruce McArthur, the Search for Justice, and the System That Failed Toronto's Queer Community, McClelland & Stewart
Michael Nest with Deanna Reder and Eric Bell, Cold Case North: The Search for James Brady and Absolom Halkett, University of Regina Press
The Award for Best Unpublished Manuscript with a $500 prize sponsored by ECW Press
The Future by Raymond Bazowski
Predator and Prey by Dianne Scott
Notes on Killing your Wife by Mark Thomas
A Nice Place to Die by Joyce Woollcott
Cat with a Bone by Susan Jane Wright
CWC also announces the 2021 Derrick Murdoch Award recipient Marian Misters.
The Derrick Murdoch Award is a special achievement award for contributions to the Canadian crime writing genre. As co-owner of Toronto’s Sleuth of Baker Street, Marian Misters has been supporting mystery authors since the bookstore opened and CWC from its inception. Through hosting book events, she has helped launch the career of many CWC authors. In addition, Marian served as Jury Chair for the Awards for three years, during which time she streamlined and developed written procedures for the judges. She was also instrumental in guiding CWC to a new, more diverse, Jury Selection Committee format, and has been active on the Awards Committee for five years.
2019 Arthur Ellis Awards Shortlists for Excellence in Canadian Crime Writing
The annual Arthur Ellis Awards by Crime Writers of Canada recognizes the best in mystery, crime, and suspense fiction and crime nonfiction by Canadian authors. Winners will be announced on May 23rd at the Arthur Ellis Awards Gala in Toronto.
BEST CRIME NOVEL
Cape Diamond by Ron Corbett, ECW Press,
Though the Heavens Fall by Anne Emery ECW Press
The Winters by Lisa Gabriele, Doubleday Canada
Kingdom of the Blind by Louise Penny, Minotaur Books
The Girl in the Moss by Loreth Anne White, Montlake Romance
BEST FIRST CRIME NOVEL (Sponsored by Rakuten Kobo)
Cobra Clutch by A.J. Devlin NeWest Press
Operation Wormwood by Helen C. Escott, Flanker Press,
Full Disclosure by Beverley McLachlin, Simon & Schuster Canada
Why Was Rachel Murdered? By Bill Prentice, Echo Road,
Find You in the Dark by Nathan Ripley, Simon & Schuster Canada
BEST CRIME NOVELLA – The Lou Allin Memorial Award,
The B-Team: The Case of the Angry First Wife, by Melodie Campbell Orca Book Publishers
Blue Water Hues by Vicki Delany Orca Book Publishers
Murder Among the Pines by John Lawrence Reynolds Orca Book Publishers
BEST CRIME SHORT STORY (Sponsored by Mystery Weekly Magazine)
A Ship Called Pandora by Melodie Campbell, Mystery Weekly Magazine
The Power Man, Baby It's Cold Outside by Therese Greenwood Coffin Hop Press
Game by Twist Phelan Ellery Queen Mystery Magazine
Terminal City by Linda L. Richards, Vancouver Noir, Akashic Books,
Wonderful Life by Sam Wiebe, Vancouver Noir, Akashic Books
BEST CRIME BOOK IN FRENCH,
Un dernier baiser avant de te tuer, by Jean-Philippe Bernié, Libre Expression
Adolphus - Une enquête de Joseph Laflamme, by Hervé Gagnon Libre Expression
Ces femmes aux yeux cernés by André Jacques, Éditions Druide
Deux coups de pied de trop, by Guillaume Morissette , Guy Saint-Jean Éditeur
Rinzen la beauté intérieure, by Johanne Seymour, Expression noir
BEST JUVENILE/YOUNG ADULT CRIME BOOK
Escape by Linwood Barclay, Puffin Canada
The House of One Thousand Eyes by Michelle Barker, Annick Press
Call of the Wraith by Kevin Sands, Aladdin
The Ruinous Sweep by Tim Wynne-Jones, Candlewick Press
The Rumrunner's Boy by E.R. Yatscoff, TG & R Books
BEST NONFICTION CRIME BOOK
Dying for a Drink: How a Prohibition Preacher Got Away With Murder by Patrick Brode, Biblioasis
The King of Con: How a Smooth-Talking Jersey Boy Made and Lost Billions, Baffled the FBI, Eluded the Mob, and Lived to Tell the Crooked Tale by Thomas Giacomaro and Natasha Stoynoff, BenBella Books, Inc,
The Boy on the Bicycle: A Forgotten Case of Wrongful Conviction in Toronto by Nate Hendley, Five Rivers Publishing
Murder by Milkshake: An Astonishing True Story of Adultery, Arsenic, and a Charismatic Killer by Eve Lazarus, Arsenal Pulp Press, The Real Lolita: The Kidnapping of Sally Horner and the Novel that Scandalized the World by Sarah Weinman, Alfred A. Knopf Canada
BEST UNPUBLISHED MANUSCRIPT – aka The Unhanged Arthur (Sponsored by Dundurn Press)
Hypnotizing Lions by Jim Bottomley,
Omand’s Creek by Don Macdonald
The Scarlet Cross by Liv McFarlane
One for the Raven Darrow Woods, The Book of Answers by Heather McLeod,
Derrick Murdoch Award
CWC announces the 2019 Derrick Murdoch Award recipient Vicki Delany.
The Derrick Murdoch Award is a special achievement award for contributions to the crime genre. Vicki Delany is a successful and prolific Canadian writer, author of (so far) 34 published books, both standalones and series. She has been a strong supporter and advocate for Canadian crime writers through her work with the Crime Writers of Canada, including serving two terms as Chair of the organization. She has also been a strong supporter of literacy and libraries across Canada and she is one of the founders of the Women Killing It literary festival, which has become a much sought after and sold-out event in Prince Edward County every year. 2019 Arthur Ellis Awards Shortlists for Excellence in Canadian Crime Writing
