Crime Writers of Canada (CWC) announced
the Shortlists for the 2026 Crime Writers of Canada Awards of Excellence
in Canadian Crime Writing. Since 1984, Crime Writers of Canada has recognized
the best in mystery, crime, suspense fiction, and crime nonfiction by Canadian
authors, including citizens abroad and new residents. Winners will be
announced on Friday, May 29, 2026.
GRAND MASTER AWARD RECIPIENT
Rick Mofina has been named
the recipient of the 2026 Grand Master Award. This prestigious biennial honour
recognizes a Canadian crime writer with a substantial body of work who has
garnered significant national and international acclaim while demonstrating a
steadfast commitment to the crime-writing community. CWC selected Mofina for
this distinction based on his prolific output, professional integrity, and
years of dedicated service to both the organization and the genre.
THE 2026 AWARDS OF EXCELLENCE SHORTLISTS
The Peter Robinson Award for Best
Crime Novel, with a $1000 prize
The Retirement Plan by Sue
Hincenbergs, HarperCollins Publishers Ltd
The Hunger We Pass Down, by Jen
Sookfong Lee, McClelland & Stewart
Into the Fall by Tamara L. Miller, Thomas
and Mercer
The Black Wolf by Louise Penny
Minotaur Books
The Tiger and the Cosmonaut, by Eddy
Boudel Tan Viking Canada
Best Crime First Novel, sponsored
by Melodie Campbell with a $1000 prize.
The Beltane Massacre by Ray
Critch, Breakwater Books
Yesterday’s Lies by Jan
Field, La Cloche Publishing
The Broken Detective by Joel
Nedecky Run Amok Crime
A Painting to Die For by David
L. Tucker, Otter & Osprey Press
Too Dark for the Light by A.L.
Wahdel, Butterfly 80 Publishing
Best Crime Novel Set in Canada, sponsored
by Shaftesbury with a $500 prize.
That Other Family by Lis
Angus Next Chapter
, Every Fall by Angela Douglas, Rising
Action Publishing Co
Detective Aunty by Uzma
Jalaluddin HarperCollins Publishers Ltd
Salt on Her Tongue, by C.S.
Porter Vagrant Press
The Hitchhikers, by Chevy Stevens,
St. Martin’s Press
The Whodunit Award for Best
Traditional Mystery, sponsored by Jane Doe with a $500 prize.
The Engineer’s Nemesis by Shelley
Adina, Moonshell Books
Stella Ryman and the Search
for Thelma Hu by Mel Anastasiou, Pulp Literature Press
A Dark Death by Alice
Fitzpatrick Stonehouse Publishing
Some Justice: A Ghazi Ammar
Medieval Mystery, by Laury Silvers, Independently Published
The Cost of a Hostage by Iona Whishaw,, Touch Wood Editions
Best Crime Short Story, sponsored
by Crime Writers of Canada with a $200 prize.
Under the Circumstances by Lis
Angus, (A Capital Mystery Anthology), Ottawa Press and Publishing
The Lost Diner by Madeleine
Harris Callway Pulp Literature Press (story on p.115)
Cold Shock by Barbara Fradkin (A
Capital Mystery Anthology), Ottawa Press and Publishing
The Headache by Billie
Livingstone Dark Yonder (story on p.31)
Polly Wants a Freakin’ Cracker by
Sylvia Maultash Warsh (Malice Domestic: Murder Most Humorous), Wildside
Press
Best French Language Crime Book,
sponsored by Carrick Publishing with a $500 prize
Le regard des autres by Chrystine
Brouillet, Druide
Jeux d’ombres by André Jacques
Druide
La mémoire du labyrinth by Steve
Laflamme, Libre Expression
Une nuit d’été à Littlebrook by Maureen
Martineau, Héliotrope
Delta Zéro by Martin Michaud Libre
Expression
Best Juvenile / YA Crime
Book, sponsored by Superior Shores Press with a $250 prize.
The Mystery of the Haunted
Dancehall by Charis Cotter Tundra Books
Death by Whoopee Cushion by Vicki
Grant, Tundra Books
The Mizzy Mysteries: A Skeleton
in the Closet by Claire Hatcher-Smith Tundra Books
The City of Lost Cats by Tanya
Lloyd Kyi, Tundra Books
Bark Twice for
Murder by John Lekich, Orca Book Publishers
The Brass Knuckles Award for Best
Nonfiction Crime Book, sponsored by David Reid Simpson Law Firm (Hamilton) with
a $300 prize.
The Many Names of Robert Cree:
How a First Nations Chief, Brought Ancient Wisdom to Big Business and
Prosperity to His People, by Robert Cree with Therese Greenwood, ECW Press
Acts of Darkness: Notorious
Criminals, Their Defenders, Prosecutors, and Jailers by John L. Hill Durvile
& UpRoute
Arctic Predator: The Crimes
of Edward Horne Against Children in Canada’s North, by Kathleen Lippa, Dundurn
Press
On the Lam: Great (and Not So
Great) Escapes from Prison, by Lorna Poplak, Dundurn Press
Hitman: The Untold Story of
Canada’s Deadliest Assassin by Julian Sher & Lisa Fitterman HarperCollins
Publishers Ltd
Best Unpublished Crime Novel
manuscript written by an unpublished author, sponsored by ECW Press with a
$500 prize.
Val's Story by Anne
Burlakoff,
The Less You Know by William
Hall,
Lens Flare by Francis K.
Lalumière,
Death Scent by Barbara
Stokes,
Blistered by Isabelle
Zimmermann
Congratulations to all the nominated authors.
