Crime Writers of Canada 2024 Awards of Excellence Shortlist & Grand Master Award Recipient

 

Crime Writers of Canada (CWC) announced the Shortlists for the 2024 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 Wednesday 29 May 2024.

Maureen Jennings is this year’s recipient of the 2024 Grand Master Award. Established in 2014, the Grand Master (GM) Award recognizes a Canadian crime writer with a substantial body of work that has garnered national and international recognition.

THE 2024 AWARDS OF EXCELLENCE SHORTLISTS

The Peter Robinson Award for Best Crime Novel sponsored by Rakuten Kobo, with a $1000 prize

The Drowning Woman by Robyn Harding, Grand Central Publishing

Everyone Here is Lying by Shari Lapena, Doubleday Canada

Middlemen by Scott Thornley, House of Anansi Press

Sunset and Jericho by Sam Wiebe, Harbour Publishing

The Maid's Diary by Loreth Anne White, Montlake

Best Crime First Novel, sponsored by Melodie Campbell, with a $1000 prize

The Bittlemores by Jann Arden, Random House Canada 

Adrift by Lisa Brideau, Sourcebooks

The End Game by Charlotte Morganti, Halfdan Press 

The Berry Pickers by Amanda Peters, Harper Perennial 

Perfect Shot by Steve Urszenyi, Minotaur

The Howard Engel Award for Best Crime Novel Set in Canada, sponsored by Charlotte Engel and Crime Writers of Canada, with a $500 prize

The Almost Widow by Gail Anderson-Dargatz, Harper Avenue/HarperCollins

Elmington by Renee Lehnen, Storeyline Press

Cruel Light by Cyndi MacMillan Crooked Lane

Wild Hope by Joan Thomas, Harper Perennial/HarperCollins

Shapes of Wrath by Melissa Yi, Windtree Press

The Whodunit Award for Best Traditional Mystery sponsored by Jane Doe, with a $500 prize

The Legacy by Gail Bowen ECW Press

Steeped in Malice by Vicki Delany, Kensington Books

The Game is a Footnote, by Vicki Delany, Crooked Lane Books 

 The Mystery Guest by Nita Prose, Viking

 To Track a Traitor by Iona Whishaw, TouchWood Editions

Best Crime Short Story

Wisteria Cottage, by M.H. Callway, Wildside Press (for Malice Domestic) 

Reversion by Marcelle Dubé Mystery Magazine

The Canadians by Mary Keenan, (Killin' Time in San Diego), Down & Out Books 

Troubled Water by Donalee Moulton, Black Cat Weekly (Wildside Press) 

American Night by Zandra Renwick, Ellery Queen's Mystery Magazine

The Best French Language Crime Book (Fiction and Nonfiction)

La Punition by Jean-Philippe Bernié, Glénat Québec

Le Mois Des Morts, by Chrystine Brouillet, Éditions Druide

Le Dernier Souffle Est Le Plus Lourd by Catherine Lafrance, Éditions Druide 

La Sainte Paix, by André Marois, Héliotrope

Rien by Jean-Jacques Pelletier, Alire

Best Juvenile/YA Crime Book, sponsored by Shaftesbury Films with a $500 prize (Fiction and Nonfiction)

Someone is Always Watching by Kelley Armstrong, Tundra Books 

Funeral Songs for Dying Girls by Cherie Dimaline,Tundra Books 

The Big Sting by Rachelle Delaney, Tundra Books

Catfish Rolling by Clara Kumagai,  Penguin Teen Canada

Champions of the Fox by Kevin Sands, Puffin Canada

The Brass Knuckles Award for Best Nonfiction Crime Book sponsored by David Reid Simpson Law Firm (Hamilton), with a $300 prize

The Survivor: How I Survived Six Concentration Camps and Became a Nazi Hunter by Josef Lewkowicz and Michael Calvin,  HarperCollins Publishers Ltd.

The Human Scale by Michael Lista Véhicule Press

Jukebox Empire by David Rabinovitch, Rowman & Littlefield

Cheated by Bill Waiser and Jennie Hansen, ECW Press

Clara at the Door with a Revolver, by Carolyn Whitzman, UBC Press, On Point Press

Best Unpublished Crime Novel manuscript written by an unpublished author

The Patient by Tom Blackwell, 

Requiem for a Lotus by Craig H. Bowlsby, 

Murder on Richmond Road: An Enquiry Bureau Mystery by Sheilla Jones and James Burns, 

The Forest Beyond William Wodhams, Thirty Feet Under by Nora Sellers

Crime Writers of Canada Announces 2021 Awards of Excellence Shortlists

 

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

Zandra Renwick, Killer Biznez, Ellery Queen's Mystery Magazine

Sarah Weinman, Limited Liability, Alfred Hitchcock's Mystery Magazine

Best French Crime Book (Fiction and Nonfiction)

Roxanne Bouchard, La mariée de corail, Libre Expression

Stéphanie Gauthier, Inacceptable, Éditions Québec Amérique

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.

The video of the announcements can be seen below.

Congratulations to all the nominated authors.

2019 Arthur Ellis Awards Shortlists

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 

2015 Arthur Ellis Awards

At the Arthur Ellis Gala in Toronto, The Crime Writers of Canada presented the 2015 Arthur Ellis Awards on 29 May 2015. * = winners

Best Novel
Cold Mourning by Brenda Chapman (Dundurn Press)
None so Blind by Barbara Fradkin (Dundurn Press)
*Plague by C.C. Humphreys (Doubleday Canada)
No Known Grave by Maureen Jennings (McClelland & Stewart), Killing Pilgrim by Alen Mattich (House of Anansi)

Best First Novel

A Quiet Kill by Janet Brons, (Touchwood Editions)
*Siege of Bitterns by Steve Burrows (Dundurn Press)

Windigo Fire by M.H. Callway (Seraphim Editions)
No Worst There Is None by Eve McBride (Dundurn Press)
Last of the Independents by Sam Wiebe (Dundurn Press)

Best Novella

The Boom Room by Rick Blechta, (Orca Book Publishers)
Juba Good by Vicki Delany (Orca Book Publishers)

*The Dragon Head of Hong Kong by Ian Hamilton (House of Anansi)

A Knock on the Door by Jas. R. Petrin (Alfred Hitchcock’s Mystery Magazine)

Best Short Story
* Stone Mattress by Margaret Atwood (McClelland & Stewart)

Hook, Line and Sinker by Melodie Campbell (Your McMurray Magazine)
Therapy by Peter Clement (Belgrave House)
First Impressions by Madona Skaff -The Whole She-Bang 2, (Sisters in Crime)

Writers Block by Kevin P. Thornton - World Enough and Crime, (Carrick Publishing)

Best Book in French
*Bondrée by Andrée Michaud (Editions Québec Amérique)

Une enquête de Joseph Laflamme by Jack Hervé Gagnon (Expression noir / Groupe librex)

 Meurtre à l’hôtel Despréaux by Maryse Rouy (Édition Druide)
Repentirs by Richard Ste Marie (Alire)

Best Juvenile/YA Book
Dead Man’s Switch by Sigmund Brouwer (Harvest House)

Face-Off by Michael Betcherman (Penguin Canada)
The Voice Inside My Head by S.J. Laidlaw (Tundra Books)
About That Night by Norah McClintock (Orca Book Publishers)
The Bodies We Wear by Jeyn Roberts (Knopf Books for Young Readers)

Best Nonfiction Book,

Being Uncle Charlie by Bob Deasy (with Mark Ebner) (Penguin Random House)

*The Massey Murder by Charlotte Gray HarperCollins

Innocence on Trial: The Framing of Ivan Henry by Joan McEwen (Heritage House)

Life Real Loud: John Lefebvre, Neteller and the Revolution in Online Gambling by Bill Reynolds (ECW Press)
Extreme Mean by Paula Todd (McClelland & Stewart)

Unhanged Arthur for Best Unpublished First Crime Novel
*Strange Things Done by Elle Wild

Rum Luck by Ryan Aldred

Full Curl by Dave Butler
Crisis Point by Dwayne Clayden
Afghan Redemption by Bill Prentice

Arthur Ellis Awards 2015

The short list for the Arthur Ellis Awards have been announced by the Crime Writers of Canada. The winners will be announced on 28 May at the Arthur Ellis Award Gala at the Arts and Letters Club, Tornoto.

Best Novel

Cold Mourning by Brenda Chapman, Dundurn Press

None so Blind by Barbara Fradkin Dundurn Press

Plague by C.C. Humphreys, Doubleday Canada

No Known Grave, By Maureen Jennings, McClelland & Stewart

Killing Pilgrim by Alen Mattich, , House of Anansi

Best First Novel

A Quiet Kill by Janet Brons, Touchwood Editions

Siege of Bitterns by Steve Burrows, Dundurn Press

Windigo Fire,  by M.H. Callway  Seraphim Editions

No Worst, There Is None by Eve McBride Dundurn Press

Last of the Independents by Sam Wiebe, Dundurn Press

Best Novella *
The Boom Room by Rick Blechta, Orca Book Publishers

Juba Good by Vicki Delany, Orca Book Publishers

The Dragon Head of Hong Kong by Ian Hamilton, House of Anansi

A Knock on the Door by Jas. R. Petrin Alfred Hitchcock’s Mystery Magazine

Best Short Story 

Stone Mattress,  by Margaret Atwood McClelland & Stewart

Hook, Line and Sinker by Melodie Campbell,  Your McMurray Magazine
Therapy by Peter Clement, Belgrave House

First Impressions  by Madona Skaff, The Whole She-Bang 2, Sisters in Crime

Writers Block by Kevin P. Thornton World Enough and Crime, Carrick Publishing

Best Book in French

Jack: Une enquête de Joseph Laflamme by Hervé Gagnon, Expression noir / Groupe librex

Bondrée, by Andrée Michaud, Editions Québec Amérique

Meurtre à l’hôtel Despréaux, by Maryse Rouy  Édition Druide

Repentirs by Richard Ste Marie, Alire

Best Juvenile/YA Book

Face-Off by Michael Betcherman, Penguin Canada

Dead Man's Switch by Sigmund Brouwer, Harvest House

The Voice Inside My Head by S.J. Laidlaw, Tundra Books

About That Night by Norah McClintock, Orca Book Publishers

The Bodies We Wear by Jeyn Roberts, Knopf Books for Young Readers

Best Nonfiction Book

Being Uncle Charlie  by Bob Deasy (with Mark Ebner), Penguin Random House

The Massey Murder  by  Charlotte Gray, HarperCollins

Innocence on Trial: The Framing of Ivan Henry by Joan McEwen, Heritage House

Life Real Loud: John Lefebvre, Neteller and the Revolution in Online Gambling by Bill Reynolds ECW Press

Extreme Mean by Paula Todd, McClelland & Stewart

Unhanged Arthur for Best Unpublished First Crime Novel

Rum Luck by Ryan Aldred

Full Curl by Dave Butler

Crisis Point by Dwayne Clayden

Afghan Redemption by Bill Prentice

Strange Things Done by Elle Wild

*CWC announces the Lou Allin Memorial Award of $250 for the Arthur Ellis Novella Category

Sponsored by the 2011 Bloody Words Conference Committee, this award will be given in honour of Lou Allin.  Lou was a board member of CWC, a co-chair of the 2011 Bloody Words Conference, an award-winning writer, and a mentor to many.  This award is particularly fitting, as she was the winner of the first Arthur Ellis Novella Award.