The Mystery Writers of America MWA) announced the winners of its annual awards for the best in mystery fiction, non-fiction and television published or produced in 2021.
The winners were announced April 28 at the New York Marriott Marquis Times Square.
Previously, the MWA announced recipients of three special awards:
- The Grand Master: Laurie R. King.
- The Raven Award: Lesa Holstine, creator of Lesa’s Book Critiques and a Library Journal reviewer.
- The Ellery Queen Award: Juliet Grames, the associate publisher at Soho Press, where she curates the award-winning Soho Crime imprint.
Here are the winners by category:
BEST NOVEL
- FIVE DECEMBERS by James Kestrel (Hard Case Crime)
BEST FIRST NOVEL BY AN AMERICAN AUTHOR
- DEER SEASON by Erin Flanagan (University of Nebraska Press)
BEST PAPERBACK ORIGINAL
- BOBBY MARCH WILL LIVE FOREVER by Alan Parks (Europa Editions – World Noir)
BEST FACT CRIME
- LAST CALL: A TRUE STORY OF LOVE, LUST, AND MURDER IN QUEER NEW YORK by Elon Green (Celadon Books)
BEST CRITICAL/BIOGRAPHICAL
- THE TWELVE LIVES OF ALFRED HITCHCOCK: AN ANATOMY OF THE MASTER OF SUSPENSE by Edward White (W.W. Norton & Company)
BEST SHORT STORY
- “The Road to Hana,” Alfred Hitchcock Mystery Magazine by R.T. Lawton (Dell Magazines)
BEST JUVENILE
- CONCEALED by Christina Diaz Gonzalez (Scholastic – Scholastic Press)
BEST YOUNG ADULT
- FIREKEEPER’S DAUGHTER by Angeline Boulley (Macmillan Children’s Publishing – Henry Holt and Company BFYR)
BEST TELEVISION EPISODE TELEPLAY
- “Boots on the Ground” – Narcos: Mexico, Written by Iturri Sosa (Netflix)
ROBERT L. FISH MEMORIAL AWARD
“Analogue,” Ellery Queen Mystery Magazine by Rob Osler (Dell Magazines)
THE SIMON & SCHUSTER MARY HIGGINS CLARK AWARD
- CLARK AND DIVISION by Naomi Hirahara (Soho Press – Soho Crime)
THE G.P. PUTNAM’S SONS SUE GRAFTON MEMORIAL AWARD
- RUNNER by Tracy Clark (Kensington Books)
The Edgar Awards are presented to authors of distinguished work in various categories. MWA is the premier organization for mystery writers, professionals allied to the crime-writing field, aspiring crime writers and those who are devoted to the genre. The organization encompasses some 3,000 members including authors of fiction and non-fiction books, screen and TV writers, as well as publishers, editors and literary agents.
