The International Thriller Writers have announced the finalists for this year’s Thriller Awards. The winners will be named during the 2021 Thrillerfest, which will be held virtually June 28 – July 10, including panels, seminars, PitchFest, and more. Congratulations to all the nominees!
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BEST HARDCOVER NOVEL
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S.A. Cosby – BLACKTOP WASTELAND (Flatiron Books)
Joe Ide – HI FIVE (Mulholland Books)
Richard Osman – THE THURSDAY MURDER CLUB (Penguin)
Ivy Pochoda – THESE WOMEN (Ecco)
Lisa Unger – CONFESSIONS ON THE 7:45 (Park Row)
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Read S.A. Cosby on pain as the unifying thread across crime fiction.
Read Joe Ide on bringing Sherlock Holmes to modern-day L.A.
Read Richard Osman on why all British people are potential murderers.
Read Ivy Pochoda on the book that will make your child a future crime writer.
Read Lisa Unger on pop culture depiction of scam artists and grifters.
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BEST FIRST NOVEL
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Jasmine Aimaq – THE OPIUM PRINCE (Soho Press)
Don Bentley – WITHOUT SANCTION (Berkley)
Kyle Perry – THE BLUFFS (Michael Joseph)
Francesca Serritella – GHOSTS OF HARVARD (Random House)
David Heska Wanbli Weiden – WINTER COUNTS (Ecco)
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Read Francesca Serritella on the clues and symbols we leave behind.
Read David Heska Wanbli on why indigenous fiction matters.
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BEST PAPERBACK ORIGINAL NOVEL
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Alyssa Cole – WHEN NO ONE IS WATCHING (William Morrow Paperbacks)
Layton Green – UNKNOWN 9: GENESIS (Reflector Entertainment)
John Marrs – WHAT LIES BETWEEN US (Thomas & Mercer)
Andrew Mayne – THE GIRL BENEATH THE SEA (Thomas & Mercer)
Benjamin Stevenson – EITHER SIDE OF MIDNIGHT (Penguin Random House Australia)
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Read Alyssa Cole on taking on social injustice through crime fiction.
Read John Marrs on techno-thrillers to read as our world crumbles.
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BEST SHORT STORY
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Steve Hockensmith – “The Death and Carnage Boy” (Ellery Queen Mystery Magazine)
Laura Lippman – “Slow Burner” (Amazon Original Stories)
Alan Orloff – “Rent Due” (Down & Out Books)
Elaine Viets – “Dog Eat Dog” (Untreed Reads)
Andrew Welsh-Huggins – “The Mailman” (Down & Out Books)
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BEST YOUNG ADULT NOVEL
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Demetra Brodsky – LAST GIRLS (Tor Teen)
Andrea Contos – THROWAWAY GIRLS (Kids Can Press)
Kit Frick – I KILLED ZOE SPANOS (Margaret K. McElderry Books)
Lily Sparks – TEEN KILLERS CLUB (Crooked Lane Books)
Heather Young – THE DISTANT DEAD (William Morrow)
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BEST E-BOOK ORIGINAL NOVEL
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Sean Black – AVENUE OF THIEVES (Sean Black)
Jeff Buick – A KILLING GAME (Novel Words)
Diane Capri – FULL METAL JACK (AugustBooks)
Jake Needham – MONGKOK STATION (Half Penny)
Kirk Russell – NO HESITATION (Strawberry Creek)
