Canadian Crime Commendations

 

Crime Writers of Canada (CWC) announced the shortlists for the 2025 Crime Writers of Canada Awards of Excellence in Canadian Crime Writing at a ceremony last evening. 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. This year, the CWC is also sponsoring a very special presentation of the Derrick Murdoch Award, which is celebrated every two years, honoring those who have contributed greatly to the development of crime writing in Canada through their work as writers, editors, producers, publicists, and organizers. The 2025 recipient is William H. Deverell, a distinguished Canadian novelist, activist, and criminal lawyer.
 

The Miller-Martin Award for Best Crime Novel:  

• Colin Barrett, Wild Houses (McClelland & Stewart)
• Jaima Fixsen, The Specimen (Poisoned Pen Pressed Pen Press)
• Conor Kerr, Prairie Edge (Strange Light, an imprint of Penguin Random House Canada)
• John MacLachlan Gray, Mr. Good-Evening (Douglas & McIntyre)
• Louise Penny, The Grey Wolf (Minotaur Books)

Best Crime First Novel:  

• Suzan Denoncourt, The Burden of Truth (Suzan Denoncourt)
• Peter Holloway, The Roaring Game Murders (Bonspiel Books)
• Jim McDonald, Altered Boy (Amalit Books)
• Marianne K. Miller, We Were the Bullfighter (Dundurn Press)
• Ashley Tate, Twenty-Seven Minutes (Doubleday Books Canada)

Best Crime Novel Set in Canada:  

• Brenda Chapman, Fatal Harvest (Ivy Bay Press)
• Barry W. Levy, The War Machine (Double Dagger Books)
• Shane Peacock, As We Forgive Others (Cormorant Books)
• Greg Rhyno, Who By Fire (Cormorant Books)
• Kerry Wilkinson, The Call (Bookouture)

The Whodunit Award for Best Traditional Mystery:  

• Cathy Ace, The Corpse with the Pearly Smile (Four Tails Publishing Ltd.)
• Raye Anderson, The Dead Shall Inherit (Signature Editions)
• Susan Juby, A Meditation on Murder (HarperCollins Publishers Ltd.)
• Thomas King, Black Ice (HarperCollins Publishers Ltd.)
• Jonathan Whitelaw, Concert Hall Killer (HarperNorth/ HarperCollins Canada)

Best Crime Novella:

• Marcelle Dubé, Chuck Berry is Missing, Alfred Hitchcock’s Mystery Magazine
• Liz Ireland, Mrs. Claus and the Candy Corn Caper, Kensington
• Pamela Jones, The Windmill Mystery, Austin Macauley Publishers
• A.J. McCarthy, A Rock, Black Rose Writing
• Twist Phelan, Aim, Ellery Queen Mystery Magazine

Best Crime Short Story:  

• Catherine Astolfo, "Farmer Knudson," from Auntie Beers: A Book of Connected Short Stories, Carrick Publishing
• Therese Greenwood, "Hatcheck Bingo," from The 13th Letter, Mesdames and Messieurs of Mayhem, Carrick Publishing
• Billie Livingston, "Houdini Act," Saturday Evening Post
• Linda Sanche, "The Electrician," from Crime Waves, Dangerous Games, A Canada West Anthology
• Melissa Yi, "The Longest Night of the Year," Ellery Queen Mystery Magazine

The Best French Language Crime Book (Fiction and Nonfiction): 

• L. Blanchard, La femme papillon (Fides)
• Lavallée, Le crime du garçon exquis (Fides)
• Jean Lemieux, L’Affaire des montants (Québec Amérique)
• Guillaume Morrissette, Une mémoire de lion (Saint-Jean)
• Johanne Seymour, Fracture (Libre Expression)

Best Juvenile/YA Crime Book:   

• Sigmund Brouwer, Shock Wave, Orca Book Publishers
• Meagan Mahoney, The Time Keeper, DCB Young Readers
• Twist Phelan, Snowed, Bronzeville Books, LLC
• David A. Poulsen, The Dark Won't Wait, Red Deer Press
• Melissa Yi, The Red Rock Killer, Windtree Press

The Brass Knuckles Award for Best Nonfiction Crime:  

• Denise Chong, Out of Darkness: Rumana Monzur's Journey through Betrayal, Tyranny and Abuse, Random House Canada
• Nate Hendley, Atrocity on the Atlantic: Attack on a Hospital Ship During the Great War, Dundurn Press
• John L. Hill, The Rest of the [True Crime] Story, AOS Publishing
• Dean Jobb, A Gentleman and a Thief: The Daring Jewel Heists of a Jazz Age Rogue, HarperCollins Publishers Ltd.
• Tanya Talaga, The Knowing, HarperCollins Publishers Ltd.

Best Unpublished Crime Novel:  

• Robert Bowerman, The Man in The Black Hat
• Luke Devlin, Govern Yourself Accordingly
• Delee Fromm, Dark Waters
• Lorrie Potvin, A Trail's Tears
• William Watt, Predators in the Shadows