Agatha Award Finalists

 

The annual Agatha Awards celebrate the traditional mystery, best typified by the works of Agatha Christie. The genre is loosely defined as mysteries that contain no explicit sex, excessive gore, or gratuitous violence, and would not be classified as "hard-boiled." ​Everyone who is registered for the Malice Domestic conference or becomes a Friend of Malice of any given year will receive a nomination ballot in early January, with finalists voted on during the convention. Winners are announced at the Agatha Awards Banquet on Saturday night during Malice, which this year will be held from April 24-26, 2026 at the North Marriott Hotel & Convention Center in Bethesda, Maryland. Congrats to all!

Best Contemporary Novel

A Grave Eeception, Connie Berry, Cooked Lane
At Death's Dough, Mindy Quigley, Minotaur
Murder in Fifth Position, Lori Robins, Level Best Books
The Devil Comes Calling, Annette Dashofy, One More Chapter
Waters of Destruction, Leslie Karst, Severn House

Best Historical Novel

Bye Bye Blackbird, Elizabeth Crowens, Level Best
The Girl in the Green Dress, Mariah Fredericks, Minotaur
Murder at the Moulin Rouge, Carol Pouliot, Level Best
The Case of the Christie Conspiracy, Kelly Oliver, Boldwood Books
The Hindenburg Spy, I.A. Chandlar, Oliver Heber Publishers

Best First Novel

Murder in the Crazy Mountains, K.L. Borges, Epicenter Press/Camel Press Imprint
Player Elimination, Shelly Jones, Tule Press
Savvy Summers and the Sweet Potato Crimes, Sandra Jackson-Opoku, Minotaur
Voices of the Elysian Fields, Michael Rigg, Leveltru
Whiskey Business, Adrian Andover, Chestnut Avenue Press

Best Short Story

“Baby Love,” Barb Goffman, Double Crossing Van Dine Anthology, Crippen and Landru
“Boss Cat Fules,” Nikki Knight, Malice Domestic Mystery Most Humorous
“Lola's Last Dance,” Kerry Hammond, Celluloid Crimes, Level Best
“Six-armed Robbery,” Ashley-Ruth Bernier, Malice Domestic Mystery Most Humorous
“When the Iron is Hot,” Maddie Day, EQMM Mar/Apr 2025

Best Non-fiction

Bone Valley, Gilbert King, Flat Iron Books
Story of a Murder: the Wives, the Mistress, and Dr. Crippen, Hallie Rubenhold, Dutton
The Dinners all bow: Two Authors, One Murder, and the Real Hester Prynne, Kate Winkler Dawson, G. P. Putnam
Vacations Can Be Murder: a True Crime Lover's Travel Guide to New England, Dawn M. Barclay, Level Best

Best Children’s/YA Mystery

Death in the Cards, Mia P. Manansala, Delacorte Books for Young Readers
Missing Mom, Lynn Slaughter, Fire and ice YA
Risky Pursuit, Nancy G. West, Fire and Ice YA
Rufus and the Dark Side of Magic, Marilyn Levinson, Level Best
Hurricane Heist, James Ponti, Aladin Books