Loving the Lefties

Left Coast Crime 2026 will be presenting four Lefty Awards at the 36th annual convention, to be held this February in San Francisco, in the categories of Humorous, Historical, Debut, and Best Crime Novels. The awards will be voted on at the convention and presented at a banquet on Saturday, February 28, at the Hyatt Regency on the Embarcadero. The Lefty nominees have been selected by convention registrants. (HT to Janet Rudolph) Congratulations to all the finalists!


Lefty for Best Humorous Mystery Novel

Ellen Byron, Solid Gold Murder (Kensington)
Jennifer J. Chow, Star-Crossed Egg Tarts (St. Martin’s Paperbacks)
Elizabeth Crowens, Bye Bye Blackbird (Level Best Books)
Catriona McPherson, Scot’s Eggs (Severn House)
Cindy Sample, All’s Faire in Love and Murder (Cindy Sample Books)

Lefty for Best Historical Mystery Novel for books set before 1970
(The Bill Gottfried Memorial)

Cara Black, Huguette (Soho Crime)
Mariah Fredericks, The Girl in the Green Dress (Minotaur Books)
Dianne Freeman, A Daughter’s Guide to Mothers and Murder (Kensington)
Claire M. Johnson, City Lights (Level Best Books)
Laurie R. King, Knave of Diamonds (Bantam)
Rob Osler, The Case of the Missing Maid (Kensington)

Lefty for Best Debut Mystery Novel

Adrian Andover, Whiskey Business (Chestnut Avenue Press)
Kristen L. Berry, We Don’t Talk About Carol (Bantam)
Laurie L. Dove, Mask of the Deer Woman (Berkley)
Sue Hincenbergs, The Retirement Plan (William Morrow)
Marisa Kashino, Best Offer Wins (Celadon Books)
Diane Schaffer, Mortal Zin (Sibylline Press)

Lefty for Best Mystery Novel (not in other categories)

Lou Berney, Crooks (William Morrow)
Claire Booth, Throwing Shadows (Severn House)
Tracy Clark, Edge (Thomas & Mercer)
Leslie Karst, Waters of Destruction (Severn House)
James L’Etoile, River of Lies (Oceanview Publishing)
Gigi Pandian, The Library Game (Minotaur Books)