Topflight Thrillers

 

The International Thriller Writers association announced the finalists for the 2026 ITW Thriller Awards. ITW will announce the winners at ThrillerFest XXI on Saturday, May 9, 2026, at the New York Hilton Midtown, New York City. Congratulations to all!


Best Standalone Novel

Megan Collins – Cross My Heart (Atria)
Ruth Knafo Setton – Zigzag Girl (Black Spring Press)
Gilly Macmillan – The Burning Library (William Morrow)
Sarah Pekkanen – The Locked Ward (St. Martin’s Press)
Olivia Worley – So Happy Together (Minotaur)

Best Series Novel

James Byrne – Chain Reaction (Minotaur)
Robert Crais – The Big Empty (Penguin/Putnam)
John McMahon – Head Cases (Minotaur)
Christopher Reich – The Tourists (Thomas & Mercer)
Vincent Zandri – Terminal Moonlight (Down & Out Books)

Best First Novel

Chris Chibnall – Death At The White Hart (Pamela Dorman Books)
Kelsey Cox – Party Of Liars (Minotaur)
Sophie Stava – Count My Lies (Gallery/Scout Press)
Zoe B. Wallbrook – History Lessons (Soho Crime)
Liann Zhang – Julie Chan Is Dead (Atria)

Best Young Audiobook

S. A. Cosby – King Of Ashes (Macmillan), narrated by Adam Lazarre-White
Mark Edwards – The Wasp Trap (Simon & Schuster), narrated by John Hopkins, Anna Burnett
Marisa Kashino – Best Offer Wins (Macmillan), narrated by Cia Court
Xan Kaur – When Devils Sing (Macmillan), narrated by Michael Crouch, Anjali Kunapaneni,  Jennifer Pickens, Landon Woodson
CN Mabry, N'Dia Rae – The Cheater's Wife (Simon Maverick), narrated by Ruffin Prentiss, Machelle Williams
Michael Robotham – The White Crow (Simon & Schuster), narrated by Katy Sobey

Best Young Adult Novel

Liz Lawson – Murder Between Friends (Delacorte Press)
Margot McGovern – This Stays Between Us (Penguin Young Readers)
Clay McLeod Chapman – Shiny Happy People (Delacorte Press)
Diana Rodriguez Wallach – The Silenced (Delacorte Press)
Julie Soto – The Thrashers (Wednesday Books)

Best Short Story

Katrina Carrasco – “Level Up” (Bywater Books)
Scott William Carter – “The Seduction of Dr. Dimension” (Ellery Queen Mystery Magazine)
Lee Child – “Eleven Numbers” (Amazon Original Stories)
David Lagercrantz – “False Note” (Amazon Original Stories)
Jessica Van Dessel – “The Violent Season” (Alfred Hitchcock Mystery Magazine)