Killer Thrillers

 

The International Thriller Writers association announced the winners of the 2026 ITW Thriller Awards at the awards banquet at ThrillerFest XXI last evening at the New York Hilton Midtown, New York City. Congratulations to all the winners and finalists!


Best Standalone Novel:  Megan Collins – Cross My Heart (Atria)

Other finalists:

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:  Robert Crais – The Big Empty (Penguin/Putnam)

Other finalists:

James Byrne – Chain Reaction (Minotaur)
John McMahon – Head Cases (Minotaur)
Christopher Reich – The Tourists (Thomas & Mercer)
Vincent Zandri – Terminal Moonlight (Down & Out Books)

Best First Novel:  Kelsey Cox – Party Of Liars (Minotaur)

Other finalists:

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

Best Audiobook:  Michael Robotham – The White Crow (Simon & Schuster), narrated by Katy Sobey

Other finalists:

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

Best Young Adult Novel:  Diana Rodriguez Wallach – The Silenced (Delacorte Press)

Other finalists:

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

Best Short Story:  Jessica Van Dessel – “The Violent Season” (Alfred Hitchcock Mystery Magazine)

Other finalists:

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)

Also receiving special recognition during the ThrillerFest XXI Awards Banquet:

• 2026 ThrillerMaster, Lisa Scottoline
• 2026 ThrillerMaster, Harlan Coben
• 2026 Silver Bullet Award, Douglas Preston
• 2026 Spotlight Guest, Rachel Howzell Hall
• 2026 Spotlight Guest, Luis Alberto Urrea
• 2026 Thriller Legend, Barbara Peters
• 2026 ThrillerFan, Jordon Moblo
• 2026 Thriller Volunteer of the Year, James L'Etoile