Edgar Awards
The most prestigious awards in mystery fiction, presented annually by the Mystery Writers of America since 1946.
About the Edgar Awards
The Edgar Allan Poe Awards (Edgars) are presented annually by Mystery Writers of America to honor the best in mystery fiction, nonfiction, television, film, and theater. Named after Edgar Allan Poe, the father of the detective story, they are considered the genre's highest honor.
Major Categories
- Best Novel - Mystery novels
- Best First Novel - Debut mystery writers
- Best Paperback Original - Original paperbacks
- Best Fact Crime - True crime
- Best Critical/Biographical - Mystery scholarship
- Best Short Story - Short mystery fiction
- Best Juvenile - Young readers
- Best Young Adult - Teen mystery
Eligibility & Submissions
Books must be published in the US between December 1 and November 30. Publishers submit entries with a fee. Self-published books are accepted if they meet distribution requirements. Deadline is typically November 30.
Recent Edgar Award Winners - Best Novel
| Year | Title | Author |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | The Reformatory | Tananarive Due |
| 2023 | City on Fire | Don Winslow |
| 2022 | Razorblade Tears | S.A. Cosby |
| 2021 | The Cabinets of Barnaby Mayne | Elsa Hart |
| 2020 | The Night Fire | Michael Connelly |
| 2019 | Down the River Unto the Sea | Walter Mosley |