Just announced: 2021 ITW Thriller Awards Nominees

Who was it said her favorite season is awards season? Mine, too.

About two dozen of my friends are on this list. I won't single them out, but I'll just say a hearty congratulations to all of them.

The winners will be announced on Saturday, July 10, 2021 during Virtual ThrillerFest.

2021 ITW Thriller Awards:
 
BEST HARDCOVER NOVEL
 
S.A. Cosby – BLACKTOP WASTELAND (Flatiron Books)
Joe Ide – HI FIVE (Mulholland Books)
Richard Osman – THE THURSDAY MURDER CLUB (Penguin)
Ivy Pochoda – THESE WOMEN (Ecco)
Lisa Unger – CONFESSIONS ON THE 7:45 (Park Row)

BEST FIRST NOVEL
 
Jasmine Aimaq – THE OPIUM PRINCE (Soho Press)
Don Bentley – WITHOUT SANCTION (Berkley)
Kyle Perry – THE BLUFFS (Michael Joseph)
Francesca Serritella – GHOSTS OF HARVARD (Random House)
David Heska Wanbli Weiden – WINTER COUNTS (Ecco)
 
BEST PAPERBACK ORIGINAL NOVEL
 
Alyssa Cole – WHEN NO ONE IS WATCHING (William Morrow Paperbacks)
Layton Green – UNKNOWN 9: GENESIS  (Reflector Entertainment)
John Marrs – WHAT LIES BETWEEN US (Thomas & Mercer)
Andrew Mayne – THE GIRL BENEATH THE SEA (Thomas & Mercer)
Benjamin Stevenson – EITHER SIDE OF MIDNIGHT (Penguin Random House Australia)
 
BEST SHORT STORY
 
Steve Hockensmith – "The Death and Carnage Boy" (Ellery Queen Mystery Magazine)
Laura Lippman – "Slow Burner" (Amazon Original Stories)
Alan Orloff – "Rent Due" (Down & Out Books)
Elaine Viets – "Dog Eat Dog" (Untreed Reads)
Andrew Welsh-Huggins – "The Mailman" (Down & Out Books)
                     
BEST YOUNG ADULT NOVEL
 
Demetra Brodsky – LAST GIRLS (Tor Teen)
Andrea Contos – THROWAWAY GIRLS (Kids Can Press)
Kit Frick – I KILLED ZOE SPANOS (Margaret K. McElderry Books)
Lily Sparks – TEEN KILLERS CLUB (Crooked Lane Books)
Heather Young – THE DISTANT DEAD (William Morrow)
 
BEST E-BOOK ORIGINAL NOVEL
 
Sean Black – AVENUE OF THIEVES (Sean Black)
Jeff Buick – A KILLING GAME (Novel Words)
Diane Capri – FULL METAL JACK (AugustBooks)
Jake Needham – MONGKOK STATION (Half Penny)
Kirk Russell – NO HESITATION (Strawberry Creek)

Congratulations to all the finalists!