Welcome to the awards section of Book Notification.
This is the place where you can find all the top book awards and their winners and nominations. It’s perfect for when you’re looking for your next book to dive into or if you’re curious about which books are making waves in the literary world. These are books that have been recognized for being the best of the best, so you’re bound to find something that catches your eye.
If you’re a member of Book Notification, you will also be able to see your book status on every book. So if you are on a mission to read every Edgar Award Winning Novel for example, the page for the Edgar Awards would show which books you have read, and which ones you are still to read. You can even add them to your “Want To Read” list straight from each awards page.
Here is a current list of awards that we have:
Here is a text listing of all of the awards currently listed on the site:
Agatha Awards: The Agatha Awards were created by the Malice Domestic convention to celebrate excellence in traditional mystery fiction. Named for Agatha Christie, whose classic mysteries continue to inspire contemporary writers, the awards honor works that reflect her style – clever plotting, amateur detectives, and minimal graphic violence.
Anthony Awards: Awards given to writers primarily within the mystery categories with awards such as Best Mystery Novel and Best First Mystery Novel.
Barnes & Noble Discover Prize: Every year, Barnes & Noble awards at least one new author a prize for the best book by a new author as apart of their Discover program. The program originally launched in 1993, while the Discover Prize (also known as the Barnes & Noble Great New Writers Award) was established in 1995.
Barry Award: The Barry Award is a prestigious literary prize celebrating excellence in crime fiction. Established in 1997 and named in honor of American critic Barry Gardner, the award recognizes outstanding works that exemplify the best of the genre.
Bony Blithe Awards: The Bony Blithe awards began in 2012, and ran until 2021 when ‘Bony Blithe’ retired. They celebrated the great Canadian light mystery, with a focus on mystery books written by Canadian authors, but on the lighter side.
British Book Awards: Rebranded throughout the years as the Galaxy National Book Awards and the Specsavers National Book Awards – these are also known as the Nibbies.
Christy Awards: Established to honor the best in Christian fiction, the Christy Awards have grown into one of the most coveted achievements for authors of faith-based literature. They shine a spotlight on books that uplift, inspire, and reflect the Christian faith.
Crimefest Awards: The Crimefest awards began in 2008 and ran through 2025. They took place in Bristol in England.
Crime Writers of Canada Awards of Excellence: Known as the Arthur Ellis awards until 2021, The Crime Writers of Canada Awards of Excellence are a series of literary prizes recognizing the best Canadian crime writing of the previous year.
Dilys Awards: The Dilys Awards were named after Dilys Winn. She was the founder of the first ever bookstore dedicated to mystery novels in the United States. They ran from 1993 to 2014, awarding the best mystery novel from the prior year.
Diverse Book Awards: The Diverse Book Awards are a set of book awards created by author Abiola Bello and publicist Helen Lewis in November 2019. The goal is to put a spotlight on marginalized voices that are published in the United Kingdom and Ireland.
Edgar Awards: Technically named the Edgar Allan Poe Awards, these awards were created and presented annually by the Mystery Writers of America. Over the years along with book awards they have awarded best plays, best TV episodes etc. The Edgar Awards also have awards in tribute to particular authors such as the Mary Higgins Clark Award and the Sue Grafton Memorial Award.
Gambling Book Awards: Established in 2025 by The Gambling Files podcast.
Goodreads Choice Awards: The primary book awards which are based purely on reader voting as opposed to a judging panel.
Gumshoe Awards: Awards handed out each year by Mystery Ink Magazine from 2002 through 2008, with a strong focus on the crime fiction genre.
Hillerman Prize: Named after Tony Hillerman, this award is a unique one in the book world. It is awarded to an author who hasn’t published a novel yet. The unpublished novel that they have written must be a mystery novel set in the American Southwest.
Hugo Awards: Established in 1993, the longest running awards in science fiction and the genre’s most prestigious honor.
Lefty Awards: The Left Coast Crime Awards (or “Leftys”) are presented annually in conjunction with the Left Coast Crime convention. The convention is held somewhere in “Western North America,” with past locations ranging from Anchorage to El Paso and Denver to Hawaii. Established in 1996, the awards celebrate excellence in mystery, crime, and thriller fiction.
Libby Book Awards: Established in 2024, the Libby Book Awards are voted on by librarians and library staff.
Macavity Awards: The Macavity Awards are a set of honors recognizing excellence in the mystery fiction genre. Presented by Mystery Readers International, the awards are named after “Macavity: The Mystery Cat” from T.S. Eliot’s Old Possum’s Book of Practical Cats.
Nero Award: In honour of the character Nero Wolfe in the infamous novels by Rex Stout, this is an annual award given to the best mystery novel.
Nero Book Awards: Started in 2023, the Nero Book awards are a UK based award, sponsored by Caffè Nero.
New Adult Book Prize An award ceremony established in 2025 by The Bookseller and the Cheltenham Literature Festival to celebrate and honour the new adult genre.
Shamus Awards: The Shamus Awards are a set of awards presented by the Private Eye Writers of America for the best detective fiction of the year in both novel and short story format. The awards were first presented in 1982, and have become one of the most prestigious awards in detective and mystery fiction.
Theakston’s Old Peculier Awards: Sponsored by the Theakston brewery, these awards are very prestigious in the world of UK crime fiction, and award both the best crime novel of the year, and the outstanding contribution to crime fiction award.
Waterstones Awards: This major chain of bookshops launched their awards in 2005, and have a strong focus on children’s books.
Women’s Prize Awards: These began in 1996 due largely to the 1991 Booker Awards not nominating any women as the Women’s Prize for Fiction, with non-fiction added in 2024. Initially called the Orange Prize for Fiction, these awards celebrate the great female authors.
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