The Nero Award

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The Nero Award began in 1979, and is an annual award given to the best mystery book of the year. This is not to be confused with the UK literary award, the Nero Book Awards, which are sponsored by Caffè Nero.

The Nero Award is presented by the Wolfe Pack, which is a society created in honour of the fictional character Nero Wolfe, created author Rex Stout.

The Nero Award is usually presented in December at the Black Orchid Banquet. The first winner was the author Lawrence Block for his novel The Burglar Who Liked to Quote Kipling.

Below is a list of all Nero award winners and nominations. Note that for 1988 through 1990, there were no awards given. For recent years, nominations have not been made publicly available.

Nero Award Winners



YearReadCategoryAuthorTitleResult
1979
Best Mystery NovelLawrence BlockThe Burglar Who Liked to Quote KiplingWon
1980
Best Mystery NovelHelen McCloyBurn ThisWon
1981
Best Mystery NovelAmanda CrossDeath in a Tenured PositionWon
1982
Best Mystery NovelHugh PentecostPast, Present, and MurderWon
1983
Best Mystery NovelMartha GrimesThe Anodyne NecklaceWon
1984
Best Mystery NovelJane LangtonEmily Dickinson is DeadWon
1985
Best Mystery NovelDick LochteSleeping DogWon
1986
Best Mystery NovelRobert GoldsboroughMurder in E MinorWon
1987
Best Mystery NovelCharlotte MacLeodThe Corpse in Oozak's PondWon
1991
Best Mystery NovelTony HillermanCoyote WaitsWon
1992
Best Mystery NovelRobert BarnardA Scandal in BelgraviaWon
1993
Best Mystery NovelJohn DunningBooked to DieWon
1994
Best Mystery NovelAaron ElkinsOld ScoresWon
1995
Best Mystery NovelSharyn McCrumbShe Walks These HillsWon
1996
Best Mystery NovelLaurie R. KingA Monstrous Regiment of WomenWon
1997
Best Mystery NovelMichael ConnellyThe PoetWon
1998
Best Mystery NovelDennis LehaneSacredWon
1999
Best Mystery NovelJeffery DeaverThe Bone CollectorWon
2001
Best Mystery NovelLaura LippmanThe Sugar HouseWon
2002
Best Mystery NovelLinda FairsteinThe DeadhouseWon
2002
Best Mystery NovelJan BurkeFlightNominated
2002
Best Mystery NovelWilliam HeffernanBeulah HillNominated
2002
Best Mystery NovelMargaret MaronUncommon ClayNominated
2003
Best Mystery NovelS.J. RozanWinter and Night / Blood TiesWon
2003
Best Mystery NovelHarlan CobenGone for GoodNominated
2003
Best Mystery NovelHeather Dune MacadamThe Weeping BuddhaNominated
2003
Best Mystery NovelDavid RosenfeltOpen and ShutNominated
2003
Best Mystery NovelJulia Spencer-FlemingIn the Bleak MidwinterNominated
2004
Best Mystery NovelWalter MosleyFear ItselfWon
2004
Best Mystery NovelJeffery DeaverThe Vanished ManNominated
2004
Best Mystery NovelRobert EverszBurning GarboNominated
2004
Best Mystery NovelRupert HolmesWhere the Truth LiesNominated
2004
Best Mystery NovelEd McBainFat Ollie's BookNominated
2005Archie Goodwin AwardRex StoutWon
2005Archie Goodwin AwardAgatha ChristieWon
2005Archie Goodwin AwardArthur Conan DoyleWon
2005
Best Mystery NovelLee ChildThe EnemyWon
2005
Best Mystery NovelCarol GoodmanThe Drowning TreeNominated
2005
Best Mystery NovelDavid LissA Spectacle of CorruptionNominated
2006
Best Mystery NovelTess GerritsenVanishWon
2007Archie Goodwin AwardDorothy L. SayersWon
2007
Best Mystery NovelJulia Spencer-FlemingAll Mortal FleshWon
2007
Best Mystery NovelJan BurkeKidnappedNominated
2007
Best Mystery NovelSteve HamiltonA Stolen SeasonNominated
2008
Best Mystery NovelJonathan SantloferAnatomy of FearWon
2008
Best Mystery NovelJane HaddamGlass HousesNominated
2008
Best Mystery NovelFaye KellermanThe Burnt HouseNominated
2008
Best Mystery NovelS.J. RozanIn this RainNominated
2008
Best Mystery NovelMitch SilverIn Secret ServiceNominated
2009
Best Mystery NovelJoseph TellerThe Tenth CaseWon
2009
Best Mystery NovelAndrew GrossThe Dark TideNominated
2009
Best Mystery NovelLouise UreThe Fault TreeNominated
2010
Best Mystery NovelBrad ParksFaces of the GoneWon
2010
Best Mystery NovelCharles FinchThe Fleet Street MurdersNominated
2010
Best Mystery NovelSteve HockensmithThe Crack in the LensNominated
2011
Best Mystery NovelLouise PennyBury Your DeadWon
2011
Best Mystery NovelTess GerritsenIce Cold / The Killing PlaceNominated
2011
Best Mystery NovelGayle LyndsThe Book of Spies / The Library of GoldNominated
2011
Best Mystery NovelAl Roker
Dick Lochte
The Midnight Show MurdersNominated
2011
Best Mystery NovelJohn VerdonThink of a NumberNominated
2012
Best Mystery NovelDana StabenowThough Not DeadWon
2012
Best Mystery NovelMarcia ClarkGuilt by AssociationNominated
2012
Best Mystery NovelTess GerritsenThe Silent GirlNominated
2012
Best Mystery NovelAnthony HorowitzThe House of SilkNominated
2012
Best Mystery NovelPaul McEuenSpiralNominated
2012
Best Mystery NovelPersia WalkerBlack Orchid BluesNominated
2013
Best Mystery NovelChris KnopfDead AnywayWon
2013
Best Mystery NovelBarbara AllanAntiques DisposalNominated
2013
Best Mystery NovelLoren D. EstlemanBurning MidnightNominated
2013
Best Mystery NovelKieran ShieldsThe Truth of All ThingsNominated
2014
Best Mystery NovelDavid MorrellMurder as a Fine ArtWon
2014
Best Mystery NovelMax Allan CollinsAsk NotNominated
2014
Best Mystery NovelArcher MayorThree Can Keep a SecretNominated
2014
Best Mystery NovelKieran ShieldsA Study in RevengeNominated
2014
Best Mystery NovelCharles ToddA Question of HonorNominated
2015
Best Mystery NovelMichael CravenThe Detective & the Pipe GirlNominated
2015
Best Mystery NovelTimothy HallinanHerbie's GameNominated
2015
Best Mystery NovelJames Patrick HuntThe DetectiveNominated
2015
Best Mystery NovelAl LamandaFirst LightNominated
2015
Best Mystery NovelJohn VerdonPeter Pan Must DieWon
2016
Best Mystery NovelDavid C. TaylorNight LifeWon
2016
Best Mystery NovelBaron R. BirtcherHard LatitudesNominated
2016
Best Mystery NovelGlen Erik HamiltonPast CrimesNominated
2016
Best Mystery NovelAl LamandaThis Side of MidnightNominated
2016
Best Mystery NovelKeith McCaffertyCrazy Mountain KissNominated
2017
Best Mystery NovelAl LamandaWith Six You Get WallyWon
2017
Best Mystery NovelCaleb CarrSurrender, New YorkNominated
2017
Best Mystery NovelHarlan CobenHomeNominated
2017
Best Mystery NovelBeth GutcheonDeath at BreakfastNominated
2018
Best Mystery NovelStephen Mack JonesAugust SnowWon
2018
Best Mystery NovelWarren C. EasleyBlood For WineNominated
2018
Best Mystery NovelLoren D. EstlemanThe Lioness Is the HunterNominated
2018
Best Mystery NovelMatt GoldmanGone to DustNominated
2018
Best Mystery NovelKathleen KentThe DimeNominated
2019
Best Mystery NovelCharles BelfoureThe Fallen ArchitectNominated
2020
Best Mystery NovelDavid BaldacciOne Good DeedWon
2021
Best Mystery NovelStephen SpotswoodFortune Favours the DeadWon
2022
Best Mystery NovelMichael SearsTower of BabelWon
2023
Best Mystery NovelFrederick WeiselThe Day He LeftWon
2024
Best Mystery NovelAriel LawhonThe Frozen RiverWon


Nero Award F.A.Q.

What is the Archie Goodwin award?

This is a lifetime achievement award which was given out in 2005 to Rex Stout, Agatha Christie, and Arthur Conan Doyle. In 2007, it was awarded to Dorothy L. Sayers.

Why don’t you have the nominations for recent years?

That information hasn’t been made publicly available that we can see. If you have that information, please contact us via the form at the bottom of this page.

Why were there no awards given in 1988 through 1990?

Unfortunately, we are not sure. Historical information about the awards is quite difficult to find. The official website for example, only lists awards from 2007 onwards.

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