2023 Anthony Awards Finalists Announced

The 2023 Anthony Award finalists have been announced!

The Anthony Awards were established in 1986 at the Bouchercon World Mystery Convention, named in honour of the legendary mystery writer Anthony Boucher. Boucher, a renowned critic, editor, and author, was an influential figure in the field of crime fiction. The inaugural Anthony Awards aimed to celebrate his significant contributions and create a platform to honour exceptional works in the genre.

The Anthony Awards cover various categories that encompass the breadth of mystery and crime writing. Some of the prominent categories include Best Novel, Best First Novel, Best Paperback Original, Best Short Story, and Best Critical or Nonfiction Work. Additionally, the awards recognize the contributions of individuals in fields such as editing, anthologies, and fan publications.

Each year, a diverse group of mystery and crime enthusiasts, including authors, readers, critics, and industry professionals, participate in the nomination and voting process. The awards are open to any work published in the previous calendar year, ensuring a fair and inclusive selection process.

Over the years, the Anthony Awards have bestowed recognition upon numerous talented authors and their exceptional works. The list of winners reads like a “Who’s Who” of the mystery and crime fiction world. Some notable recipients include Louise Penny, Tana French, Michael Connelly, Megan Abbott, Otto Penzler, and many more.

The Anthony Awards have become a significant benchmark for authors and publishers, serving as a seal of quality in the mystery and crime genre. Winning an Anthony Award brings well-deserved recognition to authors and often leads to increased readership and commercial success. Additionally, the awards help readers discover new talent and outstanding works they may have otherwise overlooked.

With that said, the nominees for the 2023 Anthony Awards are as follows:

Best Hardcover Novel

• Like a Sister by Kellye Garrett
• The Devil Takes You Home by Gabino Iglesias
• The Bullet That Missed by Richard Osman
• A World of Curiosities by Louise Penny
• The Maid by Nita Prose
• Secret Identity by Alex Segura

Best Paperback/eBook/Audiobook

• Real Bad Things by Kelly Ford
• Dead Drop by James L’Etoile
• Quarry Girls by Jess Lourey
• In the Dark We Forget by Sandra S.G. Wong
• Hush Hush by Gabriel Valjan

Best First Novel

• Don’t Know Tough by Eli Cranor
• Shutter by Ramona Emerson
• The Bangalore Detectives Club by Harini Nagendra
• Devil’s Chew Toy by Rob Osler
• The Maid by Nita Prose

Best Historical Mystery

• The Lindbergh Nanny by Mariah Fredericks
• In Place of Fear by Catriona McPherson
• Anywhere You Run by Wanda Morris
• Under a Veiled Moon by Karen Odden
• Lavender House by Lev Rosen
• Danger on the Atlantic by Erica Ruth Neubauer

Best Humorous

• Bayou Book Thief by Ellen Byron
• Death by Bubble Tea by Jennifer Chow
• A Streetcar Named Murder by T.G. Herren
• Scot in a Trap by Catriona McPherson
• Calypso, Corpses, and Cooking by Raquel V. Reyes

Best Short Story

• Still Crazy After All These Years by E.A. Aymar
• The Impediment by Bruce Robert Coffin
• Beauty and the Beyotch by Barb Goffman
• The Estate Sale by Curtis Ippolito
• C.O.D. by Gabriel Valjan

Best Non-Fiction Book

• Promophobia: Taking the Mystery Out of Promoting Crime Fiction by Diane Vallere
• The Life of Crime by Martin Edwards
• American Demon by Daniel Stashower
• The Alaskan Blonde: Sex, Secrets and the Hollywood Story that Shocked America by James T. Bartlett
• Scoundrel by Sarah Weinman
• Agatha Christie: An Elusive Woman by Lucy Worsley

Best Children’s/YA Novel

• Daybreak on Raven Island by Fleur Bradley
• In Myrtle Peril by Elizabeth Bunce
• Vanish Me by Lee Goldberg
• #shedeservedit by Greg Herren
• Enola Holmes and the Elegant Escapade by Nancy Springer
• The New Girl by Jesse Q. Sutanto

Best Anthology / Collection

• Low Down Dirty Vote Volume 3: The Color of My Vote by Mysti Berry
• Lawyers, Guns, and Money: Crime Fiction Inspired by the Music of Warren Zevon by Libby Cudmore and Art Taylor
• Land of 10,000 Thrills: Bouchercon Anthology 2022 by Greg Herren
• Paranoia Blues: Crime Fiction Inspired by the Songs of Paul Simon by Josh Pachter
• Crime Hits Home by S.J. Rozan

Congratulations to all of the finalists!

The awards will be given out as they are every year at the Bouchercon World Mystery Convention. This year’s will be taking place on September 2nd in San Diego, California.

For more on the Anthony Awards, please visit the Bouchercon 2023 website.