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2026 Thriller Awards

Awards

2026 Thriller Awards

On May 9th, during ThrillerFest XXI, the International Thriller Writers (ITW) announced the winners of the 2026 Thriller Awards at the the New York Hilton Midtown in New York City.

For more information about ITW and the awards, visit https://thrillerwriters.org
 



2026 Winners

 

Best Standalone Novel

  • CROSS MY HEART by Megan Collins (Atria Books)

Best Series Novel

  • THE BIG EMPTY: An Elvis Cole and Joe Pike Novel, by Robert Crais (G.P. Putnam's Sons)

Best First Novel

  • PARTY OF LIARS by Kelsey Cox (Minotaur Books)

Best Audiobook

  • THE WHITE CROW by Michael Robotham, narrated by Katy Sobey (Simon & Schuster Audio)

Best Young Adult Novel

  • THE SILENCED by Diana Rodriguez Wallach (Delacorte Press)

Best Short Story

  • "The Violent Season" by Jessica Van Dessel (Alfred Hitchcock Mystery Magazine)
     


2026 Finalists 

 

Best Standalone Novel

  • CROSS MY HEART by Megan Collins (Atria Books)
  • ZIGZAG GIRL by Ruth Knafo Setton (Black Spring Press)
  • THE BURNING LIBRARY by Gilly Macmillan (William Morrow)
  • THE LOCKED WARD by Sarah Pekkanen (St. Martin’s Press)
  • SO HAPPY TOGETHER by Olivia Worley (Minotaur Books)

Best Series Novel

  • CHAIN REACTION: A Dez Limerick Thriller, by James Byrne (Minotaur Books)
  • THE BIG EMPTY: An Elvis Cole and Joe Pike Novel, by Robert Crais (G.P. Putnam's Sons)
  • HEAD CASES by John McMahon (Minotaur Books)
  • THE TOURISTS by Christopher Reich (Thomas & Mercer)
  • TERMINAL MOONLIGHT: A Dick Moonlight PI Thriller, by Vincent Zandri (Down & Out Books)

Best First Novel

  • DEATH AT THE WHITE HART by Chris Chibnall (Pamela Dorman Books)
  • PARTY OF LIARS by Kelsey Cox (Minotaur Books)
  • COUNT MY LIES by Sophie Stava (Gallery/Scout Press)
  • HISTORY LESSONS by Zoe B. Wallbrook (Soho Crime)
  • JULIE CHAN IS DEAD by Liann Zhang (Atria Books)

Best Audiobook

  • KING OF ASHES by S. A. Cosby, narrated by Adam Lazarre-White (Macmillan Audio)
  • THE WASP TRAP by Mark Edwards, narrated by John Hopkins and Anna Burnett (Simon & Schuster Audio)
  • BEST OFFER WINS by Marisa Kashino, narrated by Cia Court (Macmillan Audio)
  • WHEN DEVILS SING by Xan Kaur; narrated by Michael Crouch, Anjali Kunapaneni, Jennifer Pickens and Landon Woodson (Macmillan Audio) 
  • THE CHEATER'S WIFE by CN Mabry, narrated by Ruffin Prentiss and Machelle Williams (Simon Maverick)
  • THE WHITE CROW by Michael Robotham, narrated by Katy Sobey (Simon & Schuster Audio)

Best Young Adult Novel

  • MURDER BETWEEN FRIENDS by Liz Lawson (Delacorte Press)
  • THIS STAYS BETWEEN US by Margot McGovern (Penguin Young Readers)
  • SHINY HAPPY PEOPLE by Clay McLeod Chapman (Delacorte Press)
  • THE SILENCED by Diana Rodriguez Wallach (Delacorte Press)
  • THE THRASHERS by Julie Soto (Wednesday Books)

Best Short Story

  • "Level Up" by Katrina Carrasco (Bywater Books)
  • "The Seduction of Dr. Dimension" by Scott William Carter (Ellery Queen Mystery Magazine)
  • "Eleven Numbers" by Lee Child (Amazon Original Stories)
  • "False Note" by David Lagercrantz (Amazon Original Stories)
  • "The Violent Season" by Jessica Van Dessel (Alfred Hitchcock Mystery Magazine)