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International Thriller Writers Awards 2021

Awards

International Thriller Writers Awards 2021

During a ceremony at “Virtual” ThrillerFest on July 10th, the International Thriller Writers announced the winners of the 2021 Thriller Awards. The awards were presented by literary luminaries Harlan Coben, Lisa Gardner, Tess Gerritsen, Walter Mosley, Karin Slaughter and R.L. Stine.

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



2021 Winners

 

Best Hardcover Novel
BLACKTOP WASTELAND by S.A. Cosby (Flatiron Books)

Best First Novel
WINTER COUNTS by David Heska Wanbli Weiden (Ecco)

Best Paperback Original Novel
WHAT LIES BETWEEN US by John Marrs (Thomas & Mercer)

Best Short Story
“Rent Due” by Alan Orloff (Down & Out Books)

Best Young Adult Novel
THROWAWAY GIRLS by Andrea Contos (Kids Can Press)

Best E-book Original Novel
A KILLING GAME by Jeff Buick (Novel Words)
 



2021 Finalists 

 

Best Hardcover Novel

  • BLACKTOP WASTELAND by S.A. Cosby (Flatiron Books)
  • HI FIVE by Joe Ide (Mulholland Books)
  • THE THURSDAY MURDER CLUB by Richard Osman (Penguin)
  • THESE WOMEN by Ivy Pochoda (Ecco)
  • CONFESSIONS ON THE 7:45 by Lisa Unger (Park Row)

Best First Novel

  • THE OPIUM PRINCE by Jasmine Aimaq (Soho Press)
  • WITHOUT SANCTION by Don Bentley (Berkley)
  • THE BLUFFS by Kyle Perry (Michael Joseph)
  • GHOSTS OF HARVARD by Francesca Serritella (Random House)
  • WINTER COUNTS by David Heska Wanbli Weiden (Ecco)

Best Paperback Original Novel

  • WHEN NO ONE IS WATCHING by Alyssa Cole (William Morrow Paperbacks)
  • UNKNOWN 9: GENESIS by Layton Green (Reflector Entertainment)
  • WHAT LIES BETWEEN US by John Marrs (Thomas & Mercer)
  • THE GIRL BENEATH THE SEA by Andrew Mayne (Thomas & Mercer)
  • EITHER SIDE OF MIDNIGHT by Benjamin Stevenson (Penguin Random House Australia)

Best Short Story

  • “The Death and Carnage Boy” by Steve Hockensmith (Ellery Queen Mystery Magazine)
  • “Slow Burner” by Laura Lippman (Amazon Original Stories)
  • “Rent Due” by Alan Orloff (Down & Out Books)
  • “Dog Eat Dog” by Elaine Viets (Untreed Reads)
  • “The Mailman” by Andrew Welsh-Huggins (Down & Out Books)

Best Young Adult Novel

  • LAST GIRLS by Demetra Brodsky (Tor Teen)
  • THROWAWAY GIRLS by Andrea Contos (Kids Can Press)
  • I KILLED ZOE SPANOS by Kit Frick (Margaret K. McElderry Books)
  • TEEN KILLERS CLUB by Lily Sparks (Crooked Lane Books)
  • THE DISTANT DEAD by Heather Young (William Morrow)

Best E-book Original Novel

  • AVENUE OF THIEVES by Sean Black (Sean Black)
  • A KILLING GAME by Jeff Buick (Novel Words)
  • FULL METAL JACK by Diane Capri (AugustBooks)
  • MONGKOK STATION by Jake Needham (Half Penny)
  • NO HESITATION by Kirk Russell (Strawberry Creek)