Shamus Award - Paperback Original P.I. Novel (Awarded by Private Eye Writers of America)

Awards List

2022

Every City Is Every Other City
(Winner)
John McFetridge

Angels in the Wind
(Nominee)
Manuel Ramos

An Empty Grave
(Nominee)
Andrew Welsh-Huggins

Frog in a Bucket
(Nominee)
Clive Rosengren

The Burden of Innocence
(Nominee)
John F. Nardizzi

2021

Brittle Karma
(Winner)
Richard Helms

All Kinds of Ugly
(Nominee)
Ralph Dennis

Damaged Goods
(Nominee)
Debbi Mack

Farewell, Las Vegas
(Nominee)
Grant Bywaters

Remember My Face
(Nominee)
John Lantigua

2020

Behind the Wall of Sleep
(Winner)
James D.F. Hannah
  • / Private Investigator
  • Buy Buy

Skin Game
(Nominee)
J.D. Allen

Paid In Spades
(Nominee)
Richard Helms

The Bird Boys
(Nominee)
Lisa Sandlin

Ration of Lies
(Nominee)
M. Ruth Myers

2019

The Questionable Behavior of Dahlia Moss
(Winner)
Max Wirestone

Shark Bait
(Nominee)
Paul Kemprecos

Second Story Man
(Nominee)
Charles Salzberg

No Quarter
(Nominee)
John Jantunen

She Talks to Angels
(Nominee)
James D.F. Hannah

2018

Lights Out Summer
(Winner)
Rich Zahradnik

The Painted Gun
(Nominee)
Bradley Spinelli

The Strange Disappearance of a Bollywood Star
(Nominee)
Vaseem Khan

Dames Fight Harder
(Nominee)
M. Ruth Myers

Play a Cold Hand
(Nominee)
Terence Faherty

2017

The Perplexing Theft of the Jewel in the Crown
(Winner)
Vaseem Khan

The Knife Slipped
(Nominee)
Erle Stanley Gardner

The Detective & the Chinese High-Fin
(Nominee)
Michael Craven

Hold Me, Babe
(Nominee)
O'Neil De Noux

My Bad
(Nominee)
Manuel Ramos

2016

Circling the Runway
(Winner)
J.L. Abramo

Red Desert
(Nominee)
Clive Rosengren

Split to Splinters
(Nominee)
Max Everhart

The Man in the Window
(Nominee)
Dana King

The Long Cold
(Nominee)
O'Neil De Noux

2015

Moonlight Weeps
(Winner)
Vincent Zandri

Street Justice
(Nominee)
Kris Nelscott

Critical Damage
(Nominee)
Robert K. Lewis

The Detective & the Pipe Girl
(Nominee)
Michael Craven

Beauty with a Bomb
(Nominee)
M.C. Grant

2014

Heart of Ice
(Winner)
P.J. Parrish

The Murder Mile/Into The Dark
(Nominee)
Alison Gaylin

Seduction of the Innocent
(Nominee)
Max Allan Collins

The Honky Tonk Big Hoss Boogie
(Nominee)
Robert J. Randisi

Purgatory Key
(Nominee)
Darrell James

2013

And She Was
(Winner)
Alison Gaylin

Archie Meets Nero Wolfe
(Nominee)
Robert Goldsborough

False Negative
(Nominee)
Joseph Koenig

Pulse
(Nominee)
John Lutz

Death Warmed Over
(Nominee)
Kevin J. Anderson

2012

Fun and Games
(Winner)
Duane Swierczynski

Quarry's Ex
(Nominee)
Max Allan Collins

Long Pig
(Nominee)
James L. Ross

Threat Warning
(Nominee)
John Gilstrap

Serial
(Nominee)
John Lutz

2011

Asia Hand
(Winner)
Christopher G. Moore

Nightshade
(Nominee)
Tom Henighan

Mister X
(Nominee)
John Lutz

2010

Sinner's Ball
(Winner)
Ira Berkowitz

Body Blows
(Nominee)
Marc Strange

Vengeance Road
(Nominee)
Rick Mofina

2009

Snow Blind
(Winner)
Lori G. Armstrong

The Black Hand
(Nominee)
Will Thomas

The Stolen
(Nominee)
Jason Pinter

2008

Snow Blind
(Winner)
Lori G. Armstrong

Stone Rain // Bad News
(Nominee)
Linwood Barclay

Exit Strategy
(Nominee)
Kelley Armstrong

2007

Unquiet Grave
(Winner)
P.J. Parrish

Songs of Innocence
(Winner)
Richard Aleas

The Prop
(Nominee)
Pete Hautman

Crooked
(Nominee)
Brian Wiprud

Hallowed Ground
(Nominee)
Lori G. Armstrong

2006

Cordite Wine
(Nominee)
Richard Helms

2005

The James Deans
(Winner)
Reed Farrel Coleman

Island of Bones
(Nominee)
P.J. Parrish

Call the Devil by His Oldest Name
(Nominee)
Sallie Bissell

The London Blitz Murders
(Nominee)
Max Allan Collins

2004

Fade to Blonde
(Winner)
Max Phillips

Thicker Than Water
(Nominee)
P.J. Parrish

Wet Debt
(Nominee)
Richard Helms

2003

Cold Quarry
(Winner)
Andy Straka

Paint It Black
(Nominee)
P.J. Parrish

Juicy Watusi
(Nominee)
Richard Helms

2002

The Poisoned Rose
(Winner)
D. Daniel Judson

Ancient Enemy
(Nominee)
Robert Westbrook

2001

Archangel Protocol
(Winner)
Lyda Morehouse

The Sporting Club
(Nominee)
Sinclair Browning

2000

Death in the Steel City
(Winner)
Thomas Lipinski

1999

In Big Trouble
(Winner)
Laura Lippman

The Widower's Two-Step
(Nominee)
Rick Riordan

1998

Murder Manual // A Manual of Murder
(Winner)
Steven Womack

Sunset and Santiago
(Nominee)
Gloria White

A Whisper of Rage
(Nominee)
Tim Hemlin

Father Forgive Me
(Nominee)
Randye Lordon

Backspin
(Nominee)
Harlan Coben

1997

Charm City
(Winner)
Laura Lippman

1996

Fade Away
(Winner)
Harlan Coben

Way Past Dead
(Nominee)
Steven Womack

Charged with Guilt
(Nominee)
Gloria White

Zero Tolerance
(Nominee)
J.D. Knight

Interview With Mattie
(Nominee)
Shelley Singer

1995

Native Angels
(Winner)
William Jaspersohn

1994

Served Cold
(Winner)
Ed Goldberg

1993

Brothers and Sinners
(Winner)
Rodman Philbrick

1992

The Last Tango of Dolores Delgado
(Winner)
Marele Day
  • / Private Investigator
  • Buy Buy

1991

The Cool Blue Tomb
(Winner)
Paul Kemprecos

1990

Fatal Sisters
(Winner)
W. Glenn Duncan

1989

Hell's Only Half Full
(Winner)
Rob Kantner

1988

Dirty Work
(Winner)
Rob Kantner

1987

Wild Night
(Winner)
L.J. Washburn

1986

The Back-Door Man
(Winner)
Rob Kantner

1985

Poverty Bay
(Winner)
Earl Emerson
  • / Private Investigator
  • Buy Buy

1984

The Ceiling of Hell
(Winner)
Warren Murphy

1983

Dead in Center Field
(Winner)
Paul Engleman

1982

The Cana Diversion
(Winner)
William Campbell Gault

1981

California Thriller
(Winner)
Max Byrd

Award Categories

First P.I. Novel

Indie P.I. Novel

P.I. Novel

P.I. Short Story

Paperback Original P.I. Novel

Award Years

2022

2021

2020

2019

2018

2017

2016

2015

2014

2013

2012

2011

2010

2009

2008

2007

2006

2005

2004

2003

2002

2001

2000

1999

1998