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Macavity Awards 2021

The 2021 Macavity Awards went to Winter Counts by David Heska Wanbli Weiden (Best First Mystery), Blacktop Wasteland by S.A. Cosby (Best Mystery Novel) and H.R.F. Keating: A Life of Crime by Sheila Mitchell (Best Nonfiction/Critical), with winners in 1 more category. 22 books were nominated across 4 categories.

Winners

Best First Mystery

  1. Winter Counts by David Heska Wanbli Weidensource (opens in a new tab)

Best Mystery Novel

  1. Blacktop Wasteland by S.A. Cosbysource (opens in a new tab)

Best Nonfiction/Critical

  1. H.R.F. Keating: A Life of Crime by Sheila Mitchellsource (opens in a new tab)

Sue Feder Historical Mystery

  1. Turn to Stone by James Ziskinsource (opens in a new tab)

Nominees

Best First Mystery

  1. Darling Rose Gold by Stephanie Wrobelsource (opens in a new tab)
  2. Djinn Patrol on the Purple Line by Deepa Anapparasource (opens in a new tab)
  3. Murder in Old Bombay by Nev Marchsource (opens in a new tab)
  4. The Thursday Murder Club by Richard Osmansource (opens in a new tab)

Best Mystery Novel

  1. All the Devils Are Here by Louise Pennysource (opens in a new tab)
  2. Before She Was Helen by Caroline B. Cooneysource (opens in a new tab)
  3. Blind Vigil by Matt Coylesource (opens in a new tab)
  4. These Women by Ivy Pochodasource (opens in a new tab)
  5. When She Was Good by Michael Robothamsource (opens in a new tab)

Best Nonfiction/Critical

  1. Howdunit: A Masterclass in Crime Writing by Members of the Detection Club by Martin Edwardssource (opens in a new tab)
  2. Ian Rankin: A Companion to the Mystery Fiction by Erin E. MacDonaldsource (opens in a new tab)
  3. Sometimes You Have to Lie: The Life and Times of Louise Fitzhugh, Renegade Author of Harriet the Spy by Leslie Brodysource (opens in a new tab)
  4. Southern Cross Crime: The Pocket Essential Guide to the Crime Fiction, Film & TV of Australia and New Zealand by Craig Sistersonsource (opens in a new tab)

Sue Feder Historical Mystery

  1. Mortal Music by Ann Parkersource (opens in a new tab)
  2. The Cabinets of Barnaby Mayne by Elsa Hartsource (opens in a new tab)
  3. The Last Mrs. Summers by Rhys Bowensource (opens in a new tab)
  4. The Mimosa Tree Mystery by Ovidia Yusource (opens in a new tab)
  5. The Turning Tide by Catriona McPhersonsource (opens in a new tab)

About the Macavity Awards

Book categories only (Best Mystery Novel, Best First Mystery, Best Nonfiction/Critical, Sue Feder Historical Mystery), transcribed from Mystery Readers International's Macavity Awards page. Short story category skipped. Year is the award year MRI lists; books were published the year before. Category names drift on the page (Best First Mystery Novel, Best Mystery Nonfiction, Best Mystery-Related Nonfiction/Critical, Sue Feder Historical Mystery Award); they are normalized here. The winner is the first-listed name in each category heading; the rest are nominees. 2009's Declan Hughes nominee is listed as The Dying Breed (UK) / The Price of Blood (US); the UK title is kept.

Organization: Mystery Readers International. Years are award years, which can differ from publication years. Official site (opens in a new tab)

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