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The 78th Annual Edgar® Award 2024 winners were celebrated on 1st May 2024 in New York City.
The Edgar Awards celebrate the best in mystery fiction and nonfiction published in 2023.
In this post we’ll explore the winners and give our thoughts on who we might have picked from the list of nominees.
Check out our post on the 2024 Edgar Award Nominees for full links and book descriptions for the nominee shortlist.
How many on this list have you read? We’re always looking for new mystery thrillers to read, so what better place to find them than on a list of award winners!
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Happy Reading, Friends!
Winner - Best Novel:
‘Flags on the Bayou’ by James Lee Burke:
This is a standalone novel. Set in Civil War-era Louisiana as the South transforms – enslaved and free women, plantation gentry, and battle-weary Confederate and Union soldiers – are caught in the maelstrom. An action-packed narrative that includes a duel that ends in disaster, a brutal encounter with the local Union commander, repeated skirmishes with Confederate irregulars led by a diseased and probably deranged colonel, and a powerful story of love blossoming between an unlikely pair.
Who Would We Have Picked?:
I love James Lee Burke as a writer, and this book was definitely a 4 star read for me. Check out my Reading Wrap Up – May 2024 for a review. Out of this nominee list though, I think my heart is with ‘All The Sinners Bleed’ by S.A. Cosby, which I gave a full 5 stars.
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Winner - Best First Novel by an American Author:
This is a standalone novel. Shane Collins, a world-weary CIA spy, is ready to come in from the cold. When his trusted informant becomes embroiled in a murder however, Collins finds himself drawn deep into the conflict. Drawing on all his skills as a spymaster, he sets out to learn the truth behind the Arab Spring, win Almaisa’s love, and uncover the murky border where Bahrain’s secrets end and America’s begin.
Who Would We Have Picked?:
I have yet to read a lot of the books in this category, so will be excited to check out this winner. I didn’t love ‘The Golden Gate’ by Amy Chua, even though I can see the skill in her writing. Think I’m most excited to pick up ‘Murder by Degrees’ in this category next.
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‘The Peacock and the Sparrow’ by I.S. Berry:
Winner - Best Paperback Original:
Who Would We Have Picked?:
I did get a kick out of Vera Wong – especially when she was tampering with the crime scene in her tea shop – but I only landed on a 3 star review. The beginning was a hoot, but I felt it lost steam along the way. My pick for this category would be ‘Lowdown Road‘. I also enjoyed ‘The Taken Ones‘!
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‘Vera Wong’s Unsolicited Advice for Murderers’ by Jesse Q. Sutanto:
Winner - Best Middle Grade:
‘The Ghosts of Rancho Espanto’ by Adrianna Cuevas:
This is a standalone novel. Rafa would rather live in the world of The Forgotten Age, his favourite role-playing game, than face his father’s increasing restrictions and his mother’s fading presence. But when Rafa and his friends decide to take the game out into the real world and steal their school cafeteria’s slushee machine, his dad concocts a punishment Rafa never could’ve imagined – a month working on a ranch in New Mexico. When Rafa’s work at the ranch is inexplicably sabotaged by a man who may not be what he seems, Rafa explores what’s behind the strange events at Rancho Espanto.
Who Would We Have Picked?:
So many great nominees in this category that I’ve still got to read, and this winner sounds like a fun ride! Have you read any of these nominees? Which book would spark your interest, or that of a young reader in your life?
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Winner - Best Young Adult:
‘Girl Forgotten’ by April Henry:
This is a standalone novel. Piper Gray starts a true-crime podcast investigating a seventeen-year-old cold case. Layla Trello was murdered and her killer was never found. Piper is determined to reopen Layla’s case and get some answers. As she digs deeper into the mysteries of the past, Piper begins receiving anonymous threats telling her to back off the investigation, or else. The killer is still out there, and Piper must uncover their identity before they silence her forever.
Who Would We Have Picked?:
Young Adult fiction is getting better and better. I’m still keen to read all of these titles! ‘Girl Forgotten’ sounds like an intriguing and tense read. Which would be your pick for winner?
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Winner - The Simon & Schuster Mary Higgins Clark Award
This is Book One in the ‘Katie True’ series. A cynical tarot card reader seeks to uncover the truth about her friend’s mysterious death in this delightfully clever whodunit. After a failed attempt at adulting in Chicago, Katie True is back in the suburbs living a bit too close to her overbearing parents, jumping from one dead-end job to the next, and flipping through her tarot deck for guidance. Then along comes Marley. Mysterious, worldly, and comfortable in her own skin, Marley takes a job at the mall where Katie peddles Russian tchotchkes. The two just get each other. But when Katie sneaks a glance at a client’s phone, she finds more than just clairvoyant intel. She finds a photo. Of Marley. With a gunshot wound to the head. Her best friend is dead? Who killed her? She quickly realises there are some things her tarot cards can’t foresee, and she must put her razor-sharp instincts to the ultimate test.
Who Would We Have Picked?:
I’m looking forward to reading this one! I did check out ‘The Bones of the Story’ and it was ok – check out my review in Reading Wrap Up – May 2024 – but probably won’t end up being my fave of the bunch. Definitely excited to read both ‘Of Manners and Murder‘ and ‘Murder in Postscript‘ too!
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Winner - The G. P. Putnam's Sons Sue Grafton Memorial Award
‘An Evil Heart’ by Linda Castillo:
This is Book 15 in the ‘Kate Burkholder’ series – check out Book One ‘Sworn to Silence’. Chief of Police Kate Burkholder investigates the brutal death of a young Amish man, Aden Karn. As she delves into Karn’s past, Kate begins to hear whispers about a dark side. What if Aden Karn wasn’t the wholesome young man everyone admired? Is it possible the rumours are a cruel campaign to blame the victim? Kate pursues every lead with a vengeance, sensing an unspeakable secret no one will broach. The case spirals out of control when a young Amish woman comes forward with a horrific story that pits Kate against a dangerous and unexpected opponent. When the awful truth is finally uncovered, Kate comes face to face with the terrible consequences of a life lived in all the dark places.
Who Would We Have Picked?:
I’m a completist, so can’t read this one until I read through 14 other books in the series lol. Looking forward to it though! I did really like Book One in the Samantha Jayne Allen series – ‘Hard Rain’ is Book 2. Didn’t get on so much with Book 1 in the ‘Susan Isaac’s Corie Geller series though – so might give ‘Bad, Bad Seymour Brown’ a miss. I have a soft spot for Val McDermid – so that may still be my pick of the bunch.
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‘An Evil Heart’ by Linda Castillo
Winner - The Lilian Jackson Braun Memorial Award:
‘Glory Be’ by Danielle Arceneaux:
This is Book One in the ‘Glory Broussard Mystery Series’. It’s a hot and sticky Sunday in Lafayette, Louisiana, and Glory has settled into her usual after-church routine, meeting gamblers at the local coffee shop, where she works as a small-time bookie. Sitting at her corner table, Glory hears that her best friend—a nun beloved by the community—has been found dead in her apartment. When police declare the mysterious death a suicide, Glory is convinced that there must be more to the story and, with her reluctant daughter, with troubles of her own, in tow, launches a shadow investigation in a town of oil tycoons, church gossips, and a rumoured voodoo priestess. As a black woman of a certain age who grew up in a segregated Louisiana, Glory is used to being minimised and overlooked. But she’s determined to make her presence known as the case leads her deep into a web of intrigue she never realised Lafayette could harbour.
Who Would We Have Picked?:
Yay for cosies! Haven’t read any of these yet, but they all look like a hoot. What would be your first pick? I’ve very excited to check out ‘Glory Be’ now that it’s been tagged as the winner!
Grab yourself a copy:
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