2025 Awards
The 2025 Edgar Award Winners
Best Novel
The In Crowd by Charlotte Vassell
Genres:
Detective Fiction, Satire, Mystery
In this razor-sharp social mystery, Vassell takes readers into the glitzy, toxic world of London’s elite, where a murder at a posh party reveals the rot beneath the glamour. Detective Caius Beauchamp must cut through privilege and performative perfection to expose a very real killer.
Why we agree with it winning:
A delicious mix of dark wit, class commentary, and psychological
insight, The In Crowd elevates the whodunit into something truly biting. It’s Agatha Christie meets The White Lotus, and we’re still reeling from the last twist.
Best First Novel
by an American Author
Genres:
Southern Gothic, Crime, Literary Fiction
Synopsis:
Set in the haunting shadows of post-industrial Appalachia, Holy City follows a disillusioned ex-cop on a quest for redemption as he investigates a cold case that stirs ghosts—both literal and personal.
Why we agree with it winning:
Wise writes with grit and grace, conjuring a world that’s both decaying and strangely sacred. For a debut, it’s shockingly assured—moody, evocative, and unforgettable. The Edgars made the right call spotlighting this rising talent.
Best Paperback Original
Genres:
Literary, Thriller, Psychological
Synopsis:
When Stella’s husband disappears during a business trip to Paris, what begins as a tragic accident soon unravels into a web of secrets, stolen identities, and a woman pushed to the brink.
Why we agree with it winning:
Fast-paced but emotionally grounded, Belle proves she’s mastered the art of the unputdownable. A jet-setting mystery with real heart—this is domestic suspense at its sleek, sophisticated best.
Best Fact Crime
Genres:
Noir, Coming-of-Age, Crime
Synopsis:
This gripping account explores a wave of 19th-century bombings that led to the birth of modern forensics and shaped global policing. Johnson dissects how a terrorist threat transformed the very idea of justice.
Why it won:
Johnson turns history into high-stakes narrative without sacrificing nuance. It’s equal parts gripping and illuminating, and it reads like a thriller with the weight of truth. A masterclass in fact crime.
Best Novel - Nominations
The Tainted Cup by Robert Jackson Bennett
Genres:
Fantasy, Mystery, Science Fiction
Synopsis:
In a world where society is structured to combat sea-born leviathans, an investigator with perfect recall and his eccentric superior unravel a high-society poisoning amidst a bizarre ecological backdrop.
Rough Trade by Katrina Carrasco
Genres:
Historical Fiction, LGBTQ+, Crime
Synopsis:
Set in the late 1800s Pacific Northwest, this novel delves into queer communities, early media and medicine, and the complexities of desire and identity.
Things Don’t Break on Their Own by Sarah Easter Collins
Genres:
Literary Fiction, Thriller, Psychological
Synopsis:
Two women confront their traumatic pasts and the enduring impact of abuse as they navigate a complex journey toward healing.
My Favorite Scar by Nicolás Ferraro
Genres:
Noir, Coming-of-Age, Crime
Synopsis:
A teenage girl and her gangster father embark on a road trip seeking revenge, exploring themes of family and identity in Argentina's underworld.
The God of the Woods by Liz Moore
Genres:
Mystery, Family Drama, Historical Fiction
Synopsis:
When a teenager vanishes from her Adirondack summer camp, long-buried family secrets and past tragedies resurface.
Listen for the Lie by Amy Tintera
Genres:
Thriller, Mystery, Psychological
Synopsis:
A woman returns to her hometown to uncover the truth about her best friend's murder, which she may have committed, as a true crime podcast investigates.
The In Crowd by Charlotte Vassell
Genres:
Detective Fiction, Satire, Mystery
Synopsis:
Detective Inspector Caius Beauchamp investigates two cold cases involving a missing girl and a pension fund, revealing the dark underbelly of London's elite.
Best First Novel by an American Author - Nominations
Twice the Trouble by Ash Clifton
Genres:
Thriller, Crime, Private Investigator
Synopsis:
A Florida private eye embarks on a perilous quest to locate his missing business partner who vanished with $14 million.
Cold to the Touch by Kerri Hakoda
Genres:
Thriller, Crime, Mystery
Synopsis:
In remote Alaska, a Nikkei detective investigates a series of kidnappings and murders, confronting personal and professional challenges.
The Mechanics of Memory by Audrey Lee
Genres:
Psychological Thriller, Science Fiction, Mystery
Synopsis:
A woman seeks to recover a lost year of memories through a company specializing in memory recovery, uncovering fragmented clues to her past.
A Jewel in the Crown by David Lewis
Genres:
Historical Fiction, Spy Thriller, Adventure
Synopsis:
A young socialist-turned-spy undertakes a World War II mission orchestrated by Winston Churchill, blending espionage and action.
The President’s Lawyer by Lawrence Robbins
Genres:
Legal Thriller, Political Fiction, Mystery
Synopsis:
A Washington, DC litigator defends his childhood best friend, a former President, against a murder charge in a case filled with suspense and twists.
Genres:
Southern Gothic, Crime, Literary Fiction
Synopsis:
A deputy sheriff returns to his rural Virginia hometown to investigate a murder and arson, confronting past traumas and societal divisions.
Best Paperback Original - Nominations
Genres:
Historical Fiction, Mystery, Suspense
Synopsis:
An investigation into a girl's disappearance uncovers a mystery dating back to World War II, intertwining past and present secrets.
