Golden Globes, Schmolden Globes - Let's Gear Up for the 2025 Book Award Season!

As the calendar edges closer to the 2025 award season, we can practically

hear the rustle of envelopes and the murmur of suspenseful anticipation. To

keep you in the loop, we’ve curated a list of must-know literary awards

celebrating the most gripping crime, mystery, and thriller tales of the past

year. From masterfully twisted whodunits to thrillers that keep you up past

midnight, these accolades honor the best of the genres. Whether you’re

here to root for your favorite storytellers, discover new gems, or mark key

dates like submission deadlines and announcements, this

chronological guide is your perfect companion for the year ahead!

1. Left Coast Crime “Lefty” Awards

These awards are voted on by attendees of the Left Coast Crime

Convention and include categories like Best Humorous Mystery and Best

Historical Mystery.

• Winner Announcement: Winners are announced at the Left Coast

Crime Convention, scheduled for March 20-23, 2025.

• Registration Deadline for Panel Consideration: Authors must register

by December 31, 2024, to be considered for a panel.

2. Agatha Awards

The Agatha Awards honor traditional mysteries best typified by the works of

Agatha Christie and are awarded annually by Malice Domestic, Ltd.

• Winner Announcement: Winners are announced at the Agatha

Awards Banquet during the Malice Domestic convention, typically held

in late April or early May 2025.

• Eligibility Period: Works must be published in the United States by a

living author during the calendar year 2024 (January 1 - December

31).

• Nomination Process: Registered attendees of Malice Domestic by

December 31, 2024, receive nomination ballots in early January 2025.

3. Crime Writers of Canada Awards of Excellence

These awards recognize excellence in Canadian crime writing and were

formerly known as the Arthur Ellis Awards.

• Winner Announcement: Winners are usually announced in late May

or early June 2025.

• Submission Deadline: Typically in mid-December for works

published during that calendar year.

4. Thriller Awards

Presented by the International Thriller Writers, these awards honor the best

thriller fiction and are given annually at ThrillerFest.

• Winner Announcement: Winners will be announced at ThrillerFest,

scheduled for June 2025.

• Submission Deadlines:

  • For works published on or before May 31, 2024: July 31, 2024.

  • For works published between June 1 and August 31, 2024:

    October 31, 2024.

  • For works published on or after September 1, 2024: December

    31, 2024.

5. Dagger Awards

The Crime Writers’ Association presents the Dagger Awards for books

published in the UK.

• Winner Announcement: Winners are typically announced in July

2025.

• Submission Deadline: Generally in late February or early March for

works published in the previous year.

6. Ned Kelly Awards

Presented by the Australian Crime Writers’ Association, these awards

recognize excellence in Australian crime, thriller, and mystery writing.

• Winner Announcement: Winners are usually announced in August

or September 2025.

• Submission Deadline: Typically in May for works published in the

previous year.

7. Anthony Awards

The Anthony Awards are presented at the annual Bouchercon World

Mystery Convention and are named after Anthony Boucher, a well-known

writer and critic. Winners are selected by convention attendees.

• Winner Announcement: Winners are announced at the Bouchercon

World Mystery Convention, typically held between September and

November 2025.

• Submission Deadline: April 30, 2025.

8. Barry Awards

Named for Barry Gardner, these awards are voted on by readers of Deadly

Pleasures and are presented at the annual Bouchercon World Mystery

Convention.

• Winner Announcement: Winners are announced at the Bouchercon

convention, typically between September and November 2025.

• Submission Deadline: Specific submission deadlines are not publicly

detailed.

9. Macavity Awards

Named after the “mystery cat” from T.S. Eliot’s Old Possum’s Book of

Practical Cats, these awards are nominated and voted on by members of

Mystery Readers International.

• Winner Announcement: Winners are announced at the opening

ceremonies of the annual Bouchercon Convention, typically between

September and November 2025.

• Submission Deadline: No formal submission process; members

nominate and vote.

10. Shamus Awards

Presented by the Private Eye Writers of America, these awards honor

excellence in the Private Eye genre.

• Winner Announcement: Winners are announced at the Shamus

Awards Banquet during the annual Bouchercon Convention, typically

between September and November 2025.

• Submission Deadline: Generally in March for works published in the

previous year.