It’s always fun to share the ITW Thriller Award Nominees. Barbara Peters, owner of The Poisoned Pen, sometimes shares the story of thriller writers who complained their books didn’t get enough attention at conferences, and she suggested they start their own organization and conference. The first Thrillerfest was held at the Arizona Biltmore before the conference moved to New York City. I was lucky to be able to attend that first conference. Now, their twentieth conference will be held in June. (Granted, not the best time for a conference in Arizona.)
Congratulations to all of the nominees. Check the Pen’s Webstore for copies of the books. https://store.poisonedpen.com/
2025 ITW Thriller Awards Nominees
We’re thrilled to announce the finalists for the
2025 ITW Thriller Awards:
BEST STANDALONE THRILLER NOVEL
Kimberly Belle — THE PARIS WIDOW (Harlequin – Park Row)
Will Dean — THE CHAMBER (Emily Bestler Books)
T.J. Newman — WORST CASE SCENARIO (Little, Brown & Co.)
Jason Rekulak — THE LAST ONE AT THE WEDDING (Flatiron Books)
Lisa Scottoline — THE TRUTH ABOUT THE DEVLINS (Penguin/Putnam)
BEST STANDALONE MYSTERY NOVEL
Libby Cudmore — NEGATIVE GIRL (Datura Books)
Laura Dave — THE NIGHT WE LOST HIM (Simon & Schuster)
Kellye Garrett — MISSING WHITE WOMAN (Mulholland Books)
Harry Hunsicker — THE LIFE AND DEATH OF ROSE DOUCETTE (Oceanview Publishing)
Dervla McTiernan — WHAT HAPPENED TO NINA? (William Morrow)
Lori Roy — LAKE COUNTY (Thomas & Mercer)
BEST SERIES NOVEL
David Baldacci — TO DIE FOR (Grand Central Publishing)
Eric Beetner — THE LAST FEW MILES OF ROAD (Level Best Books)
Ann Cleeves — THE DARK WIVES (Minotaur)
Meg Gardiner — SHADOWHEART (Blackstone Publishing)
Iris Johansen, Roy Johansen — FLASHBACK (Grand Central Publishing)
Isabella Maldonado — A FORGOTTEN KILL (Thomas & Mercer)
BEST FIRST NOVEL
Kate Brody — RABBIT HOLE (Soho Crime)
Jaime deBlanc — AFTER IMAGE (Thomas & Mercer)
Carinn Jade — THE ASTROLOGY HOUSE (Atria)
Alejandro Nodarse — BLOOD IN THE CUT (Flatiron Books)
Marie Tierney — DEADLY ANIMALS (Henry Holt & Co.)
BEST AUDIOBOOK
Sally Hepworth — DARLING GIRLS (Macmillan)
Narrated by Jessica Clarke
Jon Lindstrom — HOLLYWOOD HUSTLE (Dreamscape Media)
Narrated by Jon Lindstrom
Kate Alice Marshall — NO ONE CAN KNOW (Macmillan Audio)
Narrated by Karissa Vacker
Hilton Reed — BEYOND ALL DOUBT (Dreamscape Media)
Narrated by George Newbern
Amy Tintera — LISTEN FOR THE LIE (Macmillan)
Narrated by January LaVoy and Will Damron
BEST YOUNG ADULT NOVEL
Adam Cesare — INFLUENCER (Union Square & Co., LLC)
Ripley Jones — THE OTHER LOLA (Wednesday Books)
Marisha Pessl — DARKLY (Delacorte)
Natalie Richards — 49 MILES ALONE (Sourcebooks Fire)
Melanie Sumrow — GIRLS LIKE HER (Balzer + Bray)
BEST SHORT STORY
Stefanie Leder — NOT A DINNER PARTY PERSON (Soho Crime)
Twist Phelan — DOUBLE PARKED (Ellery Queen Mystery Magazine)
Ivy Pochoda — JACKRABBIT SKIN (Amazon Original Stories)
Lisa Unger — THE DOLL’S HOUSE (Amazon Original Stories)
Joseph S. Walker — AND NOW, AN INSPIRING STORY OF TRAGEDY OVERCOME (Wildside Press)