The Gumshoe Awards were an American award for popular crime fiction literary works. The Gumshoe Awards were awarded annually by the American Internet magazine Mystery Ink (not to be confused with Mystery Inc.) to recognize the best achievements in crime fiction. The nominated books were chosen from those published for the first time in the United States in English (or English translation). They were awarded in several categories:Mystery Ink list of awards Best Mystery Best Thriller Best First Novel Best Crime Fiction Website Lifetime Achievement Award
In 2005 a new award category was introduced: Best European Crime Novel.
Categories Category Initially awarded NotesBest Mystery 2002In 2002/3 this was titled "Best Novel"Best Thriller 2005Best European Crime Novel 2005Best First Novel 2002Lifetime Achievement 2002Best Crime Fiction Website 20022002/3: "Best Author Website"
Prize winners by category Best Mystery (2002/3: "Best Novel") Year Prize winner Title Publisher2002Thomas PerryPursuitRandom House, New York 20012003George P. PelecanosHell to PayLittle, Brown & Co., Boston 20022004Steve HamiltonBlood is the SkyThomas Dunne Books, New York 2003 2005 Jim Fusilli Hard, Hard City Putnam's, New York 2004 2006 Laura Lippman To the Power of the Three William Morrow, New York 2005 2007 Julia Spencer-Fleming All Mortal Flesh Thomas Dunne Books, New York 2006 2008 James Lee Burke The Tin Roof Blowdown Simon & Schuster, New York 2007
Best Thriller Year Prize Winner Title Publisher2005Barry EislerRain StormPutnam's, New York 20042006Joseph FinderCompany ManSt. Martin's Press, New York 20052007Robert FerrignoPrayers for the AssassinScribner, New York 20062008Robert CraisThe WatchmanSimon & Schuster, New York 2007
Best European Crime Novel Not awarded: 2008
Year Prize Winner Nationality Title Publisher2005Henning MankellSwedishThe Return of the Dancing MasterThe New Press, New York 20032006Robert WilsonBritishThe Vanished HandsHarcourt, New York 20062007Karin FossumNorwegianWhen the Devil Holds the CandleHarcourt, New York 2006
Best First Novel Year Prize Winner Title Publisher 2002 C. J. Box Open Season Putnam's, New York 2001 2003 Eddie Muller The Distance Scribner, New York 2002 2004 P.J. Tracy Monkeewrench Putnam's, New York 20032005 Dylan Schaffer Misdemeanor Man Bloomsbury, New York 2004 2006 Randall Hicks The Baby Game Wordslinger Press, San Diego 20052007 John Hart The King of Lies St. Martin's Minotaur, New York 2006 2008 Sean Chercover Big City, Bad Blood William Morrow, New York 2007
Lifetime Achievement YearPrize WinnerNationality2002Ross Thomas2003Dick Francis2004Ruth Rendell2005Lawrence Block2006Ed McBain2007Robert B. Parker2008Donald E. Westlake
Best Crime Fiction Website (2002/3: "Best Author Website") YearPrize WinnerWebsite 2002 Lee Child Official Site of Lee Child and Jack Reacher, Author site 2003 Michael Connelly Official Website of Bestselling Author Mike Connelly Author site 2004 Sarah Weinman Confessions of Idiosyncratic MindWeblog 2005 January Magazine's Crime Fiction Section January Magazine Literature-Online magazine 2006 CrimeSpot.net (Graham Powell) CrimeSpot.netWeblog 2007 Demolition Magazine Demolition Magazine Literature-Online magazine 2008 The Thrilling Detective Web Site Thrilling Detective Website (Kevin Burton Smith)
See also List of crime writers
References