Left Coast Crime is an annual conference organised by mystery fiction fans for mystery fiction fans, first held in San Francisco in 1991. It is concerned with western North American region mysteries, but the conference itself travels worldwide, having been held in Canada and the United Kingdom, as well as different parts of the United States. The conference enables fans to mix with authors. A prominent author of western mystery fiction is invited to be guest speaker.
In December 2019 Mystery Writers of America awarded the convention organization the 2020 Raven Award for "outstanding achievement in the mystery field outside the realm of creative writing."
Lefty Awards Best Humorous Mystery Novel Award Conference participants have voted on an award for the most humorous mystery novel since 1996. +Best Humorous Mystery Novel Award, winners and finalistsYearAuthorTitleResultRef.1996WinnerWho in Hell Is Wanda Fuca?FinalistGod Bless John WayneFinalistMovieFinalistMiracles in MaggodyFinalistIf I'd Killed Him When I Met HimFinalist1997No award presented1998Three to Get DeadlyWinnerDead Men Don't DanceFinalistScamFinalistI Still Miss My Man But My Aim Is Getting BetterFinalistFinalist1999Four to ScoreWinner2000Murder With PeacocksWinnerBig TroubleFinalistHigh FiveFinalistImmaculate ReceptionFinalistMurder Shoots the BullFinalist2001No award presented2002Dim Sum DeadWinnerFender BendersWinnerRevenge of the Wrought-Iron FlamingosFinalistMurder Can Upset Your MotherFinalistLong Time No SeeFinalist2003WinnerPipsqueakWinnerHard EightFinalistThis Pen for HireFinalistFinalistBuck FeverFinalist2004Mumbo GumboWinnerCrouching Buzzard, Leaping LoonFinalistShop Till You DropFinalist2005We'll Always Have ParrotsWinnerCarnage on the CommitteeFinalistHoly GuacamoleFinalistPerfect SaxFinalistBlue BloodFinalist2006Cast AdriftWinnerCue the Easter BunnyFinalistFinalistHighway 61 ResurfacedFinalistFags and LagerFinalist2007Go to Helena HandbasketWinnerNo Nest for the WicketFinalistMonkey ManFinalist47 Rules of Highly Effective Bank RobbersFinalistMurder UnleashedFinalist2008Murder with ReservationsWinnerFinalistStuff to Die ForFinalistSome Like It Hot-ButteredFinalistKnee High by the Fourth of JulyFinalist2009Greasing the PiñataWinnerSix Geese A-SlayingFinalistIt Happened One KnifeFinalistThugs & KissesFinalistMurder at the Bad Girl's Bar and GrillFinalistGetting Old Is to Die ForFinalist2010Getting Old Is a DisasterWinnerSwan for the MoneyFinalistLiving with Your Kids Is MurderFinalistStrangle a Loaf of Italian BreadFinalistHigh Crimes on the Magical PlaneFinalist2011WinnerStork Raving MadFinalistSwift JusticeFinalistOld DogsFinalistRevenge for Old Times' SakeFinalist2012WinnerGetting Old Can Kill YouFinalistOctober FestFinalistMagical AlienationFinalistDying for a DanceFinalistFinalist2013WinnerCruising in Your Eighties Is MurderFinalistSwift RunFinalistDecember DreadFinalistTrail of the SpellmansFinalistFit to Be DeadFinalist2014WinnerFinalistFinalistFinalistDying for a DaiquiriFinalist2015Herbie's GameWinnerFinalistJanuary ThawFinalistDying for a DudeFinalistSuede to RestFinalist2016Lord of the WingsWinnerPlantation ShuddersFinalistFebruary FeverFinalistDying for a DonutFinalistCrushed VelvetFinalist2017Body on the BayouWinnerDie Like an EagleFinalistFields Where They LayFinalistFinalistFloodgateFinalistFinalist2018WinnerGone GullFinalistDying on the VineFinalistFinalistDying for a DiamondFinalist2019Scot FreeWinnerMardi Gras MurderFinalistHollywood EndingFinalistNighttownFinalistDeath al FrescoFinalistFinalist2020Scot & SodaWinnerFatal Cajun FestivalFinalistMurder from ScratchFinalistFinalistDrowned UnderFinalist2021Murder in the Bayou BoneyardWinnerMimi Lee Gets a ClueFinalistSqueeze MeFinalistThe Study of SecretsFinalistThe Pot Thief Who Studied the Woman at Otowi CrossingFinalistSkin DeepFinalist2022Mango, Mambo, and MurderWinnerCajun Kiss of DeathFinalistMimi Lee Cracks the CodeFinalistFinlay Donovan Is Killing ItFinalistHow to Book a MurderFinalistFogged OffFinalist
Best Historical Mystery Novel The Best Historical Mystery Novel Award, also known as the Bruce Alexander Memorial Historical Mystery Award, established in 2004, is presented "to mystery novels covering events before 1960." +Best Historical Mystery Novel, winners and finalistsYearAuthorTitleResultRef.2004For the Love of MikeWinnerSilver LiesFinalist and Eric MayerFour for a BoyFinalist2005Winner and Eric MayerFive for SilverFinalistTyrant of the MindFinalistMurder on Marble RowFinalistBirds of a FeatherFinalist2006Spectres in the SmokeWinnerNight's ChildFinalistPardonable LiesFinalist2007No award presented2008No award presented2009Nox Dormienda, a Long Night for SleepingWinnerFinalistFinalistTell Me, Pretty MaidenFinalistTouchstoneFinalist2010WinnerTears of PearlFinalistIn a Gilded CageFinalistFreedom's FlightFinalistSerpent in the ThornsFinalist2011WinnerFinalistMurder for GreenhornsFinalistCity of DragonsFinalistFinalist2012Mercury's RiseWinnerNaughty in NiceFinalistFinalistFinalistTroubled BonesFinalistFinalist2013Dandy Gilver and an Unsuitable Day for a MurderWinnerFinalistFinalistLive by NightFinalistElegy for EddieFinalist2014Dandy Gilver and a Bothersome Number of CorpsesWinnerHeirs and GracesFinalistHis Majesty's HopeFinalistMurder as a Fine ArtFinalistCovenant with HellFinalistLeaving Everything Most LovedFinalist2015WinnerQueen of HeartsFinalistFrom the Charred RemainsFinalistCity of GhostsFinalistCup of BloodFinalist2016Malice at the PalaceWinnerFinalistFinalistFinalistDreaming SpiesFinalistMrs. Roosevelt's ConfidanteFinalist2017WinnerCrowned and DangerousFinalistFinalistFinalistWhat Gold BuysFinalist2018In Farleigh FieldWinnerFinalistDangerous to KnowFinalistFinalistSeason of BloodFinalist2019WinnerFour Funerals and Maybe a WeddingFinalistFinalistIsland of the MadFinalistFinalistIt Begins in BetrayalFinalist2020WinnerMurder Knocks TwiceFinalistFinalistFinalistFinalist2021WinnerFinalistA Lady's Guide to Mischief and MurderFinalistRiviera GoldFinalistMortal MusicFinalistTurn to StoneFinalist2022Clark and DivisionWinnerFinalistFinalistFinalistFinalistDeath at GreenwayFinalist
Best Mystery Novel +Best Mystery Novel, winners and finalistsYearAuthorTitleResultRef.2017Winner Dark FissuresFinalist Michelangelo's GhostFinalist Finalist Heart of StoneFinalist 2018 Sulfur Springs Winner Blood Truth Finalist Glass Houses Finalist Finalist Cast the First Stone Finalist 2019 November Road Winner Wrong Light Finalist Kingdom of the Blind Finalist Under a Dark Sky Finalist Finalist Finalist 2020 Lost Tomorrows Winner Your House Will Pay Finalist Borrowed Time Finalist They All Fall Down Finalist Heaven, My Home Finalist 2021All the Devils Are HereWinnerWhat You Don't SeeFinalistBlacktop WastelandFinalistBlind VigilFinalistAnd Now She's GoneFinalist2022Lightning StrikeWinnerRunnerFinalistRazorblade TearsFinalistLast RedemptionFinalistBath HausFinalist
Best Début Mystery The Lefty for Best Debut Mystery has gone by many names, include the Eureka! Award (2012), the Rosebud Award (2015), and finally, the Left for Best Debut Mystery. +Best Début Mystery, winners and finalistsYearAuthorTitleResultRef.2012 Nazareth ChildWinner Who Do, Voodoo?Finalist Finalist Dead Man's SwitchFinalist2015 Winner KilmoonFinalist Ice ShearFinalistFinalistMistress of FortuneFinalist2017Murder in G MajorWinnerCleaning Up FinnFinalistTerror in TaffetaFinalist Decanting a MurderFinalistDesign for DyingFinalist2018Hollywood HomicideWinnerFinalistLost LuggageFinalistFinalistProtocolFinalist2019WinnerBroken PlacesFinalistCobra ClutchFinalistFinalistWhat Doesn't Kill YouFinalistDeadly SolutionFinalistGive Out CreekFinalist2020MurderabiliaWinnerFinalistMiracle CreekFinalistOne Night GoneFinalistThree-FifthsFinalist2021Winter CountsWinnerMurder Goes to MarketFinalistDerailedFinalistMurder at the Mena HouseFinalistFinalistFinalist2022All Her Little SecretsWinnerWho Is Maud DixonFinalistBlackoutFinalistFinalistArsenic and AdoboFinalist
Wildcard Awards In addition to regular Lefty Awards, wildcard awards have occasionally been presented. One regularly occurring wild card award is based on geographical location, with its name changing depending upon the location of the convention, such as the Otter (Monterey, 2004), the Calavera (El Paso, 2005), the Rocky (Denver, 2008; Colorado Springs, 2013), and the Rose (Portland, 2015). Left Coast Crime has also presented awards according to other geographic regions, such as the Hillerman Sky (Southwest settings, 2011), the Golden Nugget (California settings, 2012), the Squid (US settings, 2014), and the Calamari (non-US settings, 2014).
Other wildcard awards "include the Watson, for the mystery with the best sidekick (Santa Fe 2011 & Colorado Springs 2013), and the Hawaii Five-O, for best law enforcement or police procedural (Waikoloa, Hawaii 2009). The Panik award was given in memory of Paul Anik for best LA noir (Los Angeles 2010). Cover art was recognized with the Arty (Denver 2008)." +Wildcard Award winners and finalistsAwardYearAuthorTitleResultRef.Otter Award2004More Than You KnowWinnerDragonfly BonesFinalistMurder Pans OutFinalistCalavera Award2005Grave EndingsWinnerSnap ShotFinalistShadow PlayFinalistWhat Others KnowFinalistFamily ClaimsFinalistArty Award2008Her Royal SpynessWinnerQueenpinFinalistIsabella MoonFinalistSilent CounselFinalistStealing the DragonFinalistRocky AwardWinnerFree FireFinalistLost DogFinalistStealing the DragonFinalistFalse FortuneFinalistHawaii Five-O2009Mahu FireWinnerAngels FallFinalistFinalistFinalistDeath of a Cozy WriterFinalistFracturedFinalistThe Panik2010Death Was in the PictureWinnerCemetery RoadFinalistTrust No OneFinalistBoulevardFinalistHillerman Sky Award2011WinnerWild PenanceFinalistFinalistSnareFinalistWatson AwardJunkyard DogsWinnerWild PenanceFinalistDead LiftFinalistRolling ThunderFinalistTo Fetch a ThiefFinalistGolden Nugget Award2012City of SecretsWinnerDisturbanceFinalistFinalistBit PlayerFinalistV Is for VengeanceFinalistRocky Award2013As the Crow FliesWinnerBuffalo Bill's Dead NowFinalistHush MoneyFinalistWicked EddiesFinalistSonora CrossingFinalistWatson AwardBruja BrouhahaWinnerIn a Witch's WardrobeFinalistTakenFinalistFun HouseFinalistWhen the Past Haunts YouFinalistThe Calamari2014How the Light Gets InWinnerMurder Below MontparnasseFinalistHour of the RatFinalistAs She Left ItFinalistMykonos After MidnightFinalistThe SquidOrdinary GraceWinnerW Is for WastedFinalistPurgatory KeyFinalistFinalistFinalistThe Rose2015Pirate VishnuWinnerOne KickFinalistGlass HousesFinalistDeadly BondsFinalistPlaster CityFinalistBest LCC Regional Mystery2016WinnerFinalistNight TremorsFinalistFinalistYoung AmericansFinalistBest World Mystery2016WinnerFinalistDragon DayFinalistFinalistStone Cold DeadFinalist
Notes
References
External links
Official website