The Crime Writers of Canada Award for Best Novel is an annual literary award, presented as part of the Crime Writers of Canada Awards of Excellence program to honour books judged as the best crime novel published by a Canadian crime writer in the previous year.
1980s Year Writer Novel Ref 1984 Eric Wright The Night the Gods Smiled "Crime Writers of Canada honors Murdoch, Wright". The Globe and Mail, May 25, 1984. William Deverell Mecca Roger M. Sobin, The Essential Mystery Lists: For Readers, Collectors, and Librarians. Poisoned Pen Press, 2011. . pp. 191-194. Ted Wood Dead in the Water 1985 Howard Engel Murder Sees the Light Donna Coates, "Howard Engel". The Canadian Encyclopedia, April 2, 2008. William Deverell The Dance of Shiva Douglas Glover Precious John Reeves Murder Before Matins Eric Wright Smoke Detector 1986 Eric Wright Death in the Old Country "Crime writers honor two authors". Toronto Star, May 7, 1986. Maurice Gagnon The Inner Ring Anthony Hyde The Red Fox John Reeves Murder with Muskets L. R. Wright The Suspect 1987 Edward O. Phillips Buried on Sunday "Montreal novelist Phillips wins crime writers' prize". Montreal Gazette, May 26, 1987. Timothy Findley The Telling of Lies Alexander Law To an Easy Grave Ted Wood Fool's Gold Eric Wright A Single Death 1988 Carol Shields Swann "Crime writers honor their own". The Globe and Mail, May 20, 1988. Joseph Louis Madelaine Anna Porter Mortal Sins Eric Wright A Body Surrounded by Water 1989 Chris Scott Jack "Crime writer's prize slips from his grasp". The Globe and Mail, May 19, 1989. William Deverell Platinum Blues Laurence Gough Death on a #8 Hook (Silent Knives) Peter Robinson A Dedicated Man
1990s Year Writer Novel Ref 1990 Laurence Gough Hot Shots "B.C. author wins prize for best crime novel". Vancouver Sun, May 25, 1990. Jack Batten Straight No Chaser John Brady Unholy Ground William Deverell Mindfield Peter Robinson The Hanging Valley 1991 L. R. Wright A Chill Rain in January "'Chilling' novel captures top crime writers award". Waterloo Region Record, May 27, 1991. John Brady Kaddish in Dublin Laurence Gough Serious Crimes Brian Moore Lies of Silence John Lawrence Reynolds And Leave Her Lay Dying Peter Robinson Caedmon's Song 1992 Peter Robinson Past Reason Hated "Crime writers get just deserts". The Globe and Mail, June 4, 1992. Laurence Gough Accidental Deaths L. R. Wright Fall from Grace 1993 Carsten Stroud Lizardskin "Sometimes, crime pays". The Globe and Mail, May 20, 1993. Gail Bowen The Wandering Soul Murders Laurence Gough Fall Down Easy Peter Robinson Wednesday's Child Medora Sale Pursued by Shadows 1994 John Lawrence Reynolds Gypsy Sins New, William H. (ed.) Encyclopedia of Literature in Canada. University of Toronto Press, 2002. . p. 65. John Brady All Souls Howard Engel There Was an Old Woman William Gibson Virtual Light Gregory Ward Water Damage L. R. Wright Prized Possessions 1995 Gail Bowen A Colder Kind of Death "Bowen wins Ellis prize for latest novel: Fourth in Kilbourn mystery series brings Prairie crime writer $500 and trophy". The Globe and Mail, June 1, 1995. Peter Abrahams Lights Out John Brady The Good Life John Lawrence Reynolds Solitary Dancer L. R. Wright A Touch of Panic 1996 L. R. Wright Mother Love "Wright wins book award". The Globe and Mail, May 30, 1996. William Deverell Street Legal Alison Gordon Striking Out Laurence Gough Heartbreaker Peter Robinson No Cure for Love 1997 Peter Robinson Innocent Graves "Toronto writer gets award for mystery". Waterloo Region Record, May 29, 1997. Margaret Atwood Alias Grace Martin S. Cohen Light from Dead Stars Sparkle Hayter Nice Girls Finish Last Frank Smith Fatal Flaw 1998 William Deverell Trial of Passion "Deverell wins top crime-writing prize for Trial of Passion". The Globe and Mail, May 22, 1998. Rosemary Aubert Free Reign C. C. Benison Death at Sandringham House John Spencer Hill Ghirlandaio's Daughter Peter Robinson Dead Right (Blood at the Root) Robert J. Sawyer Illegal Alien 1999 Nora Kelly Old Wounds "Crime does pay for novelists". Ottawa Citizen, May 28, 1999. Gail Bowen Verdict in Blood Scott Mackay Cold Comfort Caroline Roe Remedy for Treason Jean Ruryk Next Week Will Be Better Michelle Spring Standing in the Shadows
2000s Year Writer Novel Ref 2000 Rosemary Aubert The Feast of Stephen Egle Procuta, "Novel about former judge wins crime prize". The Globe and Mail, May 25, 2000. Lisa Appignanesi The Dead of Winter William Deverell Slander John Farrow City of Ice Peter Robinson In a Dry Season 2001 Peter Robinson Cold Is the Grave "Arthur Ellis Awards to Robinson, Wright". The Globe and Mail, May 25, 2001. Giles Blunt Forty Words for Sorrow Brad Smith One Eyed Jacks Eric Wright The Kidnapping of Rosie Dawn L. R. Wright Kidnap 2002 Michelle Spring In the Midnight Hour "Crime and mystery writers get Ellis awards". Guelph Mercury, June 14, 2002. William Deverell The Laughing Falcon John Farrow Ice Lake Rick Mofina Cold Fear Peter Robinson Aftermath 2003 Rick Mofina Blood of Others "James Nichol wins Arthur Ellis award for first crime novel: 20th anniversary of awards for crime novels". Moose Jaw Times-Herald, June 5, 2003. Lou Allin Blackflies Are Murder Barbara Fradkin Once Upon a Time Nora Kelly Hot Pursuit Kathy Reichs Grave Secrets 2004 Giles Blunt The Delicate Storm "Book on Hells Angels takes prize". Brantford Expositor, June 12, 2004. Mary Jane Maffini Lament for a Lounge Lizard Kim Moritsugu The Glenwood Treasure David Rotenberg The Hua Shan Hospital Murders Peter Robinson The Summer That Never Was (Close to Home) 2005 Barbara Fradkin Fifth Son "Ottawa psychologist wins award for best Canadian crime novel". Alberni Valley Times, June 10, 2005. Gail Bowen The Last Good Day Lyn Hamilton The Magyar Venus Peter Robinson Playing with Fire Mark Zuehlke Sweep Lotus 2006 William Deverell April Fool Vanessa Farquharson, "Author William Deverell's April Fool wins prize for best Canadian crime novel". National Post, June 9, 2006. Rick Blechta Cemetery of the Nameless Giles Blunt Black Fly Season Alex Brett Cold Dark Matter Peter Robinson Strange Affair 2007 Barbara Fradkin Honour Among Men Brianna Goldberg, "Cheesy mystery wins novel prize. Calgary Herald, June 8, 2007. Linwood Barclay Lone Wolf Emma Cole Every Secret Thing Kathy Reichs Break No Bones Peter Robinson Piece of My Heart 2008 Jon Redfern Trumpets Sound No More "Jon Redfern wins second Arthur Ellis Award for historical crime novel". Prince George Citizen, June 7, 2008. Linwood Barclay No Time for Goodbye "Arthur Ellis crime-writing nominations announced". The Globe and Mail, May 1, 2008. Terry Carroll Snow Candy Maureen Jennings A Journeyman to Grief Louise Penny The Cruelest Month 2009 Linwood Barclay Too Close to Home "Canada's crime writers announce winners of 2009 Arthur Ellis Awards". Canadian Press, June 5, 2009 Maureen Jennings The K Handshape "Writers nominated". Windsor Star, April 24, 2009. James W. Nichol Transgression Louise Penny The Murder Stone Michael E. Rose The Tsunami File
2010s Year Writer Novel Ref 2010 Howard Shrier High Chicago "Shrier wins Ellis Award for crime, mystery writing". Ottawa Citizen, May 28, 2010. Anthony Bidulka Aloha, Candy Hearts "Ottawa authors contenders for hangman's prize". Ottawa Citizen, May 2, 2010. R. J. Harlick Arctic Blue Death Lee Lamothe Finger's Twist James W. Nichol Death Spiral 2011 Louise Penny Bury Your Dead "Penny, Cameron win Arthur Ellis Awards". The Globe and Mail, June 4, 2011. C. B. Forrest Slow Recoil "Bury Your Dead shortlisted for Arthur Ellis Award". Waterloo Region Record, May 7, 2011. Mike Knowles In Plain Sight Jeffrey Moore The Extinction Club Michael Van Rooy A Criminal to Remember 2012 Peter Robinson Before the Poison Mark Medley, "Arthur Ellis Awards practically criminal". National Post, June 1, 2012. Alan Bradley I Am Half-Sick of Shadows "Finalists announced for Arthur Ellis Awards". Alberni Valley Times, April 25, 2012. William Deverell I'll See You in My Dreams Louise Penny A Trick of the Light Robert Rotenberg The Guilty Plea 2013 Giles Blunt Until the Night "Giles Blunt, Steve Lillebuen take home Arthur Ellis Awards for crime writing". Canadian Press, May 31, 2013. Linwood Barclay Trust Your Eyes "Finalists unveiled for crime-writing awards". Kamloops Daily News, April 22, 2013. Sean Chercover The Trinity Game Stephen Miller The Messenger Carsten Stroud Niceville 2014 Seán Haldane The Devil's Making "Bronte author wins crime writing award". Hamilton Spectator, June 14, 2014. John Brooke Walls of a Mind Courtney Harper, "Howard Engel wins inaugural Master Award from Crime Writers of Canada; Arthur Ellis finalists revealed". Quill & Quire, April 24, 2014. Lee Lamothe Presto Variations Howard Shrier Miss Montreal Simone St. James An Inquiry into Love and Death 2015 C. C. Humphreys Plague: Murder Has a New Friend Becky Robertson, "Margaret Atwood, C.C. Humphreys among 2015 Arthur Ellis Award winners". Quill & Quire, May 29, 2015. Brenda Chapman Cold Mourning Sarah Kester, "Arthur Ellis Awards finalists announced for best Canadian crime writing". Quill & Quire, April 24, 2015. Barbara Fradkin None So Blind Maureen Jennings No Known Grave Alen Mattich Killing Pilgrim 2016 Peter Kirby Open Season Erin Knoll, "Peter Kirby, Ausma Zehanat Khan win Arthur Ellis Awards for crime writing". CBC Books, July 17, 2016. Peggy Blair Hungry Ghosts Sue Carter, "Awards: Arthur Ellis nominees revealed". Quill & Quire, April 25, 2016. John Farrow The Storm Murders Andrew Hunt A Killing in Zion Inger Ash Wolfe The Night Bell 2017 Donna Morrissey The Fortunate Brother "Elle Wild, Donna Morrissey and Gordon Korman highlight 2017 Arthur Ellis Awards winners". Quill & Quire, May 29, 2017. Kelley Armstrong City of the Lost Mark Medley, "Finalists announced for Arthur Ellis Awards". The Globe and Mail, April 22, 2017. Michael Helm After James Maureen Jennings Dead Ground in Between Janet Kellough Wishful Seeing 2018 Peter Robinson Sleeping in the Ground Deborah Dundas, "Robinson and Barclay snag coveted crime-writing awards: The Arthur Ellis Awards include bragging rights and a macabre statue". Toronto Star, May 27, 2018. Gail Bowen The Winners' Circle Oline Cogdill, "2018 Arthur Ellis nominees". Mystery Scene, April 2018. John MacLachlan Gray The White Angel Robyn Harding The Party Rio Youers The Forgotten Girl 2019 Anne Emery Though the Heavens Fall Ron Corbett Cape Diamond Ryan Porter, "Crime writers Louise Penny, Sam Wiebe, Sarah Weinman among finalists for 2019 Arthur Ellis Awards". Quill & Quire, April 18, 2019. Lisa Gabriele The Winters Louise Penny Kingdom of the Blind Loreth Anne White The Girl in the Moss
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