The Private Eye Writers of America and The Shamus Awards

The Shamus Awards
Bestowed by the Private Eye Writers of America

The Private Eye Writers of America (PWA) was founded in 1981 by Robert J. Randisi to recognize the private eye genre and its writers, and is probably best known for its annual Shamus Awards. Membership is open to fans, writers, and publishing professionals. There are three levels of membership: Active, Associate, and International.

In general, the PWA defines a "private eye" as any mystery protagonist who is a professional investigator, but not a police officer or government agent. The full definition is, and I quote, "a person paid for investigative work but not employed by a unit of government. Thus books and stories about private investigators (licensed and unlicensed), lawyers and reporters who do their own legwork, and other hired agents are eligible; works centering on law enforcement officers or amateur sleuths are not."

Quarterly newsletter: Reflections in a Private Eye

Dues: $50 for Active or International membership, $40 for Associate

Awards: The Shamus Awards
Previous winners include Lawrence Block, Rob Kantner, Ken Bruen, Harlan Coben, Max Allan Collins, Michael Connelly, Robert Crais, Brendan DuBois, Loren D. Estleman, Carolina Garcia-Aguilera, Sue Grafton, James W. Hall, Steve Hamilton, Jeremiah Healy, Dennis Lehane, Laura Lippman, John Lutz, Bill Pronzini, S.J. Rozan, Sandra Scoppettone and Don Winslow.

Web Site: The Private Eye Writers of America

Blog: PWA News and Views

For more information:

Christine Matthews,
Membership Chair
P.O. Box 202,
Clarksville, MO
U.S.A.
63336.

E-mail: Rrandisi@aol.com

The Shamus Awards

The Shamus Award is given by the Private Eye Writers of America to honor excellent work in the Private Eye genre.The award was created by Robert J. Randisi in 1981. Committee members of PWA select nominees and winners, much in the same way as the Edgars are chosen. In general, a "private eye" is any mystery protagonist who is a professional investigator, but not a police officer or government agent.

NOTE

There's seems to be some confusion about the categories of Best First Novels and The St. Martin's Press/Private Eye Writer Best First Private Eye Novel Contest. Seems some publishers don't make the distinction, and that a novel can win the contest, and a few years later, when it's finally published, be eligible for the Best First Novel Award. But it's pretty simple, actually. As Bob Randisi explains, "There is nothing for publishers to distinguish. The PWA/SMP contest winner is for an unpublished novel, and is ONLY a PWA/SMP prize winner. It's not a book, eligible for book awards, until it is published."

For more info, go to The St. Martin's Private Eye Contest Page.

| 1982 | 1983 | 1984 | 1985 | 1986 | 1987 | 1988 | 1989 | 1990 |
| 1991 | 1992 | 1993 | 1994 | 1995 | 1996 | 1997 | 1998 | 1999 |
| 2000 | 2001 | 2002 | 2003 | 2004 | 2005 | 2006 | 2007 |

1982 SHAMUS AWARDS

THE EYE (Lifetime Achievment Award)

Ross Macdonald
Accepted in his absence by his friend and colleague Dennis Lynds

BEST P.I. HARDCOVER

Hoodwink by Bill Pronzini (Nameless Detective)
A Stab in the Dark by Lawrence Block (Matt Scudder)
30 for a Harry by Richard Hoyt (John Denson)
Hard Trade by Arthur Lyons (Jake Asch)
Early Autumn by Robert B. Parker (Spenser)

BEST ORIGINAL P.I. PAPERBACK

California Thriller by Max Byrd (Mike Haller)
Carpenter, Detective by Hamilton T. Caine (Ace Carpenter)
Brown's Requiem by James Ellroy (Fritz Brown)
The Old Dick by L.A. Morse (Jake Spanner)
Murder in the Wind by George Ogan (Johnny Bordelon)

1983 SHAMUS AWARDS

THE EYE (Lifetime Achievment Award)

Mickey Spillane

BEST P.I. HARDCOVER

Eight Million Ways to Die by Lawrence Block (Matt Scudder)
A is for Alibi by Sue Grafton (Kinsey Millhone)
Gravedigger by Joseph Hansen (David Brandstetter)
A Piece of the Silence by Jack Livingston (Joe Binney)
Ceremony by Robert B. Parker (Spenser)

BEST ORIGINAL P.I. PAPERBACK

The Cana Diversion by William Campbell Gault (Brock Callahan)
Nevsky's Return by Dimitri Gat (Yuri Nevsky)
Pieces of Death by Jack Lynch (Peter Bragg)
Smoked Out by Warren Murphy (Julian "Digger" Burroughs)

BEST P.I. SHORT STORY

"What You Don't Know Can Hurt You" by John Lutz (November 1982, AHMM; Alo Nudger)
"Meet Athalia Goode" by Raleigh Bond (January 27, 1982, EQMM; Athalia Goode)
"Dead Soldier" by Loren D. Estleman (Mid-September, AHMM; Amos Walker)
"My Little Girl" by Kenneth Gavrell (May 1982, AHMM; Carlos Bannon)
"Cardula and the Locked Room" by Jack Ritchie (March 31, 1982, AHMM, Cardula)

1984 SHAMUS AWARDS

THE EYE (Lifetime Achievment Award)

William Campbell Gault

BEST P.I. HARDCOVER

True Detective by Max Allan Collins (Nate Heller)
Dancing Bear by James Crumley (Milo Milodragovitch)
The Glass Highway by Loren D. Estleman (Amos Walker)
The Dark Fantastic by Stanley Ellin
The Widening Gyre by Robert B. Parker (Spenser)

BEST ORIGINAL P.I. PAPERBACK

Dead in Centerfield by Paul Engelman (Mark Renzler)
Finders Weepers by Max Byrd (Mike Haller)
Death And The Single Girl by Elliot Lewis (Fred Bennett)
Trace by Warren Murphy (Devlin "Trace" Tracy)
The Steinway Collection by Robert J. Randisi (Miles Jacoby)

BEST P.I. SHORT STORY

"Cat's Paw" by Bill Pronzini (Wave's Press; Nameless)
"The Oldest Killer" by Michael Collins (November 1983,The Thieftakers Journal, Dan Fortune)
"Greektown" by Loren D. Estleman (August 1983, AHMM; Amos Walker)
"The Long Slow Dive" by T. Robin Kanter (February 1983, AHMM; Ben Perkins)
"Only One Way To Land" by John Lutz (October 1983, AHMM; ; Alo Nudger)

1985 SHAMUS AWARDS

THE EYE (Lifetime Achievment Award)

Howard Browne

BEST P.I. HARDCOVER

Sugartown by Loren D. Estleman (Amos Walker; Amos Walker)
True Crime by Max Allan Collins (Nate Heller)
Die Again, Macready by Jack Livingston
Nightlines by John Lutz (Alo Nudger)
Full Contact by Robert J. Randisi (Miles Jacoby)

BEST ORIGINAL P.I. PAPERBACK

Ceiling of Hell by Warren Murphy
Squeeze Play by Paul Benjamin
San Quentin by Jack Lynch
Trace and 47 Miles of Rope by Warren Murphy
The Man Who Risked His Partner by Reed Stephens

BEST FIRST P.I. NOVEL

A Creative Kind of Killer by Jack Early
Blunt Darts by Jeremiah Healy (John Francis Cuddy)
The Nebraska Quotient by William J. Reynolds

BEST P.I. SHORT STORY

"By the Dawn's Early Light" by Lawrence Block (Matt Scudder); Playboy)
"Easy Money" by John Boland (April 1984, EQMM)
"Iris" by Stephen Greenleaf (John Marshall Tanner; The Eyes Have It)
"The Rat Line" by Rob Kantner (The Eyes Have It; Ben Perkins)
"The Big Winners" by Ernest Savage (September 1984, EQMM)

1986 SHAMUS AWARDS

THE EYE (Lifetime Achievment Award)

Richard S. Prather

BEST P.I. HARDCOVER

B is for Burglar by Sue Grafton (Kinsey Millhone)
The Naked Liar by Harold Adams
Hardball by Doug Hornig
A Catskill Eagle by Robert B. Parker (Spenser)
Bones by Bill Pronzini (Nameless)

BEST ORIGINAL P.I. PAPERBACK

Poverty Bay by Earl Emerson (Thomas Black)
The Rainy City by Earl Emerson (Thomas Black)
The Kill by Douglas Heyes
Trace: Pigs Get Fat by Warren Murphy (Devlin "Trace" Tracy)
Blue Heron by Philip Ross

BEST FIRST P.I. NOVEL

Hardcover by Wayne Warga
New, Improved Murder by Ed Gorman (Jack Dwyer)
Sleeping Dog by Dick Lochte
Embrace the Wolf by Benjamin Schutz (Leo Haggerty)
Flood by Andrew Vachss (Burke)

BEST P.I. SHORT STORY

"Eight Mile and Dequindre" by Loren D. Estleman (May 1985, AHMM; Amos Walker)
"Lucky Penny" by Linda Barnes (New Black Mask #3)
"Shooting Match" by Wayne Dundee (Hardboiled; Joe Hannibal)
"Perfect Pitch" by Rob Kantner (July 1985, AHMM; Ben Perkins)
"The Snaphaunce" by Robert J. Randisi (Nick Delvecchio; Fall 1985, Hardboiled)

ST. MARTINS' PRESS/PWA BEST FIRST P.I. NOVEL CONTEST

An Infinite Number of Monkeys by Les Roberts (Saxon)

1987 SHAMUS AWARDS

THE EYE (Lifetime Achievment Award)

Bill Pronzini, creator of the Nameless Detective series

BEST P.I. HARDCOVER

The Staked Goat by Jeremiah Healy (John Francis Cuddy)
When the Sacred Ginmill Closes by Lawrence Block (Matt Scudder)
In La-La Land We Trust by Robert Campbell
The Million Dollar Wound by Max Allan Collins (Nate Heller)
C is for Corpse by Sue Grafton (Kinsey Millhone)

BEST ORIGINAL P.I. PAPERBACK

The Back Door Man by Rob Kantner (Ben Perkins)
Melting Point by Kenn Davis
Nervous Laughter by Earl Emerson (Thomas Black)
Dark Fields by T.J. MacGregor
Trace: Too Old a Cat by Warren Murphy (Devlin "Trace" Tracy)

BEST FIRST P.I. NOVEL

Jersey Tomatoes by J.W. Rider
No One Rides for Free by Larry Beinhart
Tourist Season by Carl Hiassen

BEST P.I. SHORT STORY

"Fly Away Home" by Rob Kantner (Mean Streets; Ben Perkins)
"Quint and the Braceros" by Paul Bishop (Hardboiled; Quintana)
"Body Count" by Wayne D. Dundee (Mean Streets; Joe Hannibal)
"I'm in the Book" by Loren D. Estleman (Mean Streets; Amos Walker)
"Between the Sheets" by Sue Grafton (Kinsey Millhone; Redbook)

ST. MARTINS' PRESS/PWA BEST FIRST PRIVATE EYE NOVEL CONTEST

Fear of the Dark by Gar Anthony Haywood (Aaron Gunner)

1988 SHAMUS AWARDS

THE EYE (Lifetime Achievment Awards)

Dennis Lynds
Wade Miller (Robert Wade and Bob Miller)

BEST P.I. HARDCOVER

A Tax in Blood by Benjamin Schutz (Leo Haggerty)
Lady Yesterday by Loren D. Estleman (Amos Walker)
Ride the Lightning by John Lutz (Alo Nudger)
A Trouble Of Fools by Linda Barnes
The Autumn Dead by Ed Gorman (Jack Dwyer)
Ride The Lightning by John Lutz

BEST ORIGINAL P.I. PAPERBACK

Wild Night by L.J. Washburn
The Monkey's Raincoat by Robert Crais (Elvis Cole)
Snake Eyes by Gaylord Dold (Mitch Roberts)
Recount by David Everson (Robert Miles)
Madelaine by Joseph Louis

BEST FIRST P.I. NOVEL

Death on the Rocks by Michael Allegretto
The House Of Blue Lights by Robert Bowman
Shawnee Alley Fire by John Douglas
Detective by Parnell Hall (Stanley Hastings)
An Infinite Number Of Monkeys by Les Roberts (Saxon)

BEST P.I. SHORT STORY

"Turn Away" by Ed Gorman (Black Lizard Anthology of Crime Fiction)
"Bodyguards Shoot Second" by Loren Estleman (A Matter Of Crime; Amos Walker)
"The Kerman Kill" by William Campbell Gault (Murder In Los Angeles)
"Merely Players" by Joseph Hansen (February 1987, AHMM)
"My Brother's Life" by Rob Kantner (March 1987, AHMM; Ben Perkins)

ST. MARTINS' PRESS/PWA BEST FIRST PRIVATE EYE NOVEL CONTEST

Katwalk by Karen Kijewski (Kat Colorado)

1989 SHAMUS AWARDS

THE EYE (Lifetime Achievment Award)

No Award Given

BEST P.I. HARDCOVER

Kiss by John Lutz
Neon Mirage by Max Allan Collins (Nate Heller)
Deviant Behavior by Earl Emerson (Thomas Black)
Swan Dive by Jeremiah Healy (John Francis Cuddy)
Blood Shot by Sara Paretsky

BEST ORIGINAL P.I. PAPERBACK

Dirty Work by Rob Kantner (Ben Perkins)
The Last Private Eye by John Birkett
Bonepile by Gaylord Dold (Mitch Roberts)
Rebound by David Everson (Robert Miles)
The Crystal Blue Persuasion by W. R. Philbrick

BEST FIRST P.I. NOVEL

Fear of the Dark by Gar Anthony Haywood (Aaron Gunner)
Lost Daughter by Michael Cormany
Burning Season by Wayne D. Dundee (Joe Hannibal)
Wall of Glass by Walter Satterthwait (Joshua Croft)
Slow Dance in Autumn by Philip Lee Williams

BEST P.I. SHORT STORY

"The Crooked Way" by Loren D. Estleman (New Black Mask; Amos Walker)
"The Man Who Knew Dick Bong" by Robert Crais (Raymond Chandler's Philip Marlowe)
"The Reason Why" by Ed Gorman (Crimal Elements; Jack Dwyer)
"In the Line of Duty" by Jeremiah Healy (Raymond Chandler's Philip Marlowe)
"Incident in a Neighborhood Tavern" by Bill Pronzini (Nameless; An Eye For Justice)

ST. MARTINS' PRESS/PWA BEST FIRST PRIVATE EYE NOVEL CONTEST

Kindred Crime by Janet Dawson (Jeri Howard)

1990 SHAMUS AWARDS

THE EYE (Lifetime Achievment Award)

No Award Given

BEST P.I. HARDCOVER

Extenuating Circumstances by Jonathan Valin (Harry Stoner)
Out On The Cutting Edge by Lawrence Block (Matt Scudder)
The Skintight Shroud by Wayne Dundee (Joe Hannibal)
The Shape Of Dread by Marcia Muller (Sharon McCone)
The Killing Man by Mickey Spillane (Mike Hammer)

BEST ORIGINAL P.I. PAPERBACK

Hell's Only Half Full by Rob Kantner (Ben Perkins)
Muscle And Blood by Gaylord Dold (Mitch Roberts)
Behind The Fac by Richard Hilary
Tough Enough by W. R. Philbrick
A Collector Of Photographs by Deborah Valentine

BEST FIRST P.I. NOVEL

Katwalk by Karen Kijewski (Kat Colorado)
Medicine Dog by Geoff Peterson
Cold Night by Al Sarrantonio
Rock Critic Murders by Jesse Sublett

BEST P.I. SHORT STORY

"The Killing Man" by Mickey Spillane (December 1989, Playboy; Mike Hammer)
"Deadly Fantasies" by Marcia Muller (April 1989, AHMM; Sharon McCone)
"Here Comes Santa Claus" by Bill Pronzini (Mistletoe Mysteries; Nameless)
"The Sure Thing" by Dan A. Sproul (January 1989, AHMM; Joe Standard)
"Sloat's Last Case" by Robert Twohy (May 1989, EQMM)

ST. MARTINS' PRESS/PWA BEST FIRST PRIVATE EYE NOVEL CONTEST

The Loud Adios by Ken Kuhlken (Tom Hickey)

1991 SHAMUS AWARDS

THE EYE (Lifetime Achievment Award)

Roy Huggins

BEST P.I. HARDCOVER

G is for Gumshoe by Sue Grafton (Kinsey Millhone)
Dead Irish by John Lescroart
The Desert Look by Bernard Schopen
Polo's Wild Card by Jerry Kennealy (Nick Polo)
Poor Butterfly by Stuart Kaminsky (Toby Peters)
A Ticket to the Boneyard by Lawrence Block (Matt Scudder)

BEST ORIGINAL P.I. PAPERBACK

Rafferty: Fatal Sisters by W. Glenn Duncan (Rafferty)
Made in Detroit by Rob Kantner (Ben Perkins)
Bimbo Heaven by Marvin Albert
The Blue Room by Monroe Thompson
The Queen's Mare by John Birkett

BEST FIRST P.I. NOVEL

Devil in a Blue Dress by Walter Mosely (Easy Rawlins)
Body Scissors by Jerome Doolittle
Kindred Crimes by Janet Dawson (Jeri Howard)
The Stone Veil by Ronald Tierney

BEST P.I. SHORT STORY

"Final Resting Place" by Marcia Muller (Justice for Hire; Sharon McCone)
"Bypass to Murder" by Dick Stodghill (Justice for Hire)
"Battered Spouse" by Jeremiah Healy (Fall 1990, TAD; John Francis Cuddy)
"Cigarette Stop" by Loren D. Estleman (Justice for Hire; Amos Walker)
"Naughty, Naughty" by Wayne D. Dundee (Justice for Hire; Joe Hannibal)
"A Poison That Leaves No Trace" by Sue Grafton (Sisters In Crime 2; Kinsey Millhone)

ST. MARTINS' PRESS/PWA BEST FIRST PRIVATE EYE NOVEL CONTEST

A Sudden Death at the Norfolk Cafe by Winona Sullivan (Sister Cecile)

1992 SHAMUS AWARDS

THE EYE (Lifetime Achievment Award)

Joseph Hansen

BEST P.I. HARDCOVER

Stolen Away by Max Allan Collins (Nate Heller)
Dance at the Slaughterhouse by Lawrence Block (Matt Scudder)
Where Echoes Live by Marcia Muller (Sharon McCone)
A Fistful of Empty by Benjamin Schutz (Leo Haggerty)
Second Chance by Jonathan Valin (Harry Stoner)

BEST ORIGINAL P.I. PAPERBACK

Cool Blue Tomb by Paul Kemprecos
Black Light by Daniel Hearn
House of Cards by Kay Hooper
The Thousand Yard Stare by Rob Kantner (Ben Perkins)

BEST FIRST P.I. NOVEL

Suffer Little Children by Thomas Davis (Dave Strickland)
The January Corpse by Neil Albert (Dave Garrett)
Dead on the Island by Bill Crider
Best Performance by a Patsy by Stan Cutler
Cool Breeze on the Underground by Don Winslow

BEST P.I. SHORT STORY

"Dust Devil" by Nancy Pickard (Winter 1991, TAD)
"Dying in the Post War World" by Max Allan Collins (Dying in the Post War World; Nate Heller)
"The Man Who Loved Noir" by Loren D. Estleman; February 1991, AHMM; Amos Walker)
"Full Cirle" by Sue Grafton (A Woman's Eye; Kinsey Millhone)

ST. MARTINS' PRESS/PWA BEST FIRST PRIVATE EYE NOVEL CONTEST

Storm Warning by A.C. Ayres (eventually published as Hour of the Manatee)

1993 SHAMUS AWARDS

THE EYE (Lifetime Achievment Award)

Marcia Muller

BEST P.I. HARDCOVER

The Man Who was Taller Than God by Harold Adams (Carl Wilcox)
Cassandra in Red by Michael Collins (Dan Fortune)
Lullaby Town by Robert Crais (Elvis Cole)
Shallow Graves by Jeremiah Healy (John Francis Cuddy)
Special Delivery by Jerry Kennealy (Nick Polo)

BEST ORIGINAL P.I. PAPERBACK

The Last Tango of Delores Delgado by Marele Day (Claudia Valentine)
Lay It on the Line by Catherine Dain (Freddie O'Neal)
Dirty Money by Mark Davis
The Brutal Ballet by Wayne D. Dundee (Joe Hannibal)

BEST FIRST P.I. NOVEL

The Woman Who Married a Bear by John Straley (Cecil Younger)
Return Trip Ticket by David C. Hall
Switching the Odds by Phyllis Knight
The Long-Legged Fly by James Sallis (Lew Griffin)

BEST P.I. SHORT STORY

"Mary, Mary, Shut the Door" by Benjamin Schutz (Deadly Allies; Leo Haggerty)
"The Messenger" by Jacklyn Butler (October 1992, AHMM)
"Safe House" by Loren D. Estleman (Deadly Allies; Amos Walker)
"A Little Missionary Work" by Sue Grafton (Deadly Allies; Kinsey Millhone)
"Rest Stop" by Jeremiah Healy (May 1992, AHMM; John Francis Cuddy)

ST. MARTINS' PRESS/PWA BEST FIRST PRIVATE EYE NOVEL CONTEST

The Harry Chronicles by Allan Pedrazas (Harry Rice)

1994 SHAMUS AWARDS

THE EYE (Lifetime Achievment Award)

Stephen J. Cannell

BEST P.I. NOVEL

The Devil Knows You're Dead by Lawrence Block (Matt Scudder)
Foursome by Jeremiah Healy (John Francis Cuddy)
Wolf In The Shadows by Marcia Muller (Sharon McCone)
Moth by James Sallis (Lew Griffin)
The Lies That Bind by Judith Van Gieson (Neil Hamel)

BEST ORIGINAL P.I. PAPERBACK

Brothers And Sinners by Rodman Philbrick
The Half-hearted Detective by Milton Bass
A Minyon For The Dead by Richard Fliegel
Shadow Games by Edward Gorman
Torchtown Boogie by Steven Womack (Harry James Denton)

BEST FIRST P.I. NOVEL

Satan's Lambs by Lynn Hightower (Lena Padget)
Brotherly Love by Randye Lordon (Sydney Sloane)
By Evil Means by Sandra West Prowell (Phoebe Siegal)

BEST P.I. SHORT STORY

"The Merciful Angel Of Death" by Lawrence Block (The New Mystery; Matt Scudder)
"The Sultans Of Soul" by Doug Allyn (March 1993, EQMM)
"Nobody Wins" by Charles Ardai (Mid-December 1993, AHMM)
"The Bagged Man" by Jeremiah Healy (February 1993, EQMM; John Francis Cuddy)
"The Watt's Lion" by Walter Mosley (The New Mystery; Easy Rawlins)

ST. MARTINS' PRESS/PWA BEST FIRST PRIVATE EYE NOVEL CONTEST

The Heaven Stone by David Daniel (Alex Rasmussen)

1995 SHAMUS AWARDS

Presented June 17, 1995, at EYECON, by the Private Eye Writers of America.

THE EYE (Lifetime Achievment Award)

John Lutz and Robert B. Parker

BEST P.I. NOVEL

K Is For Killer by Sue Grafton (Kinsey Millhone)
A Long Line Of Dead Men by Lawrence Block (Matt Scudder)
Carnal Hours by Max Allan Collins (Nate Heller)
The Killing Of Monday Brown by Sandra West Prowell (Phoebe Siegal)
The Lake Effect by Les Roberts

BEST FIRST P.I. NOVEL

A Drink Before the War by Dennis Lehane (Patrick Kenzie & Angela Gennaro)
The Heaven Stone by David Daniel (Alex Rasmussen)
One For The Money by Janet Evanovich (Stephanie Plum)
The Fall-down Artist by Thomas Lipinski (Carroll Dorsey)
When Death Comes Stealing by Valerie Wilson Wesley (Tamara Hayle)

BEST ORIGINAL P.I. PAPERBACK

Served Cold by Ed Goldberg (Lenny Schneider)
Double Plot by Leo Axler
Lament For A Dead Cowboy by Catherine Dain (Freddie O'Neal)
Dead Ahead by Bridget Mckenna (Caley Burke)
Deadly Devotion by Patricia Wallace

BEST P.I. SHORT STORY

"Necessary Brother" by Brendan DuBois (May 1994, EQMM)
"A Matter Of Character" by Michael Collins (Partners In Crime; Dan Fortune)
"Slipstream" by Loren Estleman (Deadly Allies II; Amos Walker )
"Split Decision" by Clark Howard (December 1994, EQMM)
"The Romantics" by John Lutz (Deadly Allies II)

ST. MARTINS' PRESS/PWA BEST FIRST PRIVATE EYE NOVEL CONTEST

Diamond Head by Charles Knief (John Caine)

1996 SHAMUS AWARDS

Winners were announced in a special ceremony at Bouchercon 27 World Mystery Convention (St. Paul, MN, Oct. 10-13, 1996).

THE EYE (Lifetime Achievment Award)

No Award Given

BEST P.I. NOVEL

Concourse by S.J. Rozan (Lydia Chin and Bill Smith)
The Vanishing Smile by Earl Emerson (Thomas Black)
Come To Grief by Dick Francis (Sid Halley)
Movie by Parnell Hall (Stanley Hastings)
The Neon Smile by Dick Lochte (Terry Manion)

BEST P.I. PAPERBACK ORIGINAL

Native Angels by William Jaspersohn (Peter Boone)
Zero Tolerance by J.D. Knight
Interview With Mattie by Shelley Singer (Barrett Lake)
Charged With Guilt by Gloria White (Ronnie Ventana)
Way Past Dead by Steven Womack (Harry James Denton)

BEST FIRST P.I. NOVEL

The Innocents by Richard Barre (Wil Hardesty)
Who In Hell Is Wanda Fuca? by G.M. Ford (Leo Waterman)
If Looks Could Kill by Ruthe Furie (Fran Kirk)
Penance by David Housewright (Holland Taylor)
The Harry Chronicles by Allan Pedrazas (Harry Rice)

BEST P.I. SHORT STORY

"And Pray Nobody Sees You" by Gar Anthony Haywood (Spooks, Spies & Private Eyes; Aaron Gunner)
"Trial By Fire" by David Dean (EQMM)
"Plain And Honest Death" by Bill Pomidor (EQMM)
"Home Is The Place Where" by Bill Pronzini (EQMM; Nameless)
"Enigma" by D.H. Reddall (AHMM)

ST. MARTINS' PRESS/PWA BEST FIRST PRIVATE EYE NOVEL CONTEST

No Award Given

1997 SHAMUS AWARDS

Winners announced October30, 1997, at Bouchercon 28 World Mystery Convention held in Monterey, California.

THE EYE (Lifetime Achievment Award)

Stephen Marlowe, the author of the Chet Drum series

BEST P.I. NOVEL:

Damned in Paradise by Max Allan Collins (Nate Heller)
Sunset Express by Robert Crais (Elvis Cole)
Flesh Wounds, by Stephen Greenleaf (John Marshall Tanner)
Invasion Of Privacy, by Jeremiah Healy (John Francis Cuddy)
Sentinels, by Bill Pronzini (Nameless)
When Wallflowers Die, by Sandra West Prowell (Phoebe Siegal)

BEST P.I. PAPERBACK ORIGINAL

Fade Away, by Harlan Coben (Myron Bolitar)
Chain Of Fools, by Steven Womack (Harry James Denton)
Natural Death by Ruthe Fury (Fran Kirk)

BEST P.I. SHORT STORY

"Dead Drunk" by Lia Matera in (Guilty As Charged)
"Eye Of The Beholder" by Ed Gorman (The Autumn Dead & A Cry Of Shadows; Jack Dwyer)
"Turning The Witness" by Jeremiah Healy (Guilty As Charged; John Francis Cuddy)
"The One About The Green Detective" by John Lethan (Unusual Suspects)
"The Girl Who Talked To Horses" by Robert J. Randisi (Homicide Hosts Presents; Henry Po)

BEST FIRST P.I. NOVEL

This Dog For Hire, by Carol Lea Benjamin (Rachel Alexander)
Keeper by Greg Rucka (Atticus Kodiak)
The Low End Of Nowhere by Michael Stone (Streeter)
This Far, No Further by John Wessel (Harding)

ST. MARTINS' PRESS/PWA BEST FIRST PRIVATE EYE NOVEL CONTEST

A Cold Day in Paradise by Steve Hamilton (Alex McKnight)

1998 SHAMUS AWARDS

The Private Eye Writers of America announced the 1998 Shamus Awards winners at the Shamus Awards ceremony during the Bouchercon in Philadelphia, October 1-4, 1998.

BEST P.I. NOVEL

Come Back Dead by Terrance Faherty (Scott Elliott)
Indigo Slam by Robert Crais (Elvis Cole)
Deception Pass by Earl Emerson (Thomas Black)
Sacred by Dennis Lehane (Patrick Kenzie & Angela Gennaro)
Down For The Count by Maxine O'Callaghan (Deliah West)
No Colder Place by S.J. Rozan (Lydia Chin and Bill Smith)

BEST P.I. PAPERBACK ORIGINAL

Charm City by Laura Lippman (Tess Monaghan)
Back Spin by Harlan Coben (Myron Bolitar)
A Whisper Of Rage by Tim Hemlin (Neil Marshall)
Father Forgive Me by Randye Lordon (Sydney Sloane)
Sunset And Santiago by Gloria White (Ronnie Ventana)

BEST P.I. FIRST NOVEL

Big Red Tequilla by Rick Riordan (Tres Navarre)
Baltimore Blues by Laura Lippman (Tess Monaghan)
Legwork by Katy Munger (Casey Jones)

BEST P.I. SHORT STORY

"Love Me For My Yellow Hair Alone" by Carolyn Wheat (Marilyn: Shades Of Blonde)
"Copperhead Run" by Doug Allyn (June 1997 ,EQMM)
"Lord of Obstacles "by Greg Fallis (January 1997, AHMM)
"A Front-Row Seat" by Jan Grape (Vengeance Is Hers; Jenny Gordon and C.J. Gunn)
"Nightcrawlers" by John Lutz (April 1997, EQMM; Fred Carver)

ST. MARTINS' PRESS/PWA BEST FIRST PRIVATE EYE NOVEL CONTEST

The Losers' Club by Lise S. Baker (Cal Brantley)

1999 SHAMUS AWARDS

As presented at Eyecon'99 in July in St. Louis.

THE EYE (Lifetime Achievment Award)

Maxine O'Callaghan, the author of the Delilah West series.

BEST P.I. NOVEL

Boobytrap by Bill Pronzini (Nameless)
Gone Baby Gone by Dennis Lehane (Patrick Kenzie & Angela Gennaro)
No Badge, No Gun by Harold Adams (Carl Wilcox)
Flying Blind by Max Allan Collins (Nate Heller)
The Only Good Lawyer by Jeremiah Healy (John Francis Cuddy)

BEST FIRST P.I. NOVEL

A Cold Day In Paradise by Steve Hamilton (Alex McKnight)
Like A Hole In The Head by Jen Banbury
Dead Low Tide by Jamie Katz (Dan Kardon)
Zen And The Art Of Murder by Elizabeth Cosin (Zen Moses)

BEST P.I. PAPERBACK ORIGINAL

Murder Manual by Steve Womack (Harry James Denton)
Too Easy by Philip Depoy (Flap Tucker)
Butcher's Hill by Laura Lippman (Tess Monaghan)
The Widower's Two-Step by Rick Riordan (Tres Navarre)
Death In A City Of Mystics by Janice Steinberg

BEST P.I. SHORT STORY

"Another Day, Another Dollar" by Warren Murphy (Murder on the Run)
"Sidewinder" by David Edgerley Gates (AHMM)
"No, Thank You, John" by Michelle Knowlden (AHMM)
"All About Heroes" by Dan A. Sproul (AHMM)
"More Light" by James Sallis (New Mystery)

ST. MARTINS' PRESS/PWA BEST FIRST PRIVATE EYE NOVEL CONTEST

Street Legal by Robert Truluck (Duncan Sloan)

FRIENDS OF PWA (a new award)

Michael Seidman, Editor at Walker, former editor of The Armchair Detective
Joe Pittman, Senior Editor at Signet

2000 SHAMUS AWARDS
The Private Eye Writers of America announced the winners of its 2000 Shamus Awards during the Bouchercon World Mystery Convention, September 7-10 in Denver, Colorado.

THE EYE (Lifetime Achievment Award)

Edward D. Hoch

BEST P.I. NOVEL

California Fire And Life by Don Winslow (Jack Wade)
L.A. Requiem by Robert Crais (Elvis Cole)
Monster by Jonathan Kellerman (Alex Delaware)
Prayers For Rain by Dennis Lehane (Patrick Kenzie & Angela Gennaro)
Stone Quarry by S.J. Rozan (Lydia Chin and Bill Smith)

BEST P.I. PAPERBACK ORIGINAL

In Big Trouble by Laura Lippman (Tess Monaghan)
Deadbeat by Leo Atkins (Connor Gibbs)
Fulton County Blues by Ruth Birmingham (Sunny Childs)
The Last Song Dogs by Sinclair Browning (Trade Ellis)
Steel City Confessions by Thomas Lipinski (Carroll Dorsey)

BEST P.I. FIRST NOVEL

Every Dead Thing by John Connolly (Charlie Parker)
East Of A by Russell Atwood (Payton Sherwood)
The Immortal Game by Mark Coggins (August Riordan)
Maximum Insecurity by P.J. Grady (Matty Madrid)
The Answer Man by Roy Johansen (Ken Parker)

BEST P.I. SHORT STORY

"Akitada's First Case" by I.J. Parker (July/August, 1999, AHMM)
"Unchained Melody" by Doug Allyn (January, 1999, EQMM; R.B. "Ax" Axton)
"Hodegetria" by Jeremiah Healy (1999, Death Cruise; John Francis Cuddy)
"The Reluctant Op" by Barbara Paul (September/October, 1999, EQMM; Callie Darrow)
"Cro-magnon, P.I." by Mike Reiss (July/August, 1999, AHMM).

ST. MARTINS' PRESS/PWA BEST FIRST PRIVATE EYE NOVEL CONTEST

Catching Water in a Net by J.L. Abramo (Jake Diamond)

2001 SHAMUS AWARDS
The Private Eye Writers of America were to be presented at that year's Shamus Awards at PWA's 20th Anniversary Banquet during Bouchercon, but decided to forego the event "due to the tragedies that occurred in NY and Washington." Instead they announced the winners in a press release.

BEST HARDCOVER P.I. NOVEL

Havana Heat by Carolina Garcia-Aguilera, (Lupe Solano)
A Smile On The Face Of The Tiger by Loren Estleman (Amos Walker)
The Deader The Better by G. M. Ford (Leo Waterman)
Ellipsis by Stephen Greenleaf (John Marshall Tanner)
Listen To The Silence by Marcia Muller (Sharon McCone)

BEST P.I. PAPERBACK ORIGINAL

Death In The Steel City by Thomas Lipinski (Carroll Dorsey)
The Blazing Tree by Mary Jo Adamson (Michael Merrick)
The Sporting Club by Sinclair Browning (Trade Ellis)
The Hindenburg Murders by Max Allan Collins (Leslie Charteris, P.I.?)
Bad To The Bone by Katy Munger (Casey Jones)
Dirty Money by Steven Womack (Harry James Denton)

BEST P.I. FIRST NOVEL

Street Level by Bob Truluck (Duncan Sloan)
Brigham's Day by John Gates (Brigham Bybee)
The Heir Hunter by Chris Larsgaard (Nick Merchant)
Resurrection Angel by William Mize (Monty Crocetti and Denton Ward)
Lost Girls by Andrew Pyper (Bartholomew Crane)

BEST P.I. SHORT STORY

"The Road's End" by Brendan Dubois (Ellery Queen Mystery Magazine, April 2000)
"What's In A Name?" by Jeremiah Healy (The Shamus Game; John Francis Cuddy)
"The Sleeping Detective" by Gary Phillips (The Shamus Game; Ivan Monk)
"The Big Bite" by Bill Pronzini (The Shamus Game; Nameless)
"The Good Daughter" by Mike Wiecek (Alfred Hitchcock Mystery Magazine, December 2000; Masakazu Sakonju)

2002 SHAMUS AWARDS

THE EYE (Lifetime Achievement)

Lawrence Block

BEST HARDCOVER P.I. NOVEL

Reflecting The Sky by S.J. Rozan (Bill Smith and Lydia Chin)
Angel In Black by Max Allan Collins (Nate Heller)
Ashes Of Aries by Martha C. Lawrence (Dr. Elizabeth Chase)
The Devil Went Down To Austin by Rick Riordan (Tres Navarre)
Cold Water Burning by John Straley (Cecil Younger)

BEST P.I. PAPERBACK ORIGINAL

Archangel Protocol by Lyda Morehouse (Dierdre McMannus)
Ancient Enemy by Robert Westbrook (Howard Moon Deer )
Keepers by Janet Lapierre (Patience and Verity Mackellar)

BEST P.I. FIRST NOVEL

Chasing the Devil's Tail by David Fulmer (Valentin St. Cyr)
Epitaph by James Siegel (William Riskin)
Rat City by Curt Colbert (Jake Rossiter)
A Witness Above by Andy Straka (Frank Pavlicek)
Pilikia Is My Business by Mark Troy (Val Lyon)

BEST P.I. SHORT STORY

"Rough Justice" by Ceri Jordan (July 2001, Alfred Hitchcock Mystery Magazine)
"The Jungle" by John Lantigua (And the Dying Is Easy; Willie Cuesta)
"Last Kiss" by Tom Sweeney (Mystery Street; Jerry)
"Golden Retriever" by Barbara Paul (December 2001, Ellery Queen Mystery Magazine; Callie Darrow)
"The Cobalt Blues" by Clark Howard (September 2001, Ellery Queen Mystery Magazine)

FRIEND OF PWA

Jan Grape

ST. MARTINS' PRESS/PWA CONTEST FOR BEST FIRST PRIVATE EYE NOVEL

The Sterling Inheritance by Michael Siverling (Jason Wilder)

2003 SHAMUS AWARDS

The Shamus Awards were presented in October at the PWA banquet to be held in Las Vegas, Nevada, during Bouchercon, the World Mystery Convention.

THE EYE (Lifetime Achievement)

Sue Grafton

BEST P.I. NOVEL

Blackwater Sound by James W. Hall (Thorn)
North Of Nowhere by Steve Hamilton (Alex McKnight)
The Last Place by Laura Lippman (Tess Monaghan)
Hell To Pay by George Pelecanos (Derek Strange and Terry Quinn)
Winter And Night by S.J. Rozan (Lydia Chin and Bill Smith)

BEST FIRST P.I. NOVEL

The Distance by Eddie Muller (Billy Nichols)
Westerfield's Chain by Jack Clark (Nick Acropolis)
The Bone Orchard by D. Daniel Judson (Declan "Mac" MacManus)
Open And Shut by David Rosenfeld (Andy Carpenter)
Private Heat by Robert Bailey (Art Hardin)

BEST PAPERBACK ORIGINAL P.I. NOVEL

The Poisoned Rose by D. Daniel Judson (Declan "Mac" MacManus)
Cash Out by Paul Boray (John "Tomb" Tomei)
Juicy Watusi by Richard Helms (Pat Gallegher)
The Lusitania Murders by Max Allan Collins (S.S. Van Dine, P.I. -- yeah, right)
Paint It Black by P.J. Parish (Louis Kincaid)

BEST P.I. SHORT STORY

"The Second Coming" by Terence Faherty (November 2002, EQMM; Scott Elliott)
"Setting Up the Kill" by J. Michael Blue (Summer 2002,Hand Held Crime; Micki Garrity)
"Aftermath" by Jeremiah Healy (2002, Most Wanted; Rory Calhoun)
"Second Story Sunlight" by John Lutz (2002, Most Wanted; Alo Nudger)
"The Jewels of Atlantis" by James Powell (November 2002, EQMM; Ambrose Ganelon)

ST. MARTINS' PRESS/PWA CONTEST FOR BEST FIRST PRIVATE EYE NOVEL

Tonight I Said Goodbye by Michael Koryta (Lincoln Perry)

2004 SHAMUS AWARDS

The 2004 Shamus Awards were announced at the Bouchercon in Toronto.

THE EYE (Lifetime Achievment Award)

Donald Westlake

BEST P.I. NOVEL

The Guards by Ken Bruen (Jack Taylor)
Scavenger Hunt by Robert Ferrigno (Jimmy Gage)
Blood is the Sky by Steve Hamilton (Alex McKnight)
Fatal Flaw by William Lashner (Victor Carl)
A Visible Darkness by Jonathon King (Max Freeman )

BEST FIRST P.I. NOVEL

Black Maps by Peter Spiegelman (John March)
Spiked by Mark Arsenault (Eddie Bourque)
Lovers Crossing by James C. Mitchell (Roscoe Brinker)

BEST PAPERBACK ORIGINAL P.I. NOVEL

Cold Quarry by Andy Straka (Frank Pavlicek)
Thicker Than Water by PJ Parrish (Louis Kincaid)
Wet Debt by Richard Helms (Pat Gallegher)
Dragonfly Bones by David Cole (Laura Winslow)

BEST P.I. SHORT STORY

"Lady on Ice"" by Loren D. Estleman ( A Hot and Sultry Night For Crime)
"Munchies" by Jack Bludis (Hardbroiled; Alan)
"The Rock in the Orange Grove" by Mitch Alderman (June 2003, AHMM; Bubba Simms)
"Slayer Statute" by Janet Dawson (September/October 2003, EQMM; Jeri Howard)
"Valhalla" by Doug Allyn (January 2003, EQMM; R.B."Ax" Axton)

ST. MARTINS' PRESS/PWA CONTEST FOR BEST FIRST PRIVATE EYE NOVEL

First Kill by Michael Kronenwetter (Hank Berlin)

2005 SHAMUS AWARDS

The 2005 Shamus Awards will be announced at the Bouchercon in Chicago. And lemme say, I like the idea of a lot of fresh blood this time. But a lot of these private eyes are NOT private eyes at all.

THE EYE (Lifetime Achievement)

Sara Paretsky

BEST P.I. NOVEL

While I Disappear by Ed Wright (John Ray Horn)
Fade To Clear by Leonard Chang (Allen Choice)
The Wakeup by Robert Ferrigno (Frank Thorpe)
After The Rain by Chuck Logan (Phil Broker)
Choke Point by James Mitchell (Roscoe Brinker)

BEST PAPERBACK ORIGINAL P.I. NOVEL

Fade To Blonde by Max Phillips (construction worker Ray Corson)
Call The Devil by His Oldest Name by Sallie Bissell (Assistant D.A.Cherokee Mary Crow)
Shadow Of The Dahlia by Jack Bludis (Rick Page)
The London Blitz Murders by Max Allan Collins (amateur sleuth Agatha Christie)
Island Of Bones by P. J. Parrish (Louis Kincaid)

BEST FIRST P.I. NOVEL

The Dead by Ingrid Black (true-crime writer Saxon)
Little Girl Lost by Richard Aleas (John Blake)
The Last Goodbye by Reed Arvin (Jack Hammond)
Aspen Pulp by Patrick Hasburgh (Jake Wheeler)
Some Danger Involved by Will Thomas (Thomas Llewelyn and Cyrus Barker)

BEST P.I. SHORT STORY

"Hasidic Noir" by Pearl Abraham (2004, Brooklyn Noir)
“Burnt Wood” by Mitch Alderman (July 2004, AHMM; Bubba Simms)
“Trumpeter Swan” by John F. Dobbyn (February 2004, AHMM)
“Dog on Fire” by Gregory S. Fallis (May 2004, AHMM; Joop Wheeler and Kevin Sweeney)
“Tricks” by Steve Hockensmith (August 2004, AHMM; Larry Erie)

2006 SHAMUS AWARDS

The 2006 Shamus Awards were announced at the Bouchercon in Madison, Wisconsin on seoptember 29, in a rollicking affair that saw Mickey Spillane honoured, Max Allan Collins presented with The Eye for Lifetime Achievment, and PWA founder Robert Randisi roasted slowly -- and none too gently -- over an open flame. A grand old time was had by Al. And Bob had a good time too.

THE EYE (Lifetime Achievment Award)

Max Allan Collins

BEST P.I. NOVEL

The Lincoln Lawyer by Michael Connelly (Mickey Haller)
Oblivion by Peter Abrahams (Nick Petrov)
The Forgotten Man by Robert Crais (Elvis Cole)
In A Teapot by Terence Faherty (Scott Elliott)
The Man with the Iron-On Badge by Lee Goldberg (Harvey Mapes)
Cinnamon Kiss by Walter Mosley (Easy Rawlins)

BEST FIRST P.I. NOVEL

Forcing Amaryllis by Louise Ure (Calla Gentry)
Blood Ties by Lori G. Armstrong (Julie Collins)
Still River by Harry Hunsicker (Lee Henry Oswald)
The Devil's Right Hand by J. D. Rhoades (Jack Keller)

BEST PAPERBACK ORIGINAL P.I. NOVEL

The James Deans by Reed Farrell Coleman (Moe Prager)
Falling Down by David Cole (Laura Winslow)
Deadlocked by Joel Goldman (Lou Mason)
Cordite Wine by Richard Helms (Eamon Gold)
A Killing Rain by PJ Parrish (Louis Kincaid)

BEST P.I. SHORT STORY

"A Death in Ueno" by Michael Wiecek. (March 2005, AHMM; Masakazu Sakonju)
"Oh, What a Tangled Lanyard We Weave" by Parnell Hall (Murder Most Crafty; Stanley Hastings)
"Two Birds with One Stone" by Jeremiah Healy (January/February 2005, AHMM; John Francis Cuddy)
"The Big Road" by Steve Hockensmith. (May 2005, AHMM; Larry Erie)
"The Breaks" by Timothy Williams (September/October 2005, EQMM; Charlie Raines)

2007 SHAMUS AWARDS

The 2007 Shamus Awards were presented in the course of the annual PWA banquet, held in Anchorage, Alaska, during the Bouchercon convention.

THE EYE

Stuart M. Kaminsky

THE HAMMER
A new annual prize celebrating a memorable private eye character or a series. Named after Mickey Spillane's Mike Hammer, of course.

Shell Scott by Richard S. Prather

BEST P.I. NOVEL

The Dramatist by Ken Bruen (Jack Taylor)
The Darkest Place by Daniel Judson (Reggie Clay)
The Do-Re-Me by Ken Kuhlken (Clifford and Tom Hickey)
Vanishing Point by Marcia Muller (Sharon McCone)
Days of Rage by Kris Nelscott (Smokey Dalton)

BEST PAPERBACK ORIGINAL

An Unquiet Grave by P.J. Parrish (Louis Kincaid)
Hallowed Ground by Lori G. Armstrong (Julie Collins)
The Prop by Pete Hautman (Peeky Kane)
The Uncomfortable Dead by Paco Ignacio Taibo II and Subcomandante Marcos (Hector Belascoaran Shayne)
Crooked by Brian M. Wiprud (Nicholas Palihnic)

BEST FIRST NOVEL

The Wrong Kind of Blood by Declan Hughes (Ed Loy)
Lost Angel by Mike Doogan (Nik Kane)
A Safe Place for Dying by Jack Fredrickson (Dek Elstrom)
Holmes on the Range by Steve Hockensmith (Gustav "Old Red" Amlingmeyer)
18 Seconds by George D. Shuman (Sherry Moore)

BEST SHORT STORY

"The Heart Has Reasons" by O'Neil De Noux. (September 2006, Alfred Hitchcock Mystery Magazine; Lucien Caye)
“Sudden Stop” by Mitch Alderman.(November 2006, Alfred Hitchcock Mystery Magazine, Bubba Simms)
“Square One” by Loren D. Estleman (November 2006, Alfred Hitchcock Mystery Magazine, Amos Walker)
“Devil’s Brew” by Bill Pronzini (December 2006, Ellery Queen Mystery Magazine; John Quincannon)
"Smoke Got In My Eyes" by Bruce Rubenstein (2006, Twin Cities Noir; Martin McDonough)

List respectfully compiled by Kevin Burton Smith. Thanks to Robert Randisi, Jan Grape, Jan Long, Gerald So and especially Cathleen Jordan for their help with this one. PWA Logo by Terry Beatty.

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