2021 ITW Thriller Awards Nominees

The finalists for the 2021 International Thriller Writers Awards have been announced. The award is given by the International Thriller Writers, whose board of directors boasts such famous members as the authors Heather Graham and Kathy Reichs. ITW will announce the winners at a virtual ThrillerFest on July 10.

BEST HARDCOVER NOVEL

  • S.A. Cosby – BLACKTOP WASTELAND (Flatiron Books)
  • Joe Ide – HI FIVE (Mulholland Books)
  • Richard Osman – THE THURSDAY MURDER CLUB (Penguin)
  • Ivy Pochoda – THESE WOMEN (Ecco)
  • Lisa Unger – CONFESSIONS ON THE 7:45 (Park Row)

BEST FIRST NOVEL

  • Jasmine Aimaq – THE OPIUM PRINCE (Soho Press)
  • Don Bentley – WITHOUT SANCTION (Berkley)
  • Kyle Perry – THE BLUFFS (Michael Joseph)
  • Francesca Serritella – GHOSTS OF HARVARD (Random House)
  • David Heska Wanbli Weiden – WINTER COUNTS (Ecco)

BEST ORIGINAL PAPERBACK NOVEL

  • Alyssa Cole – WHEN NO ONE IS WATCHING (William Morrow Paperbacks)
  • Layton Green – UNKNOWN 9: GENESIS (Reflector Entertainment)
  • John Marrs – WHAT LIES BETWEEN US (Thomas & Mercer)
  • Andrew Mayne – THE GIRL BENEATH THE SEA (Thomas & Mercer)
  • Benjamin Stevenson – EITHER SIDE OF MIDNIGHT (Penguin Random House Australia)

BEST SHORT STORY

  • Steve Hockensmith – “The Death and Carnage Boy” (Ellery Queen Mystery Magazine)
  • Laura Lippman – “Slow Burner” (Amazon Original Stories)
  • Alan Orloff – “Rent Due” (Down & Out Books)
  • Elaine Viets – “Dog Eat Dog” (Untreed Reads)
  • Andrew Welsh-Huggins – “The Mailman” (Down & Out Books)

BEST YOUNG ADULT NOVEL

  • Demetra Brodsky – LAST GIRLS (Tor Teen)
  • Andrea Contos – THROWAWAY GIRLS (Kids Can Press)
  • Kit Frick – I KILLED ZOE SPANOS (Margaret K. McElderry Books)
  • Lily Sparks – TEEN KILLERS CLUB (Crooked Lane Books)
  • Heather Young – THE DISTANT DEAD (William Morrow)

BEST E-BOOK ORIGINAL NOVEL

  • Sean Black – AVENUE OF THIEVES (Sean Black)
  • Jeff Buick – A KILLING GAME (Novel Words)
  • Diane Capri – FULL METAL JACK (AugustBooks)
  • Jake Needham – MONGKOK STATION (Half Penny)
  • Kirk Russell – NO HESITATION (Strawberry Creek)

[Thanks to Cora Buhlert for the story.]