2026 Thriller Awards
We’re thrilled to announce the finalists for the 2026 ITW Thriller Awards:
BEST STANDALONE NOVEL
Megan Collins — CROSS MY HEART (Atria)
Ruth Knafo Setton — ZIGZAG GIRL (Black Spring Press)
Gilly Macmillan — THE BURNING LIBRARY (William Morrow)
Sarah Pekkanen — THE LOCKED WARD (St. Martin’s Press)
Olivia Worley — SO HAPPY TOGETHER (Minotaur)
BEST SERIES NOVEL
James Byrne — CHAIN REACTION (Minotaur)
Robert Crais — THE BIG EMPTY (Penguin/Putnam)
John McMahon — HEAD CASES: A NOVEL (Minotaur)
Christopher Reich — THE TOURISTS (Thomas & Mercer)
Vincent Zandri — TERMINAL MOONLIGHT (Down & Out Books)
BEST FIRST NOVEL
Chris Chibnall — DEATH AT THE WHITE HART (Pamela Dorman Books)
Kelsey Cox — PARTY OF LIARS (Minotaur)
Sophie Stava — COUNT MY LIES (Gallery/Scout Press)
Zoe B. Wallbrook — HISTORY LESSONS (Soho Crime)
Liann Zhang — JULIE CHAN IS DEAD (Atria)
BEST AUDIOBOOK
S. A. Cosby — KING OF ASHES (Macmillan)
Narrated by Adam Lazarre-White
Mark Edwards — THE WASP TRAP (Simon & Schuster)
Narrated by John Hopkins, Anna Burnett
Marisa Kashino — BEST OFFER WINS (Macmillan)
Narrated by Cia Court
Xan Kaur — WHEN DEVILS SING (Macmillan)
Narrated by Michael Crouch, Anjali Kunapaneni, Jennifer Pickens, Landon Woodson
CN Mabry, N’Dia Rae — THE CHEATER’S WIFE (Simon Maverick)
Narrated by Ruffin Prentiss, Machelle Williams
Michael Robotham — THE WHITE CROW (Simon & Schuster)
Narrated by Katy Sobey
BEST YOUNG ADULT NOVEL
Liz Lawson — MURDER BETWEEN FRIENDS (Delacorte Press)
Margot McGovern — THIS STAYS BETWEEN US (Penguin Young Readers)
Clay McLeod Chapman — SHINY HAPPY PEOPLE (Delacorte Press)
Diana Rodriguez Wallach — THE SILENCED (Delacorte Press)
Julie Soto — THE THRASHERS (Wednesday Books)
BEST SHORT STORY
Katrina Carrasco — LEVEL UP (Bywater Books)
Scott William Carter — THE SEDUCTION OF DR. DIMENSION (Ellery Queen Mystery Magazine)
Lee Child — ELEVEN NUMBERS (Amazon Original Stories)
David Lagercrantz — FALSE NOTE (Amazon Original Stories)
Jessica Van Dessel — THE VIOLENT SEASON (Alfred Hitchcock Mystery Magazine)
ITW will announce the winners at ThrillerFest XXI on Saturday, May 9, 2026 at the New York Hilton Midtown, New York City.
Congratulations to all the finalists!
Tosca Lee
ITW Board of Directors, Vice President, Awards
The Awards
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BEST STANDALONE THRILLER
This award honors the best thriller of the year.
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BEST SERIES NOVEL
This award honors the best series novel of the year.
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BEST FIRST NOVEL
This award honors the best debut thriller of the year. Eligibility covers an author’s first novel, whether under the author’s name or a pseudonym, regardless of publication format. All first novels (except for YA) must be entered in the Best First Novel category.
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BEST YOUNG ADULT NOVEL
This award honors the best young adult thriller of the year, aimed at ages 12–18. This includes first novels.
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BEST SHORT STORY
This award honors the best short story thriller of the year.
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BEST AUDIOBOOK
This award honors the best audiobook thriller of the year.
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