
2025 Silver Falchion Award Judges’ Top Picks
Every year, Killer Nashville announces the Finalists for our prestigious Silver Falchion Award, recognizing excellence in the best books published in the previous year. Last year, for the first time, our judges introduced something new: the Judges’ Top Picks. These selections highlight manuscripts that our judges wished could have made the Finalists lists, but with limited finalist slots, intricate cuts must always be made. Despite the sheer number of entries this year, our dedicated judges went above and beyond once again. On their initiative, they submitted a list of titles they felt deserved extra recognition: manuscripts they felt should be on everyone's reading list. The Finalists lists are capped at five titles per category, but true to Killer Nashville’s mission of encouraging and uplifting writers, the Judges’ Top Picks honor outstanding stories that moved our judges deeply and left them wanting more. Congratulations to these remarkable writers for winning a spot as the Judges' Top Pick.
2025 Silver Falchion Award Judges’ Top Picks
Best Action Adventure
VENGANCE OF THE VANISHED ONES, BOOK ONE
Lee Orlich Bertram
NO MAN’S LAND
A.R. Black
JERICHO BURNING
T.G. Brown
REAP THE WIND
Joel Burcat
FORBIDDEN RELICS (MATTHEW PAINE MYSTERY #6)
Lee Clark
THE GENERAL’S GOLD
Bruce Robert Coffin and LynDee Walker
DESPERATE MEASURES
Ley Esses
WHERE LOVE MEANS NOTHING
Howard Gimple
DEATH VALLEY DUEL
Scott Graham
THE NORTH LINE
Matt Riordan
THE CRIMSON RUN
Yasmeen Salama
WAR STORIES AND FAIRY TALES
Paul Sinor
A WARRIOR’S PATH
Steve Stratton
Best Comedy
(includes comedic P.I. and crime caper)
THE PRINCESS SHOPPE
Kerry Blaisdell
SWIPED
L.M. Chilton
BRONCO BUSTER
A.J. Devlin
GET GRIBNITZ
Howard Gimple
SHAKESPEARE’S TABLE
Howard Gimple
WHY OH RYE?
Lucy Lakestone
MODEL GHOST
TK Sheffield
INSURANCE TO DIE FOR (A JOHN SMITH MYSTERY)
Charlotte Stuart
SORRY, KNOT SORRY
Lois Winston
Best Cozy
BEESWAX BEWITCHMENT
S.E. Babin
WHEN THE CARNIVAL CAME
Kathleen Bailey
THE PRYCE OF AMBITION
Kari Bovée
MURDER BETWEEN NEIGHBORS
Michelle Corbier
DEATH IN THE ORCHARD: A TRUDY GENOVA MYSTERY
MK Graff
AN ACT OF MURDER
Polly Holmes
UNTIL DEPTHS DO US PART
KB Jackson
ALPACAS AND ALIBIS
Ramey James
CAUGHT ON CAMERA
Kara Lacey
STAR STRUCK
Marjorie McCown
MURDER WITH A TERRACE VIEW
Teresa Michael
ELIZABETH SAILS
Kristin Owens
THE FAMILY JEWELS
Kimberly Patterson
19 CRIMINALS
Larissa Reinhart
STUDY GUIDE FOR MURDER
Lori Robbins
BEARLY EVIDENT
Lois Schmitt
GHOST APPEAL
Louisa West
FRAMED FOR MURDER
Marla White
WHEELING AND DEALING
Becki Willis
THE AGE-OLD CRIME OF MURDER
Mark Zeid
Best Historical
MONA LISA’S DAUGHTER
Belle Ami
EMPOWERED BY THE DREAM: A JOURNEY OF RESILIENCE
Gladys A. Barrio
THE PARIS MISTRESS
Mally Becker
HOUNDS OF THE HOLLYWOOD BASKERVILLES
Elizabeth Crowens
A KILLING ON THE HILL
Robert Dugoni
THE PRICE OF A FUTURE
Jackie Ross Flaum
22 RUE MONTPARNASSE
Richard Helms
FIND YOUR WAY TO MY GRAVE
Chris Keefer
POISON IN PICCADILLY
Kelly Oliver
TO BLOOM LIKE A TULIP
Carolyn Summer Quinn
LIES AND DECEPTION
Laraine Stephens
WHAT ONCE WAS PROMISED
Louis Trubiano
THE COURTESAN’S PIRATE
Nina Wachsman
NO GOING BACK
Susan Wheeler
Best Investigator
(includes procedural, serious P.I., detective, and noir)
THE MOVER
Samantha Beal
TO KEEP OUR HONOR CLEAN: A 3M DETECTIVE AGENCY NOVEL
Thomas Burns
THE KILLER CHORUS
Jack Conlan
BLESSED WATER: A SISTER HOLIDAY MYSTERY
Margot Douaihy
THE THINGS THAT CANNOT BE FORGOTTEN
Peter W.J. Hayes
HOLY CITY
Richard Helms
LAST DOG OUT
Candace Irving
MURDER BY SYMBOLS: A DETECTIVE COLTON BAKER THRILLER
E.M. Kelly
BLACK & WHITE
Justin M. Kiska
TIGER CLAW
Michael Allan Mallory
DEADLY CHOICE
S. Lee Manning
GATHERING MIST: A TIMBER CREEK K-9 MYSTERY
Margaret Mizushima
LAST GIRL MISSING
K.L. Murphy
MURDER OUTSIDE THE BOX
Saralyn Richard
MEXICANOS HUSTLE
J Benjamin Sanders, Jr.
HAZARDOUS LIES
Stephen Wallace
Best Juvenile
Y.A.
A MONSTROUS ESCAPE
Connie Beckett
BEYOND THE CEMETERY GATE: THE SECRET KEEPER’S DAUGHTER
Valerie Biel
STEALING TIME
Norman Birnbach and Tilia Klebenov Jacobs
FOREVER BOY
Michael J. Bowler
DEAD GIRL
Kerrie Faye
THE MYSTERY OF MYSTIC MOUNTAIN
Janet Fox
THE SASQUATCH OF HARRIMAN LAKE
KB Jackson
RIFT
Steven James
SNOWED
Twist Phelan
DAWN TO DUSK
Ellis K. Popa
STAR BROTHER
Maxine Rose Schur
FOWL PLAY
Kristin O’Donnell Tubb
THE ORPHAN
Sylvia Maultash Warsh
THE RED ROCK KILLER
Melissa Yi
Best Literary
SHE RUINED OUR LIVES
Chris Chan
AN AMERICAN TRAGEDY
Dan Flanigan
Best Mainstream
Commercial
THOSE THAT DID NOT DIE
Penny Fletcher
ON THE MAD RIVER
Lucrecia Guerrero
PEOPLE WILL TALK
Kieran Scott
BETWEEN LIES AND REVENGE
Hannah Sharpe
BLINDSPOT
Maggie Smith
Best Mystery
E-LLEGAL CONNECTIONS
C.V. Alba
ALL THE MISSING GIRLS
Linda Hurtado Bond
BAYOU VENOM
JJ Cagney
DROP DEAD SISTERS
Amelia Diane Coombs
NEGATIVE GIRL
Libby Cudmore
THE POISON DART
Geri Dreiling
HOUSE GUESTS
Mike Faricy
MURDER AND CHIANTI
Carter Fielding
OBEY ALL LAWS
Cindy Goyette
THE ROSE REAPER
Jennifer Hunter
AT FIRST I WAS AFRAID
Marty Ludlum
THE TRUTH YOU TOLD
Brianna Labuskes
THE LIES YOU WROTE
Brianna Lubuskes
A WORLD OF HURT
Mindy Mejia
THROUGH ANY WINDOW
Deb Richardson-Moore
THE LAST ONE AT THE WEDDING
Jason Rekulak
LAKE COUNTY
Lori Roy
YOU SHOULDN’T BE HERE
Lauren Thoman
SCORCHED: BURN ME ONCE…
Cam Torrens
DEEPER THAN THE DEAD
Debra Webb
Best Nonfiction
THERE IS NO ETHAN
Anna Akbari
LOVERS IN AUSCHWITZ: A TRUE STORY
Keren Blankfeld
ASK NOT: THE KENNEDYS AND THE WOMEN THEY DESTROYED
Maureen Callahan
THE AUTISTIC SLEUTH: SCREEN PORTRAYALS OF DETECTIVES ON THE SPECTRUM IN SHERLOCK HOLMES ADAPTATIONS, THE MILLENNIUM TRILOGY, THE BRIDGE, DEATH NOTE, THE CURIOUS INCIDENT OF THE DOG IN THE NIGHT-TIME, AND OTHER PRODUCTIONS
Chris Chan
SOME OF MY BEST FRIENDS ARE MURDERERS: CRITIQUING THE COLUMBO KILLERS
Chris Chan
TILGHMAN: THE LEGENDARY LAWMAN AND THE WOMAN WHO INSPIRED HIM
Chris Enss
TRIGGER GUARD
Chris Grall
SEEDS OF LEADERSHIP
Wilson Lukang
Best Sci-Fi
Fantasy
TIME AGENTS: DECEPTIONS
Jodi Bowersox
TRAITOR AMONG US
Charles Carfagno Jr.
HEAVY WEIGHT OF CHOICES CARRIED
TH Casperson
OCEAN’S GODORI
Elaine Cho
THE CANOPY KEEPERS
Veronica G. Henry
STILL THE SUN
Charlie N. Holmberg
SCORPIO
Marko Kloos
MASTER VERSION 1.1
Antanas Marcelionis
HOUSE OF FIRE & MAGIC
Sherrilyn McQueen
THE BUILDING THAT WASN’T
Abigail Miles
EVIL IGNORED
Kara Myers
DARK TOWN
Palmer Pickering
Best Short Story Collection
Anthology
NEVER TELL COLLECTION
Kjersti Egerdahl, ed.
THE OTHER SIDE OF THE ROAD / Andrea Bartz (author)
EVERYWHERE WE LOOK / Liv Constantine (author)
SCORPIONS / Rachel Howzell Hall (author)
THE BAD FRIEND / Caroline Kepnes (author)
JACKRABBIT SKIN / Ivy Pochoda (author)
THE GHOST WRITER / Loreth Anne White (author)
DAY
Patrick Kitson (author)
DEEDS OF DARKNESS
William Burton McCormick (author)
6-LANE HIGHWAY
Sean Mitchell (author)
LARCENY & LAST CHANCES: 22 STORIES OF MYSTERY & SUSPENSE
Judy Penz Sheluk, ed.
HIT-AND-RUN / Christina Boufis (Author)
WHEEL OF FORTUNE / John Bukowski (Author)
THE POOL / Brenda Chapman (Author)
HAIL MARY BLUES / Susan Daly (Author)
INCIDENTS AND INTENTIONS / Wil A. Emerson (Author)
THE CRIMSON SALAMANDER / Tracy Falenwolfe (Author)
NO GOOD DEEDS / Kate Fellowes (Author)
NOT THIS TIME / Molly Wills Fraser (Author)
THE CASE OF THE PILFERED PARKA / Gina X. Grant (Author)
A PROMISE KEPT / Karen Grose (Author)
RED INK / Wendy Harrison (Author)
SKEETER’S BAR AND GRILL / Julie Hastrup (Author)
A TIGHT SQUEEZE / Lary M. Keeton (Author)
UNCLE RANDY’S MONEY / Charlie Kondek (Author)
THE PURLOINED PARCHMENT / Edward Lodi (Author)
THE RAGE CAGE / Bethany Maines (Author)
ONCE A THIEF / Gregory Meece (Author)
ROBBERY AT THE BIRDCAGE / Cate Moyle (Author)
THE CONSTELLATION NECKLACE / KM Rockwood (Author)
THE LAST CHANCE COALITION / Judy Penz Sheluk (Author)
THE HOSPITAL BOOMERANG / Kevin R. Tipple (Author)
ARTIFACT / Robert Weibezahl (Author)
Best Southern Gothic
POCKET FULL OF TEETH
Aimee Hardy
KENTUCKY BLOOD (BOOK I OF THE KENTUCKY BLOOD SERIES)
Ashley Thomas Sheikh
Best Supernatural
THE BURYING POINT
Derik Cavignano
FOUR PIECES OF EVIDENCE
Pamela Ebel
NOT BORN OF WOMAN
Teel Glenn
A PLACE FOR GOOD AND EVIL
Stacey Horan
CITY OF INNOCENT MONSTERS
Stacey Horan
CRIMSON COBBLESTONES
Marie Lestrange
THE QUANTUM VEIL
Brian Montross
DERVLA ALARMS THE NANAS
DR Ransdell
BASIL
K Rose
COLD SNAP
Lindy Ryan
SKINWALKERS: BOOK 2 OF THE VOLK SERIES
Darin Werkmeister
UNREMEMBERED
Christine Mager Wevik
Best Suspense
ROYAL DUTY
Traci Abramson
INSIDE OUTSIDE
Faye Arcand
A FRIEND IN THE DARK
Samantha M. Bailey
FORGOTTEN SECRET: A PSYCHOLOGICAL SUSPENSE THRILLER
SF Baumgartner
IF YOU TELL A LIE
Lucinda Berry
THE NEXT MRS. PARRISH
Liv Constantine
SAVING THE FOOL
Donna Del Oro
KILLER SECRETS
Kathleen Donnelly
CALL ME CARMELA: A DOT MEYERHOFF MYSTERY
Ellen Kirschman
DON’T ASK DON’T FOLLOW
Mary Keliikoa
INVISIBLE WOMAN
Katia Lief
WHISPER IN THE DARK
Dianne McCartney
THE ALONE TIME
Elle Marr
NOT YOURS TO KEEP
Zelly Ruskin
I KNOW SHE WAS THERE
Jennifer Sadera
THE FORGOTTEN SON
BJ Sloan
THE DEAD FED SAID
Conetta Taylor
LOST TO DUNE ROAD
Kara Thomas
THE LAST PARTY
AR Torre
REDEMPTION
Alex K Thompson
Best Thriller
HOMETOWN VENDETTA
Traci Abramson
RICH JUSTICE
Robert Bailey
RUN
Matthew Becker
ASSUME NOTHING
Joshua Corin
DARKNESS, DARKNESS
TB Crattie
THE BODY BROKERS
Brian Cuban
THE SLATE
Matthew FitzSimmons
THE DREDGE
Brendan Flaherty
THE MECHANICS OF MEMORY
Audrey Lee
DEADLY CHOICE
S Lee Manning
A FORGOTTEN KILL
Isabella Maldonado
ATTACK OF THE FOOD ZOMBIES
Dennis Meredith
THE SILENT WATCHER
Victor Methos
ROGUES & PATRIOTS
Patrick Moore
FATAL INTRUSION
Jeffery Deaver & Isabella Maldonado
THE ENEMY WITHIN
Greg Player
THE ASCENT
Adam Plantinga
HEROIC MEASURES
Joel Shulkin
OUT OF TIME A NICK DONAHUE ADVENTURE
Cathi Stoler
ONE PERFECT COUPLE
Ruth Ware
Best Western
KNIFE RIVER
Baron Birtcher
SARITA
Natalie Musgrave Dossett
THE BROKEN BLOOD
Dwight Holing
Has your book made it to the Judges’ list of Top Picks? Promote it on your website and social media using our Killer Nashville Silver Falchion Judges’ Top Picks emblem!