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