About the CWC Awards of Excellence

THE 2025 AWARDS OF EXCELLENCE WINNERS

The Miller-Martin Award for Best Crime Novel

Sponsored by the Boreal Benefactor with a $1000 prize

Conor Kerr, Prairie Edge, Strange Light, an imprint of Penguin Random House Canada

In Conor Kerr’s exceptional novel Prairie Edge cousins Ezzy, an aimless big-hearted drifter, and Grey, a cynical burned out activist, hatch an audacious scheme to abduct a herd of bison and release them into a downtown Edmonton park. What follows is a tragic, unsentimental exploration of the unpredictable sometimes fatal consequences of their actions and the brutal realities of contemporary activism. Characterizations are complex and multi-layered; dialogue is raw and authentic; the propulsive narrative is flawless with passages of astounding beauty and lyricism. It is a profound testament to the enduring legacy of multi-generational trauma. This powerful, gripping, darkly funny crime novel is brimming with love and rage, despair and hope and is utterly impossible to either put down or forget.

Best Crime First Novel

Sponsored by Melodie Campbell with a $1000 prize

Ashley Tate, Twenty-Seven Minutes, Doubleday Canada

From its haunting opening description of death to its surprising but somehow exactly right ending, Ashley Tate’s Twenty-Seven Minutes is a gripping, assured debut novel. As the story of Phoebe Dean’s death unfurls, we discover its effect on her family, her friends, and her neighbours in the little town of West Wilmer. Tate takes her time, revealing twist after twist but never allowing the pace to falter. The reader is hooked; we care about these people and hope for a happy ending for them, even as we know disaster is coming. The author shows real skill in concealing so much in plain sight, and the jury is sure that Twenty-Seven Minutes is only the first book in a long, successful career for Ashley Tate.

Best Crime Novel Set in Canada

Sponsored by Shaftesbury with a $500 prize

Shane Peacock, As We Forgive Others, Cormorant Books

In Shane Peacock’s As We Forgive Others, the Canadian setting stands as a character in its own right. The talented author creates the brooding atmosphere of a rural Ontario winter seen, ironically, through the eyes of a New York homicide detective. Hugh Mercer is trying to escape a shattered marriage and career in an old, rented farmhouse he describes as located, “at the end of nowhere.” The peace he craves eludes him when a mysterious woman appears at the farmhouse door with a ludicrous, perhaps clairvoyant, prediction of a murder. Peacock pulls the reader deep inside the character as he tries but fails to understand the Canadians he meets. The author’s wry humour shows when Mercer compares dangerously polite Canadians, bereft of emotion, to his transparent American countrymen. A laconic local cop with strong appetites, Alice Morrow, invites herself into his life. A skillfully crafted character, she is secretive and incomprehensible, like the Canadian winter. Together, they solve the ingenious mystery, but Mercer is left without answers or forgiveness for his own broken story.

The Whodunit Award for Best Traditional Mystery

Sponsored by Jane Doe with a $500 prize

Thomas King, Black Ice, HarperCollins Publishers Ltd.

Black Ice is a thoroughly enjoyable, masterfully crafted whodunnit that has it all: tight plot, clever clues, elements of surprise, and compelling characters.

King has deftly hidden clues throughout this witty mystery - if you can only stop grinning long enough to spot them. Just as the case seems impossible, Thumps Dreadful Waters, Temporary Sheriff, has a brilliant revelation—every puzzle piece clicks into place for both him and the reader - if they have been paying attention. A clever mystery that rewards the sharpest minds.

Set in a cozy-like, close-knit community where people know and care for one another, this novel blends surprise twists, resonant emotion, and humorous dialogue with deeper themes. That context supports one of the novel's underlying themes, which is how a person carries on after profound loss. The exploration of that theme, along with the light shone on environmental concerns reminds us that crime fiction can be about more than presenting a “whodunnit”.

Best Crime Novella

Sponsored by Carrick Publishing with a $200 prize

Pamela Jones, The Windmill Mystery, Austin Macauley Publishers

The Windmill Mystery is a whodunit set in off-the-beaten-path neighbourhoods of Montreal, where an unlikely duo of detectives investigates the death of an eccentric political activist with a mysterious past and a few items of considerable value. When she is found deceased at the foot of an old windmill, the officers find several suspects with compelling motivations: a riches-to-rags sister, a shady politician, and a group of financially distressed nuns. Central to the story is the history of the expulsion of the Acadians from what is now Canada’s Maritime provinces, in 1755. With its clever writing, colourful characters and a satisfying puzzle that can be solved by the perceptive reader, The Windmill Mystery tops our list as Best Novella.

Best Crime Short Story

Therese Greenwood, “Hatcheck Bingo”, from The 13th Letter, Mesdames and Messieurs of Mayhem, Carrick Publishing

“Hatcheck Bingo” is fresh and original with deeply Canadian historical roots. The post-WW1 period is effectively woven through the action. Our hat-check girls are clever and resourceful, moral if not entirely law-abiding. Underlying the effervescent Prohibition-era atmosphere are serious undercurrents invoking postwar PTSD, sex discrimination for jobs, and ruthless cross-border power struggles over lucrative booze trafficking routes. The jury specially commends the masterful use of these themes as essential drivers to the deliciously twisty crime story. Wit and humour sparkle to the last bubble, like the best smuggled champagne.

Best French Language Crime Book

Guillaume Morrissette, Une mémoire de lion, Saint-Jean

The judges thoroughly enjoyed this story, with its intriguing mystery and well-drawn, complex, and sympathetic characters. The slow unfolding of the information is cleverly done, and the flashback sequences well signalled with a clear timeline. The growing trust between the autistic main character, who talks only through a lion puppet, and one of the police officers, conflicts with the understandable insistence on “going by the book” by some members of the police team. This clash between team members paints a nuanced portrait of police officers as human beings. The author skillfully draws the reader into the layered processes of police work. Readers gain insight into the life of an autistic person living off the grid and managing in what, to him, is an alien world, and are also shown the varying reactions of citizens of Trois-Rivieres towards him, ranging from protective to hostile. The town is atmospherically described, and the author’s judicious use of "joual" adds a very real, very immediate sense of place.

Une Mémoire de lion is an outstanding example of a police procedural in which the reader follows the investigation as it happens, to arrive at a very satisfying ending. A story with a great deal of heart. Bravo.

Les juges ont beaucoup apprécié cette histoire, avec son mystère captivant et ses personnages bien conçus, complexes et sympathiques. Le dévoilement progressif des informations est habilement réalisé, et les séquences de flashback sont bien signalées avec une chronologie claire. La confiance croissante entre le personnage principal autiste, qui s'exprime uniquement à travers une marionnette de lion, et un des officiers de police, contraste avec l'insistance compréhensible de certains membres de l'équipe sur le respect strict des procédures. Ce conflit entre les membres de l'équipe offre un portrait nuancé des policiers en tant qu'êtres humains. L'auteur réussit à immerger le lecteur dans les processus complexes de l'enquête policière. Les lecteurs découvrent la vie d'une personne autiste qui vit en marge de la société et s'adapte à un monde qui lui est étranger, tout en observant les réactions variées des habitants de Trois-Rivières envers lui, allant de la protection à l'hostilité. La ville est décrite de manière atmosphérique, et l'utilisation judicieuse du "joual" par l'auteur ajoute un sentiment très réel et très immédiat du lieu.

Une Mémoire de lion est un excellent exemple d'un roman procédural policier dans lequel le lecteur suit l'enquête au fur et à mesure qu'elle se déroule, pour arriver à une fin très satisfaisante. Une histoire avec beaucoup de cœur. Bravo.

Best Juvenile / YA Crime Book

Sponsored by Superior Shores Press with a $250 prize

Sigmund Brouwer, Shock Wave, Orca Book Publishers

In this fast paced and engaging thriller, eighteen year old Jake Ballard is tricked into helping a teenage girl break into a houseboat and becomes the target of an angry crime boss. Jake is given 24 hours to rectify the situation and, as his mother is away receiving treatment for combat related PTSD, he must do it on his own. As Jake skillfully navigates dangerous situations and finds the courage to continue, he discovers the answer to the question that many teens today face - what to do with their lives. The author elevates this storytelling by providing interesting and realistic discussions on the military, violence, service to others, and mental health. Short chapters, action filled scenes and snappy dialogue make this book set in Sicamous, British Columbia a compelling and easy read for teens.

The Brass Knuckles Award for Best Nonfiction Crime Book

Sponsored by David Reid Simpson Law Firm (Hamilton) with a $300 prize

It’s a tie!
From the judges: What a privilege to have these two stories in our lives, as devastating and emotional as they are. The authors of these women-centred, family-focused narratives show compassion for their subjects, tenacity in their research, and a commitment to shining spotlights on important issues. These two Canadian books showing survivors reclaiming their own narratives are worthy of the highest recognition. Congratulations to Denise Chong, Out of Darkness: Rumana Monzur's Journey through Betrayal, Tyranny and Abuse and Tanya Talaga, The Knowing.

Denise Chong, Out of Darkness: Rumana Monzur's Journey through Betrayal, Tyranny and Abuse, Random House Canada

In Out of Darkness, Denise Chong has created a compassionate and respectfully written portrait of Rumana Monzur’s horrific lived-experiences of abuse and violence. The result is a tribute to Rumana’s resilience, ambition, and strength in overcoming personal tragedy.

Chong’s masterwork in building tension examines how abuse intensifies over time, revealing the warning signs, missed clues, and betrayals that facilitate the hidden epidemic of domestic violence. Chong’s ability to immerse the reader into the narrative, to be alongside Rumana in the horror and the light, creates a long-lasting impression the reader—and the jurors—will not soon forget.

Out of Darkness honours the life Rumana has chosen for herself: A life rich with knowledge and bravery—full of happiness and love while showing her daughter, Anusheh, a way forward, out of the darkness.

Congratulations to Denise Chong and Out of Darkness.

Tanya Talaga, The Knowing, HarperCollins Publishers Ltd.

Tanya Talaga lives up to her name Ka-musko pimojijet pinaysheesh, Little Bird with Big Wings Who Carries a Heavy Burden, in her brave and ambitious book The Knowing. Talaga meticulously braids 150 years of narratives to show how crimes against Indigenous Peoples are systemic and individualized, complex, and intergenerational.

Talaga draws deeply on her personal journey to reclaim the stories of her ancestors and reveal the frustrations of trying to reconcile Indigenous Peoples’ knowledge with the reality of missing and destroyed official government records. A skilful journalist, Talaga’s detailed research and rigorous self-examination shows how crimes of the past are compounded and reverberate today.

Talaga’s thoughtful organization of The Knowing invites and moves the reader through her journey. As jurors, we were moved by Talaga’s perseverance and commitment to telling her and Indigenous Peoples’ truths.

Congratulations to Tanya Talaga and The Knowing.

Best Unpublished Crime Novel manuscript written by an unpublished author

Sponsored by ECW Press with a $500 prize

Luke Devlin, Govern Yourself Accordingly

A surreal supernatural crossgenre work of crime fiction. The mystery at the heart of the book has a satisfying solution, and there is excellent tension as the hero battles to uncover it.

CWC gratefully acknowledges the generous support of our sponsors

• Shaftesbury is an award-winning creator and producer of original content for television, film, and digital. Building on a library of award-winning children’s programs, Shaftesbury offers an extensive slate of new child and family programming.
• Canadian book publisher ECW Press is one of the most diversified independent publishers in North America. ECW Press has published close to 1,000 books that are distributed throughout the English-speaking world and translated into dozens of languages.
• Based in Toronto, Canada, Carrick Publishing was formed in 2010 by Donna and Alex Carrick. With over 20 titles, Carrick Publishing works closely with established and new authors to bring their work to readers.
• Founded in 2018 by former CWC Chair, Judy Penz Sheluk, Superior Shores Press is known for its gripping mystery and suspense anthologies. Judy is a best-selling author of two mystery series and two how-to guides to publishing, one of which was the Winner of the 2024 Killer Nashville Silver Falchion Award for Best Nonfiction
• David Simpson, a lawyer in Hamilton, Ontario and the Districts of, Brant, Halton, Haldimand and Niagara, has a history of over fifty years of legal services. He sponsors “The Brass Knuckles” Award for Best Nonfiction Crime Book in memory of true-crime author Robert Gordon Knuckle (1935-2019).
• Melodie Campbell is the author of 17 books, 60 short stories, and is the recipient of ten awards, including a Crime Writers of Canada Award of Excellence. She has taught fiction writing since 1992 and maintains a special interest in encouraging new writers.
• Jane Doe chooses to remain anonymous.
• Boreal Benefactor, a Canadian author, chooses to remain anonymous.

About Crime Writers of Canada

Crime Writers of Canada was founded in 1982 as a professional organization designed to raise the profile of Canadian crime writers. Our members include authors, publishers, editors, booksellers, librarians, reviewers, and literary agents as well as many developing authors. Past winners of the Awards have included such major names in Canadian crime writing as Mario Bolduc, Gail Bowen, Stevie Cameron, Howard Engel, Barbara Fradkin, Louise Penny, Peter Robinson and Eric Wright. We thank our sponsors and volunteers, and the many participating publishers, authors and judges for their continued support.

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