OTTAWA, ON – April 25, 2025 – Crime Writers of Canada (CWC) is pleased to announce the Shortlists for the 2025 Crime Writers of Canada Awards of Excellence in Canadian Crime Writing. Since 1984, Crime Writers of Canada has recognized the best in mystery, crime, suspense fiction, and crime nonfiction by Canadian authors, including citizens abroad and new residents.
On behalf of CWC, Hyacinthe Miller, Awards Committee Chair, extends congratulations to all the talented finalists. Winners will be announced on Friday, May 30, 2025.
DERRICK MURDOCH AWARD RECIPIENT
The Derrick Murdoch Award is a special achievement award presented at the discretion of the Board Chair of Crime Writers of Canada. It recognizes individuals who have made significant contributions to developing crime writing in Canada.
Crime Writers of Canada is also pleased to announce William H. Deverell, a distinguished Canadian novelist, activist, and criminal lawyer, as the recipient of the 2025 Derrick Murdoch Award.
Deverell’s bibliography includes nineteen novels, many drawing from his extensive legal experience. Notable works include Trial of Passion, which earned the Dashiell Hammett Prize for Literary Excellence in Crime Writing in 1997 and Crime Writers of Canada’s Arthur Ellis Award for Best Canadian Crime Novel in 1998. Trial of Passion introduced readers to Arthur Beauchamp, QC, a character who became central to a series that includes titles such as April Fool (2003 Arthur Ellis award winner) and Kill All the Judges. He is the author of A Life on Trial – The Case of Robert Frisbee, based on a notorious murder trial in which he was defense counsel.
Street Legal, which aired on CBC Television from 1987 to 1994, was the longest-running one-hour scripted drama in the history of Canadian television. The show was based on an original pilot, Shellgame, which Deverell authored.
Beyond his writing, he continues to be a pivotal figure in Canadian literature, inspiring readers and mentoring emerging Canadian writers within the crime and mystery genres.
Deverell is the founder and honorary director of the British Columbia Civil Liberties Association. He served as chair of the Writers’ Union of Canada in 1994 and 1999 and is a life member of the Writers Guild of Canada, a Member Emeritous of Crime Writers of Canada and a member of PEN International.
THE 2025 AWARDS OF EXCELLENCE SHORTLISTS
The Miller-Martin Award for Best Crime Novel
Sponsored by the Boreal Benefactor with a $1000 prize
Colin Barrett, Wild Houses, McClelland & Stewart
Jaima Fixsen, The Specimen, Poisoned Pen Press
Conor Kerr, Prairie Edge, Strange Light, an imprint of Penguin Random House Canada
John MacLachlan Gray, Mr. Good-Evening, Douglas & McIntyre
Louise Penny, The Grey Wolf, Minotaur Books
Best Crime First Novel
Sponsored by Melodie Campbell with a $1000 prize
Suzan Denoncourt, The Burden of Truth, Suzan Denoncourt
Peter Holloway, The Roaring Game Murders, Bonspiel Books
Jim McDonald, Altered Boy, Amalit Books
Marianne K. Miller, We Were the Bullfighters, Dundurn Press
Ashley Tate, Twenty-Seven Minutes, Doubleday Canada
Best Crime Novel Set in Canada
Sponsored by Shaftesbury with a $500 prize
Brenda Chapman, Fatal Harvest, Ivy Bay Press
Barry W. Levy, The War Machine, Double Dagger Books
Shane Peacock, As We Forgive Others, Cormorant Books
Greg Rhyno, Who By Fire, Cormorant Books
Kerry Wilkinson, The Call, Bookouture
The Whodunit Award for Best Traditional Mystery
Sponsored by Jane Doe with a $500 prize
Cathy Ace, The Corpse with the Pearly Smile, Four Tails Publishing Ltd.
Raye Anderson, The Dead Shall Inherit, Signature Editions
Susan Juby, A Meditation on Murder, HarperCollins Publishers Ltd.
Thomas King, Black Ice, HarperCollins Publishers Ltd.
Jonathan Whitelaw, Concert Hall Killer, HarperNorth/HarperCollins Canada
Best Crime Novella
Sponsored by Carrick Publishing with a $200 prize
Marcelle Dubé, Chuck Berry is Missing, Alfred Hitchcock’s Mystery Magazine
Liz Ireland, Mrs. Claus and the Candy Corn Caper, Kensington
Pamela Jones, The Windmill Mystery, Austin Macauley Publishers
A.J. McCarthy, A Rock, Black Rose Writing
Twist Phelan, Aim, Ellery Queen Mystery Magazine
Best Crime Short Story
Catherine Astolfo, Farmer Knudson, from Auntie Beers: A Book of Connected Short Stories, Carrick Publishing
Therese Greenwood, Hatcheck Bingo, from The 13th Letter, Mesdames and Messieurs of Mayhem, Carrick Publishing
Billie Livingston, Houdini Act, Saturday Evening Post
Linda Sanche, The Electrician, from Crime Waves, Dangerous Games, A Canada West Anthology
Melissa Yi, The Longest Night of the Year, Ellery Queen Mystery Magazine
Best French Language Crime Book
J.L. Blanchard, La femme papillon, Fides
R. Lavallée, Le crime du garçon exquis, Fides
Jean Lemieux, L’Affaire des montants, Québec Amérique
Guillaume Morrissette, Une mémoire de lion, Saint-Jean
Johanne Seymour, Fracture, Libre Expression
Best Juvenile / YA Crime Book
Sponsored by Superior Shores Press with a $250 prize
Sigmund Brouwer, Shock Wave, Orca Book Publishers
Meagan Mahoney, The Time Keeper, DCB Young Readers
Twist Phelan, Snowed, Bronzeville Books, LLC
David A. Poulsen, The Dark Won't Wait, Red Deer Press
Melissa Yi, The Red Rock Killer, Windtree Press
The Brass Knuckles Award for Best Nonfiction Crime Book
Sponsored by David Reid Simpson Law Firm (Hamilton) with a $300 prize
Denise Chong, Out of Darkness: Rumana Monzur's Journey through Betrayal, Tyranny and Abuse, Random House Canada
Nate Hendley, Atrocity on the Atlantic: Attack on a Hospital Ship During the Great War, Dundurn Press
John L. Hill, The Rest of the [True Crime] Story, AOS Publishing
Dean Jobb, A Gentleman and a Thief: The Daring Jewel Heists of a Jazz Age Rogue, HarperCollins Publishers Ltd.
Tanya Talaga, The Knowing, HarperCollins Publishers Ltd.
Best Unpublished Crime Novel manuscript written by an unpublished author
Sponsored by ECW Press with a $500 prize
Robert Bowerman, The Man in The Black Hat
Luke Devlin, Govern Yourself Accordingly
Delee Fromm, Dark Waters
Lorrie Potvin, A Trail's Tears
William Watt, Predators in the Shadows
CWC gratefully acknowledges the generous support of our sponsors
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.
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.
For more information about the Awards of Excellence, contact Ludvica Boota at awards@crimewriterscanada.com
To enquire about becoming an Awards sponsor, contact the CWC Awards Committee Chair, Hyacinthe Miller, at awards@crimewriterscanada.com
Registration Fees:
February 1 – April 30, 2025 $230 USD
May 1, 2025 – September 30, 2026 $260 USD
NOTE: Registration fees will be processed by Bouchercon Inc and charged in US dollars
Hotel reservations will open in September 2025.
If you register for the convention before the hotel reservations open, we will send you the link as soon as the hotels are available. Check our Hotels page for locations and descriptions of the three hotels that will offer special room rates for Bouchercon 2026.
| Authors must be registered by June 1, 2026, to be considered for a panel. |
Cancellation Information:
All registration cancellations will incur a $75.00 USD processing fee up through July 20, 2026.
There will be no refunds for registrations cancelled after July 20, 2026.
Please contact Calgary2026@bouchercon.com if you have any questions.
More info at: Bouchercon 2026
Crime Writers of Canada extends its sincerest gratitude to our esteemed and generous sponsors. Their invaluable support has been instrumental in enabling us to recognize and celebrate the exceptional achievements of Canadian crime and mystery writers.
Please use the following link to view the full list of sponsors & their profiles:
Crime Writers of Canada is grateful to our jurors and alternate jurors who are passionate and willing to support CWC and the Awards of Excellence. Each award season 27 jurors sit on a three panel team, jurors begin reading in November and end with the collaborative selection of the finalists and winners in May. Without their time and hard work, we would not be able to have the awards. For information about becoming a juror contact awards@crimewriterscanada.com.
Please use the following link to view the full list of jurors & their profiles:
Our next members-only webinar is on Tuesday, March 11th, at 7 pm ET. Join Angela Douglas for ALL ABOUT PITCHING.
Are you thinking about pitching an agent or a publisher? Or maybe you have and would like a refresher? In this 1-hour session, Angela will give you an overview of the types of pitching and how to put one together to make the most of the 3-5 minutes you usually get to pitch yourself and your manuscript. Bring something to take notes with, and your questions!
Presenter
Angela Douglas is a Canadian author who lives in the Okanagan with her husband and kids. Her debut novel and psychological thriller, EVERY FALL, was published by Rising Action Publishing in January 2025, and her sophomore novel, THE BONE TRAIL will follow in June 2026. She is a member of International Thriller Writers, Crime Writers of Canada, the Federation of BC Writers and Sisters in Crime - Canada West. When she isn’t working or hanging out with her family, she hides in her studio, writing her next book. You can find her @angeladouglasbooks on social media or angeladouglasbooks.com.
DONATIONS UPDATE!
LAST CHANCE to donate for 2024! The deadline for tax deductible donations to Crime Writers of Canada as a National Arts Service Organisation has been extended by the Canada Revenue Agency to February 28th. You can still reduce your taxes in April by up to 50%!
Donations to Crime Writers of Canada may now be directed specifically to Writer Development Programs, Author Events and Conferences, or to General Administration and Operations. Any donation is a vote of confidence in our efforts to develop, support, and promote Canadian crime writing.
The world needs more Canada, to hear our voice and share our stories. Any donation is appreciated and every donation provides a jolt of energy and enthusiasm for us to do more for Canadian crime writing worth reading.
GO TEAM CANADA!
Find out when the Crime Writers of Canada Awards of Excellence Shortlist is announced on April 25th, 2025.
Stay Tuned!
Upcoming Webinar
How (and why) to Discuss Social Issues in Your Novel?
Tuesday, February 25, 2024, 7:00 pm ET
This talk aims to persuade you to fore-front the connection between public issues and personal troubles in your own crime novels. In the webinar, Lorne will consider why you should do that, and how you can do that without slowing down the story. He will also briefly discuss how he did that in his recent novel, DEADLY DONATION.
Presenter
Lorne Tepperman, a retired Professor of Sociology at the University of Toronto, ventures into the realm of fiction with his debut crime novel. As an academic, Tepperman authored, co-authored, edited, and co-edited 88 academic books, delving into topics ranging from social inequality to families to gambling addiction, deviance, and crime.
Lorne is a CWC director for Ontario Southwest/North/Greater Toronto Region.
All CWC members in good standing will receive an email invitation to this event.
donalee offers workshops (online and in person) on topics such as editing your work for clarity, crafting a successful synopsis, writing a strong query letter, and getting published.
Upcoming Workshops
Crafting a Successful Synopsis
If you’re looking for an agent or a publisher, you’ll need a synopsis. This online workshop will explore:
• what should go in a synopsis and why
• why and how to break the rules with care (and flair)
Optional feedback on your synopsis is available, including an overview of strengths, style, and structure as well as areas for improvement.
DATES: Tuesdays, Feb 11 & 18, 2025
TIME: 6:00 PM - 8:00 PM (EST)
COST: $115 workshop. Optional feedback: $50
What’s Your Point Of View (POV)
Choosing the right point of view can elevate your storytelling to new heights. This online workshop will explore:
• the types of POV and the nuances, advantages, challenges, and storytelling power of each
• techniques for using POV to craft engaging narratives
Optional feedback on 3-5 pages of your work is available. This would include flow, engagement, organization, and use of POV.
DATES: Thursdays, Feb 13 & 20, 2025
TIME: 6:00 PM - 8:00 PM (EST)
COST: $115 workshop. Optional feedback: $50
More details at: Workshops for Authors
CWC Members receive a 15% discount.
We are holding the new year’s first CWC Pub Night, on Thursday, January 23, 2025, at Union Social Eatery from 6:30pm – 9pm. The meeting place is at 4899 Yonge Street (Toronto), two blocks north of the Yonge-Sheppard subway station.
Please confirm via email --- lorne.tepperman@gmail.com– that you will be able to attend our pub night celebration on January 23.
Our goal, as always, is to meet one another, or re-meet if you’ve already met everyone. Also, and most auspiciously, we are going to celebrate all the new books published by members of our group since October 1, 2024.
Please feel free to bring along a few copies of your most recent book(s) to show off or trade with other attendees, if you want to. This would be a good opportunity to get your name out there and, also, see how other CWC members are plying their craft. However, this is not a book fair and there will not be book displays for public view. Just a pub night for friends! And this time, we’re going to make it easier for people to move around and change tables, if they want to.
If you absolutely can’t make it, please send a greeting to those who will be present. (But then, do try to attend the next pub night, in April 2025). In your email, please let us know if you have released (or will have released) a new book between October 1 and December 31. And if you have, let us know if it was your first book being published.
If you have any questions, please send us, Lorne or Jass, a line and we will try to answer them. I look forward to meeting you at the Pub Night.