MACAVITY AWARD WINNERS 2026

Macavity Awards 2026
(for works published in 2025)

The Macavity Awards are nominated and voted on by members of Mystery Readers International, subscribers to Mystery Readers Journal, and friends of MRI. Congratulations to all!

The Macavity Award is named after Macavity: The Mystery Cat, in T.S. Eliot's Old Possum's Book of Practical Cats! Scroll down to read the poem. 

Want to be a member/subscriber, go here. Mystery Readers Journal themes for 2026: Fairs, Fetes, and Festivals; Mysteries set in France; Cross-Genre Mysteries; and Mysteries set in India. 

Macavity Winners 2026 (for works published in 2025)

Best Mystery Novel

*Crooks by Lou Berney (William Morrow)

Also nominated:

King of Ashes by S.A. Cosby (Flatiron Books)

Clown Town by Mick Herron (Soho Crime)

River of Lies by James L'Etoile (Oceanview Publishing)

The White Crow by Michael Robotham (Scribner)

All This Could Be Yours by Hank Phillippi Ryan (Minotaur Books)

Best First Mystery 

*History Lessons by Zoe B. Wallbrook (Soho Press)

Also nominated:

Savvy Summers and the Sweet Potato Crimes by Sandra Jackson-Opoku (Minotaur Books)

Dead Money by Jakob Kerr (Bantam Books)

Voices of the Elysian Fields by Michael Rigg (Level Best Books)

Stillwater by Tanya Scott (Grove Atlantic)

Best Mystery Nonfiction

*Vacations Can Be Murder: A True Crime Lover's Travel Guide to New England by Dawn M. Barclay (Level Best Books)

Also nominated:

Blood and the Badge: The Mafia, Two Killer Cops, and a Scandal That Shocked the Nation by Michael Cannell (Minotaur Books)

Murderland: Crime and Bloodlust in the Time of Serial Killers by Caroline Fraser (Penguin Press)

V Is for Venom: Agatha Christie's Chemicals of Death by Kathryn Harkup (Bloomsbury Sigma)

Edgar Allan Poe: A Life by Richard Kopley (University of Virginia Press)

Cooler than Cool: The Life and Work of Elmore Leonard by C.M. Kushins (Mariner Books)

Best Mystery Short Story

*“Six-Armed Robbery” by Ashley-Ruth M. Bernier (in Donna Andrews Presents Malice Domestic: Mystery Most Humorous, edited by John Betancourt, Carla Coupe, and Michael Bracken, Wildside Press)

Also nominated:

“Hollywood Prometheus” by Christa Faust (in Crime Ink: Iconic: An Anthology of Crime Fiction Inspired by Queer Icons, edited by John Copenhaver and Salem West, Bywater Books)

“Finding Jimmy Baldwin” by Cheryl Head (in Crime Ink: Iconic: An Anthology of Crime Fiction Inspired by Queer Icons, edited by John Copenhaver and Salem West, Bywater Books)

“The Devil Himself” by Vaseem Khan (in Double Crossing Van Dine, edited by Donna Andrews, Greg Herren, and Art Taylor, Crippen & Landru Publishers)

“The Skies Are Red” by Richie Narvaez (in On Fire and Under Water: A Climate Change Crime Fiction Anthology, edited by Curtis Ippolito, Rock and a Hard Place Press)

“Julius Katz Draws a Straight Flush” by Dave Zeltserman (Alfred Hitchcock Mystery Magazine, Sept/Oct 2025)

Sue Feder Memorial Historical Mystery

*Bye Bye Blackbird by Elizabeth Crowens (Level Best Books)

Also nominated:

A Daughter's Guide to Mothers and Murder by Dianne Freeman (Kensington Books)

City Lights by Claire M. Johnson (Level Best Books)

The Case of the Christie Conspiracy by Kelly Oliver (Boldwood Books)

The Case of the Missing Maid by Rob Osler (Kensington Books)

No. 10 Doyers Street by Radha Vatsal (Level Best Books)

***

Macavity: The Mystery Cat by T.S. Eliot

Macavity’s a Mystery Cat: he’s called the Hidden Paw—
For he’s the master criminal who can defy the Law.
He’s the bafflement of Scotland Yard, the Flying Squad’s despair:
For when they reach the scene of crime—Macavity’s not there!

Macavity, Macavity, there’s no one like Macavity,
He’s broken every human law, he breaks the law of gravity.
His powers of levitation would make a fakir stare,
And when you reach the scene of crime—Macavity’s not there!
You may seek him in the basement, you may look up in the air—
But I tell you once and once again, Macavity’s not there!

Macavity’s a ginger cat, he’s very tall and thin;
You would know him if you saw him, for his eyes are sunken in.
His brow is deeply lined with thought, his head is highly domed;
His coat is dusty from neglect, his whiskers are uncombed.
He sways his head from side to side, with movements like a snake;
And when you think he’s half asleep, he’s always wide awake.

Macavity, Macavity, there’s no one like Macavity,
For he’s a fiend in feline shape, a monster of depravity.
You may meet him in a by-street, you may see him in the square—
But when a crime’s discovered, then Macavity’s not there!

He’s outwardly respectable. (They say he cheats at cards.)
And his footprints are not found in any file of Scotland Yard’s.
And when the larder’s looted, or the jewel-case is rifled,
Or when the milk is missing, or another Peke’s been stifled,
Or the greenhouse glass is broken, and the trellis past repair—
Ay, there’s the wonder of the thing! Macavity’s not there!

And when the Foreign Office find a Treaty’s gone astray,
Or the Admiralty lose some plans and drawings by the way,
There may be a scrap of paper in the hall or on the stair—
But it’s useless to investigate—Macavity’s not there!
And when the loss has been disclosed, the Secret Service say:
‘It must have been Macavity!’—but he’s a mile away.
You’ll be sure to find him resting, or a-licking of his thumbs;
Or engaged in doing complicated long division sums.

Macavity, Macavity, there’s no one like Macavity,
There never was a Cat of such deceitfulness and suavity.
He always has an alibi, and one or two to spare:
At whatever time the deed took place—MACAVITY WASN’T THERE!
And they say that all the Cats whose wicked deeds are widely known
(I might mention Mungojerrie, I might mention Griddlebone)
Are nothing more than agents for the Cat who all the time
Just controls their operations: the Napoleon of Crime!

MARK PRYOR: R.I.P.

Sad news. Mystery author Mark Pryor passed away on October 8, at the age of 59. Way too young. Mark was a talented writer, a truly good man, and a friend. I enjoyed chatting with him over email and in person. His talent was spread over many novels (and two non-fiction book). He wrote 9 novels in the Hugo Marston series, 3 novels in the Henri Lefort wartime mystery series, 2 novels in the Hollow Man psychological thriller series, and 2 novels in the Paris Bookshop Mystery series (The Most Mysterious Bookshop in Paris, will be released in early 2026) He will be greatly missed by many. May his memory be a blessing.

From Funeral Folio:

Mark Pryor, a remarkable husband, father, son, brother, and friend, passed away unexpectedly in his sleep on October 8, 2026. Born on May 8, 1967, in Welwyn Garden City, England, Mark lived a life full of passion, dedication, and love. 

 

Mark was the beloved son of Virginia Ann and the late George "Toby" Pryor. He was predeceased by his father, Toby, and his sister Nicola. He leaves behind a family who cherished him deeply, including his devoted wife of 25 years, Sarah; his children, Blake, Henry, and Nicola; his brother, Richard; his sister, Catherine; and his caring mother, Virginia Ann. 

Mark's journey of learning and discovery began at Strad Broke College of Journalism in Sheffield, England, and led him to the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, where he graduated with the highest honors in journalism in 1999. His academic pursuits then took him to Duke University School of Law, where he graduated Cum Laude in 2002. His legal career was marked by a steadfast commitment to justice, serving as Travis County Assistant District Attorney for 14 years before becoming a criminal defense attorney at Cofer & Connelly. 

Beyond his professional achievements, Mark was a prolific author, channeling his love for literature and storytelling into the publication of 16 books. His writing was a testament to his intellect and creativity, capturing the hearts and minds of readers worldwide. 

Mark's personal qualities were as profound as his professional accomplishments. He lived with kindness and integrity, leaving an indelible mark on all who knew him. His intelligence was matched by his thoughtfulness, with a charismatic personality that was always complemented by a delightful sense of humor and quick wit. 

Mark and Sarah's marriage, celebrated on October 12, 2001, in Castet, France, was a union built on genuine love, sharp wit, and endless joy. Their life together was a testament to the strength of their partnership and the deep love they shared. 

A private celebration of life will be held to honor Mark's life and legacy. In lieu of flowers, the family kindly requests patronizing and supporting your local bookstore, in memory of Mark's passion for literature and his unwavering support for the written word. 

Mark Pryor's life was a story of love, laughter, and learning, and though his chapter has come to a close, his legacy will continue to inspire and influence those who were fortunate to know him.

Cartoon of the Day: Witches

 

Cartoon of the Day: Support Dog

 

KAY HOOPER: R.I.P.

Kay Hooper passed away on Sunday, October 4, 2026.

Kay's family shares the news of her recent passing. 

'We know how much Kay is admired and adored within both the writing and the reading communities and know you'll miss her as much as we will. Today we just want you all to know how very important you were to Kay. Her passion was writing, but her driving force was all of you. 

At this time there are no service plans to announce but we know that her wish would be that any honorary acts or remembrance from fans or friends would be in the form of donations made to your own local bookstore or pet shelter. 

That's what she would have wanted.'

From the PadgettKing memorial site:

Kay was born (1957) in Merced County, California to Martha and James Hooper. Her father, an Air Force employee, was stationed in the base hospital. James, Martha, and Kay lived on the base. Shortly after Kay's birth, the family moved back to North Carolina where she was raised and went to school. Her two younger siblings were born in North Carolina.

Kay loved to foster cats and kittens for the Community Pet Center, a non-profit rescue organization on whose board she also has served.

Her first book, entitled The Lady Thief, was published in 1981 and she has since gone on to publish over 70 books. She made the New York Times Best Sellers List in 2000 with her book Stealing Shadows and was nominated for the Shamus Award for Best Original P.I. Paperback for House of Cards, part of The Bishop Series, in 1992.

She is survived by her brother, Jimmy Hooper and wife Sonja of Forest City, her sister, Linda Parks of Boiling Springs, SC, as well as a number of nieces, nephews, and friends that loved her. 

Cartoon of the Day: Library

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