2026 Hammett Prize Winner

The North American Branch of the International Association of Crime Writers announced the Hammett Prize for the book of the year that best represents literary excellence in crime writing. 

Winner: The Savage Noble Death of Babs Dionne by Ron Currie (Putnam)

Nominees: 

El Dorado Drive by Megan Abbott (Putnam)
Party of Liars by Kelsey Cox (Minotaur)
The Big Empty by Robert Crais (Putnam)
The Lizard by Domenic Stansberry (Molotov Editions)

Congratulations to all!

HAMMETT PRIZE SHORTLIST 2022

2022 HAMMETT PRIZE SHORTLIST

The International Association of Crime Writers, North America announced the 2022 Hammett Prize Shortlist. The Hammett Prize is given for literary Excellence in Crime Writing. Books must be published in the English language in the U.S. or Canada. Congratulations to All. Winner will be announced Summer 2023.

 

Copperhead Road, by Brad Smith (At Bay Press)
Gangland, by Chuck Hogan (Grand Central)
Don’t Know Tough, by Eli Cranor (Soho Crime)
Pay Dirt Road, by Samantha Jayne Allen (Minotaur)
What Happened to the Bennetts, by Lisa Scottoline (Putnam)

HT: The Rap Sheet

HAMMETT PRIZE FINALISTS

The International Association of Crime Writers, North America, announced the HAMMETT PRIZE FINALISTS FOR BOOKS PUBLISHED IN 2021. Congratulations to all!

The reading committee for books published in 2021 has announced the five finalist books to be submitted to our distinguished finalist judges, listed below.

The finalist books are, in alphabetical order by author:

Razorblade Tears by S.A. Cosby, Flatiron Books
Stung by William Deverell, ECW Press
Five Decembers by James Kestrel, Hard Case Crime Harlem Shuffle by Colson Whitehead, Doubleday
The Sacrifice of Lester Yates by Robin Yocum, Arcade Crime Wave

THE HAMMETT PRIZE WINNER

2020 HAMMETT AWARD WINNER

The International Association of Crime Writers, North America announced the 2020 Hammett Prize Winner. The Hammett Prize is given for literary Excellence in Crime Writing

When These Mountains Burn by David Joy

Set in western North Carolina in the area of the Cherokee reservation, the novel tells the story of an elderly father’s attempt to rescue his son from the plague of addiction that has afflicted so much of rural America. Fierce and tough, the novel shows powerful and tender emotions corrupted and made explosive. Yet it is more than a thriller, casting a cold eye on the difficult social situation, while (as one of the judges observed) giving the reader moments of brilliant writing on almost every page. 

NOMINEES:

Murder In Old Bombay by Nev March (Minotaur) Based on a true story, in 1892 a soldier recovering from wounds investigates a murder. 

The Mountains Wild by Sarah Stewart Taylor (Minotaur) A New York detective revisits the disappearance of her cousin in Ireland two decades ago. 

Three Hours in Paris by Cara Black (Soho) In World War II, a young female sniper is sent to Paris to assassinate the Führer. 

When These Mountains Burn by David Joy (Putnam) A father in Appalachia confronts the opioid epidemic in an attempt to rescue his son. 

Winter Counts by David Heska Wanbli Weiden (Ecco) Vigilante Virgil Wounded Horse investigates the spread of heroin on the reservation. 

2020 HAMMETT NOMINEES

2020 HAMMETT NOMINEES 

The International Association of Crime Writers, North America announced the 2020 Hammett Nominees. The Hammett Prize is given for literary Excellence in Crime Writing

The 2020 reading committee, consisting of Christopher Chan, Marni Graff, Debbi Mack, and Chair J. Madison Davis made a number of difficult choices and the following books (in alphabetical order) have been selected for the short list: 

Murder In Old Bombay by Nev March (Minotaur) Based on a true story, in 1892 a soldier recovering from wounds investigates a murder. 

The Mountains Wild by Sarah Stewart Taylor (Minotaur) A New York detective revisits the disappearance of her cousin in Ireland two decades ago. 

Three Hours in Paris by Cara Black (Soho) In World War II, a young female sniper is sent to Paris to assassinate the Führer. 

When These Mountains Burn by David Joy (Putnam) A father in Appalachia confronts the opioid epidemic in an attempt to rescue his son. 

Winter Counts by David Heska Wanbli Weiden (Ecco) Vigilante Virgil Wounded Horse investigates the spread of heroin on the reservation. 

Congratulations to all!

THE HAMMETT PRIZE

2020 Dashiell Hammett Award Shortlist for Literary Excellence in Crime Writing was announced by the International Association of Crime Writers

SHORTLIST

The Adventure of the Peculiar Protocols by Nicholas Meyer, St. Martin’s Press

Blood Relations by Jonathan Moore, Mariner Books

Bluff by Jane Stanton Hitchcock, Poisoned Pen Press

The Murals by William Bayer, Severn House

Norco '80: The True Story of the Most Spectacular Bank Robbery in American History by Peter Houlahan, Counterpoint Press

Congratulations to the nominees!

Winner will be awarded the Hammett trophy, designed by artist Peter Boiger, depicting a falcon-headed figure based upon a celebrated photograph of Dashiell Hammett. The final decision will be made by early summer, with the location of the presentation to be determined and announced as soon as possible. 

2018 Hammett Prize for Literary Excellence in Crime Writing

2018 Dashiell Hammett Prize for Literary Excellence in Crime Writing

WINNING NOVEL Lou Berney, November Road (William Morrow) 

Nominees:
William Boyle, The Lonely Witness (Pegasus)
Robert Olen Butler, Paris in the Dark (Mysterious Press)
Lisa Unger, Under My Skin (Park Row)
Sam Wiebe, Cut You Down (Random House Canada)

This years’s finalist judges: Gary Giddins, jazz critic and author Steven Beattie, editor of Quill and Quire Kristen Bates, bookseller at McLean & Eakin Join IACW as they honor Mary Frisque and all the nominees as the Hammett is presented. 11 a.m., Friday, November 1, 2019 at Bouchercon in Dallas, Texas.

2018 HAMMETT PRIZE WINNER

The North American Branch of the International Association of Crime Writers announced that August Snow, by Stephen Mack Jones (Soho Crime), has been named the winner of the organization's annual HAMMETT PRIZE for a work of literary excellence in the field of crime writing.

The winning title was chosen by a group of three distinguished outside judges: Vera Marowitz, owner of the Bookworm in Bernardsville, New Jersey; Robert Sutherland-Cohen, author of Tesla for Beginners; John Timpane, Media and Fine Arts Editor of the Philadelphia Inquirer. The judges selected from among four finalists nominated from the hundreds of crime books published in 2017. These four titles were selected by the organization's nominations committee headed by Del Staecker.

Other books nominated for the 2017 HAMMETT PRIZE were The Marsh King’s Daughter: A Novel, by Karen Dionne (G. P. Putnam’s Sons), The Tragedy of Brady Sims: A Novel, by Ernest J. Gaines, and Two Days Gone: A Novel, by Randall Silvis (Sourcebooks Landmark).

Mr. Jones was awarded a bronze trophy, designed by West Coast sculptor Peter Boiger. The award was announced during a lunch for the finalists at New York’s Algonquin Hotel on July 13.

2017 North American Hammett Prize Nominees

The North American Branch of the International Association of Crime Writers announced  the nominees for their annual HAMMETT PRIZE for a work of literary excellence in the field of crime writing by a US or Canadian author.

The nominees are as follows: 

The Marsh King’s Daughter: A Novel, by Karen Dionne (G. P. Putnam’s Sons)
The Tragedy of Brady Sims: A Novel, by Ernest J. Gaines (Vintage)
August Snow, by Stephen Mack Jones (Soho Crime)
Two Days Gone: A Novel, by Randall Silvis (Sourcebooks Landmark)

The organization will name the HAMMETT PRIZE winner, during the NoirCon conference in Philadelphia, November 1-4. The winner will receive a bronze trophy, designed by sculptor Peter Boiger.

Hammett Prize Winner

The North American Branch of the International Association of Crime Writers announced last night the winner of theannual HAMMETT PRIZE -- for a work of literary excellence in the field of crime writing by a US or Canadian author.

The White Devil, by Domenic Stansberry (Molotov Editions)

Other Books nominated for the 2016 Hammett Prize:
The Second Life of Nick Mason, by Steve Hamilton (G.P. Putnam's Sons) 
The Drifter, by Nicholas Petrie (G.P. Putnam's Sons)
Revolver, by Duane Swierczynki (Mulholland Books) 
The Big Nothing, by Bob Truluck (Murmur House Press)

The organization named the HAMMETT PRIZE winner, during the New Atlantic Independent Booksellers Association’s (NAIBA) Fall Conference, in Cherry Hill, New Jersey, last night. The winner received a bronze trophy, designed by sculptor Peter Boiger.

Nominees for 2016 North American Hammett Prize

NOMINEES FOR 2016 NORTH AMERICAN HAMMETT PRIZE 


The North American Branch of the International Association of Crime Writers is pleased to announce nominees for their annual HAMMETT PRIZE for a work of literary excellence in the field of crime writing by a US or Canadian author.

The Second Life of Nick Mason, by Steve Hamilton (G.P. Putnam's Sons) 
The Drifter, by Nicholas Petrie (G.P. Putnam's Sons) 
The White Devil, by Domenic Stansberry (Molotov Editions) 
Revolver, by Duane Swierczynki (Mulholland Books) 
The Big Nothing, by Bob Truluck (Murmur House Press)

The organization will name the HAMMETT PRIZE winner, during the New Atlantic Independent Booksellers Association’s (NAIBA) Fall Conference, in Cherry Hill, New Jersey, October 6-8. The winner will receive a bronze trophy, designed by sculptor Peter Boiger.

Hammett Prize Winner

The North American Branch of the International Association of Crime Writers announced that The Do-Right, by Lisa Sandlin (Cinco Puntos Press), has won the organization's annual HAMMETT PRIZE for a work of literary excellence in the field of crime writing.

The winning title was chosen by a group of three distinguished outside judges: Peter Eckersall, author of Performativity and Event in 1960s Japan: City, Body, Memory and Professor in Theatre at CUNY Graduate Center; Gina Pollock, owner of BR Books in Lancaster, PA; and author Luanne Rice whose most recent novel is The Secret Language of Sisters. The judges selected from among five finalists nominated from the hundreds of crime books published in 2015. These five titles were selected by the organization's nominations committee headed by Michael Bowen.   

Other books nominated for the 2015 HAMMETT PRIZE:

The Stranger, by Harlan Coben (Dutton)
Sorrow Lake: A March and Walker Crime Novel, by Michael J. McCann (Plaid Raccoon Press);
The Whites: A Novel, by Richard Price, writing as Harry Brandt (Henry Holt)
The Organ Broker: A Novel, by Stu Strumwasser (Arcade Publishing)

Ms. Sandlin was awarded a bronze trophy, designed by West Coast sculptor, Peter Boiger.  
The award ceremony took place in Philadelphia, on October 29, during the NoirCon 2016 conference.

2015 HAMMETT PRIZE NOMINEES

The North American Branch of the International Association of Crime Writers announced the nominees for their annual HAMMETT PRIZE for a work of literary excellence in the field of crime writing by a US or Canadian author.  

NOMINEES

The Stranger, by Harlan Coben (Dutton)
Sorrow Lake: A March and Walker Crime Novel, by Michael J. McCann (Plaid Raccoon Press)
The Whites: A Novel, by Richard Price, writing as Harry Brandt (Henry Holt)
The Do-Right, by Lisa Sandlin (Cinco Puntos Press)
The Organ Broker: A Novel, by Stu Strumwasser (Arcade)

A reading committee of IACW/NA members selected the nominees, based on recommendations from other members and the publishing community. The organization will name the HAMMETT PRIZE winner, during the NoirCon literary conference in Philadelphia, October 26-30, 2016. The winner will receive a bronze trophy, designed by sculptor Peter Boiger.

North American Hammett Prize

The North American Branch of the International Association of Crime Writers announced that Mr. Mercedes, by Stephen King (Scribner), has been named the winner of the organization's annual HAMMETT PRIZE for a work of literary excellence in the field of crime writing.

The winning title was chosen by a group of three distinguished outside judges: Morris Dickstein, author of Why Not Say What Happened: A Sentimental Education; Daniel Simon, Editor-in Chief of World Literature Today; and Frank Wilson, former Books Editor of The Philadelphia Inquirer and  blogger at Booksinq. The judges selected from among five finalists nominated from the hundreds of crime books published in 2014. These five titles were selected by the organization's nominations committee headed by Del Staecker.      

Other books nominated for the 2014 HAMMETT PRIZE were Wayfaring Stranger: A Novel, by James Lee Burke (Simon & Schuster); Smoke River, by Krista Foss (McClelland & Stewart); Gangsterland: A Novel, by Tod Goldberg (Counterpoint); and Goodhouse: A Novel, by Peyton Marshall (Farrar, Straus & Giroux).

Mr. King was awarded a bronze trophy, designed by West Coast sculptor, Peter Boiger.  The award
ceremony took place in Somerset, New Jersey, on October 3, during the New Atlantic Independent Booksellers Association’s  (NAIBA) Fall Conference.    

Hammett Prize Nominees

NOMINEES FOR NORTH AMERICAN HAMMETT PRIZE ANNOUNCED

The North American Branch of the International Association of Crime Writers is pleased to announce nominees for their annual HAMMETT PRIZE for a work of literary excellence in the field of crime writing by a US or Canadian author.  The  nominees are as follows:           
       
Wayfaring Stranger: A Novel, by James Lee Burke (Simon & Schuster)
Smoke River, by Krista Foss (McClelland & Stewart)
Gangsterland: A Novel, by Tod Goldberg (Counterpoint)
Mr. Mercedes: A Novel, by Stephen King (Scribner)
Goodhouse: A Novel, by Peyton Marshall (Farrar, Straus & Giroux)

The organization will name the HAMMETT PRIZE  winner, during  the New Atlantic Independent Booksellers Association’s (NAIBA) Fall Conference, in Somerset, New Jersey, October 2-4.

Hammett Prize Winner Announced

Richard Lange has won the Hammett Prize for Angel Baby (Mulholland). The Hammett is sponsored by the North American Branch of the International Association of Crime Writers and is given to a “work of literary excellence in the field of crime writing by a U.S. or Canadian author.”

Other books nominated for the 2013 HAMMETT PRIZE were Cataract City: A Novel, by Craig Davidson (Doubleday Canada); Green Light for Murder, by Heywood Gould (Tyrus Books); Caught, by Lisa Moore (House of Anansi Press); and The Double, by George P. Pelecanos (Little, Brown).

Richard Lange received a bronze trophy, designed by West Coast sculptor Peter Boiger. The award ceremony took place in Toronto, during the Bloody Words conference.

HAMMETT PRIZE

Howard Owen's Oregon Hill has won the Hammett Prize. The Hammett Prize is given by the International Association of Crime Writers.

Oregon Hill was published by The Permanent Press.

HAMMETT PRIZE

The International Association of Crime Writers (North American Branch) announced the winner of the Hammett Prize this past weekend at Bloody Words Conference in Toronto:

James Sallis for The Killer is Dying (Walker & Company)

Nominees
Feast Day of Fools by James Lee Burke (Simon & Schuster)
Claire DeWitt and the City of the Dead by Sara Gran (Houghton Mifflin Harcourt)
The Cat's Table by Michael Ondaatje (McClelland & Stewart/Canada; Knopf/U.S.)
The Informant by Thomas Perry (Houghton Mifflin Harcourt/Otto Penzler)

Hammett Prize Nominees

The North American Branch of the International Association of Crime Writers is pleased to announce nominees for their annual HAMMETT PRIZE for a work of literary excellence in the field of crime writing by a US or Canadian author.  The  nominees:           

James Lee Burke, Feast Day of Fools: A Novel  (Simon & Schuster)
Sara Gran, Claire DeWitt and the City of the Dead ( Houghton Mifflin Harcourt)
Michael Ondaatje, The Cat's Table (McClelland & Stewart/Canada; Knopf/US)
Thomas Perry, The Informant (Houghton Mifflin Harcourt/An Otto Penzler Book)
James Sallis, The Killer is Dying: A Novel (Walker & Company)

A reading committee of IACW/NA members selected the nominees, based on recommendations from other members and the publishing community. The committee was headed by Deen Kogan and included Jedediah Berry, Vicki Delany, Lorenzo Carcaterra, and Thomas Laird.
       
The winner will be chosen by three outside judges: Kevin Connolly, Canadian poet and editor; Eileen Hutton, founder of Brilliance Audio; and Paula J. Massood, author of Black City Cinema: African American Urban Experiences in  Film. 

The organization will name the HAMMETT PRIZE  winner, during the Bloody Words Conference, in Toronto, June 1-3. The winner will receive a bronze trophy, designed by sculptor Peter Boiger.

Hammett Prize Winner: The Nearest Exit

The North American Branch of the International Association of Crime Writers announced that The Nearest Exit, by Olen Steinhauer (St. Martin's/Minotaur), has been named the winner of the organization's annual HAMMETT PRIZE for a work of literary excellence in the field of crime writing.

Mr. Steinhauer was awarded a bronze trophy, designed by West Coast sculptor, Peter Boiger. The award ceremony took place in Atlantic City, on September 20, during the New Atlantic Independent Booksellers Association's (NAIBA) Fall Conference.