2026 Left Coast Crime “Lefty” Award Nominations

Left Coast Crime 2026 will be presenting four Lefty Awards at our 36th annual convention, to be held this February in San Francisco: Humorous, Historical, Debut, and Best. The awards will be voted on at the convention and presented at a banquet on Saturday, February 28, at the Hyatt Regency on the Embarcadero. The Lefty nominees have been selected by convention registrants. 

2026 Lefty Award nominees for books published in 2025:

Lefty for Best Humorous Mystery Novel. 

The nominees are:

• Ellen Byron, Solid Gold Murder (Kensington)

• Jennifer J. Chow, Star-Crossed Egg Tarts (St. Martin’s Paperbacks)

• Elizabeth Crowens, Bye Bye Blackbird (Level Best Books)

• Catriona McPherson, Scot’s Eggs (Severn House)

• Cindy Sample, All’s Faire in Love and Murder (Cindy Sample Books)

Lefty for Best Historical Mystery Novel for books set before 1970 
(The Bill Gottfried Memorial). 

The nominees are:

• Cara Black, Huguette (Soho Crime)

• Mariah Fredericks, The Girl in the Green Dress (Minotaur Books)

• Dianne Freeman, A Daughter’s Guide to Mothers and Murder (Kensington)

• Claire M. Johnson, City Lights (Level Best Books)

• Laurie R. King, Knave of Diamonds (Bantam)

• Rob Osler, The Case of the Missing Maid (Kensington)

Lefty for Best Debut Mystery Novel. 

The nominees are:

• Adrian Andover, Whiskey Business (Chestnut Avenue Press)

• Kristen L. Berry, We Don’t Talk About Carol (Bantam)

• Laurie L. Dove, Mask of the Deer Woman (Berkley)

• Sue Hincenbergs, The Retirement Plan (William Morrow)

• Marisa Kashino, Best Offer Wins (Celadon Books)

• Diane Schaffer, Mortal Zin (Sibylline Press)

Lefty for Best Mystery Novel (not in other categories). 

The nominees are:

• Lou Berney, Crooks (William Morrow)

• Claire Booth, Throwing Shadows (Severn House)

• Tracy Clark, Edge (Thomas & Mercer)

• Leslie Karst, Waters of Destruction (Severn House)

• James L’Etoile, River of Lies (Oceanview Publishing)

• Gigi Pandian, The Library Game (Minotaur Books) 

Left Coast Crime Conventions are annual events sponsored by mystery fans, both readers and authors. Held in the western half of North America, LCC’s intent is to host an event where readers, authors, critics, librarians, publishers, and other fans can gather in convivial surroundings to pursue their mutual interests. Lefty Awards have been given since 1996. 

Returning to The City, where Left Coast Crime held its first two conventions, the 36th Annual Left Coast Crime Convention will take place in San Francisco, February 26 – March 1, 2026. This year’s Guests of Honor are authors Robin Burcell and Gary Phillips. Randal Brandt is the Fan Guest of Honor, and author Leslie Karst will serve as Toastmaster.

Left Coast Crime is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit corporation holding annual mystery conventions in the West. Each LCC convention raises money to support a local literary organization, and is staffed entirely by volunteers.

For more information on Left Coast Crime 2026, please visit www.leftcoastcrime.org/2026/

Guests of Honor Interviews: Left Coast Crime Rocky Mountain High Jinks

What a fabulous Left Coast Crime! So many friends, so many panels, so little time. Choices had to be made. So, if you didn't make it to all the panels (or didn't make it to LCC), here are links to the Guests of Honor interviews. Enjoy!

And, please join us next year at Left Coast Crime in San Francisco! San Francisco Schemin'

***

Sarah Paretsky Interviewed by Leslie Budewitz

 

 John Copenhaver interviewed by Christa Faust

   

 Manuel Ramos Interviewed by David Heska Wanbli Weiden 

 

 Grace Koshida interviewed by Leslie Karst 

 

LEFTY AWARD WINNERS: Left Coast Crime 2025

The Lefty Awards were presented at Left Coast Crime 2025 tonight, Saturday, March 15, at the Westin Denver Downtown. Congratulations to all! 

Lefty Award for Best Humorous Mystery Novel

• Rob Osler, Cirque du Slay (Crooked Lane Books)

Lefty Award for Best Historical Mystery Novel
(Bill Gottfried Memorial) for books covering events before 1970

• John Copenhaver, Hall of Mirrors (Pegasus Crime)

Lefty Award for Best Debut Mystery Novel

• Jennifer K. Morita, Ghosts of Waikiki (Crooked Lane Books)

Lefty Award for Best Mystery Novel
(not in other categories)

• James L’Etoile, Served Cold (Level Best Books)

LEFT COAST CRIME 2025

Left Coast Crime 2025

Rocky Mountain High Jinks, the 35th Left Coast Crime convention, will be held March 13-16, 2025, in Denver, Colorado. Hotel: Westin Denver Downtown on the 16th Street Mall, a mile-long pedestrian-friendly mall, and a couple of blocks from Larimer Square, a picturesque city block of restaurants and shops dating back to Denver’s earliest days.

Registration Price is $339 (through December 31, 2024) Registration also includes two breakfasts, welcome reception, and the banquet (What a deal!!!); hotel rate is $199.  More information and  Registration

See you there!!!!

ROCKY MOUNTAIN HIGH JINKS: Left Coast Crime 2025

LEFT COAST CRIME 2025: DENVER, COLORADO

Rocky Mountain High Jinks

Registration is now open for LCC 2025 in Denver, Colorado, March 13-16, 2025. Registration includes a Welcome Reception, two special Breakfasts, the Awards Banquet, and admission to all panels and interviews. The early registration fee of $299 extends through April 15, 2024, the close of LCC 2024: Seattle Shakedown.

More Information and Online Registration

LCC 2025 Special Guests

We are thrilled to announce our Special Guests: Guests of Honor Manuel Ramos and Sara Paretsky, Fan Guest of Honor Grace Koshida, and Toastmaster John Copenhaver.

LEFT COAST CRIME NEWS

Left Coast Crime is my favorite mystery convention. Left Coast Crime is an annual mystery convention sponsored by mystery fans, both readers and authors. LCC is held during the first quarter of the year in Western North America.from Anchorage to El Paso, from Boulder to Hawaii, and various locations in between. We once met on the 'Left Coast" of England! It's a great conference with panels, banquet, awards, and so much more.

The purpose of Left Coast Crime is to host an event where readers, authors, critics, librarians, publishers, and other fans can gather in convivial surroundings to pursue their mutual interests.

This year, Left Coast Crime was awarded the Raven Award from Mystery Writers of America. This award recognizes outstanding achievement in the mystery field outside the realm of creative writing. Go, Left Coast Crime! Left Coast Crime wants to thank the hordes of volunteers and the amazing teamwork of the local and national committees that have allowed us continue the Left Coast Crime tradition.

Sadly, with all that's going on this year with COVID-19, Left Coast Crime: Murder's a Beach was in full swing this week in San Diego, when it was shut down abruptly by San Diego County. Nevertheless one full of panels and meetings, new authors breakfast, snacks, and treats took place. Hats off to the Organizers of this year's conference: Stan Ulrich, Lucinda Surber, Lisq Brackmann, Kim Keeline, Maryelizabeth Yturralde, Tammy Kaheler and all the local committee and volunteers. They put in years of planning and hard work to ensure a terrific convention.

Lefty Awards: Do not fear, the Lefty Awards will be voted on and the winners announced in the near future. New procedure this year due to the cancellation of the convention.

All things being what they are, join us at Left Coast Crime: Southwest Sleuths next year in Albuquerque, NM, April 8-11, 2021. See you there!

LEFT COAST CRIME 2021: ALBUQUERQUE, NM

Registration Open for Left Coast Crime 2021: Albuquerque, New Mexico
 

Registration is now open for LCC 2021 in Albuquerque, New Mexico, April 8-11, 2021. Registration includes a Welcome Reception, two special Breakfasts, the Awards Banquet, and admission to all panels and interviews. The early registration fee of $195 extends through March 15, 2020, the close of LCC San Diego.

Online Registration for LCC 2021 Albuquerque
 

Hyatt Regency Albuquerque

Located in downtown Albuquerque, the hotel’s rooms provide beautiful views of the mountains and the city. At 20 stories, the Hyatt Regency Albuquerque is the 2nd tallest building in the state of New Mexico! Albuquerque has a high desert climate — in April, the average temperature is 68°/42° with very low humidity. Albuquerque’s elevation is 5,312 feet. Our convention rate of $134 is also available three days before and after the convention if registrants choose to extend their stay and explore Albuquerque. Registrants will receive the hotel code when reservations open in early April 2020.
 
More information about LCC 2021