It’s Now Time to Judge the Leftys

It’s been many moons since I last attended a Left Coast Crime gathering, but I’m fully registered and ready for the 2026 convention in San Francisco (February 26-March 1). In advance of that, event organizers have announced the nominees for this year’s Lefty Awards, all selected by LCC registrants.

Lefty for Best Humorous Mystery Novel:
• Solid Gold Murder, by Ellen Byron (Kensington)
• Star-Crossed Egg Tarts, by Jennifer J. Chow (St. Martin’s Paperbacks)
• Bye Bye Blackbird, by Elizabeth Crowens (Level Best)
• Scot’s Eggs, by Catriona McPherson (Severn House)
• All’s Faire in Love and Murder, by Cindy Sample (Cindy Sample)

Bill Gottfried Memorial Lefty for Best Historical Mystery Novel (books set before 1970):
• Huguette, by Cara Black (Soho Crime)
• The Girl in the Green Dress, by Mariah Fredericks (Minotaur)
• A Daughter’s Guide to Mothers and Murder, by Dianne
Freeman (Kensington)
• City Lights, by Claire M. Johnson (Level Best)
• Knave of Diamonds, by Laurie R. King (Bantam)
• The Case of the Missing Maid, by Rob Osler (Kensington)

Lefty for Best Debut Mystery Novel:
• Whiskey Business, by Adrian Andover (Chestnut Avenue Press)
• We Don’t Talk About Carol, by Kristen L. Berry (Bantam)
• Mask of the Deer Woman, by Laurie L. Dove (Berkley)
• The Retirement Plan, by Sue Hincenbergs (Morrow)
• Best Offer Wins, by Marisa Kashino (Celadon)
• Mortal Zin, by Diane Schaffer (Sibylline Press)

Lefty for Best Mystery Novel (not in other categories):
• Crooks, by Lou Berney (Morrow)
• Throwing Shadows, by Claire Booth (Severn House)
• Edge, by Tracy Clark (Thomas & Mercer)
• Waters of Destruction, by Leslie Karst (Severn House)
• River of Lies, bhy James L’Etoile (Oceanview)
• The Library Game, by Gigi Pandian (Minotaur)

Winners of the 2026 Leftys will be revealed during a banquet at the Hyatt Regency-Embarcadero on Saturday, February 28.

(Hat tip to Mystery Fanfare.)