Times Tallies Talent

Presentation of the 2026 Los Angeles Times Book Prizes is set to take place on Friday, April 17. In the run-up to that, five final contenders have been announced in the Mystery/Thriller category. They are:

• El Dorado Drive, by Megan Abbott (Putnam)
• Everybody Wants to Rule the World, by Ace Atkins (Morrow)
• Crooks, by Lou Berney (Morrow)
• The Proving Ground, by Michael Connelly (Little, Brown)
• King of Ashes, by S.A. Cosby (Pine & Cedar)

In addition, Tod Golberg’s Only Way Out (Thomas & Mercer) has found a place among candidates in the general fiction category.

Congratulations to all of the nominees! To see more finalists for this year’s L.A. Times prize categories, click here.