Now It’s for Readers to Choose

The British Web site Crime Fiction Lover today released its shortlists for the 2026 Crime Fiction Lover Awards, “honour[ing] the finest our beloved genre has to offer.” Nominees—chosen by both the site’s editors and readers—come in six categories.

Best Crime Novel:
• The Hollow Boys, by Tariq Ashkanani (Viper)
• Murder at the Grand Alpine Hotel, by Lucy Foley (HarperCollins)
• A Violent Masterpiece, by Jordan Harper (Faber & Faber)
• London Station, by David McCloskey (Swift Press)
• The Tailor, by Tim Sullivan (Head of Zeus/Aries)
• The Art of Getting Hammered, by Joanna Wallace (Viper)

Best Debut Crime Novel:
• The Fifteenth Man, by William Cook (Viper)
• A Bad, Bad Place, by Frances Crawford (Bantam)
• A Gift Before Dying, by Malcolm Kempt (Baskerville)
• The Nancys and the Case of the Missing Necklace, by R.W.R. McDonald (Orenda)
• The Murder at World’s End, by Ross Montgomery (Viking)
• Shrink Solves Murder, by Philippa Perry (Hutchinson Heinemann)

Best Crime Novel in Translation:
• Holy F*ck, by Joseph Incardona,
translated by Sam Taylor (Bitter Lemon Press)
• The Writing in the Water, by John Ajvide Lindqvist,
translated by Michael Meigs (Amazon Crossing)
• Surface, by Olivier Norek,
translated by Nick Caistor (Open Borders Press)
• Cathedrals, by Claudia Piñeiro,
translated by Frances Riddle (Charco Press)
• The Butterfly House, by Teresa Solana,
translated by Peter Bush (Corylus)
• Strange Buildings, by Uketsu,
translated by Jim Rion (Pushkin Vertigo)

Best Indie Crime Novel:
• The Bone Mother, by Suzy Apsley (Orenda)
• Echoes of the Lost, by Cindy Brown (Ooligan Press)
• Graham and the Flitchcombe Murders, by David Fairer (Book Guild)
• Collateral Death, by J. Kushley (J. Kushley)
• Phantom Pass, by André M. Louw (Catalyst Press)
• Cover Story, by R.N. Morris

Best Crime Show of 2026:
• Astrid: Murder in Paris, Season 5
• Dark Winds, Season 4
• Ludwig, Season 2
• Marble Hall Murders
• Neagley
• Slow Horses, Season 6

Best Crime Author:
• Lucy Foley
• Nadine Matheson
• David McCloskey
• Satu Rämö
• Andrew Raymond
• Uketsu

As Crime Fiction Lover explains, “The winner of each category will be determined by a vote among readers. In addition to a winner in each section, our team will also give an Editor’s Choice award.” You have until noon (UK time) on Wednesday, December 2, to make your preferences known. Click here to find the ballot.