The Shamus Award is awarded by the Private Eye Writers of America (PWA) for the best detective fiction (P. I. = Private investigator) genre novels and short stories of the year.
The Prize is given annually to recognize outstanding achievement in private eye fiction. Starting in 2003, the Shamus Awards are sometimes (2003, 2007–2009, 2011–2016) announced during the Bouchercon World Mystery Convention, at the convention's PWA Awards Banquet.
Categories
| Title | Awarded since |
|---|---|
| Best P. I. Hardcover Novel | 1982 |
| Best First P. I. Novel | 1985 |
| Best P. I. Paperback Original | 1982 |
| THE EYE – Lifetime Achievement Award | 1982 |
| Best P. I. Short Story | 1983 |
| St. Martins' Press/ PWA Best First Private Eye Novel Contest |
1986 |
| Friends of PWA | 2002 |
| Best P. I. Series/Characters – The Hammer | 2007 |
| Best Indie P.I. Novel | 2013 |
Winners
Best P. I. Hardcover Novel
| Year | Winner | Title |
|---|---|---|
| 1982 | Bill Pronzini | Hoodwink St. Martin’s Press, New York 1981 |
| 1983 | Lawrence Block | Eight Million Ways to Die Arbor House, New York 1982 |
| 1984 | Max Allan Collins | True Detective St. Martin’s Press, New York 1983 |
| 1985 | Loren D. Estleman | Sugartown Houghton Mifflin, Boston1984 |
| 1986 | Sue Grafton | "B" Is for Burglar Holt, Rinehart & Winston, New York 1986 |
| 1987 | Jeremiah Healy | The Staked Goat Harper & Row, New York 1986 |
| 1988 | Benjamin Schutz | A Tax in Blood Tom Doherty, New York 1987 |
| 1989 | John Lutz | Kiss Henry Holt, New York 1988 |
| 1990 | Jonathan Valin | Extenuating Circumstances Delacorte Press, New York 1989 |
| 1991 | Sue Grafton | "G" Is for Gumshoe Henry Holt, New York 1990 |
| 1992 | Max Allan Collins | Stolen Away Bantam Books, New York 1991 |
| 1993 | Harold Adams | The Man Who was Taller Than God Walker & Co., New York 1992 |
| 1994 | Lawrence Block | The Devil Knows You're Dead William Morrow, New York 1993 |
| 1995 | Sue Grafton | "K" Is for Killer Henry Holt, New York 1994 |
| 1996 | S. J. Rozan | Concourse St. Martin’s Press, New York 1995 |
| 1997 | Robert Crais | Sunset Express Hyperion, New York 1996 |
| 1998 | Terence Faherty | Come Back Dead Simon & Schuster, New York 1997 |
| 1999 | Bill Pronzini | Boobytrap Carroll & Graf, New York 1998 |
| 2000 | Don Winslow | California Fire and Life Alfred A. Knopf, New York 1999 |
| 2001 | Carolina Garcia-Aguilera | Havana Heat William Morrow, New York 2000 |
| 2002 | S. J. Rozan | Reflecting the Sky St. Martin’s Minotaur, New York 2001 |
| 2003 | James W. Hall | Blackwater Sound St. Martin’s Press, New York 2002 |
| 2004 | Ken Bruen | The Guards Brandon, Dingle Co. Kerry /Ireland 2001 |
| 2005 | Ed Wright | While I Disappear Putnam’s, New York 2004 |
| 2006 | Michael Connelly | The Lincoln Lawyer Little, Brown, Boston 2005 |
| 2007 | Ken Bruen | The Dramatist Brandon, Dingle Co. Kerry/Ireland 2004 |
| 2008 | Reed Farrel Coleman | Soul Patch Bleak House Books, Madison/WI 2007 |
| 2009 | Reed Farrel Coleman | Empty Ever After Bleak House Books, Madison/WI 2008 |
| 2010 | Marcia Muller | Locked In |
| 2011 | Lori Armstrong | No Mercy |
| 2012 | Michael Wiley | A Bad Night's Sleep |
| 2013 | Robert Crais | Taken |
| 2014 | Brad Parks | The Good Cop |
| 2015 | David Rosenfelt | Hounded St. Martin’s Minotaur, New York 2014 |
| 2016 | Ingrid Thoft | Brutality |
| 2017 | Reed Farrel Coleman | Where It Hurts G.P. Putnam's Sons, 2016 |
| 2018 | T. Jefferson Parker | The Room of White Fire G.P. Putnam's Sons, 2016 |
| 2019 | Kristen Lepionka | What You Want to See
Minotaur Books, 2018 |
| 2020 | Matt Coyle | Lost Tomorrows
Oceanview Publishing, 2019 |
| 2021 | Matt Coyle | Blind Vigil
Oceanview Publishing, 2019 |
| 2022 | S. J. Rozan | Family Business
Pegasus Crime, 2021 |
| 2023 | Jonathan Ames | The Wheel of Doll
Mulholland Books, 2022 |
Best First P. I. Novel
| Year | Winner | Title |
|---|---|---|
| 1985 | Jack Early | A Creative Kind of Killer Watts Publishing, New York 1984 |
| 1986 | Wayne Warga | Hardcover Arbor House, New York 1985 |
| 1987 | J. W. Rider | Jersey Tomatoes Arbor House, New York 1986 |
| 1988 | Michael Allegretto | Death on the Rocks Scribner’s, New York 1987 |
| 1989 | Gar Anthony Haywood | Fear of the Dark St. Martin’s Press, New York 1988 |
| 1990 | Karen Kijewski | Katwalk St. Martin’s Press, New York 1989 |
| 1991 | Walter Mosley | Devil in a Blue Dress W.W. Norton, New York 1990 |
| 1992 | Thomas Davis | Suffer Little Children Walker & Co., New York 1991 |
| 1993 | John Straley | The Woman Who Married a Bear Soho Press, New York 1992 |
| 1994 | Lynn Hightower | Satan's Lambs Walker & Co., New York 1993 |
| 1995 | Dennis Lehane | A Drink Before the War Harcourt Brace, New York 1994 |
| 1996 | Richard Barre | The Innocents Walker & Co., New York 1995 |
| 1997 | Carol Lea Benjamin | This Dog for Hire Walker & Co., New York 1996 |
| 1998 | Rick Riordan | Big Red Tequila Bantam Books, New York 1997 |
| 1999 | Steve Hamilton | A Cold Day in Paradise St. Martin’s Press, New York 1998 |
| 2000 | John Connolly | Every Dead Thing Hodder & Stoughton, London, 1999 |
| 2001 | Bob Truluck | Street Level Thomas Dunne Books, New York 2000 |
| 2002 | David Fulmer | Chasing the Devil's Tail Poisoned Pen Press, Scottsdale/Arizona 2001 |
| 2003 | Eddie Muller | The Distance Scribner’s, New York 2002 |
| 2004 | Peter Spiegelman | Black Maps Alfred A. Knopf, New York 2003 |
| 2005 | Ingrid Black | The Dead Headline, London 2003 |
| 2006 | Louise Ure | Forcing Amaryllis Mysterious Press, New York 2005 |
| 2007 | Declan Hughes | The Wrong Kind of Blood William Morrow, New York 2006 |
| 2008 | Sean Chercover | Big City, Bad Blood William Morow, New York 2007 |
| 2009 | Ian Vasquez | In the Heat St. Martin's Minotaur, New York 2008 |
| 2010 | Brad Parks | Faces of the Gone |
| 2011 | Michael Ayoob | In Search of Mercy St. Martin's Minotaur, New York 2010 |
| 2012 | P.G. Sturges | The Shortcut Man Scribner’s, New York 2011 |
| 2013 | Michael Sears | Black Fridays Putnam, New York 2012 |
| 2014 | Lachlan Smith | Bear Is Broken Mysterious Press, New York 2013 |
| 2015 | Julia Dahl | Invisible City St. Martin's Minotaur, New York 2014 |
| 2016 | Lisa Sandlin | The Do-Right Cinco Puntos Press, El Paso 2015 |
| 2017 | Joe Ide | IQ Mulholland Books, 2017 |
| 2018 | Kristen Lepionka | The Last Place You Look Minotaur Books, 2017 |
| 2019 | Katrina Carrasco | The Best Bad Things
MCD Farrar, Straus, Giroux, 2018 |
| 2021 | Kwei Quartey | The Missing American
Soho Crime, 2020 |
Best P. I. Paperback Original
| Year | Winner | Title |
|---|---|---|
| 1982 | Max Byrd | California Thriller Bantam Books, New York 1981 |
| 1983 | William Campbell Gault | The Cana Diversion Worldwide, New York/ Toronto 1982 |
| 1984 | Paul Engleman | Dead in Centerfield Ballantine Books, New York 1983 |
| 1985 | Warren Murphy | Ceiling of Hell Fawcett Crest, New York 1984 |
| 1986 | Earl Emerson | Poverty Bay Avon Books, New York 1985 |
| 1987 | Rob Kantner | The Back Door Man Bantam Books, New York 1986 |
| 1988 | L.J. Washburn | Wild Night Tom Doherty, New York 1987 |
| 1989 | Rob Kantner | Dirty Work Bantam Books, New York 1988 |
| 1990 | Rob Kantner | Hell's Only Half Full Bantam Books, New York 1989 |
| 1991 | W. Glenn Duncan | Rafferty: Fatal Sisters Fawcett Books, Greenwich/CT. 1990 |
| 1992 | Paul Kemprecos | Cool Blue Tomb Batam Books, New York 1991 |
| 1993 | Marele Day | The Last Tango of Dolores Delgado Allen & Unwin, St. Leonards/Australia 1992 |
| 1994 | Rodman Philbrick | Brothers and Sinners Penguin Books CND, Toronto 1993 |
| 1995 | Ed Goldberg | Served Cold West Coast Crime, Portland/Oregon 1994 |
| 1996 | William Jaspersohn | Native Angels Bantam Books, New York 1995 |
| 1997 | Harlan Coben | Fade Away Dell, New York 1996 |
| 1998 | Laura Lippman | Charm City Avon Books, New York 1997 |
| 1999 | Steven Womack | Murder Manual Ballantine Books, New York 1998 |
| 2000 | Laura Lippman | In Big Trouble Avon Books, New York 1999 |
| 2001 | Thomas Lipinski | Death in the Steel City Avon Twilight, New York 2000 |
| 2002 | Lyda Morehouse | Archangel Protocol New American Library, New York 2001 |
| 2003 | D. Daniel Judson | The Poisoned Rose Bantam Books, New York 2002 |
| 2004 | Andy Straka | Cold Quarry Signet, New York 2003 |
| 2005 | Max Phillips | Fade to Blonde Dorchester Publishing, New York 2004 |
| 2006 | Reed Farrel Coleman | The James Deans Plume, New York 2005 |
| 2007 | P. J. Parrish | An Unquiet Grave Kensington Books, New York 2006 |
| 2008 | Richard Aleas | Songs of Innocence Hard Case Crime, New York 2007 |
| 2009 | Lori G. Armstrong | Snow Blind Medallion Press, St Charles/IL 2008 |
| 2010 | Ira Berkowitz | Sinner's Ball Three Rivers Press, New York 2009 |
| 2011 | Christopher G. Moore | Asia Hand Grove/Atlantic Inc., New York 2010 |
| 2012 | Duane Swierczynski | Fun & Games Mulholland Books, London 2011 |
| 2013 | Alison Gaylin | And She Was Harper, New York 2012 |
| 2014 | P.J. Parrish | Heart of Ice Pocket Books, New York 2013 |
| 2015 | Vincent Zandri | Moonlight Weeps Down & Out Books, Tampa 2014 |
| 2016 | J. L. Abramo | Circling the Runway Down & Out Books, Tampa 2015 |
| 2017 | Vaseem Khan | The Perplexing Theft of the Jewel in the Crown |
| 2018 | Rich Zahradnik | Lights Out Summer Camel Press, 2019 |
| 2019 | Max Wirestone | The Questionable Behavior of Dahlia Moss
Redhook Books, 2018 |
| 2020 | James D. F. Hannah | Behind the Wall of Sleep
James D.F. Hannah, 2019 |
| 2021 | Richard Helms | Brittle Karma
Barbados Hall Communications, 2020 |
THE EYE – Lifetime Achievement Award
(Not awarded in 1989, 1990, 1996, 1998, 2001, 2012, 2014, 2019 and 2020)
| Year | Winner |
|---|---|
| 1982 | Ross Macdonald |
| 1983 | Mickey Spillane |
| 1984 | William Campbell Gault |
| 1985 | Howard Browne |
| 1986 | Richard S. Prather |
| 1987 | Bill Pronzini |
| 1988 | Dennis Lynds and Wade Miller |
| 1991 | Roy Huggins |
| 1992 | Joseph Hansen |
| 1993 | Marcia Muller |
| 1994 | Stephen J. Cannell |
| 1995 | John Lutz and Robert B. Parker |
| 1997 | Stephen Marlowe |
| 1999 | Maxine O'Callaghan |
| 2000 | Edward D. Hoch |
| 2002 | Lawrence Block |
| 2003 | Sue Grafton |
| 2004 | Donald Westlake |
| 2005 | Sara Paretsky |
| 2006 | Max Allan Collins |
| 2007 | Stuart M. Kaminsky |
| 2008 | Joe Gores |
| 2009 | Robert J. Randisi |
| 2010 | Robert Crais |
| 2011 | Ed Gorman |
| 2013 | Loren D. Estleman |
| 2015 | Parnell Hall |
| 2016 | S.J. Rozan |
| 2017 | Jerry Kennealy |
| 2018 | Walter Mosley |
| 2021 | Michael Z. Lewin |
Best P. I. Series Character – The Hammer
| Year | Series/Characters | Authors |
|---|---|---|
| 2007 | Shell Scott | Richard S. Prather |
| 2008 | The Nameless Detective | Bill Pronzini |
| 2009 | Matt Scudder | Lawrence Block |
| 2010 | Sharon McCone | Marcia Muller |
| 2011 | V.I. Warshawski | Sara Paretsky |
| 2012 | Nate Heller | Max Allan Collins |
| 2014 | Kinsey Millhone | Sue Grafton |
Best Indie P.I. Novel
| Year | Winner | Title |
|---|---|---|
| 2013 | Paul D. Marks | White Heat |
| 2014 | M. Ruth Myers | Don't Dare a Dame |
| 2015 | Trace Conger | The Shadow Broker |
References
- ^ "The Private Eye Writers of America and The Shamus Awards". Thrilling Detective. Archived from the original on 2011-08-07. Retrieved 2019-06-04.
- ^ "The Private Eye Writers of America". www.privateeyewriters.com. Archived from the original on 14 March 2019. Retrieved 29 December 2017.