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Winner
The Life of Crime: Detecting the History of Mysteries and Their Creators by Martin Edwards

Nominees
The Bloomsbury Handbook to Agatha Christie by Mary Anna Evans & JC Bernthal
The Crime World of Michael Connelly: A Study of His Works and Their Adaptations by David Geherin
Agatha Christie: An Elusive Woman by Lucy Worsley
2023 2022 2021 2020 2019 2018 2017 2016 2015 2014 2013 2012 2011 2010 2009 2008 2007 2006 2005 2004 2003 2002 2001 2000 1999 1998 1997 1996 1995 1994 1993 1992 1991 1990 1989 1988 1987 

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Winner
How to Write a Mystery: A Handbook from Mystery Writers of America by Lee Child & Laurie R King

Shortlist
Agatha Christie’s Poirot: The Greatest Detective in the World by Mark Aldridge
The Confidence Men: How Two Prisoners of War Engineered the Most Remarkable Escape in History by Margalit Fox
The Unquiet Englishman: A Life of Graham Greene by Richard Greene
Tony Hillerman: A Life by James McGrath Morris
The Reason for the Darkness of the Night: Edgar Allan Poe and the Forging of American Science by John Tresch
The Twelve Lives of Alfred Hitchcock: An Anatomy of the Master of Suspense by Edward White
2023 2022 2021 2020 2019 2018 2017 2016 2015 2014 2013 2012 2011 2010 2009 2008 2007 2006 2005 2004 2003 2002 2001 2000 1999 1998 1997 1996 1995 1994 1993 1992 1991 1990 1989 1988 1987 
Winner
H.R.F. Keating: A Life of Crime by Sheila Mitchell
​
Shortlist
Sometimes You Have to Lie: The Life and Times of Louise Fitzhugh, Renegade Author of Harriet the Spy by Leslie Brody
Howdunit: A Masterclass in Crime Writing by Members of the Detection Club by Martin Edwards
Ian Rankin: A Companion to the Mystery Fiction by Erin E MacDonald
Southern Cross Crime: The Pocket Essential Guide to the Crime Fiction, Film & TV of Australia and New Zealand by Craig Sisterson
2023 ​2022 2021 2020 2019 2018 2017 2016 2015 2014 2013 2012 2011 2010 2009 2008 2007 2006 2005 2004 2003 2002 2001 2000 1999 1998 1997 1996 1995 1994 1993 1992 1991 1990 1989 1988 1987 
Winner
Hitchcock and the Censors by John Billheimer

​Shortlist
Frederic Dannay, Ellery Queen’s Mystery Magazine and the Art of the Detective Short Story by Laird R Blackwell
Beyond the Thirty-Nine Steps: A Life of John Buchan by Ursula Buchan
Norco ’80: The True Story of the Most Spectacular Bank Robbery in American History by Peter Houlahan
The Mutual Admiration Society: How Dorothy L. Sayers and Her Oxford Circle Remade the World for Women by Mo Moulton
Indecent Advances: A Hidden History of True Crime and Prejudice Before Stonewall by James Polchin
2023 ​2022 2021 2020 2019 2018 2017 2016 2015 2014 2013 2012 2011 2010 2009 2008 2007 2006 2005 2004 2003 2002 2001 2000 1999 1998 1997 1996 1995 1994 1993 1992 1991 1990 1989 1988 1987 
Winner
The Real Lolita: The Kidnapping of Sally Horner and the Novel that Scandalized the World by Sarah Weinman

Shortlist
The Metaphysical Mysteries of G.K. Chesterton: A Critical Study of the Father Brown Stories and Other Detective Fiction by Laird R Blackwell
Conan Doyle for the Defense: The True Story of a Sensational British Murder, a Quest for Justice, and the World’s Most Famous Detective Writer by Margalit Fox
Classic American Crime Fiction of the 1920s by Leslie S Klinger
I'll Be Gone in the Dark: One Woman’s Obsessive Search for the Golden State Killer by Michelle McNamara
Agatha Christie: A Mysterious Life by Laura Thompson
2023 ​2022 2021 2020 2019 2018 2017 2016 2015 2014 2013 2012 2011 2010 2009 2008 2007 2006 2005 2004 2003 2002 2001 2000 1999 1998 1997 1996 1995 1994 1993 1992 1991 1990 1989 1988 1987 
Winner
The Story Of Classic Crime In 100 Books by Martin Edwards
 
Shortlist
From Holmes to Sherlock: The Story of the Men and Women Who Created an Icon by Mattias Bostrom
Chester B. Himes: A Biography by Lawrence P Jackson
The Man From the Train: The Solving of a Century-Old Serial Killer Mystery by Bill James & Rachel McCarthy James
Arthur and Sherlock: Conan Doyle and the Creation of Holmes by Michael Sims
Lady Killers: Deadly Women Throughout History by Tori Telfer​
2023 ​2022 2021 2020 2019 2018 2017 2016 2015 2014 2013 2012 2011 2010 2009 2008 2007 2006 2005 2004 2003 2002 2001 2000 1999 1998 1997 1996 1995 1994 1993 1992 1991 1990 1989 1988 1987 
Winner
Sara Paretsky: A Companion to the Mystery Fiction by Margaret Kinsman
 
Shortlist
Mastering Suspense, Structure, and Plot: How to Write Gripping Stories that Keep Readers on the Edge of Their Seats by Jane K Cleland
Shirley Jackson: A Rather Haunted Life by Ruth Franklin
Something in the Blood: The Untold Story of Bram Stoker by David J Skal
The Wicked Boy: The Mystery of a Victorian Child Murderer by Kate Summerscale​
2023 ​2022 2021 2020 2019 2018 2017 2016 2015 2014 2013 2012 2011 2010 2009 2008 2007 2006 2005 2004 2003 2002 2001 2000 1999 1998 1997 1996 1995 1994 1993 1992 1991 1990 1989 1988 1987 
Winner
The Golden Age of Murder by Martin Edwards
 
Shortlist
A is for Arsenic: The Poisons of Agatha Christie by Kathryn Harkup
Meanwhile There Are Letters: The Correspondence of Eudora Welty and Ross Macdonald by Suzanne Marrs & Tom Nolan
Forensics: What Bugs, Burns, Prints, DNA, and More Tell Us About Crime by Val McDermid
The Lost Detective: Becoming Dashiell Hammett by Nathan Ward​
2023 ​2022 2021 2020 2019 2018 2017 2016 2015 2014 2013 2012 2011 2010 2009 2008 2007 2006 2005 2004 2003 2002 2001 2000 1999 1998 1997 1996 1995 1994 1993 1992 1991 1990 1989 1988 1987 
Winner
Writes of Passage - Adventures on the Writer's Journey by Hank Phillippi Ryan
 
Shortlist
The Figure of the Detective: A Literary History and Analysis by Charles Brownson
Poe-Land: The Hallowed Haunts of Edgar Allan Poe by JW Ocker
400 Things Cops Know: Street Smart Lessons from a Veteran Patrolman by Adam Plantinga​
2023 ​2022 2021 2020 2019 2018 2017 2016 2015 2014 2013 2012 2011 2010 2009 2008 2007 2006 2005 2004 2003 2002 2001 2000 1999 1998 1997 1996 1995 1994 1993 1992 1991 1990 1989 1988 1987 
Winner
The Hour of Peril: The Secret Plot to Murder Lincoln Before the Civil War by Daniel Stashower
 
Shortlist
The Lady and Her Monsters: A Tale of Dissections, Real-Life Dr. Frankensteins, and the Creation of Mary Shelley’s Masterpiece by Roseanne Montillo
Being Cool: The Work of Elmore Leonard by Charles J Rzepka​
2023 ​2022 2021 2020 2019 2018 2017 2016 2015 2014 2013 2012 2011 2010 2009 2008 2007 2006 2005 2004 2003 2002 2001 2000 1999 1998 1997 1996 1995 1994 1993 1992 1991 1990 1989 1988 1987 
Winner
Books to Die For: The World’s Greatest Mystery Writers on the World’s Greatest Mystery Novels by Declan Burke & John Connolly
 
Shortlist
Midnight in Peking: How the Murder of a Young Englishwoman Haunted the Last Days of Old China by Paul French
In Pursuit of Spenser: Mystery Writers on Robert B. Parker and the Creation of an American Hero by Otto Penzler​
2023 ​2022 2021 2020 2019 2018 2017 2016 2015 2014 2013 2012 2011 2010 2009 2008 2007 2006 2005 2004 2003 2002 2001 2000 1999 1998 1997 1996 1995 1994 1993 1992 1991 1990 1989 1988 1987 
Winner
The Sookie Stackhouse Companion by Charlaine Harris
 
Shortlist
Books, Crooks and Counselors: How to Write Accurately About Criminal Law and Courtroom Procedure by Leslie Budewitz
Agatha Christie: Murder in the Making: More Stories and Secrets from Her Notebooks by John Curran
Wilkie Collins, Vera Caspary & the Evolution of the Casebook Novel by AB Emrys
The Savage City: Race, Murder, and a Generation on the Edge by TJ English​
2023 ​2022 2021 2020 2019 2018 2017 2016 2015 2014 2013 2012 2011 2010 2009 2008 2007 2006 2005 2004 2003 2002 2001 2000 1999 1998 1997 1996 1995 1994 1993 1992 1991 1990 1989 1988 1987 
Winner
Agatha Christie's Secret Notebooks by John Curran
 
Shortlist
The Poisoner's Handbook: Murder and the Birth of Forensic Medicine in Jazz Age New York by Deborah Blum
Charlie Chan: The Untold Story of the Honorable Detective and His Rendezvous with American History by Yunte Huang
Following the Detectives: Real Locations in Crime Fiction by Maxim Jakubowski
Thrillers: 100 Must Reads by David Morrell & Hank W Wagner​
2023 ​2022 2021 2020 2019 2018 2017 2016 2015 2014 2013 2012 2011 2010 2009 2008 2007 2006 2005 2004 2003 2002 2001 2000 1999 1998 1997 1996 1995 1994 1993 1992 1991 1990 1989 1988 1987 
Winner
Talking about Detective Fiction by PD James
 
Shortlist
L.A. Noir: The Struggle for the Soul of America’s Most Seductive City by John Buntin
Rogue Males: Conversations & Confrontations About the Writing Life by Craig McDonald
The Line Up: The World’s Greatest Crime Writers Tell the Inside Story of Their Greatest Detectives by Otto Penzler
Provenance: How a Con Man and a Forger Rewrote the History of Modern Art by Laney Salisbury & Aly Sujo
Dame Agatha’s Shorts: An Agatha Christie Short Story Companion by Elena Santangelo​
2023 ​2022 2021 2020 2019 2018 2017 2016 2015 2014 2013 2012 2011 2010 2009 2008 2007 2006 2005 2004 2003 2002 2001 2000 1999 1998 1997 1996 1995 1994 1993 1992 1991 1990 1989 1988 1987 
Winner
African American Mystery Writers: A Historical & Thematic Study by Frankie Y Bailey
 
Shortlist
Hard-Boiled Sentimentality: The Secret History of American Crime Stories by Leonard Cassuto
How to Write Killer Historical Mysteries by Kathy Lynn Emerson
Scene of the Crime: The Importance of Place in Crime and Mystery Fiction by David Geherin
Edgar Allan Poe: An Illustrated Companion to His Tell-Tale Stories by Harry Lee Poe
The Suspicions of Mr Whicher by Kate Summerscale​
2023 ​2022 2021 2020 2019 2018 2017 2016 2015 2014 2013 2012 2011 2010 2009 2008 2007 2006 2005 2004 2003 2002 2001 2000 1999 1998 1997 1996 1995 1994 1993 1992 1991 1990 1989 1988 1987 
Winner
The Essential Mystery Lists by Roger Sobin
 
Shortlist
Rough Guide to Crime Fiction by Barry Forshaw
Chester Gould: A Daughter’s Biography of the Creator of Dick Tracy by Jean Gould O'Connell
Arthur Conan Doyle: A Life in Letters by Jon Lellenberg, Daniel Stashower & Charles Foley
Police Procedure and Investigation: A Guide for Writers by Lee Lofland​
2023 ​2022 2021 2020 2019 2018 2017 2016 2015 2014 2013 2012 2011 2010 2009 2008 2007 2006 2005 2004 2003 2002 2001 2000 1999 1998 1997 1996 1995 1994 1993 1992 1991 1990 1989 1988 1987 
Winner
Mystery Muses by Jim Huang & Austin Lugar
 
Shortlist
Don't Murder Your Mystery: 24 Fiction Writing Techniques To Save Your Manuscript From Ending Up D.O.A. by Chris Roerden
The Beautiful Cigar Girl: Mary Rogers, Edgar Allan Poe, and the Invention of Murder by Daniel Stashower​
2023 ​2022 2021 2020 2019 2018 2017 2016 2015 2014 2013 2012 2011 2010 2009 2008 2007 2006 2005 2004 2003 2002 2001 2000 1999 1998 1997 1996 1995 1994 1993 1992 1991 1990 1989 1988 1987 
Winner
Girl Sleuth: Nancy Drew and the Women Who Created Her by Melanie Rehak
 
Shortlist
The New Annotated Sherlock Holmes: The Novels by Arthur Conan Doyle & Leslie Klinger
Tracks to Murder by Jonathan Goodman
Behind the Mystery—Top Mystery Writers by Stuart M Kaminsky
Spook: Science Tackles the Afterlife by Mary Roach​
2023 ​2022 2021 2020 2019 2018 2017 2016 2015 2014 2013 2012 2011 2010 2009 2008 2007 2006 2005 2004 2003 2002 2001 2000 1999 1998 1997 1996 1995 1994 1993 1992 1991 1990 1989 1988 1987 
Winner
Forensics for Dummies by DP Lyle
 
Shortlist
Famous American Crimes & Trials by Frankie Y Bailey & Steven Chermak
The New Annotated Sherlock Holmes: The Complete Short Stories by Arthur Conan Doyle & Leslie Klinger
Just the Facts: True Tales of Cops & Criminals by Jim Doherty
Latin American Mystery Writers: An A-to-Z Guide by Darrell B Lockhart​
2023 ​2022 2021 2020 2019 2018 2017 2016 2015 2014 2013 2012 2011 2010 2009 2008 2007 2006 2005 2004 2003 2002 2001 2000 1999 1998 1997 1996 1995 1994 1993 1992 1991 1990 1989 1988 1987 
Winner
Make Mine A Mystery: A Reader’s Guide To Mystery and Detective Fiction by Gary Warren Niebuhr
 
Shortlist
Mystery Women: An Encyclopedia of Leading Women Characters in Mystery Fiction, vol. 3 (parts I & 2) by Colleen Barnett
Second Helping of Murder: More Diabolically Delicious Recipes from Contemporary Mystery Writers by Jo Grossman & Robert Weibezahl
Beautiful Shadow: A Life of Patricia Highsmith by Andrew Wilson​
2023 ​2022 2021 2020 2019 2018 2017 2016 2015 2014 2013 2012 2011 2010 2009 2008 2007 2006 2005 2004 2003 2002 2001 2000 1999 1998 1997 1996 1995 1994 1993 1992 1991 1990 1989 1988 1987 
Winner
They Died in Vain: Overlooked, Underappreciated, and Forgotten Mystery Novels by Jim Huang
 
Shortlist
The Mammoth Encyclopedia of Modern Crime Fiction by Mike Ashley
Intent To Sell: Marketing the Genre Novel by Jeffrey Marks
The Art of Noir: The Posters and Graphics from the Classic Era of Film Noir by Eddie Muller​
2023 ​2022 2021 2020 2019 2018 2017 2016 2015 2014 2013 2012 2011 2010 2009 2008 2007 2006 2005 2004 2003 2002 2001 2000 1999 1998 1997 1996 1995 1994 1993 1992 1991 1990 1989 1988 1987 
Winner
Writing the Mystery: A Start to Finish Guide for Both Novice and Professional by G Miki Hayden
 
Shortlist
The History of Mystery: Art Fiction Series by Max Allan Collins
My Name’s Friday: The Unauthorized but True Story of Dragnet and the Films of Jack Webb by Michael J Hayde
Seldom Disappointed: A Memoir by Tony Hillerman
Who Was That Lady? Craig Rice: The Queen of Screwball Mystery by Jeffrey Marks​
2023 ​2022 2021 2020 2019 2018 2017 2016 2015 2014 2013 2012 2011 2010 2009 2008 2007 2006 2005 2004 2003 2002 2001 2000 1999 1998 1997 1996 1995 1994 1993 1992 1991 1990 1989 1988 1987 
Winner
The American Regional Mystery by Marvin Lachman
 
Shortlist
The Doctor and the Detective: A Biography of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle by Martin Booth
Women of Mystery: The Lives and Works of Notable Women Crime Novelists by Martha Dubose & Margaret Caldwell Thomas
100 Favorite Mysteries of the Century by Jim Huang​
2023 ​2022 2021 2020 2019 2018 2017 2016 2015 2014 2013 2012 2011 2010 2009 2008 2007 2006 2005 2004 2003 2002 2001 2000 1999 1998 1997 1996 1995 1994 1993 1992 1991 1990 1989 1988 1987 
Winner
Ross MacDonald by Tom Nolan
 
Shortlist
A Taste of Murder: Diabolically Delicious Recipes from Contemporary Mystery Writers by Jo Grossman & Robert Weibezahl
Teller of Tales: The Life of Arthur Conan Doyle by Daniel Stashower​
2023 ​2022 2021 2020 2019 2018 2017 2016 2015 2014 2013 2012 2011 2010 2009 2008 2007 2006 2005 2004 2003 2002 2001 2000 1999 1998 1997 1996 1995 1994 1993 1992 1991 1990 1989 1988 1987 
Winner
Killer Books by Jean Swanson & Dean James
 
Shortlist
Mystery Reader's Walking Guide to Washington D.C. by Alzina Stone Dale
Speaking of Murder by Edward Gorman & Martin H Greenberg
Dark City: The Lost World of Film Noir by Eddie Muller
Silk Stalkings II by Victoria Nichols & Susan Thompson​
2023 ​2022 2021 2020 2019 2018 2017 2016 2015 2014 2013 2012 2011 2010 2009 2008 2007 2006 2005 2004 2003 2002 2001 2000 1999 1998 1997 1996 1995 1994 1993 1992 1991 1990 1989 1988 1987 
Winner
Deadly Women by Jan Grape, Dean James & Ellen Nehr
 
Shortlist
“G” is for Grafton by Natalie Kaufman & Carol Kay
The Napoleon of Crime: The Life and Times of Adam Worth, Master Thief by Ben Macintyre
Guilty Parties: A Mystery Lover’s Companion by Ian Ousby​
2023 ​2022 2021 2020 2019 2018 2017 2016 2015 2014 2013 2012 2011 2010 2009 2008 2007 2006 2005 2004 2003 2002 2001 2000 1999 1998 1997 1996 1995 1994 1993 1992 1991 1990 1989 1988 1987 
Winner
Detecting Women 2 by Willetta Heising​
2023 ​2022 2021 2020 2019 2018 2017 2016 2015 2014 2013 2012 2011 2010 2009 2008 2007 2006 2005 2004 2003 2002 2001 2000 1999 1998 1997 1996 1995 1994 1993 1992 1991 1990 1989 1988 1987 
Winner
Detecting Women by Willetta Heising
2023 ​2022 2021 2020 2019 2018 2017 2016 2015 2014 2013 2012 2011 2010 2009 2008 2007 2006 2005 2004 2003 2002 2001 2000 1999 1998 1997 1996 1995 1994 1993 1992 1991 1990 1989 1988 1987 
Winner
By a Woman's Hand by Jean Swanson & Dean James
2023 ​2022 2021 2020 2019 2018 2017 2016 2015 2014 2013 2012 2011 2010 2009 2008 2007 2006 2005 2004 2003 2002 2001 2000 1999 1998 1997 1996 1995 1994 1993 1992 1991 1990 1989 1988 1987 
Winner
The Fine Art of Murder: The Mystery Reader’s Indispensable Companion by Ed Gorman, Martin H Greenberg & Larry Segriff
2023 ​2022 2021 2020 2019 2018 2017 2016 2015 2014 2013 2012 2011 2010 2009 2008 2007 2006 2005 2004 2003 2002 2001 2000 1999 1998 1997 1996 1995 1994 1993 1992 1991 1990 1989 1988 1987 
Winner
The Doubleday Crime Club Compendium 1928-91 by Ellen Nehr
2023 ​2022 2021 2020 2019 2018 2017 2016 2015 2014 2013 2012 2011 2010 2009 2008 2007 2006 2005 2004 2003 2002 2001 2000 1999 1998 1997 1996 1995 1994 1993 1992 1991 1990 1989 1988 1987 
Winner
Talking Mysteries: A Conversation with Tony Hillerman by Tony Hillerman & Ernie Bulow
2023 ​2022 2021 2020 2019 2018 2017 2016 2015 2014 2013 2012 2011 2010 2009 2008 2007 2006 2005 2004 2003 2002 2001 2000 1999 1998 1997 1996 1995 1994 1993 1992 1991 1990 1989 1988 1987 
Winner
Agatha Christie: The Woman and Her Mysteries by Gillian Gill
2023 ​2022 2021 2020 2019 2018 2017 2016 2015 2014 2013 2012 2011 2010 2009 2008 2007 2006 2005 2004 2003 2002 2001 2000 1999 1998 1997 1996 1995 1994 1993 1992 1991 1990 1989 1988 1987 
Winner
The Bedside Companion to Crime by HRF Keating
2023 ​2022 2021 2020 2019 2018 2017 2016 2015 2014 2013 2012 2011 2010 2009 2008 2007 2006 2005 2004 2003 2002 2001 2000 1999 1998 1997 1996 1995 1994 1993 1992 1991 1990 1989 1988 1987 
Winner
Silk Stalkings by Victoria Nichols & Susan Thompson
2023 ​2022 2021 2020 2019 2018 2017 2016 2015 2014 2013 2012 2011 2010 2009 2008 2007 2006 2005 2004 2003 2002 2001 2000 1999 1998 1997 1996 1995 1994 1993 1992 1991 1990 1989 1988 1987 
Winner
Son of Gun in Cheek by Bill Pronzini
2023 ​2022 2021 2020 2019 2018 2017 2016 2015 2014 2013 2012 2011 2010 2009 2008 2007 2006 2005 2004 2003 2002 2001 2000 1999 1998 1997 1996 1995 1994 1993 1992 1991 1990 1989 1988 1987 
Winner
1001 Midnights by Marcia Muller & Bill Pronzini
2023 ​2022 2021 2020 2019 2018 2017 2016 2015 2014 2013 2012 2011 2010 2009 2008 2007 2006 2005 2004 2003 2002 2001 2000 1999 1998 1997 1996 1995 1994 1993 1992 1991 1990 1989 1988 1987 
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