150 Award Genres
Children
- Children - Action
- Children - Adventure
- Children - Animals
- Children - Audiobook
- Children - Christian
- Children - Coming of Age
- Children - Concept
- Children - Educational
- Children - Fable
- Children - Fantasy/Sci-Fi
- Children - General
- Children - Grade 4th-6th
- Children - Grade K-3rd
- Children - Mystery
- Children - Mythology/Fairy Tale
- Children - Non-Fiction
- Children - Picture Book
- Children - Preschool
- Children - Preteen
- Children - Religious Theme
- Children - Social Issues
Christian
- Christian - Amish
- Christian - Biblical Counseling
- Christian - Devotion/Study
- Christian - Fantasy/Sci-Fi
- Christian - Fiction
- Christian - General
- Christian - Historical Fiction
- Christian - Living
- Christian - Non-Fiction
- Christian - Romance - Contemporary
- Christian - Romance - General
- Christian - Romance - Historical
- Christian - Thriller
Fiction
- Fiction - Action
- Fiction - Adventure
- Fiction - Animals
- Fiction - Anthology
- Fiction - Audiobook
- Fiction - Chick Lit
- Fiction - Crime
- Fiction - Cultural
- Fiction - Drama
- Fiction - Dystopia
- Fiction - Fantasy - Epic
- Fiction - Fantasy - General
- Fiction - Fantasy - Urban
- Fiction - General
- Fiction - Graphic Novel/Comic
- Fiction - Historical - Event/Era
- Fiction - Historical - Personage
- Fiction - Holiday
- Fiction - Horror
- Fiction - Humor/Comedy
- Fiction - Inspirational
- Fiction - Intrigue
- Fiction - LGBTQ
- Fiction - Literary
- Fiction - Magic/Wizardry
- Fiction - Military
- Fiction - Mystery - General
- Fiction - Mystery - Historical
- Fiction - Mystery - Legal
- Fiction - Mystery - Murder
- Fiction - Mystery - Sleuth
- Fiction - Mythology
- Fiction - New Adult
- Fiction - Paranormal
- Fiction - Realistic
- Fiction - Religious Theme
- Fiction - Science Fiction
- Fiction - Short Story/Novela
- Fiction - Social Issues
- Fiction - Southern
- Fiction - Sports
- Fiction - Supernatural
- Fiction - Suspense
- Fiction - Tall Tale
- Fiction - Thriller - Conspiracy
- Fiction - Thriller - Environmental
- Fiction - Thriller - Espionage
- Fiction - Thriller - General
- Fiction - Thriller - Legal
- Fiction - Thriller - Medical
- Fiction - Thriller - Political
- Fiction - Thriller - Psychological
- Fiction - Thriller - Terrorist
- Fiction - Time Travel
- Fiction - Urban
- Fiction - Visionary
- Fiction - Western
- Fiction - Womens
Non-Fiction
- Non-Fiction - Adventure
- Non-Fiction - Animals
- Non-Fiction - Anthology
- Non-Fiction - Art/Photography
- Non-Fiction - Audiobook
- Non-Fiction - Autobiography
- Non-Fiction - Biography
- Non-Fiction - Business/Finance
- Non-Fiction - Cooking/Food
- Non-Fiction - Cultural
- Non-Fiction - Drama
- Non-Fiction - Education
- Non-Fiction - Environment
- Non-Fiction - Genealogy
- Non-Fiction - General
- Non-Fiction - Gov/Politics
- Non-Fiction - Grief/Hardship
- Non-Fiction - Health - Fitness
- Non-Fiction - Health - Medical
- Non-Fiction - Historical
- Non-Fiction - Hobby
- Non-Fiction - Home/Crafts
- Non-Fiction - Humor/Comedy
- Non-Fiction - Inspirational
- Non-Fiction - LGBTQ
- Non-Fiction - Marketing
- Non-Fiction - Memoir
- Non-Fiction - Military
- Non-Fiction - Motivational
- Non-Fiction - Music/Entertainment
- Non-Fiction - New Age
- Non-Fiction - Occupational
- Non-Fiction - Parenting
- Non-Fiction - Relationships
- Non-Fiction - Religion/Philosophy
- Non-Fiction - Retirement
- Non-Fiction - Self Help
- Non-Fiction - Short Story/Novela
- Non-Fiction - Social Issues
- Non-Fiction - Spiritual/Supernatural
- Non-Fiction - Sports
- Non-Fiction - Travel
- Non-Fiction - True Crime
- Non-Fiction - Womens
- Non-Fiction - Writing/Publishing
Poetry
Romance
Young Adult
- Young Adult - Action
- Young Adult - Adventure
- Young Adult - Coming of Age
- Young Adult - Fantasy - Epic
- Young Adult - Fantasy - General
- Young Adult - Fantasy - Urban
- Young Adult - General
- Young Adult - Horror
- Young Adult - Mystery
- Young Adult - Mythology/Fairy Tale
- Young Adult - Non-Fiction
- Young Adult - Paranormal
- Young Adult - Religious Theme
- Young Adult - Romance
- Young Adult - Sci-Fi
- Young Adult - Social Issues
- Young Adult - Thriller
Illustration Award
Recommend this book:
Death in Disguise
A Beth Getty Mystery, Volume 1
Karen Neary Smithson
2019 Finalist
330 Pages
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Fiction - Mystery - Sleuth
In Death in Disguise: A Beth Getty Mystery, Volume 1 by Karen Neary Smithson, Beth Getty is an amateur sleuth, married to a police detective, who manages to get herself into some scary situations while trying to solve the case of who murdered the nanny of one of her best friends. Beth’s husband repeatedly asks her not to become involved, but Beth finds it impossible as she discovers a clue that always seems to lead to another clue to which she must find the answer. Beth uses her fey instincts to guide her and gets much help along the way from various friends, both new and old. The story has so many twists, turns and surprises that I just don’t want to spoil it for readers by revealing any more.
Death in Disguise is everything I could ever want in a mind boggling mystery. I was pulled in from the beginning and amazed by the ending, which I never saw coming. There are several plots going on at the same time and each one kept me glued to my Kindle. Murder, romance, deception, infidelity and everyday and celebrity characters fill the pages in a very well written, exciting book. I really loved Death in Disguise. I am anxiously awaiting a follow-up and so look forward to Beth’s next adventure. Karen Neary Smithson has everything it takes to be an award-writing author with many more volumes of Beth Getty books in her future. I also can clearly see Death in Disguise being the next favorite sleuth TV show. Please, do not pass this one up, but put it at the top of your summer reading list.
Recommend this book:
You Say Goodbye
Keith Steinbaum
2019 Honorable Mention
330 Pages
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Fiction - Mystery - Sleuth
Sean Hightower didn’t have the best of musical careers, but he just kept going. After earning his one-hit wonder title, the rock musician tried his luck again and again. After one particularly gruesome stage performance, Sean thinks it is best to go to his girlfriend and seek comfort from her. However, when he enters her condo, he finds her naked and dead on her bed. She was shot in the head, leaving two notes taped to the wall that said “hello” and “goodbye” on them. They make absolutely no sense to Sean but the police detective connects them to the return of the “Beatles Song Murderer.” What really baffles the detective the most is the fact that Sean possibly knows the killer, only he has no idea who it is. The detective needs his help, but how can Sean help him when he doesn’t even know who that person is?
You Say Goodbye by Keith Steinbaum is a murder mystery that uses Beatles' song titles in the best way possible. The title of the novel is perfect for the story and I gave the author brownie points just for this! Apart from that, the novel is actually pretty great. From the moment the story begins, the author gives readers a bomb to start their journey with. After that, the author kept the momentum and ensured that the reader was interested and invested while at the same time making sure that they stayed fully immersed in this adventurous ride. Sean is not a character that you will instantly like, but you will be cheering him on, wanting him to survive because you will not be able to live without finding out who is the killer. The narrative is so powerful that you cannot help but feel as if you are transported right there beside Sean and living his life with him. This is the best kind of experience that an author can give to a reader and I love the author for giving me this. I can see this story becoming a movie or a TV series and being an instant hit.
Recommend this book:
Life Without Shoes
The First Father Ambrose Mystery
Emma Cyrus
2019 Honorable Mention
269 Pages
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Fiction - Mystery - Sleuth
Emma Cyrus’ Life Without Shoes: The First Father Ambrose Mystery is a contemporary mystery novel set in Green Butte, Northern California. Father Ambrose is the abbot at the New Life Ecumenical Retreat, a spiritual community which practices meditation to guide its members in all aspects of life. The community sustains itself through farming, selling its products and processed foods locally, and throughout the US via online orders. In late August as the busy harvest begins, the peace and calm of the retreat are shattered when a young woman’s dismembered corpse is found in an orchard. Father Ambrose finds himself helping Sheriff Charlie Cormley in the murder investigation. The unforeseen and bewildering intrusion of the outside world tests Father Ambrose’s inner strength to guide New Life through an extremely harrowing time and to learn and grow from the experience.
I enjoyed reading Life Without Shoes: The First Father Ambrose Mystery because of the way Cyrus brings together Father Ambrose's experiences at the New Life Retreat, his insight into human nature, and his inner spiritual strength to help solve a murder. I also liked the way Cyrus weaves into her story how Ambrose guides the New Life community to work towards calmness, think meditatively, and focus on the harvest. As the investigation proceeds, Ambrose finds himself learning to think and see the outside world in different ways: at times like a cop; at times like a reporter; and at times like a chaplain and counselor. No matter whom Ambrose deals with, he keeps compassion as his guide.
Recommend this book:
Death said the Gypsy Queen
A Lily Gayle Lambert Mystery Book 4
Susan Boles
2019 Bronze Medal
97 Pages
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Fiction - Mystery - Sleuth
Death said the Gypsy Queen by Susan Boles is the fourth book in Boles' Lily Gayle Lambert Mystery series. The story begins with Lily Gayle retrieving her late husband's red 1965 Mustang from storage. The Mustang had been sitting in storage for eight years. With the help of her friend Dixie, Lily Gayle decides it's high time she conquers her fear of driving. Pulling over at a rest stop, Lily Gayle and Dixie meet an old gypsy woman who warns Lily Gayle to "beware the vampire blood." As fate would have it, Lily Gayle later finds the corpse of an old man. His cause of death? A stake through the chest.
If you are a fan of books like Agatha Raisin, Miss Fisher's Murder Mysteries, or Sarah Graves' Home Repair is Homicide, then you will undoubtedly love Susan Boles' Death said the Gypsy Queen. This was my first Lily Gayle Lambert book, but it likely won't be my last. Death said the Gypsy Queen is the sort of novel you would want to unwind with after a long day of work. The cast of characters felt familiar to me, despite my never having read any other novel in the series before now. I guess that's due to Boles' tremendous writing talents. I felt like a welcome reader, free to come and go as I pleased. It isn't a mystery-thriller, but it is a cozy mystery at its finest. The sort of book that readers will pick up, knowing the author will deliver what is promised.
Recommend this book:
Death in Dulwich
The London Murder Mysteries Book 1
Alice Castle
2019 Bronze Medal
217 Pages
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Fiction - Mystery - Sleuth
Beth Haldane is a single mother living in prestigious Dulwich with her young son, trying to make ends meet. She is thrilled when she gets a job as the assistant archivist at the very popular Wyatt's School. Beth has great hopes for her first day on the job. Dr. Alan Jenkins is her boss. Beth is taken by surprise when, on the first morning, Dr. Jenkins shows her to the office and promptly leaves her alone. As lunch time approaches, Beth decides to return to the main building and get something to eat. As she tries to find her way among the buildings, she finds Alan Jenkins lying behind some bins and obviously very dead. As the investigation begins and all of the school facility comes together to be questioned, Beth believes she might be considered the prime suspect since she is the 'new girl on the block.' She then decides to take matters into her own hands to try to help the police find the person responsible.
Death In Dulwich (The London Murder Mysteries Book 1) is a leisurely paced story with a decent plot and likable characters. There are all the makings for an old fashioned mystery story contained within these pages. I found Death In Dulwich to be a true crime mystery with a plot and characters that had me involved from beginning to end. Beth Haldane is the star of the story. There are many scary and dangerous situations that Beth finds herself in and so many twists and turns that she cannot be sure in which direction to turn and who to blame ... and nor can the reader. Author Alice Castle used words from her native England which, while I was unfamiliar with them, made for interesting reading and did not make the story any less exciting. If you are a fan of the crime, mystery, and suspense genres, you will definitely enjoy reading Death In Dulwich.
Recommend this book:
Fatal Fortune
A Dr Pippa Durrant Mystery Book 1 (Dr Pippa Durrant Mystery Series)
Miranda Rijks
2019 Silver Medal
286 Pages
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Fiction - Mystery - Sleuth
Fatal Fortune is the first book in the Dr Pippa Durrant Mystery Series by Miranda Rijks, a compelling opening for a series that features sleuth and mystery. Pippa’s photo is found on the body of Leanne Smith, a lottery winner, and now it seems like someone intentionally did that to frame the psychologist. As a human polygraph, she believes she can weave through the lies and the media hype and find the killer. Both her career and her life are in jeopardy. It is not long before another body turns up. The tension mounts as Pippa races to identify the killer. Time is running out but she doesn’t just know when the next murder might happen and she could be next on the killer’s list. Can she solve the riddle before it is too late?
There are two things I look for in books like this — the complexity of the characters and the intricacy in plot development. Miranda Rijks does both perfectly. The author creates a female protagonist that is rich and vulnerable at the same time, qualities that win the sympathy of readers for her. I was hooked from the beginning of the narrative as the author puts readers into the twisted mind of the killer, using a stream of consciousness that establishes a direct link between this character and the reader. I wanted to know more about who this character is and what they will turn out to be. The cast list is wonderful: Pippa, who is losing clients because of her photo being released to the public as a suspect in the murder; the family of the victim that is devastated; and the shadowy killer who intrigues readers while eluding the authorities. Fatal Fortune is gripping crime fiction with powerful hints of mystery, and a real delight for fans of crime and sleuth novels.
Recommend this book:
Sharpe Shooter
Skeleton in the Closet (Maycroft Mysteries Book 1)
Lisa B. Thomas
2019 Gold Medal
218 Pages
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Fiction - Mystery - Sleuth
The heroine of Sharpe Shooter is Deena Sharpe who has been a teacher for thirty years and is ready for something new and exciting in her life. As she leaves teaching behind and begins looking for a new career, one finds her. When her uncle’s skeleton is discovered in a police locker, after he has been missing for over fifty years, Deena is presented with a brand new opportunity. Deena’s grandmother, aunt, and uncle call on her to search for clues and find out what happened so many years ago. Deena is faced with many twists, turns, and surprises. Her dead uncle is accused of being an assassin among other things. Deena now has to find his old friends and try to find out the details of her uncle’s life. She and her husband, Gary, and brother, Russell, quickly find themselves in several scary situations. This is a book that must be read for itself because if I tell you more, I would be revealing way too much and ruining it for you!
Sharpe Shooter: Skeleton In the Closet (Maycroft Mysteries Book 1) is a different level of mystery sleuth story written by Lisa B. Thomas with humor, no gory violence or unnecessary sexual content. I found Sharpe Shooter to be an entertaining read; it was not too long and the action was continuous. The good guys had charm, humor, likability and good sense. The bad guys were annoying, evil and looking for trouble. Together they combined to make the perfect mystery story. Sharpe Shooter: Skeleton In the Closet is for fans of the mystery/sleuth genre, both young and old. Don’t miss out on reading this book!
Recommend this book:
Inspectre
D W Rigsby
2018 Finalist
274 Pages
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Fiction - Mystery - Sleuth
People are being murdered in an alarming fashion and a man and his ghostly sidekick race against time to stop a young boy from becoming the next victim in the chilling murder mystery novel Inspectre by D.W. Rigsby. When Lucius Stockhelm witnesses a woman being attacked, he goes to her rescue and quickly dispatches her attacker. Unsure what to do with the dead man, he hides the body in his basement. Since then, the spirit of the rogue moans every night, keeping Stockhelm awake. Weary and wanting to be rid of the ghost, whom he has dubbed Alarbus, Stockhelm consults his neighbor Mr. Decker; someone who understands how to deal with supernatural situations. Before assisting him, Mr. Decker charges Stockhelm to carry out a bizarre errand for him. In executing the dubious task, Stockhelm and Alarbus uncover a frightening plot where spiritual darkness simmers beneath the surface of the unwary town and a deranged murderer is on the prowl. Can they foil the killer's nefarious plans and at the same time satisfy Mr. Decker's requirements?
Set in the late 1800s, Inspectre by D.W. Rigsby is a bloodcurdling supernatural murder mystery where the things that go bump in the night are up close and personal. With uncanny characters and spooky settings, it is an eerie story that stays with you long after you put the book down. This spine-tingling tale has a haunting plot and chilling story line that deliver goosebumps from the first page until the last. It is the perfect book to curl up with on a stormy night, as long as you leave the lights on! Murder mystery fans will be delighted with this riveting supernatural thriller and will clamor for more. It is a magnificent beginning for an outstanding series, and I can't wait to meet Stockhelm and Alarbus again!
Recommend this book:
Depth of Lies
E. C. Diskin
2018 Finalist
288 Pages
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Fiction - Mystery - Sleuth
Depth of Lies by E.C. Diskin is a perfect blend of mystery, crime, and sleuthing, a well-crafted novel with compelling characters and a beautiful setting. Shea Walker is a woman that many like in her community, a mom who seems to have no problems, until she is found in the bathtub in unusual circumstances, overdosed with drugs and filled with alcohol. It's an event that startles everyone in her small suburban community, but her long-time friend, Kat Burrows, unable to reconcile with the fact that her jovial and responsible friend had reason to commit suicide, decides to dig deeper into the victim's life. Was it an accident or suicide, or did someone stage a suicide? Kat is about to discover a part of the victim she never knew — dark secrets, desires, and betrayal. Is she ready for what is buried beneath her friend's personal life? Has Shea's outward bubbly personality and responsible calm been a subterfuge, concealing a life of duplicity?
E.C. Diskin starts with a strong premise — a woman who seems to be loved by everyone and happy with her life dies in a way that contradicts the values she exhibited in life. The reader is intrigued and, like the characters in the drama, wants to find out what happened to her and what happens next. Kat Burrows' curiosity is justified by the strong connection she has with the victim and her desire for truth and closure. The plot evolves steadily with deep layers of secrets and surprises, and it is interesting how the protagonist's deception grows with the unveiling of each piece of the mystery. The story is emotionally and psychologically rich, which augments the keen sense of realism imbued in the narrative. The setting is vivid, with beautiful descriptions of locales and the social atmosphere within which the story takes place; it is cinematic.
Depth of Lies is cunningly plotted and the unpredictability of the plot creates the kind of suspense that makes the story a gripping one. While this is not a run-of-the-mill detective story, it does feature a character with a strong need for the truth and she follows her instincts as well as clues into the victim's last days in search of answers. I found the story to be engaging, the narrative voice hypnotic, and the plot intriguing. A real delight for fans of mystery and murder.
Recommend this book:
Climatized
A Max Ford Thriller
Sally Fernandez
2018 Honorable Mention
Kindle Edition
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Fiction - Mystery - Sleuth
Climatized: A Max Ford Thriller by Sally Fernandez follows the story of Max Ford’s first investigative case as a private investigator. Senator Sherman Spark dies mysteriously and his wife, Isabelle Spark, refuses to accept the official version that her husband committed suicide. Max takes on the case and finds herself embroiled in a conspiracy she could never have imagined. Three scientists coincidentally die, all three due to give evidence relating to climate change and global warming. When a fourth scientist goes missing, Max realizes that his testimony holds the key to the unbelievable and complex conspiracy that is unravelling before her eyes. She sets off on a quest to find the fourth scientist before he, too, is disposed of. What she discovers is for the president’s eyes and ears only, but can she get the information to him without losing her own life in the process?
Climatized literally starts with a cliffhanger and builds intrigue from the outset. The characters are well defined and given credibility by the well-researched factual aspects woven into the story. The author, Sally Fernandez, has crafted a detailed and plausible novel that has the reader wondering whether they are reading fact or fiction, which is a tribute to the writing skills of this author. I was enthralled from the beginning; this is truly a page-turner and impossible to put down. The settings and scenarios are well described and well written with visual descriptions and authentic characters. Certainly an author to read more of, Sally Fernandez does a very credible job in Climatized and Max Ford is a key character to follow.