Crime & mystery · United States
The Edgar Award for Best Novel
The Edgar Award for Best Novel — named for Edgar Allan Poe — is presented each spring by the Mystery Writers of America and is the most prestigious prize in crime and mystery writing. Winners 2007–2025.
The Edgar Awards, run by Mystery Writers of America since 1954, honour the best in crime, mystery and thriller writing. The Best Novel award is the headline category, presented for works published in the prior year.
Two-time Best Novel winner John Hart, Stephen King's Mr. Mercedes win in 2015, and Attica Locke's Bluebird, Bluebird in 2018 are among the most celebrated recent winners.
Winners
- 2007 The Janissary Tree Jason Goodwin Find on Amazon →
- 2008 Down River John Hart Find on Amazon →
- 2009 Blue Heaven C.J. Box Find on Amazon →
- 2010 The Last Child John Hart Find on Amazon →
- 2011 The Lock Artist Steve Hamilton Find on Amazon →
- 2012 Gone Mo Hayder
- 2013 Live by Night Dennis Lehane · more by this author
- 2014 Ordinary Grace William Kent Krueger
- 2015 Mr. Mercedes Stephen King · more by this author
- 2016 Let Me Die in His Footsteps Lori Roy
- 2017 Before the Fall Noah Hawley
- 2018 Bluebird, Bluebird Attica Locke
- 2019 Down the River Unto the Sea Walter Mosley · more by this author In our catalogue Book club guide →
- 2020 The Stranger Diaries Elly Griffiths
- 2021 Djinn Patrol on the Purple Line Deepa Anappara · more by this author In our catalogue Book club guide →
- 2022 Five Decembers James Kestrel · more by this author In our catalogue Book club guide →
- 2023 Notes on an Execution Danya Kukafka · more by this author In our catalogue Book club guide →
- 2024 Flags on the Bayou James Lee Burke
- 2025 The In Crowd Charlotte Vassell
Years are the award year; winning books were published in the prior year. The full Edgar history runs from 1954.
Winners verified against the prize's official records. For the complete history, see the official The Edgar Award for Best Novel site.
Common questions
What is the Edgar Award for Best Novel?
The headline prize from Mystery Writers of America, presented each spring for the best crime or mystery novel published in the prior year. Named in honour of Edgar Allan Poe.
How are the Edgar Award winners chosen?
A panel of MWA members reads and evaluates all eligible submissions; nominees are announced in January and winners in May. Any crime, mystery or thriller novel published in English in the US is eligible.