In 1997, the editorial staff of Deadly Pleasures decided that since one of the magazine's stated goals was to search out and report on the best works being published in the field of crime fiction each year, it would be a natural fit to present awards for excellence. Then came the dilemma of what to name the award. At the time all associated with the magazine were still reeling from the untimely death of Barry Gardner, who was arguably the best fan reviewer on the planet, so it was decided to name the award after him so as to keep his memory alive (not unlike what Bouchercon and its Anthony awards have done for writer/critic Anthony Boucher, who also suffered an untimely and early death). For a biography of Barry Gardner, click on his name above. 

Some have asked me from time to time, what are submission guidelines for the Barry Award. It is pretty simple: get us a copy of the book or short story and hope one of us reviews it.  Our staff doesn't even attempt to read everything.  We try to keep our ears to the ground and read what people are talking about.  And from time to time we find Barry Award nominees by our own idiosyncratic reading.  In short, we don't have an organized reading program whereby all members of the nominating committee read the same books.  We choose people on the committee who read widely and try to find consensus among them.  It isn't perfect, but no system is.  

For the years 2007 through 2009 The Barry Awards were co-sponsored with Mystery News, thus broadening the exposure of the Awards. Sadly Mystery News has ceased publication as of December, 2009. We at Deadly Pleasures appreciated their participation.

Subscribers and readers of Deadly Pleasures may vote by emailing their choices to george@deadlypleasures.com or by mailing them to P.O. Box 997, Bountiful, UT 84011.

BARRY AWARD NOMINEES 2016

The winners of these awards will be presented at this year’s Bouchercon in New Orleans during the Opening Ceremonies on September 15, 2016. The readers of Deadly Pleasures Mystery Magazine will determine the eventual winners.

Best Novel

C. J. Box, BADLANDS
John Connolly, A SONG OF SHADOWS
Owen Laukkanen, THE STOLEN ONES
Michael Robotham, LIFE OR DEATH
Jeff Siger, DEVIL OF DELPHI
Don Winslow, THE CARTEL

Best First Novel

John A. Connell, RUINS OF WAR
Glen Erik Hamilton, PAST CRIMES
Elsa Hart, JADE DRAGON MOUNTAIN
Paula Hawkins, THE GIRL ON THE TRAIN
Ausma Zehanat Khan, THE UNQUIET DEAD
Brian Panowich, BULL MOUNTAIN

Best Paperback Original

Kristi Belcamino, BLESSED ARE THOSE WHO WEEP
Lou Berney, THE LONG AND FARAWAY GONE
Max Allan Collins, QUARRY’S CHOICE
Sarah Hilary, NO OTHER DARKNESS
Ragnar Jonasson, SNOW BLIND
James W. Ziskin, STONE COLD DEAD

Best Thriller

Marc Cameron, BRUTE FORCE
Chris Holm, THE KILLING KIND
M. A. (Mike) Lawson, VIKING BAY
Stefanie Pintoff, HOSTAGE TAKER
Taylor Stevens, THE MASK
A. J. Tata, FOREIGN AND DOMESTIC

 

BARRY AWARD WINNERS 2015

Best Novel

NATCHEZ BURNING, Greg Iles – Winner
THE MARCO EFFECT, Jussi Adler-Olsen
THE REST IS SILENCE, James R. Benn
HOLLOW GIRL, Reed Farrel Coleman
PROVIDENCE RAG, Bruce DeSilva
STRANGE SHORES, Arnaldur Indridason

Best First Novel

INVISIBLE CITY, Julia Dahl – Winner
NIGHT HERON, Adam Brookes
ICE SHEAR, M. P. Cooley
DEAR DAUGHTER, Elizabeth Little
THE WEIGHT OF BLOOD, Laura McHugh
SHE’S LEAVING HOME, William Shaw

Best Paperback Original

THE LIFE WE BURY, Allen Eskens – Winner
THE TRUTH ABOUT THE HARRY QUEBERT AFFAIR, Joel Dicker
THE KILLER NEXT DOOR, Alex Marwood
PRESENT DARKNESS, Malla Nunn
THE BLACK HOUR, Lori Rader-Day
ELEVEN DAYS, Stav Sherez

Best Thriller

THOSE WHO WISH ME DEAD, Michael Koryta – Winner
SUSPICION, Joe Finder
THE WATER RAT OF WANCHAI, Ian Hamilton
AN OFFICER AND A SPY, Robert Harris
I AM PILGRIM, Terry Hayes
HOUSE RECKONING, Mike Lawson

 

BARRY AWARD WINNERS 2014

Best Novel

ORDINARY GRACE, William Kent Krueger-- Winner

A CONSPIRACY OF FAITH, Jussi Adler-Olsen
TAP ON THE WINDOW, Linwood Barclay
SANDRINE’S CASE, Thomas H. Cook
SUSPECT, Robert Crais
STANDING IN ANOTHER MAN’S GRAVE, Ian Rankin

Best First Novel

JAPANTOWN, Barry Lancet--Winner

BURIAL RITES, Hannah Kent
THE BOOKMAN’S TALE, Charlie Lovett
RAGE AGAINST THE DYING, Becky Masterman
COVER OF SNOW, Jenny Milchman
NORWEGIAN BY NIGHT, Derek B. Miller

Best PBO

I HEAR THE SIRENS IN THE STREET, Adrian McKinty-- Winner

JOE VICTIM, Paul Cleave
DISCIPLE OF LAS VEGAS, Ian Hamilton
THE RAGE, Gene Kerrigan
FEAR IN THE SUNLIGHT, Nicola Upson
FIXING TO DIE, Elaine Viets

Best Thriller

THE DOLL, Taylor Stevens -- Winner

DEAD LIONS, Mick Herron
GHOSTMAN, Roger Hobbs
RED SPARROW, Jason Matthews
THE SHANGHAI FACTOR, Charles McCarry
RATLINES, Stuart Neville

Another fine job done by our nominating committees comprised of Larry Gandle, Maggie Mason, Bev DeWeese, Ali Karim, Barbara Peters, Pat Frovarp, Gary Shulze, Mike Bursaw, Oline Cogdill, Kris Schorer, Beth Fedyn, George Easter and Steele Curry (on Thriller Committee).

 

BARRY AWARDS 2013

Best Novel

THE BLACK HOUSE by Peter May (Silver Oak -- Winner

GONE GIRL by Gillian Flynn (Crown)
TRUST YOUR EYES by Linwood Barclay (NAL)
DEFENDING JACOB by William Landay (Delacorte)
LIVE BY NIGHT, Dennis Lehane (Morrow)
DEAD SCARED by S.J. Bolton (Minotaur)

Best First Novel

A KILLING IN THE HILLS by Julia Keller (Minotaur)-- Winner

THE YARD by Alex Grecian (Putnam)
SACRIFICE FLY by Tim O’Mara (Minotaur)
THE DARK WINTER by David Mark (Blue Ridge Press)
BLACK FRIDAYS by Michael Sears (Putnam)
THE PROFESSIONALS by Owen Laukkanen (Putnam)

Best Paperback Original

MR. CHURCHILL’S SECRETARY by Susan Elia McNeal (Bantam) -- Winner

PAGO PAGO TANGO by John Enright (Thomas & Mercer)
BLESSED ARE THE DEAD by Malla Nunn (Washington Square)
THE OTHER WOMAN’S HOUSE by Sophie Hannah (Penguin)
BLOODLAND by Alan Glynn (Picador)
BENEATH THE ABBEY WALL by A.D. Scott (Atria)

Best Thriller

THE FALLEN ANGEL by Daniel Silva (Harper) -- Winner

THE LAST REFUGE by Ben Coes (St. Martin's)
THE RIGHT HAND by Derek Haas (Mulholland)
A FOREIGN COUNTRY by Charles Cumming (St. Martin's)
HOUSE BLOOD by Mike Lawson (Atlantic Monthly)
RED STAR BURNING by Brian Freemantle (Minotaur)

You will notice that there are fewer categories this year. We have eliminated two: The Best Short Story (lack of interest/votes by fans) and Best British (changing times, most good British writers are now published in the U.S. and it was a confusing award especially when an American or an Icelandic won). The awards ceremony got to be too long. Now it will be just right.

_________

BARRY AWARD WINNERS 2012

Best Novel


THE KEEPER OF LOST CAUSES (in U.K., MERCY), Jussi Adler-Olsen (Dutton) -- Winner

THE ACCIDENT, Linwood Barclay (Bantam)
HURT MACHINE, Reed Farrel Coleman (Tyrus)
IRON HOUSE, John Hart (Minotaur)
HELL IS EMPTY, Craig Johnson (Viking)
THE TROUBLED MAN, Henning Mankell (Knopf)

Best First Novel

THE INFORMATIONIST, Taylor Stevens (Crown)

LEARNING TO SWIM, Sara J. Henry (Crown)
THE DEVOTION OF SUSPECT X, Keigo Higashino (Minotaur)
THE BOY IN THE SUITCASE, Lene Kaaberbol and Agnette Friis (Soho Crime)
TURN OF MIND, Alice LaPlante (Atlantic Monthly)
BEFORE I GO TO SLEEP, S.J. Watson (Harper)

Best British (Published in the U.K. in 2011)

DEAD MAN’S GRIP, Peter James (Macmillan)

NOW YOU SEE ME, S.J. Bolton (Bantam Press)
HELL'S BELLS (in U.K., THE INFERNALS), John Connolly (Hodder & Stoughton)
BAD SIGNS, R. J. Ellory (Orion)
THE HOUSE AT SEA’S END, Elly Griffiths (Quercus)
OUTRAGE, Arnaldur Indridason (Harvill Secker)

Best Paperback Original

DEATH OF THE MANTIS, Stanley, Michael (Harper Perennial)

THE SILENCED, Brett Battles (Dell)
THE HANGMAN’S DAUGHTER, Oliver Pötzsch (Mariner Books)
A DOUBLE DEATH ON THE BLACK ISLE, A. D. Scott (Atria)
FUN AND GAMES, Duane Swierczynski (Mulholland)
TWO FOR SORROW, Nicola Upson (Harper Perennial)

Best Thriller

THE INFORMANT, Thomas Perry (Houghton Mifflin)

CARVER, Tom Cain (Bantam Press)
COUP D’ETAT, Ben Coes (St. Martin’s)
SPYCATCHER (SPARTAN), Matthew Dunn (William Morrow)
BALLISTIC, Mark Greaney (Berkley Trade)
HOUSE DIVIDED, Mike Lawson (Atlantic Monthly)

Best Short Story (compiled by Marv Lachman)

Jeffrey Cohen, "The Gun Also Rises" (AHMM January-February)

Doug Allyn, "Thicker Than Blood" (AHMM September)
Mike Cooper, "Whiz Bang" (EQMM September-October)
Trina Corey, "Facts Exhibiting Wantonness" ( EQMM November)
James Powell, "Last Laugh in Floogle Park" (EQMM July)
Eric Rutter, "Purge" (AHMM December)

BARRY AWARD WINNERS 2011

Best Novel

THE LOCK ARTIST, Steve Hamilton (Minotaur)

NOWHERE TO RUN, C. J. Box (Putnam)
CROOKED LETTER, CROOKED LETTER, Tom Franklin (Morrow)
MOONLIGHT MILE, Dennis Lehane (Morrow)
BURY YOUR DEAD, Louise Penny (Minotaur)
SAVAGES, Don Winslow (Simon & Schuster)

Best First Novel

THE POACHER’S SON, Paul Doiron (Minotaur)

GUTSHOT STRAIGHT, Lou Berney (Morrow)
ROGUE ISLAND, Bruce DeSilva (Forge)
SHERLOCKIAN, Graham Moore (Twelve)
THE HOLY THIEF, William Ryan (Minotaur)
ONCE A SPY, Keith Thomson (Doubleday)

Best British Novel

THE WOODCUTTER, Reginald Hill (HarperCollins)

STARTED EARLY, TOOK MY DOG, Kate Atkinson (Doubleday)
BLOOD HARVEST, S. J. Bolton (Bantam Press)
NIGHT WHISPERERS, John Connolly (Hodder & Stoughton)
THREE SECONDS, Roslund & Hellstrom (Quercus)
FOURTH DAY, Zoe Sharp (Allison & Busby)

Best Paperback Original

FEVER AT THE BONE, Val McDermid (Harper)

THE HANGING TREE, Bryan Gruley (Touchstone)
THE DEAD LIE DOWN, Sophie Hannah (Penguin)
EGGSECUTIVE ORDERS, Julie Hyzy (Berkley)
THE RHETORIC OF DEATH, Judith Rock (Berkley)
A SMALL DEATH IN THE GREAT GLEN, A.D. Scott (Atria)

Best Thriller

13 HOURS, Deon Meyer (Grove Atlantic)


AMERICAN ASSASSIN, Vince Flynn (Atria)
THE BRICKLAYER, Noah Boyd (Morrow)
BOLT ACTION, Charles Charters (Hodder U.K.)
ON TARGET, Mark Greaney (Jove)
THE REMBRANDT AFFAIR, Daniel Silva (Putnam)

Best Short Story

Loren D. Estleman, "The List" (EQMM May 2010)

Mitch Alderman, "Requiem for Antlers" (AHMM Jan.-Feb. 2010)
Robert Barnard, "Family Values" (EQMM Feb. 2010)
Caroline Benton, "The Body in the Dunes (EQMM Jan. 2010)
Terence Faherty, "The Seven Sorrows" (EQMM Mar.-Apr. 2010)
Ellen Larson, "When the Apricots Bloom" (AHMM July-Aug. 2010)

 

BARRY AWARD WINNERS 2010

BEST NOVEL

John Hart, THE LAST CHILD, Minotaur -- Winner
John Connolly, THE GATES, Atria
David Ellis, THE HIDDEN MAN, Putnam
Joe Gores, SPADE & ARCHER, Knopf
Marcia Muller, LOCKED IN, Grand Central
S.J. Rozan, SHANGHAI MOON, Minotaur

BEST FIRST NOVEL

Alan Bradley, THE SWEETNESS AT THE BOTTOM OF THE PIE, Delacorte -- Winner

Josh Bazell, BEAT THE REAPER, Little, Brown
Rebecca Cantrell, A TRACE OF SMOKE, Forge
Sophie Littlefield, A BAD DAY FOR SORRY, Minotaur
Attica Locke, BLACK WATER RISING, Harper
Stuart Neville, THE GHOSTS OF BELFAST (THE TWELVE), Soho Crime

BEST BRITISH NOVEL

Philip Kerr, IF THE DEAD NOT RISE, Quercus -- Winner


S. J. Bolton, AWAKENING, Bantam Press
John Connolly, THE LOVERS, HodderStoughton
Reginald Hill, MIDNIGHT FUGUE, HarperCollins
Denise Mina, STILL MIDNIGHT, Orion
Robert Wilson, IGNORANCE OF BLOOD, HarperCollins

BEST PAPERBACK ORIGINAL

Bryan Gruley, STARVATION LAKE, Touchstone -- Winner


Megan Abbott, BURY ME DEEP, Simon & Schuster
Max Allan Collins, QUARRY IN THE MIDDLE, HardCase Crime
Heather Gutenkauf, THE WEIGHT OF SILENCE, Mira
Frank Tallis, FATAL LIES, Random House Mortalis
L. C. Tyler, THE HERRING-SELLER’S APPRENTICE, Felony & Mayhem

BEST THRILLER

Jamie Freveletti, RUNNING FROM THE DEVIL, Morrow--Winner


Tom Cain, NO SURVIVORS (THE SURVIVOR), Viking
Mark Greaney, THE GRAY MAN, Jove
Derek Haas, COLUMBUS: a Silver Bear Thriller, Pegasus
Mike Lawson, HOUSE SECRETS, Atlantic Monthly
Greg Rucka, WALKING DEAD, Bantam

MYSTERY/CRIME NOVEL OF THE DECADE

Stieg Larsson, THE GIRL WITH THE DRAGON TATTOO, Knopf -- Winner


Ken Bruen, THE GUARDS, St. Martin’s Minotaur
Michael Connelly, THE LINCOLN LAWYER, Little, Brown
Dennis Lehane, MYSTIC RIVER, Morrow
Louise Penny, STILL LIFE, St. Martin’s Minotaur
Carlos Ruiz Zafon, THE SHADOW OF THE WIND, Penguin Press

BEST SHORT STORY

Brendan DuBois, "The High House Writer" (AHMM July-August 2009) -- Winner
Barbara Callahan, "My Mother's Keeper" (EQ

MM June 2009)
David Dean, "Erin's Journal" (EQMM December 2009)
John H. Dirckx, "Real Men Die" (AHMM September 2009)
Melodie Johnson Howe, "A Hollywood Ending" (EQMM July 2009)
Morley Swingle, "Hard Blows" (THE PROSECUTION RESTS )

 

THE 2009 BARRY AWARDS

The winners were announced at the 2009 Bouchercon in Indianapolis, Indiana. Sponsored by Mystery News and Deadly Pleasures Mystery Magazine

BEST NOVEL
THE DRAINING LAKE by Arnaldur Indridason – WINNER


TRIGGER CITY by Sean Chercover
ENVY THE NIGHT by Michael Koryta
RED KNIFE by William Kent Krueger
THE CRUELEST MONTH by Louise Penny
DAWN PATROL by Don Winslow

BEST FIRST
CHILD 44 by Tom Rob Smith – WINNER


THE KIND ONE by Tom Epperson
STALKING SUSAN by Julie Kramer
CITY OF THE SUN by David Levien
A CARRION DEATH by Michael Stanley
SWEEPING UP GLASS by Carolyn D. Wall

BEST BRITISH
THE GIRL WITH THE DRAGON TATTOO by Stieg Larsson – WINNER


A SIMPLE ACT OF VIOLENCE by R.J. Ellory
RITUAL by Mo Hayder
SHATTER by Michael Robotham
BLEEDING HEART SQUARE by Andrew Taylor
BRUNO, CHIEF OF POLICE by Martin Walker

BEST PAPERBACK ORIGINAL
STATE OF THE ONION by Julie Hyzy – WINNER


THE FIRST QUARRY by Max Allan Collins
MONEY SHOT by Christa Faust
THE BLACK PATH by Asa Larsson
SEVERANCE PACKAGE by Duane Swierczynski
ECHOES FROM THE DEAD by Johan Theorin

BEST THRILLER
THE DECEIVED by Brett Battles – WINNER


COLLISION by Jeff Abbott
THE SURVIVOR (NO SURVIVORS in U.S.) by Tom Cain
FINDER by Colin Harrison
NIGHT OF THUNDER by Stephen Hunter
GOOD PEOPLE by Marcus Sakey

BEST SHORT STORY
"The Drought" by James O. Born (The Blue Religion) – WINNER


"The Fallen" by Jan Burke (August EQMM)
"A Trace of a Trace" by Brendan DuBois (At the Scene of the Crime)
"A Killing in Midtown" by G. Miki Hayden (January/February AHMM)
"Proof of Love" by Mick Herron (September/October EQMM)
"The Problem of the Secret Patient" by Edward D. Hoch (May EQMM)

 

THE 2008 BARRY AWARDS

The winners were announced October 9, 2008 at the opening ceremonies of Bouchercon in Baltimore, Maryland. Sponsored by Mystery News and Deadly Pleasures Mystery Magazine

BEST NOVEL (Published in the U.S. in 2007)

WHAT THE DEAD KNOW, Laura Lippman (Morrow)

SOUL PATCH, Reed Farrel Coleman (Bleak House)
THE UNQUIET, John Connolly (Atria)
DOWN RIVER, John Hart (St Martin’s Minotaur)
DIRTY MARTINI, J.A. Konrath (Hyperion)
RED CAT, Peter Spiegelman (Knopf)

BEST FIRST NOVEL (Published in the U.S. in 2007)

IN THE WOODS, Tana French (Viking)

MISSING WITNESS, Gordon Campbell (Morrow)
BIG CITY, BAD BLOOD, Sean Chercover (Morrow)
THE SPELLMAN FILES, Lisa Lutz (Simon & Schuster)
THE COLLABORATOR OF BETHLEHEM, Matt Beynon Rees (Soho Press)
THE BLADE ITSELF, Marcus Sakey (St. Martin’s Minotaur)

BEST BRITISH CRIME NOVEL

(published in the U.K. in 2007,

not necessarily written by a British writer nor set in the U.K)

DAMNATION FALLS, Edward Wright (Orion)

A QUIET BELIEF IN ANGELS, R.J. Ellory (Orion)
PIG ISLAND, Mo Hayder (Bantam Press)
ONE UNDER, Graham Hurley (Orion)
THE DEATH LIST, Paul Johnston (Mira)
THE 50/50 KILLER, Steve Mosby (Orion)

BEST PAPERBACK ORIGINAL

QUEENPIN, Megan Abbott (Simon & Schuster)


BLACK WIDOW AGENCY, Felicia Donovan (Midnight Ink)
CHOKE POINT, Jay MacLarty (Pocket)
THE MARK, Jason Pinter (Mira)
WASH THIS BLOOD CLEAN FROM MY HAND, Fred Vargas (Penguin)
WHO IS CONRAD HIRST?, Kevin Wignall (Simon & Schuster)

BEST THRILLER

THE WATCHMAN, Robert Crais (Simon & Schuster)

NO TIME FOR GOODBYE, Linwood Barclay (Bantam)
THE CLEANER, Brett Battles (Delacorte)
VOLK’S GAME, Brent Ghelfi (Henry Holt)
SILENCE, Thomas Perry (Harcourt)
MIDNIGHT RAMBLER, Jim Swain (Ballantine)

BEST SHORT STORY

Edward D. Hoch, "The Problem of the Summer Snowman" (EQMM November 2007)

Doug Allyn, "Dead As a Dog" (EQMM July 2007)

Dale C. Andrews and Kurt Sercu, "The Book Case" (EQMM May 2007)

Jon L. Breen, "The Missing Elevator Puzzle" (EQMM February 2007)

Jeffrey Deaver, "Bump" (DEAD MAN'S HAND)

Gillian Roberts, "The Old Wife's Tale" (EQMM March-April 2007)

Neil Schofield, "Murder: A User's Guibe" (AHMM July-August 2007). The word “Guibe” is not a typo.

*******************

THE 2007 BARRY AWARD WINNERS

BEST NOVEL

THE NIGHT GARDENER by George Pelecanos -- Winner

WHITE SHADOW by Ace Atkins
OH DANNY BOY by Rhys Bowen
THE LAST ASSASSIN by Barry Eisler
THE PRISONER OF GUANTANAMO by Dan Fesperman
CITY OF SHADOWS by Ariana Franklin

BEST FIRST NOVEL

STILL LIFE by Louise Penny -- Winner

THE FAITHFUL SPY by Alex Berenson
SHARP OBJECTS by Gillian Flynn
THE BERLIN CONSPIRACY by Tom Gabbay
THE KING OF LIES by John Hart
A FIELD OF DARKNESS by Cornelia Read

BEST BRITISH NOVEL

PRIEST by Ken Bruen -- Winner


DYING LIGHT by Stuart MacBride
SOVEREIGN by C.J. Sansom
THE CASE OF THE MISSING BOOKS by Ian Sansom
MR. CLARINET by Nick Stone
RED SKY LAMENT by Edward Wright

BEST THRILLER

THE MESSENGER by Daniel Silva -- Winner

KILLER INSTINCT by Joe Finder
THE FOREIGN CORRESPONDENT by Alan Furst
RELENTLESS by Simon Kernick
COLD KILL by Stephen Leather
KILL ME by Stephen White

BEST PAPERBACK ORIGINAL

THE CLEANUP by Sean Doolittle -- Winner

BUST by Ken Bruen and Jason Starr
THE LAST QUARRY by Max Allan Collins
LIVE WIRE by Jay MacLarty
DEADMAN'S POKER by Jim Swain
CROOKED by Brian Wiprud


BEST SHORT STORY

"The Right Call" by Brendan DuBois

(EQMM Sept/Oct, 2006) -- Winner

"Cain was Innocent" by Simon Brett (Thou Shalt Not Kill, published by Carroll & Graf)
"Shaping the Ends" by Judith Cutler (EQMM May, 2006)
"A Man of Taste" by Kate Ellis (EQMM Mar/Apr, 2006)
"The Flower Girl" by Paul Halter (The Night of the Wolf, published by Wildside Press)
"A Case for Inspector Ghote" by June Thomson (The Verdict of Us All, published by Crippen & Landru)

***************

2006 Barry Awards Winners

Best Novel

RED LEAVES Thomas H. Cook -- Winner

BLOODLINES, Jan Burke

MERCY FALLS William Kent Krueger

SUDDEN DEATH David Rosenfelt

MR. LUCKY James Swain

THE POWER OF THE DOG Don Winslow

 

Best First Novel

COLD GRANITE Stuart McBride -- Winner

DIE A LITTLE Megan Abbott

IMMORAL Brian Freeman

BABY GAME Randall Hicks

DARK HARBOR David Hosp

 

Best British Novel

THE FIELD OF BLOOD Denise Mina -- Winner

BLOOD-DIMMED TIDE Rennie Airth

LIFELESS Mark Billingham

SILENCE OF THE GRAVE Arnaldur Indridason

A GOOD DAY TO DIE Simon Kernick

LOST Michael Robotham

 

Best Thriller

COMPANY MAN Joseph Finder -- Winner

CONSENT TO KILL Vince Flynn

THE INSIDE RING Michael Lawson

SEVEN DEADLY WONDERS Matthew Reilly

MAP OF BONES James Rollins

PRIVATE WARS Greg Rucka

 

Best Paperback Novel

THE JAMES DEANS Reed Farrel Coleman -- Winner

SIX BAD THINGS Charlie Huston

NIGHT'S CHILD Maureen Jennings

NOW YOU SEE ME Rochelle Krich

THE DEAD DON'T GET OUT MUCH Mary Jane Maffini

INSIDE OUT John Ramsey Miller

 

Best Short Story

Nancy Pickard- "There Is No Crime on Easter Island" (EQMM Sept.-Oct. 2005) -- Winner

Steve Hockensmith- "The Big Road" (AHMM May 2005)

Peter Lovesey- "Needle Match" (MURDER IS MY RACKET)

Joan Richter- "Love and Death in Africa" (EQMM January 2005)

Tom Savage- "The Method in Her Madness" (AHMM June 2005)

 

 

2005 Barry Award Winners

 

Best Novel Barry Award

THE ENEMY, Lee Child -- WINNER

ALONE AT NIGHT, K. J. Erickson

DARKLY, DREAMING DEXTER, Jeff Lindsay

REMEMBERING SARAH, Chris Mooney

LITTLE SCARLET, Walter Mosley

HARD REVOLUTION, George Pelecanos

 

Best First Novel Barry Award

THE SHADOW OF THE WIND, Carlos Ruiz Zafon -- WINNER

RELATIVE DANGER, Charles Benoit

WALKING MONEY, James O. Born

THE CORONER’S LUNCH, Colin Cotterill

SKINNY DIPPING, Claire Matturro

SOME DANGER INVOLVED, Will Thomas

 

 

Best British Crime Novel Barry Award

FLESH & BLOOD, John Harvey -- WINNER

THE BURNING GIRL, Mark Billingham

THE DRAMATIST, Ken Bruen

TOKYO (U.S. title: THE DEVIL OF NANKING), Mo Hayder

THE CRIME TRADE, Simon Kernick

FIRST DROP, Zoë Sharp

 

Best Paperback Original Barry Award

TAGGED FOR MURDER, Elaine Flinn -- WINNER

THE LIBRARIAN, Larry Beinhart

INTO THE WEB, Thomas H. Cook

LAST SEEN IN ABERDEEN, M.G. Kincaid

THE CONFESSION, Domenic Stansberry

TWISTED CITY, Jason Starr

 

Best Thriller Barry Award

RAIN STORM by Barry Eisler -- WINNER

SCARECROW by Matthew Reilly

BAGMAN by Jay MacLarty

WHIRLWIND by Joseph Garber

A DEATH IN VIENNA by Daniel Silva

PARANOIA by Joseph Finder

 

Best Short Story Barry Award

Edward D. Hoch "The War in Wonderland" (GREEN FOR DANGER) -- WINNER

Catherine Aird "Cold Comfort" (CHAPTER AND HEARSE AND OTHER MYSTERIES)

Melodie Johnson Howe "Facing Up" (EQMM July,2004)

John Mortimer "Rumpole and the Christmas Break" (The Strand Magazine No. XIV)

Amy Myers "Murder, the Missing Heir and the Boiled Egg" (CRIMINAL APPETITES)

Neil Schofield "Ledgers" (EQMM July, 2004)

 

 

2004 BARRY AWARD WINNERS

2004

 

BEST NOVEL

EVERY SECRET THING by Laura Lippman -- Winner

 

THE GUARDS by Ken Bruen

THE SMALL BOAT OF GREAT SORROWS by Dan Fesperman

KEEPING WATCH by Laurie R. King

SHUTTER ISLAND by Dennis Lehane

FOUNTAIN FILLED WITH BLOOD by Julia Spencer- Fleming

 

BEST FIRST MYSTERY NOVEL

 

MONKEEWRENCH by P. J. Tracy -- Winner

 

MISSION FLATS by Bill Landay

BRIDGE OF SIGHS by Olen Steinhauer

THE BARBED-WIRE KISS by Wallace Stroby 

MAISIE DOBBS by Jacqueline Winspear

CLEA’S MOON by Edward Wright

 

BEST BRITISH CRIME NOVEL

 

THE DISTANT ECHO by Val McDermid -- Winner

 

LAZYBONES by Mark Billingham

FULL DARK HOUSE by Christopher Fowler

THE MURDER EXCHANGE by Simon Kernick

THE HOUSE SITTER by Peter Lovese

THE AMERICAN BOY (U.S. title: AN UNPAR- DONABLE CRIME) by Andrew Taylor

 

BEST PAPERBACK ORIGINAL

TOUGH LUCK by Jason Starr -- Winner

 

DEALING IN MURDER by Elaine Flinn
WISDOM OF THE BONES by Christopher Hyde

THE COURIER by Jay MacLarty (Pocket Star, $6.99)

THE SHADOW OF VENUS by Judith Van Gieson

MURDER BETWEEN THE COVERS by Elaine Viets

 

BEST MYSTERY SHORT STORY

 

Robert Barnard- "Rogues' Gallery" (EQMM March 2003) -- Winner

Doug Allyn- "The Blind Pig" (EQMM May 2003)

Brendan DuBois- "Always Another War" (AHMM July-August 2003)

Clark Howard- "The Mask of Peter" (EQMM April 2003)

Donald Olson- "Rogue's Run" (EQMM April 2003)

 

 

Prior Year's Winners

1997 Barry Awards

Best Novel

BLOODHOUNDS, Peter Lovesey

HEARTS AND BONES by Margaret Lawrence

DANCE OF THE DEAD by Thomas Perry

THE WOOD BEYOND by Reginald Hill

SPEAK NO EVIL by Rochelle Krich

THE CHATHAM SCHOOL AFFAIR by Thomas H. Cook

Best First Novel

TEST OF WILLS, Charles Todd

A BROTHER'S BLOOD, Michael C. White

A KILLING IN QUAIL COUNTY, Jameson Cole

LIE DOWN WITH DOGS, Jan Gleiter

WHAT THE DEAF MUTE HEARD by G.D. Gearino

FATAL GIFT by H. Michael Frase

 

Best Paperback Original

WALKING RAIN, Susan Wade

THE GRASS WIDOW, Teri Holbrook

FADE AWAY, Harlan Coben

Best Non-Fiction

DETECTING WOMEN 2, Willetta L. Heising

These awards were made without any fanfare or much publicity being generated.

The next year, with more time to prepare, we printed a ballot of nominated titles and physical awards were presented to the winners at Bouchercon. And then all of a sudden people started taking notice of the Barry Awards.

 

1998 Barry Awards

 

Best Novel

TRUNK MUSIC, Michael Connelly - Winner

DREAMING OF THE BONES, Deborah Crombie

HOCUS, Jan Burke

A WASTELAND OF STRANGERS, Bill Pronzini

THE LIFE AND DEATH OF BOBBY Z, Don Winslow

NO COLDER PLACE, S.J. Rozan

CIMARRON ROSE, James Lee Burke

Best First Novel

KILLING FLOOR, Lee Child - Winner

NO HUMAN INVOLVED, Barbara Seranella

EXCEPT THE DYING, Maureen Jennings

FREE REIGN, Rosemary Aubert

FLOWER NET, Lisa See

LOS ALAMOS, Joseph Kanon

Best Paperback Original

BACKSPIN, Harlan Coben - Winner

BIG RED TEQUILA, Rick Riordan

THE SALARYMAN'S WIFE, Sujata Massey

DEAD BODY LANGUAGE, Penny Warner

 

1999 Barry Awards

Best Novel (tie)

ON BEULAH HEIGHT, Reginald Hill - Winner

GONE, BABY GONE, Dennis Lehane - Winner

EVAN HELP US, Rhys Bowen

BLOOD WORK, Michael Connelly

THE COFFIN DANCER, Jeffery Deaver

JUDAS CHILD, Carol O'Connell

THE HANGING GARDEN, Ian Rankin

ALL THE DEAD LIE DOWN, Mary Willis Walker

Best First Novel

IRON LAKE, William Kent Krueger - Winner

THE CONTRARY BLUES, John Billheimer

A COLD DAY IN PARADISE, Steve Hamilton

THE DOCTOR DIGS A GRAVE, Robin Hathaway

TIDEWATER BLOOD, William Hoffman

A LIKENESS IN STONE, J. Wallis Martin

BILLY DEAD, Lisa Reardon

A CRIMINAL APPEAL, D.R. Schanker

 

2000 Barry Awards

Best Novel

IN A DRY SEASON, Peter Robinson

Angels Flight, Michael Connelly

L.A. Requiem, Robert Crais

High Five, Janet Evanovich

Hart's War By John Katzenbach

Prayers For Rain, Dennis Lehane

 

Best First Novel

MURDER WITH PEACOCKS, Donna Andrews

The Immortal Game, Mark Coggins

Lie In The Dark, Dan Fesperman

White Sky, Black Ice, Stan Jones

Every Trace, Greg Main

 

Best British Crime Novel

A PLACE OF EXECUTION, Val Mcdermid

River Of Darkness, Rennie Airth

Every Dead Thing, John Connolly

Rough Justice, Colin Falconer

The Chalon Heads, Barry Maitland

 

Best Paperback Original (tie)

EVERY MOVE SHE MAKES, Robin Burcell

AN ANTIDOTE FOR AVARICE, Caroline Roe

Them Bones, Carolyn Haines

The Hunted, Jerry Kennealy

The Last Song Dogs, Sinclair Browning

 

2001 Barry Award Winners

 

BEST NOVEL

DEEP SOUTH, Nevada Barr

 

RUNNING BLIND, Lee Child

PLACES IN THE DARK, Thomas H. Cook

CROSS DRESSING by Bill Fitzhugh

WINTER OF THE WOLF MOON, Steven Hamilton

UNWANTED COMPANY, Barbara Seranella

 

BEST FIRST NOVEL

CONSPIRACY OF PAPER, David Liss

 

IN HER DEFENSE, Stephen Horn

THE ICE HARVEST, Scott Phillips

STREET LEVEL, Bob Truluck

DEATH OF A RED HEROINE, Qiu Xiaolong

 

BEST BRITISH CRIME NOVEL

BLACK DOG, Stephen Booth

 

DARK HOLLOW, John Connolly

THE BEACH ROAD, Sarah Diamond

THE CERTAINTY OF DOING EVIL, Colin Falconer

THE REAPER, Peter Lovesey

 

BEST PAPERBACK ORIGINAL

THE KIDNAPPING OF ROSIE DAWN, Eric Wright

 

DIVE DEEP AND DEADLY, Glynn Marsh Alam

DEATH DANCES TO A REGGAE BEAT, Kate Grilley

LITTLE MEXICO, Cathie John

DISTEMPER, Beth Saulnier

 

2002 Barry Award Winners

BEST NOVEL

MYSTIC RIVER, Dennis Lehane 

TELL NO ONE, Harlan Coben

DARKNESS MORE THAN NIGHT, Michael Connelly

PURGATORY RIDGE, William Kent Krueger

SILENT JOE, T. Jefferson Parker

RIGHT AS RAIN, George Pelecanos

BAD NEWS, Donald E. Westlake

 

BEST FIRST NOVEL

 

OPEN SEASON, C. J. Box

THIRD PERSON SINGULAR, K.J. Erickson

CHASING THE DEVIL’S TAIL, David Fulmer

PERHAPS SHE’LL DIE, M.K. Preston

BLINDSIGHTED, Karen Slaughter

BUBBLES UNBOUND, Sarah Strohmeyer

 

BEST BRITISH CRIME NOVEL

 

DANCING WITH VIRGINS, Stephen Booth

BLOOD JUNCTION, Caroline Carver

THE KILLING KIND, John Connolly

DIALOGUES OF THE DEAD, Reginald Hill

DEATH IN HOLY ORDERS, P.D. James

KILLING THE SHADOWS, Val McDermid

THE FALLS, Ian Rankin

 

BEST PAPERBACK ORIGINAL

 

KILLING GIFTS, Deborah Woodworth 

RODE HARD, PUT AWAY DEAD, Sinclair Browning

DEATH IS A CABARET, Deborah Morgan

THE FOURTH WALL, Beth Saulnier

STRAW MEN, Martin J. Smith

 

2003 Barry Awards

Best Novel

Michael Connelly, CITY OF BONES

Lee Child, WITHOUT FAIL

Tim Cockey, THE HEARSE CASE SCENARIO

Steve Hamilton, NORTH OF NOWHERE

George Pelecanos, HELL TO PAY

S. J. Rozan, WINTER AND NIGHT

 

Best First Novel

Julia Spencer-Fleming, IN THE BLEAK MIDWINTER

 

David Corbett, THE DEVIL’S REDHEAD

Pip Granger, NOT ALL TARTS ARE APPLE

Jonathon King, THE BLUE EDGE OF MIDNIGHT

Eddie Muller, THE DISTANCE

Ben Rehder, BUCK FEVER

 

 

Best British Novel

 Connolly, John, THE WHITE ROAD

 

Mark Billingham,  SCAREDY CAT

Tom Bradby, THE MASTER OF RAIN

Simon Kernick, THE BUSINESS OF DYING

Peter Lovesey,  DIAMOND DUST 

Ed O’Connor,  THE YEARE’S MIDNIGHT

 

Best Paperback Original

Danielle Girard,  COLD SILENCE

 

Jeff Abbott, BLACK JACK POINT

Robin Burcell,  FATAL TRUTH

D. Daniel Judson,  THE BONE ORCHARD

Anna Salter,  PRISON BLUES

Brian Wiprud,  PIPSQUEAK