2026 CWC AWARDS OF EXCELLENCE SHORTLISTS
The Crime Writers of Canada (CWC) announced the shortlists for the 2026 CWC Awards of Excellence in Canadian Crime Writing (formerly known as the Arthur Ellis Awards) and the recipient for the 2026 Grand Master Award as follows:

2026 Grand Master Award Recipient:
Rick Mofina, "for his exceptional service to the CWC"

Peter Robinson Award for Best Crime Novel: (5)
Sue Hincenbergs, The Retirement Plan (HarperCollins Publishers)
Jen Sookfong Lee, The Hunger We Pass Down (McClelland & Stewart)
Tamara L. Miller, Into the Fall (Thomas and Mercer)
Louise Penny, The Black Wolf (Minotaur Books)
Eddy Boudel Tan, The Tiger and the Cosmonaut (Viking Canada)

Best Crime First Novel: (5)
Ray Critch, The Beltane Massacre (Breakwater Books)
Jan Field, Yesterday's Lies (La Cloche Publishing)
Joel Nedecky, The Broken Detective (Run Amok Crime)
David L. Tucker, A Painting to Die For (Otter & Osprey Press)
A.L. Wahdel, Too Dark For the Light (Butterfly 80 Publishing)

Best Crime Novel Set in Canada: (5)
Lis Angus, That Other Family (Next Chapter)
Angela Douglas, Every Fall (Rising Action Publishing)
Uzma Jalaluddin, Detective Aunty (HarperCollins Publishers)
C.S. Porter, Salt on Her Tongue (Vagrant Press)
Chevy Stevens, The Hitchhikers (St. Martin's Press)

The Whodunit Award for Best Traditional Mystery: (5)
Shelley Adina, The Engineer's Nemesis (Moonshell Books)
Mel Anastasiou, Stella Ryman and the Search for Thelma Hu (Pulp Literature Press)
Alice Fitzpatrick, A Dark Death (Stonehouse Publishing)
Laury Silvers, Some Justice: A Ghazi Ammar Medieval Mystery (Independently Published)
Iona Whishaw, The Cost of a Hostage (TouchWood Editions)

Best Crime Short Story: (5)
Lis Angus, "Under the Circumstances" (in A Capital Mystery Anthology; Ottawa Press and Publishing)
Madeleine Harris Callway, "The Lost Diner" (in Pulp Literature Press)
Barbara Fradkin, "Cold Shock" (in A Capital Mystery Anthology; Ottawa Press and Publishing)
Billie Livingstone, "The Headache" (in Dark Yonder)
Sylvia Maultash Warsh, "Polly Wants a Freakin' Cracker" (in Malice Domestic: Murder Most Humorous; Wildside Press)

Best French Crime Book: (5)
Chrystine Brouillet, Le regard des autres (Druide)
AndreJacques, Jeux d'ombres (Druide)
Steve Laflamme, La memoire du labyrinthe (Libre Expression)
Maureen Martineau, Une nuit d'ete a Littlebrook (Heliotrope)
Martin Michaud, Delta Zero (Libre Expression)

Best Juvenile/YA Crime Book (5)
Charis Cotter The Mystery of the Haunted Dancehall (Tundra Books)
Vicki Grant, Death by Whoopee Cushion (Tundra Books)
Claire Hatcher-Smith, The Mizzy Mysteries: A Skeleton in the Closet (Tundra Books)
Tanya Lloyd Kyi, The City of Lost Cats (Tundra Books)
John Lekich, Bark Twice for Murder (Orca Book Publishers)

The Brass Knuckles Award for Best Nonfiction Crime Book: (5)
Robert Cree with Therese Greenwood, The Many Names of Robert Cree: How a First Nations Chief, Brought Ancient Wisdom to Big Business and Prosperity to His People (ECW Press)
John L. Hill, Acts of Darkness: Notorious Criminals, Their Defenders, Prosecutors, and Jailers (Durvile & UpRoute)
Kathleen Lippa, Arctic Predator: The Crimes of Edward Horne Against Children in Canada's North (Dundurn Press)
Lorna Poplak, On the Lam: Great (and Not So Great) Escapes from Prison (Dundurn Press)
Julian Sher & Lisa Fitterman, Hitman: The Untold Story of Canada's Deadliest Assassin (HarperCollins Publishers Ltd)

The Award for Best Unpublished Manuscript: (5)
Anne Burlakoff, Val's Story
William Hall, The Less You Know
Francis K. Lalumiere, Lens Flare
Barbara Stokes, Death Scent
Isabelle Zimmermann, Blistered

The winners will be announced in late May 2026.

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