Edgar Award (Best Novel)

The Edgar Allan Poe Award for Best Novel, universally known as the Edgar, is the most coveted prize in mystery and crime fiction. Presented annually by the Mystery Writers of America (MWA), the award has been given since 1946 and is named in honor of Edgar Allan Poe, whose stories of ratiocination pioneered the detective fiction genre. The award recognizes the best novel in the mystery, crime, thriller, or suspense genre published in English during the preceding year. Winners receive a ceramic bust of Edgar Allan Poe at the annual awards banquet, typically held in New York City each spring. There is no cash prize, but the Edgar designation is among the most commercially significant endorsements in crime fiction, reliably boosting book sales and establishing careers. The award covers the full range of mystery and crime writing, from hardboiled thrillers to cozy mysteries, psychological suspense, and international crime fiction, making it one of the most diverse and inclusive major literary awards in the United States. The Edgar for Best Novel has recognized some of the most influential works in the crime genre, from early champions of American noir to contemporary literary crime writers who blur the boundaries between genre fiction and literary fiction. Notable recipients include Dennis Lehane, Attica Locke, Walter Mosley, and Elly Griffiths. The award is presented alongside several other Edgar categories including Best First Novel, Best Young Adult Novel, and Best Short Story, making the Edgar Awards ceremony one of the most comprehensive celebrations of mystery writing in the world.