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The Best Mystery Books - Top 100

SHAMUS AWARD FOR BEST PRIVATE EYE NOVEL


The Private Eye Writers of America confer the Shamus Award. Eligible novels feature a "private eye" character who is an investigator, but does not work for a government or police agency. Winners are selected by committees of writers. The award for Best Novel is listed below (best hardback Novel beginning in 2001).

1 Locked In Marcia Muller Sharon McCone 2010
2 Empty Ever After Reed Farrel Coleman 2009
3 Soul Patch Reed Farrel Coleman 2008
4 The Dramatist Ken Bruen 2007
5 While I Disappear Ed Wrigh 2005
6 The Lincoln Lawyer Michael Connelly Mickey Haller series novels 2005
7 The Guards Ken Bruen 2004
8 Blackwater Sound James W Hall 2003
9 Reflecting The Sky S. J. Rozan 2002
10 Havana Heat C. Garcia-Aguilera 2001
11 California Fire And Life Don Winslow 2000
12 Come Back Dead Terence Faherty 1998
13 Boobytrap Carroll Graf Bill Pronzini Nameless Detective novels 1998
14 Sunset Express Robert Crais Elvis Cole / Joe Pike novel 1996
15 Concourse S. J. Rozan 1996
16 K Is for Killer Sue Grafton Kinsey Millhone novels 1994
17 The Devil Knows Youre Dead Lawrence Block 1994
18 The Man Was Taller Than God Harold Adams 1993
19 Stolen Away Max Collins 1992
20 Extenuating Circumstances Jonathan Valin 1990
21 G Is for Gumshoe Sue Grafton Kinsey Millhone novels 1990
22 Kiss John Lutz 1989
23 A Tax In Blood Benjamin M. Schutz 1988
24 The Staked Goat Jeremiah Healy 1986
25 Sugartown Loren D. Estleman 1985
26 B Is for Burglar Sue Grafton Kinsey Millhone novels 1985
27 True Detective Max Allan Collins 1984
28 Eight Million ways to Die Lawrence Block Matt Scudder novels 1982
29 Hoodwink St Martins Bill Pronzini Nameless Detective novels 1981