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Agatha Award for Best Contemporary Novel

Malice Domestic Convention

Annual award presented at the Malice Domestic convention honoring the best traditional mystery novel of the year, celebrating works in the style of Agatha Christie—cozy, puzzle-oriented mysteries without excessive graphic violence, gore, or explicit sex.

Latest winner · 2025

Next · expected February 2027

Shortlist announced Full award calendar

Search through 7,609 books

2023

  1. The Weekend Retreat

    Tara Laskowski

    Won
  2. Case of the Bleus

    Korina Moss

    Shortlisted

  3. Helpless

    Annette Dashofy

    Shortlisted
  4. The Raven Thief

    Gigi Pandian

    Shortlisted
  5. Wined and Died in New Orleans

    Ellen Byron

    Shortlisted

2022

  1. A World of Curiosities

    Louise Penny

    Nominated for 1 more award

    Won
  2. Bayou Book Thief

    Ellen Byron

    Shortlisted

  3. Dead Man's Leap

    Tina De Bellegarde

    Shortlisted
  4. Death By Bubble Tea

    Jennifer J. Chow

    Shortlisted
  5. Fatal Reunion

    Annette Dashofy

    Shortlisted

1993

  1. Dead Man's Island

    Carolyn Hart

    Won
  2. Fair Game

    Rochelle Majer Krich

    Shortlisted
  3. O Little Town of Maggody

    Joan Hess

    Nominated for 1 more award

    Shortlisted
  4. Old Scores

    Aaron Elkins

    Shortlisted
  5. Southern Discomfort

    Margaret Maron

    Nominated for 1 more award

    Shortlisted
  6. To Live and Die in Dixie

    Kathy Hogan Trocheck

    Nominated for 1 more award

    Shortlisted

1992

  1. Bootlegger's Daughter

    Margaret Maron

    Won 2 more awards

    Won
  2. Defend and Betray

    Anne Perry

    Shortlisted
  3. Southern Ghost

    Carolyn G. Hart

    Nominated for 1 more award

    Shortlisted
  4. The Hangman's Beautiful Daughter

    Sharyn McCrumb

    Nominated for 1 more award

    Shortlisted
  5. The Snake, the Crocodile, and the Dog

    Elizabeth Peters

    Shortlisted

1989

  1. Naked Once More

    Elizabeth Peters

    Won
  2. A Little Class on Murder

    Carolyn G. Hart

    Nominated for 1 more award

    Shortlisted
  3. Corpus Christmas

    Margaret Maron

    Nominated for 1 more award

    Shortlisted

  4. Philly Stakes

    Gillian Roberts

    Shortlisted
  5. The Sirens Sang of Murder

    Sarah Caudwell

    Won 1 more award

    Shortlisted

1988

  1. Something Wicked

    Carolyn G. Hart

    Won
  2. Dead Crazy

    Nancy Pickard

    Nominated for 1 more award

    Shortlisted
  3. Mischief in Maggody

    Joan Hess

    Shortlisted
  4. Paying the Piper

    Sharyn McCrumb

    Shortlisted
  5. The Widow's Club

    Dorothy Cannell

    Nominated for 1 more award

    Shortlisted

Frequently asked questions

Who won the Agatha Award for Best Contemporary Novel in 2025?
“At Death's Dough” by Mindy Quigley won the Agatha Award for Best Contemporary Novel in 2025.
Who are the most recent Agatha Award for Best Contemporary Novel winners?
2025: “At Death's Dough” by Mindy Quigley; 2024: “A Midnight Puzzle” by Gigi Pandian; 2023: “The Weekend Retreat” by Tara Laskowski; 2022: “A World of Curiosities” by Louise Penny; 2021: “Cajun Kiss of Death” by Ellen Byron.
Has anyone won the Agatha Award for Best Contemporary Novel more than once?
Yes - 7 authors have: Louise Penny (2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2012, 2016, 2017, 2020, 2022); Margaret Maron (1992, 1996, 2000, 2011, 2015); Nancy Pickard (1990, 1991, 2006); Carolyn Hart (1993, 2003); Sharyn McCrumb (1994, 1995); Hank Phillippi Ryan (2013, 2014); Ellen Byron (2018, 2021).