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History of the Left Coast Crime Awards

Beginning in 2016, all Left Coast Crime Awards are called “Lefty” Awards. Traditionally, the “Lefty” — first awarded in 1996 — was given for the best humorous mystery. LCC rules now require each annual convention to give Lefty awards for Best Humorous Mystery Novel, Best Historical Mystery Novel (Bruce Alexander Memorial, first given in 2004), Best Mystery Novel, and Best Debut Mystery Novel.

Wildcard awards have been given in a variety of categories, such as for the best mystery set in the LCC geographical region, and variously named depending on the convention location: e.g., the Otter (Monterey 2004), the Calavera (El Paso 2005), the Rocky (Denver 2008 & Colorado Springs 2013), and the Rose (Portland 2015). Other varieties of geographically-based awards include the Hillerman Sky (Southwest settings, Santa Fe 2011), the Golden Nugget (California setting, Sacramento 2012), and the Squid (US) and the Calamari (non-US) (Monterey 2014).

Awards given for best debut mystery include the Eureka! (Sacramento 2012) and the Rosebud (Portland 2015). Other awards include the Watson, for the mystery with the best sidekick (Santa Fe 2011 & Colorado Springs 2013), and the Hawaii Five-O, for best law enforcement or police procedural (Waikoloa, Hawaii 2009). The Panik award was given in memory of Paul Anik for best LA noir (Los Angeles 2010). Cover art was recognized with the Arty (Denver 2008).

The design of the annual Lefty award is left to the discretion of each host Left Coast Crime committee.

2024: Bellevue, Washington

Lefty for Best Humorous Mystery Novel
   Wendall Thomas, Cheap Trills (Beyond the Page Books)
  °  Jennifer J. Chow, Hot Pot Murder (Berkley Prime Crime)
  °  Lee Matthew Goldberg, The Great Gimmelmans (Level Best Books)
  °  Leslie Karst, A Sense for Murder (Severn House)
  °  Catriona McPherson, Hop Scot (Severn House)
  °  Cindy Sample, Dying for a Decoration (Cindy Sample Books)

Lefty for Best Historical Mystery Novel
(Bill Gotttfried Memorial) for books covering events before 1970
   Naomi Hirahara, Evergreen (Soho Crime )
  °  Cara Black, Night Flight to Paris (Soho Crime)
  °  Bruce Borgos, The Bitter Past (Minotaur Books)
  °  Susanna Calkins, Death Among the Ruins (Severn House)
  °  Dianne Freeman, A Newlywed’s Guide to Fortune and Murder (Kensington)
  °  Cheryl A. Head, Time’s Undoing (Dutton)

Lefty for Best Debut Mystery Novel
   Nina Simon, Mother-Daughter Murder Night(William Morrow)
  °  Lina Chern, Play the Fool (Bantam)
  °  Margot Douaihy, Scorched Grace (Gillian Flynn Books)
  °  Josh Pachter, Dutch Threat (Genius Book Publishing)
  °  Ana Reyes, The House in the Pines (Dutton)

Lefty for Best Mystery Novel
   Tracy Clark, Hide (Thomas & Mercer)
  °  S.A. Cosby, All the Sinners Bleed (Flatiron Books)
  °  Matt Coyle, Odyssey’s End (Oceanview Publishing)
  °  Jordan Harper, Everybody Knows (Mulholland Books)
  °  James L’Etoile, Face of Greed (Oceanview Publishing)
  °  Gigi Pandian, The Raven Thief (Minotaur Books)

2023: Tucson, Arizona

Lefty for Best Humorous Mystery Novel
   Ellen Byron, Bayou Book Thief (Berkley Prime Crime)
  °  Jennifer J. Chow, Death by Bubble Tea (Berkley Prime Crime)
  °  A.J. Devlin, Five Moves of Doom (NeWest Press)
  °  T.G. Herren, A Streetcar Named Murder (Crooked Lane Books)
  °  Catriona McPherson, Scot in a Trap (Severn House)

Lefty for Best Historical Mystery Novel
The Bill Gottfried Memorial for books set before 1970
   Wanda M. Morris, Anywhere You Run (William Morrow)
  °  Dianne Freeman, A Bride’s Guide to Marriage and Murder (Kensington Books)
  °  Catriona McPherson, In Place of Fear (Mobius)
  °  Karen Odden, Under a Veiled Moon (Crooked Lane Books)
  °  Ann Parker, The Secret in the Wall (Poisoned Pen Press)
  °  Iona Whishaw, Framed in Fire (Touchwood Editions)

Lefty for Best Debut Mystery Novel
   Ramona Emerson, Shutter (Soho Crime)
  °  Erin E. Adams, Jackal (Bantam Books)
  °  Eli Cranor, Don’t Know Tough (Soho Crime)
  °  Meredith Hambrock, Other People’s Secrets (Crooked Lane Books)
  °  Harini Nagendra, The Bangalore Detectives Club (Pegasus Crime)
  °  Rob Osler, Devil’s Chew Toy (Crooked Lane Books)
  °  Jane Pek, The Verifiers (Vintage Books)

Lefty for Best Debut Mystery Novel
   Kellye Garrett, Like a Sister (Mulholland Books)
  °  Laurie R. King, Back to the Garden (Bantam Books)
  °  James L’Etoile, Dead Drop (Level Best Books)
  °  Gigi Pandian, Under Lock & Skeleton Key (Minotaur Books)
  °  Louise Penny, A World of Curiosities (Minotaur Books)
  °  Alex Segura, Secret Identity (Flatiron Books)

2022: Albuquerque, New Mexico

Lefty for Best Humorous Mystery Novel
   Raquel V. Reyes, Mango, Mambo, and Murder (Crooked Lane Books)
  °  Ellen Byron, Cajun Kiss of Death (Crooked Lane Books)
  °  Jennifer Chow, Mimi Lee Cracks the Code (Berkley Prime Crime)
  °  Elle Cosimano, Finlay Donovan Is Killing It (Minotaur Books)
  °  Cynthia Kuhn, How To Book a Murder (Crooked Lane Books)
  °  Wendall Thomas, Fogged Off (Beyond the Page Books)

Lefty for Best Historical Mystery Novel
The Bill Gottfried Memorial for books set before 1970
   Naomi Hirahara, Clark and Division (Soho Crime)
  °  Susanna Calkins, The Cry of the Hangman (Severn House)
  °  John Copenhaver, The Savage Kind (Pegasus Crime)
  °  Sujata Massey, The Bombay Prince (Soho Crime)
  °  Catriona McPherson, The Mirror Dance (Hodder & Stoughton)
  °  Lori Rader-Day, Death at Greenway (William Morrow)

Lefty for Best Debut Mystery Novel
   Wanda M. Morris, All Her Little Secrets (William Morrow)
  °  Alexandra Andrews, Who Is Maud Dixon (Little, Brown and Company)
  °  Marco Carocari, Blackout (Level Best Books)
  °  Zakiya Dalila Harris, The Other Black Girl (Atria Books)
  °  Mia P. Manansala, Arsenic and Adobo (Berkley Prime Crime)

Lefty for Best Mystery Novel
   William Kent Krueger, Lightning Strike (Atria Books)
  °  Tracy Clark, Runner (Kensington Books)
  °  S.A. Cosby, Razorblade Tears (Flatiron Press)
  °  Matt Coyle, Last Redemption (Oceanview Publishing)
  °  P.J. Vernon, Bath Haus (Doubleday)

2021: The Unconvention

Because of the pandemic, the 2021 Left Coast Crime convention has been rescheduled for 2022. Everything else may have changed but the Lefty Awards continue!

2021 Lefty Awards
Lefty for Best Humorous Mystery Novel
   Ellen Byron, Murder in the Bayou Boneyard (Crooked Lane Books)
  °  Jennifer J. Chow, Mimi Lee Gets a Clue (Berkley Prime Crime)
  °  Carl Hiaasen, Squeeze Me (Alfred A. Knopf)
  °  Cynthia Kuhn, The Study of Secrets (Henery Press)
  °  J. Michael Orenduff, The Pot Thief Who Studied the Woman at Otowi Crossing (Aakenbaaken & Kent)
  °  Sung J. Woo, Skin Deep (Agora Books)

Lefty for Best Historical Mystery Novel
(Bruce Alexander Memorial) for books set before 1970
   Catriona McPherson, The Turning Tide (Quercus)
  °  Susanna Calkins, The Fate of a Flapper (Minotaur Books)
  °  Dianne Freeman, A Lady’s Guide to Mischief and Murder (Kensington Books)
  °  Laurie R. King, Riviera Gold (Bantam Books)
  °  Ann Parker, Mortal Music (Poisoned Pen Press)
  °  James W. Ziskin, Turn to Stone (Seventh Street Books)

Lefty for Best Debut Mystery Novel
   David Heska Wanbli Weiden, Winter Counts (Ecco)
  °  Daisy Bateman, Murder Goes to Market (Seventh Street Books)
  °  Mary Keliikoa, Derailed (Camel Press)
  °  Erica Ruth Neubauer, Murder at the Mena House (Kensington Books)
  °  Richard Osman, The Thursday Murder Club (Viking)
  °  Halley Sutton, The Lady Upstairs (Putnam)

Lefty for Best Mystery Novel
   Louise Penny, All the Devils Are Here (Minotaur Books)
  °  Tracy Clark, What You Don’t See (Kensington Books)
  °  S.A. Cosby, Blacktop Wasteland (Flatiron Books)
  °  Matt Coyle, Blind Vigil (Oceanview Publishing)
  °  Rachel Howzell Hall, And Now She’s Gone (Forge)

2020: San Diego, California

2020 Lefty Award
Lefty for Best Humorous Mystery Novel
   Catriona McPherson, Scot & Soda (Midnight Ink)
  °  Ellen Byron, Fatal Cajun Festival (Crooked Lane Books)
  °  Leslie Karst, Murder from Scratch (Crooked Lane Books)
  °  Cynthia Kuhn, The Subject of Malice (Henery Press)
  °  Wendall Thomas, Drowned Under (Poisoned Pen Press)

Lefty for Best Historical Mystery Novel
(Bruce Alexander Memorial, covering events before 1970)
   Sujata Massey, The Satapur Moonstone (Soho Crime)
  °  Susanna Calkins, Murder Knocks Twice (Minotaur Books)
  °  L.A. Chandlar, The Pearl Dagger (Kensington Books)
  °  Dianne Freeman, A Lady’s Guide to Gossip and Murder (Kensington Books)
  °  Jennifer Kincheloe, The Body in Griffith Park (Seventh Street Books)

Lefty for Best Mystery Novel
   Matt Coyle, Lost Tomorrows (Oceanview Publishing)
  °  Steph Cha, Your House Will Pay (Ecco)
  °  Tracy Clark, Borrowed Time (Kensington Books)
  °  Rachel Howzell Hall, They All Fall Down (Forge Books)
  °  Attica Locke, Heaven, My Home (Mulholland Books)

Lefty for Best Debut Mystery Novel
   Carl Vonderau, Murderabilia (Midnight Ink)
  °  Tori Eldridge, The Ninja Daughter (Agora Books)
  °  Angie Kim, Miracle Creek (Sarah Crichton Books)
  °  Tara Laskowski, One Night Gone (Graydon House)
  °  John Vercher, Three-Fifths (Agora Books)

2019: Vancouver, British Columbia

2019 Lefty Award
Lefty for Best Humorous Mystery Novel
   Catriona McPherson, Scot Free (Midnight Ink)
  °  Ellen Byron, Mardi Gras Murder (Crooked Lane Books)
  °  Kellye Garrett, Hollywood Ending (Midnight Ink)
  °  Timothy Hallinan, Nighttown (Soho Crime)
  °  Leslie Karst, Death al Fresco (Crooked Lane Books)
  °  Cynthia Kuhn, The Spirit in Question (Henery Press)

Lefty for Best Historical Mystery Novel
(Bruce Alexander Memorial, covering events before 1960)
   Sujata Massey, The Widows of Malabar Hill (Soho Crime)
  °  Rhys Bowen, Four Funerals and Maybe a Wedding (Berkeley Prime Crime)
  °  David Corbett, The Long-Lost Love Letters of Doc Holliday (Black Opal Books)
  °  Laurie R. King, Island of the Mad (Bantam Books)
  °  Ann Parker, A Dying Note (Poisoned Pen Press)
  °  Iona Whishaw, It Begins in Betrayal (Touchwood Editions)

Lefty for Best Mystery Novel
   Lou Berney, November Road (William Morrow)
  °  Matt Coyle, Wrong Light (Oceanview Publishing)
  °  Louise Penny, Kingdom of the Blind (Minotaur Books)
  °  Lori Rader-Day, Under a Dark Sky (William Morrow Paperbacks)
  °  Terry Shames, A Reckoning in the Back Country (Seventh Street Books)
  °  James W. Ziskin, A Stone’s Throw (Seventh Street Books)

Lefty for Best Debut Mystery Novel
   Dianne Freeman, A Lady’s Guide to Etiquette and Murder (Kensington Books)
  °  Tracy Clark, Broken Places (Kensington Books)
  °  A.J. Devlin, Cobra Clutch (NeWest Press)
  °  A.J. Finn, The Woman in the Window (William Morrow)
  °  Aimee Hix, What Doesn’t Kill You (Midnight Ink)
  °  Keenan Powell, Deadly Solution (Level Best Books)
  °  J.G. Toews, Give Out Creek (Mosaic Press)

2018: Reno, Nevada

Lefty for Best Humorous Mystery Novel
   Ellen Byron, A Cajun Christmas Killing (Crooked Lane Books)
  °  Donna Andrews, Gone Gull (Minotaur Books)
  °  Marla Cooper, Dying on the Vine (Minotaur Books)
  °  Cynthia Kuhn, The Art of Vanishing (Henery Press)
  °  Cindy Sample, Dying for a Diamond (Cindy Sample Books)

Lefty for Best Historical Mystery Novel
(Bruce Alexander Memorial, covering events before 1960)
   Rhys Bowen, In Farleigh Field (Lake Union Publishing)
  °  Jennifer Kincheloe, The Woman in the Camphor Trunk (Seventh Street Books)
  °  Renee Patrick, Dangerous To Know (Forge)
  °  Priscilla Royal, The Proud Sinner (Poisoned Pen Press)
  °  Jeri Westerson, Season of Blood (Severn House Publishers)

2018 Lefty Award
Lefty for Best Mystery Novel
   William Kent Krueger, Sulfur Springs (Atria Books)
  °  Matt Coyle, Blood Truth (Oceanview Publishing)
  °  Louise Penny, Glass Houses (Minotaur Books)
  °  Terry Shames, An Unsettling Crime for Samuel Craddock (Seventh Street Books)
  °  James W. Ziskin, Cast the First Stone (Seventh Street Books)

Lefty for Best Debut Mystery Novel
   Kellye Garrett, Hollywood Homicide (Midnight Ink)
  °  Susan Alice Bickford, A Short Time To Die (Kensington)
  °  Wendall Thomas, Lost Luggage (Poisoned Pen Press)
  °  Nancy Tingley, A Head in Cambodia (Swallow Press)
  °  Kathleen Valenti, Protocol (Henery Press)

2017: Honolulu, Hawaii

Lefty for Best Humorous Mystery Novel
  * Body on the Bayou by Ellen Byron
  °  Die Like an Eagle by Donna Andrews
  °  Fields Where They Lay by Timothy Hallinan
  °  The CEO Came DOA by Heather Haven
  °  Floodgate by Johnny Shaw
  °  A Disguise To Die For by Diane Vallere

Lefty for Best Historical Mystery Novel
(Bruce Alexander Memorial, covering events before 1960)
  * The Reek of Red Herrings by Catriona McPherson
  °  Crowned and Dangerous by Rhys Bowen
  °  A Death Along the River Fleet by Susanna Calkins
  °  The Murder of Mary Russell by Laurie R. King
  °  What Gold Buys by Ann Parker

Lefty for Best Mystery Novel
  * A Great Reckoning by Louise Penny
  °  Dark Fissures by Matt Coyle
  °  Michelangelo’s Ghost by Gigi Pandian
  °  The Necessary Murder of Nonie Blake by Terry Shames
  °  Heart of Stone by James W. Ziskin

Lefty for Best Debut Mystery Novel
  * Murder in G Major by Alexia Gordon
  °  Cleaning Up Finn by Sarah M. Chen
  °  Terror in Taffeta by Marla Cooper
  °  Decanting a Murder by Nadine Nettmann
  °  Design for Dying by Renee Patrick

2016: Phoenix, Arizona

Best Humorous Mystery
  * Lord of the Wings by Donna Andrews
  °  Plantation Shudders by Ellen Byron
  °  February Fever by Jess Lourey
  °  Dying for a Donut by Cindy Sample
  °  Crushed Velvet by Diane Vallere

Best Historical Mystery
(Bruce Alexander Memorial, covering events before 1960)
  * Malice at the Palace by Rhys Bowen
  °  The Masque of a Murderer by Susanna Calkins
  °  The Chocolate Kiss-Off by Heather Haven
  °  The Secret Life of Anna Blanc by Jennifer Kincheloe
  °  Dreaming Spies by Laurie R. King
  °  Mrs. Roosevelt’s Confidante by Susan Elia MacNeal

Best LCC Regional Mystery
(best mystery set in the LCC region)
  * The Accidental Alchemist by Gigi Pandian
  °  The Crossing by Michael Connelly
  °  Night Tremors by Matt Coyle
  °  The Promise by Robert Crais
  °  Young Americans by Josh Stallings

Best World Mystery
(set anywhere outside the LCC region)
  * The Nature of the Beast by Louise Penny
  °  The Long and Faraway Gone by Lou Berney
  °  Dragon Day by Lisa Brackmann
  °  The Killing Kind by Chris Holm
  °  Stone Cold Dead by James W. Ziskin

2015: Portland, Oregon

Lefty Award for Most Humorous Mystery
  * Herbie’s Game by Timothy Hallinan
  °  The Good, the Bad, and the Emus by Donna Andrews
  °  January Thaw by Jess Lourey
  °  Dying for a Dude by Cindy Sample
  °  Suede to Rest by Diane Vallere

Bruce Alexander Memorial Mystery Award
(historical mystery, covering events before 1960)
  * A Deadly Measure of Brimstone by Catriona McPherson
  °  Queen of Hearts by Rhys Bowen
  °  From the Charred Remains by Susanna Calkins
  °  City of Ghosts by Kelli Stanley
  °  Cup of Blood by Jeri Westerson

The Rose
(best mystery set in the LCC region)
  * Pirate Vishnu by Gigi Pandian
  °  One Kick by Chelsea Cain
  °  Glass Houses by Terri Nolan
  °  Deadly Bonds by L.J. Sellers
  °  Plaster City by Johnny Shaw

The Rosebud
(best debut mystery)
  * The Life We Bury by Allen Eskens
  °  Kilmoon by Lisa Alber
  °  Ice Shear by M.P. Cooley
  °  The Black Hour by Lori Rader-Day
  °  Mistress of Fortune by Holly West

2014: Monterey, California

Lefty Award for Most Humorous Mystery
  * The Good Cop by Brad Parks
  °  The Hen of the Baskervilles by Donna Andrews
  °  The Fame Thief by Timothy Hallinan
  °  The Last Word by Lisa Lutz
  °  Dying for a Daiquiri by Cindy Sample

Bruce Alexander Memorial Mystery Award
(best historical mystery, covering events before 1960)
  * Dandy Gilver and a Bothersome Number of Corpses by Catriona McPherson
  °  Heirs and Graces by Rhys Bowen
  °  His Majesty’s Hope by Susan Elia MacNeal
  °  Murder as a Fine Art by David Morrell
  °  Covenant with Hell by Priscilla Royal
  °  Leaving Everything Most Loved by Jacqueline Winspear

The Squid
(best mystery set within the United States)
  * Ordinary Grace by William Kent Krueger
  °  W Is for Wasted by Sue Grafton
  °  Purgatory Key by Darrell James
  °  The Wrong Girl by Hank Phillippi Ryan
  °  A Killing at Cotton Hill by Terry Shames

The Calamari
(best mystery set anywhere else in the world)
  * How the Light Gets In by Louise Penny
  °  Murder Below Montparnasse by Cara Black
  °  Hour of the Rat by Lisa Brackmann
  °  As She Left It by Catriona McPherson
  °  Mykonos After Midnight by Jeffrey Siger

2013: Colorado Springs, Colorado

Lefty Award for Most Humorous Mystery
  * The Girl Next Door by Brad Parks
  °  Cruising in Your Eighties Is Murder by Mike Befeler
  °  Swift Run by Laura DiSilverio
  °  December Dread by Jess Lourey
  °  Trail of the Spellmans by Lisa Lutz
  °  Fit to Be Dead by Nancy G. West

Bruce Alexander Memorial Mystery Award
(historical mystery, covering events before 1960)
  * Dandy Gilver and an Unsuitable Day for a Murder by Catriona McPherson
  °  The Twelve Clues of Christmas by Rhys Bowen
  °  A City of Broken Glass by Rebecca Cantrell
  °  Live by Night by Dennis Lehane
  °  Elegy for Eddie by Jacqueline Winspear

Rocky Award
(best mystery set in the LCC region)
  * As the Crow Flies by Craig Johnson
  °  Buffalo Bill’s Dead Now by Margaret Coel
  °  Hush Money by Chuck Greaves
  °  Wicked Eddies by Beth Groundwater
  °  Sonora Crossing by Darrell James

Watson Award
(mystery novel with best sidekick)
  * Bruja Brouhaha by Rochelle Staab
  °  In a Witch’s Wardrobe by Juliet Blackwell
  °  Taken by Robert Crais
  °  Fun House by Chris Grabenstein
  °  When the Past Haunts You by L.C. Hayden

2012: Sacramento, California

Lefty Award for Most Humorous Mystery
  * The Real Macaw by Donna Andrews
  °  Getting Old Can Kill You by Rita Lakin
  °  October Fest by Jess Lourey
  °  Magical Alienation by Kris Neri
  °  Dying for a Dance by Cindy Sample
  °  The Albuquerque Turkey by John Vorhaus

Bruce Alexander Memorial Mystery Award
(for best historical mystery, covering events before 1960)
  * Mercury’s Rise by Ann Parker
  °  Naughty in Nice by Rhys Bowen
  °  A Game of Lies by Rebecca Cantrell
  °  A Killing Season by Priscilla Royal
  °  Troubled Bones by Jeri Westerson
  °  A Lesson in Secrets by Jacqueline Winspear

Golden Nugget Award
(for best mystery set in California)
  * City of Secrets by Kelli Stanley
  °  Disturbance by Jan Burke
  °  The Drop by Michael Connelly
  °  Bit Player by Janet Dawson
  °  V Is for Vengeance by Sue Grafton

Eureka! Award
(for best first mystery)
  * Nazareth Child by Darrell James
  °  The Baffled Beatlemaniac Caper by Sally Carpenter
  °  Dead Man’s Switch by Tammy Kaehler
  °  Who Do, Voodoo? by Rochelle Staab

Sacramento Awards

2011: Santa Fe, New Mexico

Lefty Award for Most Humorous Mystery
  * The Pot Thief Who Studied Einstein by J. Michael Orenduff
  °  Stork Raving Mad by Donna Andrews
  °  Swift Justice by Laura DiSilverio
  °  Old Dogs by Donna Moore
  °  Revenge for Old Times’ Sake by Kris Neri

Bruce Alexander Memorial Mystery Award
(historical mystery, covering events before 1950)
  * The Mapping of Love and Death by Jacqueline Winspear
  °  A Night of Long Knives by Rebecca Cantrell
  °  Murder for Greenhorns by Robert Kresge
  °  City of Dragons by Kelli Stanley
  °  The Demon’s Parchment by Jeri Westerson

Hillerman Sky Award
(mystery that best captures the landscape of the Southwest)
  * The Spider’s Web by Margaret Coel
  °  Wild Penance by Sandi Ault
  °  The Bone Fire by Christine Barber
  °  Snare by Deborah J Ledford

Watson Award
(mystery novel with best sidekick)
  * Junkyard Dogs by Craig Johnson
  °  Wild Penance by Sandi Ault
  °  Dead Lift by Rachel Brady
  °  Rolling Thunder by Chris Grabenstein
  °  To Fetch a Thief by Spencer Quinn

Santa Fe Awards

2010: Los Angeles, California

Lefty Award for Most Humorous Mystery
  * Getting Old Is a Disaster by Rita Lakin
  °  Swan for the Money by Donna Andrews
  °  Living with Your Kids Is Murder by Mike Befeler
  °  Strangle a Loaf of Italian Bread by Denise Dietz
  °  High Crimes on the Magical Plane by Kris Neri

Bruce Alexander Memorial Mystery Award
(historical mystery, covering events before 1950)
  * A Trace of Smoke by Rebecca Cantrell
  °  Tears of Pearl by Tasha Alexander
  °  In a Gilded Cage by Rhys Bowen
  °  Freedom’s Flight by Gary Phillips
  °  Serpent in the Thorns by Jeri Westerson

The Panik
(in honor of the late Paul Anik for the best Los Angeles Noir)
  * Death Was in the Picture by Linda Richards
  °  Cemetery Road by Gar Anthony Haywood
  °  Trust No One by Gregg Hurwitz
  °  Boulevard by Stephen Jay Schwartz

2009: Waikoloa, Hawaii

Lefty Award for Most Humorous Mystery
  * Greasing the Piñata by Tim Maleeny
  °  Six Geese A-Slaying by Donna Andrews
  °  It Happened One Knife by Jeffrey Cohen
  °  Thugs & Kisses by Sue Ann Jaffarian
  °  Murder at the Bad Girl’s Bar and Grill by N.M. Kelby
  °  Getting Old Is To Die For by Rita Lakin

Bruce Alexander Memorial Mystery Award
(historical mystery, covering events before 1950)
  * Nox Dormienda, A Long Night for Sleeping by Kelli Stanley
  °  A Fatal Waltz by Tasha Alexander
  °  A Royal Pain by Rhys Bowen
  °  Tell Me, Pretty Maiden by Rhys Bowen
  °  Touchstone by Laurie R. King

Hawaii Five-O
(law enforcement, police procedural)
  * Mahu Fire by Neil S. Plakcy
  °  Angels Fall by Baron Birtcher
  °  The Angel of Knowlton Park by Kate Flora
  °  The Black Path by Åsa Larsson
  °  Death of a Cozy Writer by G.M. Malliet
  °  Fractured by Karin Slaughter

2008: Denver, Colorado

Lefty Award for Most Humorous Mystery
  * Murder with Reservations by Elaine Viets
  °  The Penguin Who Knew Too Much by Donna Andrews
  °  Stuff To Die For by Don Bruns
  °  Some Like It Hot-Buttered by Jeffrey Cohen
  °  Knee High by the Fourth of July by Jess Lourey

Rocky Award
(best mystery set in the LCC region)
  * The Girl with Braided Hair by Margaret Coel
  °  Free Fire by C.J. Box
  °  Lost Dog by Bill Cameron
  °  Stealing the Dragon by Tim Maleeny
  °  False Fortune by Twist Phelan

Arty Award
(best cover art)
  * Her Royal Spyness by Rhys Bowen
  °  Queenpin by Megan Abbott
  °  Isabella Moon by Laura Benedict
  °  Silent Counsel by Ken Isaacson
  °  Stealing the Dragon by Tim Maleeny

2007: Seattle, Washington

Lefty Award for Most Humorous Mystery
  * Go to Helena Handbasket by Donna Moore
  °  No Nest for the Wicket by Donna Andrews
  °  Monkey Man by Steve Brewer
  °  47 Rules of Highly Effective Bank Robbers by Troy Cook
  °  Murder Unleashed by Elaine Viets

2006: Bristol, UK

Lefty Award for Most Humorous Mystery
  * Cast Adrift by Peter Guttridge
  °  Cue the Easter Bunny by Liz Evans
  °  The Big Over Easy by Jasper Fforde
  °  Highway 61 Resurfaced by Bill Fitzhugh
  °  Fags and Lager by Charlie Williams

Bruce Alexander Memorial Mystery Award
(historical mystery, covering events before 1950)
  * Spectres in the Smoke by Tony Broadbent
  °  Night’s Child by Maureen Jennings
  °  Pardonable Lies by Jacqueline Winspear

2005: El Paso, Texas

Lefty Award for Most Humorous Mystery
  * We’ll Always Have Parrots by Donna Andrews (tie)
  * Blue Blood by Susan McBride (tie)
  °  Carnage on the Committee by Ruth Dudley Edwards
  °  Holy Guacamole by Nancy Fairbanks
  °  Perfect Sax by Jerrilyn Farmer

Bruce Alexander Memorial Mystery Award
(historical mystery, covering events before 1950)
  * The Witch in the Well by Sharan Newman
  °  Five for Silver by Mary Reed & Eric Mayer
  °  Tyrant of the Mind by Priscilla Royal
  °  Murder on Marble Row by Victoria Thompson
  °  Birds of a Feather by Jacqueline Winspear

Calavera Award
(best mystery set in the LCC region)
  * Grave Endings by Rochelle Krich
  °  Snap Shot by Meg Chittenden
  °  Shadow Play by David Cole
  °  What Others Know by L.C. Hayden
  °  Family Claims by Twist Phelan

2004: Monterey, California

Lefty Award for Most Humorous Mystery
  * Mumbo Gumbo by Jerrilyn Farmer
  °  Crouching Buzzard, Leaping Loon by Donna Andrews
  °  Shop Till You Drop by Elaine Viets

Bruce Alexander Memorial Mystery Award
(historical mystery, covering events before 1950)
  * For the Love of Mike by Rhys Bowen
  °  Silver Lies by Ann Parker
  °  Four for a Boy by Mary Reed & Eric Mayer

Otter Award
(best mystery set in the LCC region)
  * More Than You Know by Meg Chittenden
  °  Dragonfly Bones by David Cole
  °  Murder Pans Out by Emily Toll

2003: Pasadena, California

Lefty Award for Most Humorous Mystery
  * The Hearse Case Scenario by Tim Cockey (tie)
  * Pipsqueak by Brian M. Wiprud (tie)
  °  Hard Eight by Janet Evanovich
  °  This Pen for Hire by Laura Levine
  °  The Rival Queens by Fidelis Morgan
  °  Buck Fever by Ben Rehder

2002: Portland, Oregon

Lefty Award for Most Humorous Mystery
  * Dim Sum Dead by Jerrilyn Farmer (tie)
  * Fender Benders by Bill Fitzhugh (tie)
  °  Revenge of the Wrought-Iron Flamingos by Donna Andrews
  °  Murder Can Upset Your Mother by Selma Eichler
  °  Long Time No See by Susan Isaacs

2001: Anchorage, Alaska
No Award Given

2000: Tucson, Arizona

Lefty Award for Most Humorous Mystery
  * Murder With Peacocks by Donna Andrews
  °  Big Trouble by Dave Barry
  °  High Five by Janet Evanovich
  °  Immaculate Reception by Jerrilyn Farmer
  °  Murder Shoots the Bull by Anne George

1999: Albuquerque, New Mexico

Lefty Award for Most Humorous Mystery
  * Four to Score by Janet Evanovich

1998: San Diego, California

Lefty Award for Most Humorous Mystery
  * Three to Get Deadly by Janet Evanovich
  °  Dead Men Don’t Dance by Margaret Chittenden
  °  Scam by Parnell Hall
  •  I Still Miss My Man But My Aim Is Getting Better by Sarah Shankman
  °  The Death and Life of Bobby Z by Don Winslow

1997: Seattle, Washington
No Award Given

1996: Boulder, Colorado

Lefty Award for Most Humorous Mystery
  * The Fat Innkeeper by Alan Russell
  °  God Bless John Wayne by Kinky Friedman
  °  Who in Hell Is Wanda Fuca? by G.M. Ford
  °  Movie by Parnell Hall
  °  Miracles in Maggody by Joan Hess
  °  If I’d Killed Him When I Met Him by Sharan McCrumb